Everything You Need To Know About Camping

Camping is a vacation option that should not be overlooked. You must properly plan your trip, even if you spend one day or a week in the outdoors. The tips below are great for maximizing any camping journey.

Select your sleeping bag with the weather, season and location of your trip in mind. Bringing a winter bag camping in summer can cause you to roast all night. On the other hand, light-weight sleeping supplies will never keep you warm enough in the dead of winter. You may even risk hypothermia.

Select your sleeping bag with the weather, season and location of your trip in mind. If you bring sub-zero sleeping bags with you in the dead of summer, you will probably sweat all night. If you use a lightweight sleeping bag during the winter, you can spend your night shivering if it’s cold outside. You may even develop hypothermia.

TIP! Choose a sleeping bag that is seasonally appropriate. You don’t want to sweat all night because you brought a sleeping bag that is suitable for winter in the middle of the summer.

If you’re going to be taking your children camping, attend a first-aid course. This way, should an accident occur, at least you are properly prepared until help arrives. Make sure to do your research. Find out if the area has poisonous snakes, what type of wildlife lives in the woods, etc.

Check the terms of your health insurance before leaving. If you are going camping out of state, you may have to add an additional policy for full coverage. It is even more critical if you are camping outside of your country. Be prepared in case there is an injury or illness.

Learn to set up your tent prior to leaving on your trip. Doing this will allow to know ahead of time that all parts you need are there, and it will also help you learn the proper setup of your tent ahead of time. It’s a great way to avoid the frustration of having to set up a tent on site.

TIP! When you buy a new tent, set it up completely at home before you take it camping. By doing this you will be able to make sure that your tent does not have any missing parts.

Try to fit swimming into your schedule in some way. When you go camping, you can miss out on things like showers. A swim may help you to not miss the luxury of your shower quite so much.

Before going to a new place to go camping, you need to know what dangers may be lurking. This could be anything from wildlife to insects to poisonous plant life that could be a danger to you. Each camping spot is unique and can be dangerous in its own way.

Always pack and carry a survival kit. You should have a bandanna (to use as a sling or tourniquet), wound coverings, something to use for sprains, matches, a knife, tablets to purify water and a compass in your kit. These are essential items for your survival if you ever get lost. Always carry it on your person when you venture away from your campsite, or it won’t do you much good.

TIP! Bring a survival kit with you and be sure to always have it on you. A first aid kit, matches in a water tight container, a good knife, flares and tablet to purify water are some essentials to include.

Make sure you have a good chat with your children about basic camping dangers before you head away. It is simple to show them which plants they should stay away from prior to your trip.

Bring sufficient amounts of the right kinds of foods. Also, you will want to keep food that does not spoil to put yourself in the safest position. It could end up causing food poisoning and quickly end your trip. Use proper food preparation techniques and make sure you are well-read regarding the precautions you should take.

The way you prepare will determine whether your camping trip will be fun or if it will be dangerous. That is why it’s important to prepare in advance and prepare well. Research the area you are planning on camping at.

TIP! It can be fun to camp, but you have to be prepared. Without proper preparation, a camping trip can turn into a disaster.

If you bring a dog with you to go camping, keep it leashed up and keep an eye on it. Many people are fearful of pets – especially large dogs. Respect for other campers is an important aspect of public camping. Also, dogs can cause damage if you let them run free, so be sure to keep control of them at all times.

Remember to bring along wilderness-friendly activities. Card games are a fun way to pass the time if the weather does not cooperate. If you have kids going with you, you may want to go a little overboard with the things you take for entertainment.

Examine your medical insurance policy. Some policies will not cover you outside your own state. This is especially true if you are traveling out of the country. It always pays to be prepared for anything!

TIP! Examine your medical insurance policy. You may need to purchase additional coverage if you will be camping in another state.

Soft Ground

When you show up to go camping, pitch your tent wherever you can find flat and soft ground. There is nothing more uncomfortable than sleeping on a slope or a spot with a rocky surface. In addition to looking for soft ground, lay down a tarp to prevent moisture from soaking into the bottom of your tent.

Pack a bandanna or handkerchief. You can use these as hand towels, cleanup towels, pot holders or anything you need cloth for. It is very versatile, so be sure you take one with you every time you go camping.

TIP! Bring a bandanna or a large handkerchief with you when you go camping. In a pinch, that single piece of fabric can serve as a potholder, carrying bag, blotter, hand towel and paper towel.

Keep an eye on your children when you go camping. Not only can your children get lost, but they may also encounter cars that enter the campsite. Disaster can strike quickly if you aren’t watching closely.

When camping with kids, have a photo of them at hand. If you lose them at some point, a picture will be very helpful to local authorities. Always have one on you for emergencies.

If you are going camping, be sure to have a first aid kit. Pack an emergency kit that contains basic first aid supplies as well as anything needed for the specific location in which you are camping. For example, if you are camping in an area that may have poison ivy, make sure you pack hydro-cortisone.

TIP! Pack a first aid kit. This kit should contain the basics, but should evolve as you change your camping locations.

Trail mix and jerky are great snacks for a camping trip. These grab-and-go snacks are great for taking on a hike or as a snack after a long day when you don’t feel like preparing a meal. Even if you don’t eat them, these are non-perishable snacks that have a long shelf life.

One simple tip that many people overlook is creating your shelter before dark. Pitching a tent can be difficult enough in the daylight, let alone in the dark of night. You’d have to do it with the light from a fire or from a flashlight, both of which could be difficult. It is best to do this before dark so you can put it up correctly.

Be sure you set up camp before nighttime comes around. If you are traveling in an RV, park it in a well secured area. If you have a tent, find dry, flat ground. Doing this during daylight hours will save you hassle and frustration. It also makes it much easier to actually see what you are doing, thus saving a great deal of frustration.

TIP! Before the sun goes down, make sure that you have your camp completely set up. If you are traveling in an RV, park it in a well secured area.

Duct Tape

Make sure to pack some duct tape for your camping trip. Tents may be durable, but eventually they can rip. Your tent can easily be repaired with some duct tape, which will keep you nice and dry in your damaged tent.

Bringing a dog on your camping trip is fine as long as you bring a leash and keep a close eye on them. Not all people are dog lovers, and some are extremely terrified of dogs. You should keep that in mind while you are on your camping trip. Also, dogs can cause damage if you let them run free, so be sure to keep control of them at all times.

TIP! Protect your canine companion on the trip by keeping him leashed and under careful supervision. There are those who fear dogs.

Seal all your tent’s seams. If your tent doesn’t have a tube, you can find easily find them. This helps to keep animals, insects and rainwater out so you stay comfortable.

It might silly, but remember to take toilet paper along when you go camping. If you take care of business in the woods, toilet paper is imperative to have. You definitely don’t want to depend on leaves for cleaning yourself, because they could have been in contact with poison ivy.

Take along things to do while you are in the wild. Scavenger hunts, card games and fishing poles all add up to wonderful diversions to do in the wild. If kids are coming along for the trip, take even more entertainment with you to keep them from getting bored without their electronics.

TIP! Plan several activities to do while camping. 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.

Always follow safety guidelines during your camping trip. Keep away from animals, both large and small. Even smaller animals such as squirrels can pose a danger. One thing you should never do is feed a bear if you see one, even though you probably would be too scared to approach one!

Now that you have read the above information, you should be better equipped to make your plan. You should have figured it out that you need to do equal amounts of planning no matter how long the trip is. Plan today for your next camping trip, and you will feel better knowing you prepared beforehand.

Is this your first tent? You should try pitching your tent before you head out for the first time. This will allow you take an inventory of all the necessary equipment needed to set up the tent. You can do this best before it gets dark outside.

TIP! Are you just starting with camping and want to know what to do to make it enjoyable? Before you head off on that initial camping trip, practice pitching your tent. This will help ensure that your trip goes smoothly, for a more enjoyable trip when you understand your tent.