You need to know camping basics and how to prepare in advance to keep yourself safe and have an enjoyable experience. The tips and tricks that we’ve provided to you here should help make your next trip much more enjoyable.
It’s imperative that you pitch your tent before the sun goes down. It can be hard to set up camp when it’s dark outside. This is even more true if you’re accustomed to city life, and your eyes haven’t adjusted to the darkness of the woods. Don’t let this happen to you, and have a shelter set up before dark.
Keep in mind that everything and everyone that goes camping is going to get quite dirty. As long as you are prepared for getting dirty, you will not feel so stressed out when it happens. Take this as an opportunity to enjoy the freedom, let your hair down, and get a little dirtier than usual. You can get cleaned up when you return home.
You may feel that when you get to your campsite you will have enough wood to make a fire. This is not always the case because green and wet wood will not burn easily. Bringing some extra wood in a watertight wrapping is a smart idea for camping success.
Let everyone know they have a say in the campsite and should help pick a favorite spot. Discuss what state you want to visit. Since the are so many great options to choose from across the U.S., it might be hard to select only one! It may be easier to choose a few front runners and have family members vote.
Take the tent into your yard and set it up before you go on your camping trip. This helps you learn to put up your tent and make sure there aren’t missing pieces. This also helps you not to be frustrated when you’re trying to pitch your tent.
After buying a tent, make sure to pitch it in your yard before you leave for a 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 makes setting up your tent at the campsite a much smoother process.
Camping can be incredibly fun or incredibly dangerous depending on just one factor: preparation. Only go camping once you are fully prepared. Especially if you are camping in a new location, take the time to research the wildlife, plants, geography, and climate of the area.
When it comes to children, don’t hesitate to over-pack. Camping can be messy. Children seem to be dirt magnets. Therefore, you will need to understand that a clean trip is probably out of the question. You can not really prevent it from happening, but you can pack extra clothes. There is nothing like being prepared!
Emergency kits are one of the most important things to bring on a camping trip. Pack an emergency kit that contains basic first aid supplies as well as anything needed for the specific location in which you are camping. You may want to pack bear repellent or antivenom.
Make sure to bring duct tape on your camping trip to fix almost any problem. It can help you out if something happens and your tent gets torn somehow. You can fix leaks on inflatable beds, tape up shoes, seal up any bug netting, and a lot more.
Choose a tent large enough for everyone that is going to sleep in it. That makes it easier for everyone to have a comfy time while they’re asleep and moving around when they have to get up in the dead of night.
Come prepared for everything when you’re preparing to camp. While it’s crucial to plan ahead for things, sometimes things don’t go according to plan. Weather problems, injuries and other unexpected things may occur. You need to pay attention to what you’re doing, avoid unnecessarily risky behavior, and think before you act whether you are in a crisis or a normal camping situation.
Make it a point to properly prepare your flashlight when you pack for your trip. You may accidentally turn on a flashlight while you’re looking through what you have packed for your trip. To prevent draining the batteries, place them in your flashlight backwards. That way, the flashlight cannot possibly drain the batteries if the ON button is bumped.
Before leaving on a camping trip, check the forecast for your destination. There are countless websites that contain information about what sort of weather you should expect at the area you are going camping at. When you know what the weather will be like, you can bring the proper gear and clothes.
Make sure to bring several flashlights or lanterns and extra batteries on your camping trip. You will likely need to see when it gets dark out. Without a flashlight, you could easily stumble and fall or be surprised by local wildlife. It is a great idea to bring one flashlight for each person, especially when camping with children.
If you’re taking along the kids, pack current pictures of them. If your children get lost during your trip, a picture of them can be very helpful. Always bring an emergency photo, especially if your campsite is far from your home.
It’s not totally necessary to rough it during your entire trip. You can bring along something comforting from home for your trip. Make it something easy to transport like your favorite coffee sweetener or candy. Comforts from home can really spice up the rustic outdoors!
Plan some to take some extra snacks on your camping trip such as trail mix or beef jerky. It’s likely that you’ll be so worn out at dinnertime that you will only feel like snacking and not cooking. These snacks should preserve for a good while, so there’s no wasting involved if they aren’t eaten.
Camping can be a great experience or it can be a miserable one. The distinction often boils down to your level of preparation. If you are properly prepared for many different situations, then you will be more likely to enjoy your trip.
Pack plenty of food of the proper variety. Make sure to bring food that won’t go bad while you are on your trip. Getting food poisoning can bring an abrupt end to a camping trip. Prepare all of the food you will take with your properly and find out what sort of precautions you should take.
If you are tenting, it is important that you seal any of the seams in your tent. You can purchase tubes of sealant at a sporting goods store, or your tent may have included some. This ensures not only rain, but also critters, are kept from your tent.
It may sound silly to be reminded of this, but always make sure you take toilet paper on a camping trip. If there are no restrooms in your area, you will need to go out in nature. You certainly don’t want to be wiping yourself with leaves.
You need to take things to entertain yourself during your camping trip. Bring card and board games, proper attire for hiking or swimming, books (if you want quiet time) and any fishing or birding gear that you may need. If the kids are camping with you, you’ll need to increase the amount of entertainment items that you pack.
Being prepared allows your camping trip to be more fun. When you use the information laid out here, you will have a more relaxing trip because it is safer, and you will know you possess the skills to handle anything.
