Discovering the outdoors and seeing what Mother Nature has to offer is not only fun, but filled with adventure; it is imperative that you take some precautions and gather some basic knowledge. This article is filled to the brim with advice that can make any upcoming camping trip successful.
Although you might assume the woods will offer you plenty of firewood for your camping needs, nature may surprise you with rain-soaked logs or wood that will not easily ignite. Bringing your own wood never hurts, especially when things are a little wet and you know a fire will be needed.
You will get dirty. If you’re ready for this, it will bother you less when it happens. Just enjoy and appreciate being free in the wilderness; get stuck in and get messy. Things will go to back to normal soon enough.
Camping is a great time but it can be dangerous if you’re not able to properly prepare. You must make sure you are completely prepared before you go camping. Do your research and understand the local conditions and wildlife, as well as climate concerns. This is the best way to keep yourself safe and enjoy your trip.
A “jungle breakfast” is something that could be enjoyed when camping with children. Use serving sized boxes of cereal, pieces of fruit and juice boxes and tie them to trees near your campsite. Your children can then hunt these foods when they wake up. This makes an interesting diversion for them during the trip.
When you purchase a new tent for camping, take it home and completely set the tent up before going on a camping trip. This allows you to check and see that all the pieces are there and that you know how to assemble your shelter correctly. This also helps you not to be frustrated when you’re trying to pitch your tent.
Even in a remote site where you plan on roughing it, you can enhance your camping trip with a small piece of luxury. This can be something simple like fresh coffee or a favorite candy. A small luxury that reminds you of home can be uplifting.
Take along a specialized pillow or two for camping. Standard bed pillows can become hot and sticky in humid weather. Mildew can grow in it when they absorb the moisture from the air. Specialized pillows for campers feature protective fabric that resists moisture absorption.
Do a “jungle breakfast” if you are bringing kids. Take smaller boxes of cereal, small cups of fruit and juice boxes away from your site and tie them up to treas. Then, have the kids go on a hunt for their breakfast when they awaken. This makes the trip even more magical for kids.
For your first trip camping, avoid straying too far from home. If you have any equipment issues, it is better and easier to cut your trip short when you do not have so far to travel. Others may find that they have a shortage of food or their clothing isn’t appropriate. Many issues can occur for new campers, so you should camp near home your first time.
If Fido is coming with your on your camping trip, don’t forget his leash. Some people get frightened by dogs. You should respect your fellow campers in the area. Additionally, your dog may cause damage to the property of someone else if left untethered and unsupervised.
Bring along camping pillows to the campsite. Regular bed pillows will feel hot and sticky during humid weather. Those big pillows can also mildew, because they absorbs moisture. Camping pillows do not have these problems.
Make sure you have activities to do while camping. You can entertain yourself and your family by fishing, playing card games or setting up a scavenger hunt. If you’re bringing along kids, it doesn’t hurt to go overboard when thinking of what to bring for fun.
Are you just starting out in the world of camping? Give your tent a test run before you set out to pitch it in your first camp site in the wild. This way, you will know the things you need to put your tent up. That way, you can get things done rapidly once you get to the campsite.
Make sure that you understand the dangers and risks of the camping site that you choose. You should be aware of any venomous insects or snakes, dangerous weather or cliffs in the area. Any place you go has its own unique challenges.
Be prepared for anything when you go camping. Try to plan your camping trip as best you can, but know that unexpected events can arise. Someone could get hurt, the weather could change drastically or people could get sick. Never take unnecessary risks or be careless, and always think before you act.
Prior to going camping, be sure to create a list of what you’ll need. If the campgrounds are located at fair distance from your home, then this step will be crucial. Pack a few days before your camping trip is supposed to happen and check off your list while you go through things.
Take a few things with you to entertain yourself while you’re camping. Create a good scavenger hunt list, pack some fishing poles and carry along some board or card games to entertain you while sitting in the middle of the woods. If you brought kids along, you might want to pack a lot of things for entertainment.
Sleeping Bag
Choose an appropriate sleeping bag for the conditions in which you will be camping. Bags that are light are good for warmer places and a sleeping bag that’s heavier works best when things are colder. You might even consider a body hugging one as it helps you retain your body heat.
Make sure that you choose the right sleeping bag for the conditions on the campsite. If you are camping in a colder climate, purchase a heavyweight sleeping bag; people who camp in warm weather should use a lightweight sleeping bag. If you are going in cold weather, you will want a sleeping bag that hugs your body.
Take pictures of your children with you when you camp. If you lose them at some point, a picture will be very helpful to local authorities. Bring at least one photo of each child for any emergencies.
Make sure you pack carefully and wisely. Create a checklist of what you’re going to be bringing along and check things off while you’re packing them. A checklist is especially crucial if your campsite is located remotely, making it less likely that you will have access to first-aid items or other emergency supplies.
Be very aware of the place where you have decided to set up. You don’t want to camp very close to bee hives or ant hills. Make sure that everyone wears long sleeved clothing if you camp near abundant vegetation, to minimize poison and insect issues. Having insect repellent is a really sound idea.
It is important to take toilet paper along when you go camping. If you camp somewhere without restrooms, you are going to have to go in the woods. To keep from having to use potentially dangerous leaves, you need to have toilet paper on hand.
Keep safety at the front of your mind. This means you need to avoid large and small wildlife. Even small animals, such as squirrels, can pose a dangerous hazard. Everyone should know, but some are unaware, that you should never feed any bears or other wildlife when camping.
Don’t forget the duct tape! Tents may be durable, but eventually they can rip. Duct tape can help you to sleep in peace at night, and is very inexpensive.
Shower Curtain
Use a worn shower curtain as an inexpensive, disposable tarp for under your tent. You could also use the curtain as a cooking base or any place you need to control run-off. Instead of throwing a shower curtain in the trash, clean it and use it for camping.
Food poisoning is a common ailment while camping. Food that is stored incorrectly can go bad and cause food poisoning. Take a lot of ice for keeping food cold and pull out drain plugs so you don’t soak the food.
First aid kits are critical to any camping trip. Make sure to stock it well for accidents and injuries. You need to put essentials in your kit such as splints, bandages, snake bite remedies and gauze for dressing wounds. Accidents will happen on every trip, so it is important to take precautions in advance.
If you need to use the bathroom, and you are located near a water source, do it downstream. By doing this, the water that flows past the campsite will be clean. Relieve yourself at least one hundred yards from your campgrounds.
Many people who are new to camping think that erecting a tent next to the campsite’s communal bathrooms is a good idea. They might feel that it’s convenient for them, but they’ll find out quickly it’s the opposite. While you can use the bathroom area for lighting, it also is an attraction point for a lot of people. Thus, campers will find that they are greatly inconvenienced by their proximity to the restrooms.
Camping is an enjoyable way to spend time outdoors. Forewarned is forearmed, and this will ensure that your next camping adventure is more fun and less worry.
