You can enjoy camping with all of your family and friends. Everyone should try it when they are given the opportunity. Camping, however, does take a lot of preparation and a lot of know-how, too. Learn some tips, from the article that follows, that you can use on your next camping trip.
Find your shelter before it gets dark. If you wait until after dark to set up you will find it to be nearly impossible, even if you have decent light. This is particularly true for anyone accustomed to city living and unfamiliar with pitch dark woods. Avoid this circumstance entirely by securing your accommodations ahead of time.
Look for where you’re going to set up your shelter before darkness falls. After night falls, it becomes harder to prepare your camp ground and set up the tent. This is particularly true for anyone accustomed to city living and unfamiliar with pitch dark woods. Do not get yourself into this situation, and find your shelter during daylight hours.
Let all the members of your family have a hand in picking your campsite. Discuss which state you would most like to visit. The many options may make it difficult to settle on one. If it simplifies things, pick four or five favorites and then give everyone a vote.
Extra Clothing
Let your loved ones help you pick a campsite. This will make everyone feel invested. There are various options throughout the United States that it may make it hard to pick only one. Try to select a short-list and then put it to a family vote.
Make sure to pack plenty of extra clothing for your children. Camping can be dirty. Kids love to play in the dirt and will bring it back to your tent. As the day goes on, you may end up with messy, dirty kids. Take extra clothing with you for your children. Always prepare!
Be certain that your tent has enough space for both yourself and whoever else comes with you. This assures there is enough sleeping and moving around room.
A first aid kit or survival kit is imperative for camping. In addition to your first aid kit, you need waterproof matches, a flare gun, water-purifying tablets and a knife. Your kit may be all that stands between you and certain death if you become lost, as the items within it are essential to survival. Be sure to bring it with you whenever you leave your campsite.
Read up on your medical insurance. Sometimes, being covered while out of state requires an additional policy. This is very important if you will be camping in a foreign country. It is important to always be prepared.
Pack a first aid kit. You may need different supplies, depending on where you will be, but there are certain things that you should always have. Items that will help with possible snake bites or a sling in case of sprains or breaks is a good idea, too.
When it comes to children, don’t hesitate to over-pack. There is a lot of mess that goes along with camping. Your kids may love playing around in the grass and dirt. Expect them to be all shades of dirty as the day moves on. While you can’t do much about that, you should have extra clothing on hand. There is nothing like being prepared!
If you bring a dog camping with you, be sure to keep an eye on them and be sure they’re on a leash. Some people fear dogs. You should respect your fellow campers in the area. Additionally, dogs can wreak a lot of havoc on a campsite if they are not supervised properly.
Safeguard your food from the local wildlife. Keep things tightly wrapped and store them away from the site of your tent; if needed, avoid certain types of food altogether. This will reduce the likelihood of experiencing an attack.
Learn proper first aid. If an accident occurs, you’ll need to know what you need to better the situation until you can receive medical attention. You should also do some research. Look into snake species, poisonous plants, spiders, bugs, and other animals.
Bring all of the essentials that you will need while camping. Unfortunately, forgetting one or two key items can ruin your trip. Lists help people know what they need before they go. Make sure that you bring a lot of water, knives, soaps and food on your camping trip for safety.
Sleeping Bags
During a camping trip, try to go swimming at some point. You might long for a good shower when you are camping. By taking a dip in a pool, lake or river, you will have fun and feel clean and refreshed at the same time!
When you are camping, be sure you choose the right sleeping bag for the site conditions. For example, there are lightweight sleeping bag for warm weather and heavy sleeping bags for colder weather. You will need sleeping bags that hug your body and help you retain body heat if you’re sleeping in a tent.
If you’re planning on camping, you need to remember to pack energy food like beef jerky and trail mix. After a long day of outdoor activities, you will often feel too drained of energy to prepare a hot meal, so the availability of nutrient-filled snacks, such as trail mix an beef jerky, can be a real lifesaver. They are also convenient because they keep well and don’t need to be refrigerated.
Bring along a bandana or handkerchief. That small piece of cloth could become a potholder, a bag, a blotter or a towel. This is an essential item that does not cost a lot of money and can provide a lot of benefits.
An easy, yet often forgotten tip is to find shelter before it gets dark. When it’s dark outside it can be very hard to put your tent up. If you wait until dark to pitch your tent, you will need to build a fire or light several lanterns to ensure you can see to pitch your tent correctly. It’s much easier to arrive early enough to get set up before sundown.
When your camping trip is over, make sure to leave a clean campsite behind. Get some trash bags and clean up your mess. Make sure you pick up any food that you have as leftovers too. The major rule for leaving a campsite is to just leave behind footprints.
Educate yourself about the area that you are camping in, and know what hazards you could encounter. You should know if there are deadly spiders found there, or if sheer cliffs or flash floods occur there. Each camp is individual, so scope out the one you are planning to enter before every trip.
Sleeping Bag
Whenever you’re choosing a sleeping bag, pick one out that’s for the climate you’re in. For instance, you’ll want a lightwweight bag to keep you cool in the summer. Winter, on the other hand, requires a heavier sleeping bag that is rated for low temperatures.
Camping is fun for children, but make sure to plan out some extra activities they will like. Your kids may start to get bored when you are out in the woods. They have probably never fished or set up tents. Get them used to it prior to leaving on the trip.
As this article said before, it’s a lot of fun to go camping if you arm yourself with the right knowledge first. Be sure that you take what you have learned here and use them when you’re about to go camping next time. Once you use them, every trip you plan will be a great one.