Are you thinking about your upcoming camping trip? Whether you’re staying for a night or planning a week away, you need to plan. The tips below are great for maximizing any camping journey.
Let everyone know they have a say in the campsite and should help pick a favorite spot. Openly talk about the various options available to you. There are millions of options just in the United States, and it can sometimes be difficult to choose the perfect one! If it is the simpler option, try picking a few you favor and letting your whole family vote on them.
After buying a tent, make sure to pitch it in your yard before you leave for a trip. This will prevent you from having a tent with missing pieces and then you can set it up properly. This can eliminate the frustration of trying to set up your tent in a hurry.
A tent needs to be the proper size for all people staying in it. This will ensure you are able to comfortably move around without disturbing people you are sharing your tent with.
You may wish to take a class that has to do with first aid, especially if you’re traveling with kids. This way, if someone were to have an accident, you’ll possess enough knowledge to deal with it enough until medical help arrives. Be sure to research the area you are visiting. Knowing about the native species in your camp area, such as snakes or other dangerous animals, is essential.
Bring a survival kit with you and be sure to always have it on you. Must haves include, but aren’t limited to, a knife, matches, a flare gun, and a first aid pack. These are essential items for your survival if you ever get lost. Never let it leave your side.
Dryer lint makes wonderful kindling to start your campfires with. Start collecting the lint from your dryer’s filter about a month before you go on your trip. Simply hang a plastic bag near the dryer and stash the lint in the bag as it collects. By doing this, you’ll be able to collect the kindling on the day you’re taking the trip.
Even if you’re roughing it, you can better your camping experience by bring a small luxury. Your favorite candy bar or some prepackaged creamers for your morning coffee are light and simple to bring along. Small things like this can increase your enjoyment of the trip.
If you’re going to be taking your children camping, attend a first-aid course. You will be prepared for any accidents that may occur and can survive until you reach professional medical care. Be sure to do some research as well. Know if there are any poisonous snakes in the area, what type of wild animals call those woods their home, etc.
Duct Tape
Pack the duct tape. Duct tape is good for so many things. It works quickly in a pinch for tent holes, inflatables with leaks, shoes with worn soles, securing the tent to its pole, sealing up your mosquito netting and many, many more things.
Camping and swimming are a great combination. You may miss the shower at your home when you are camping. Swimming is a great way to rinse off and can take the place of your daily shower.
If you bring along a canine companion on your trip, keep your pet leashed and watch him or her closely. There are those who fear dogs. Take others into consideration when you camp if you bring a dog. Besides that, dogs can also damage equipment and campsites if they aren’t supervised.
Although you want to live on as little as possible while camping, you need to prepare yourself for your trip. Bring creature comforts like a sleeping bag, extra blankets and even an air mattress. This will help you to stay warm, comfortable and safe during a cold or wet night.
Always prepare an emergency kit when camping, whether you are going by yourself or with others. You may need different supplies, depending on where you will be, but there are certain things that you should always have. For example, if you will be camping in a Southern state you should certainly carry anti-venom for the local wildlife that you may encounter.
Before setting out on your camping adventure, plan for what you will wear. This way you’ll have enough clean clothing for your trip. Also, be sure that you carry articles of clothing that are appropriate for the weather and climate of your camping location. Include closed toe shoes or hiking boots if you want to do some hiking.
Everyone knows to make a shelter, but many forget you should do it before dark! The tent pitching process can be extremely hard if there is no light. You’d have to do it with the light from a fire or from a flashlight, both of which could be difficult. Doing it during sunlight hours makes it easier and more prepared for the dark.
Use specialty camping pillows when camping. Standard bed pillows tend to get sticky in humid weather. The tend to absorb ambient moisture and grow mildew as well. Camping pillows, on the other hand, possess a protective coating that prevents that from happening.
Make sure to seal the seams in your tent when you are setting it up. If your tent kit did not contain a tube of sealant, it can be found at most sporting stores. This will allow you to keep wild animals and bad weather from getting into your tent.
As you leave for home, clean up your space. Include trash bags in your supplies to make cleanup easy. Also, it’s important to take all food with you when you leave too. The only thing you want left are your footprints when you are gone.
Make sure that you understand the dangers and risks of the camping site that you choose. This includes things like which spiders are deadly, whether or not there are sheer drops, and if flash floods are common. Every camping spot has its own potential dangers for the untrained.
Camping Adventure
With any luck, you now have what it takes to properly plan your camping adventure. You will need the same things no matter how long you plan to camp. If you start planning today for your camping adventure, you will be ready to go on your trip in no time at all with all the information you have received.
Living off the land is part of camping, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go prepared. You need a sleeping bag, but you need to take extra blankets too. If the temperature drops at night, you can use the blankets for warmth, or as padding, too.