How long has it been since you went camping? Camping is a wonderful way to return to nature, relax, and reflect on life. You can just escape your daily routine for a little while and get away from your every day life. Make sure that you read this article thoroughly to discover tips that can make or break your future camping trip.
When you go camping, you wand to find shelter before the sun goes down. Once the woods are dark, it is very difficult to find firewood, pitch your tent and prepare some food. This is particularly true for anyone accustomed to city living and unfamiliar with pitch dark woods. To ensure you get your campsite operational arrive several hours before sunset.
Make sure that all of your friends and family are involved in choosing the camping site. Engage in conversation about what state and location they would like to visit. With the many parks and preserves in the world, deciding where to go can be a task into itself. If necessary, select a few locations yourself, then let the family decide among your choices.
Make sure that your sleeping bag is right for the season and climate where you are camping. A winter bag for the summer will cause you to sweat all night. On the flip side, bring a sleeping bag meant for summer camping will make you very cold during your winter camping trip. You would in fact be risking your health and safety.
Pack a survival kit and carry it on you at all times. Things to include in your survival pack are a knife, matches that are waterproof, first aid kit, flares and tablets to purify water. This kit can keep you alive! Never let it leave your side.
Take a class on how to do first aid. This is especially important if you are taking kids with you. Should an emergency arise, your knowledge of first aid can prevent further issues until help arrives. Make sure to do your research. You should be aware of things like whether there are snakes around and what kind of animals live there.
Check the weather updates for the camping site that you choose to go to. You can visit http://www.weather.com to check the weather just about anywhere. Be sure to look at the 10 day forecast along with extended weather patterns. By knowing the weather, you can ensure you pack the proper equipment and clothing for your camping trip.
If you are camping in the summer, go swimming too. A hot shower can be sorely missed. The coolness of the water will help you feel cleaner and more refreshed, so you won’t miss your shower as much as you thought you might!
Take along a bandanna or a small towel. In a pinch, that single piece of fabric can serve as a potholder, carrying bag, blotter, hand towel and paper towel. Take a few with you anytime you go camping.
Before you embark on any camping trip you should be sure you have emergency supplies on hand, like a first aid kit and more. Always keep the bare basics with you in the kit, and make sure that you have water purification tablets in it as well. You may want to pack bear repellent or antivenom.
No matter how rough and tough your camping plans, bring along a small bit of luxury to add an elegant touch to your camping trip. For example, bring a bar of chocolate or a small container of cream to put in your coffee. These small treats for yourself can really boost morale.
Even if you’re roughing it, you can better your camping experience by bring a small luxury. Carry something small and convenient, such as a chocolate bar or some coffee creamer. Such little luxuries will really pick up your spirits!
Your camp should be set up before the sun goes down. If you driving an RV, you should locate a safe parking spot. If your camping with a tent, make sure to find a dry area that is also flat so you can pitch your tent with ease. It is much easier to do these things during the day, and you can become familiar with the area. It is also easier for you to see what is happening, so you won’t feel so frustrated.
Oranges taste great, but they can also help keep mosquitoes away from you. When you get through eating an orange, rub the peel on exposed skin to keep pesky bugs away.
Pillows are a good item to bring to maximize your level of comfort while camping. Standard pillows can get hot and sticky in humid weather. Your average pillow will also become moldy from the excessive moisture in the outdoor air. A good pillow intended for camping, however, will keep the moisture out, which will prevent any of the above problems.
Try to schedule activities for your children such as board games or card games. They might get antsy once you start to get deeper in the forest. They may not be used to thing like fishing and pitching a tent. Get them used to it prior to leaving on the trip.
Safeguard your food from the local wildlife. So, you will need to keep things wrapped well, keep them far removed from the tent, and you may need to steer clear of certain foods entirely. That will reduce the chance of a critter attack.
Food is one of the most important items to bring while camping. Depending on the length of time of your outing, you need to have plenty of non-perishable food. Food poisoning could put an end to your nice vacation. Always prepare food the right way and take extra precautions.
Duct Tape
Bringing a dog on your camping trip is fine as long as you bring a leash and keep a close eye on them. Your neighboring campers may be afraid of dogs. You should keep that in mind while you are on your camping trip. Also, your pet could be destructive to other people’s belongings.
Duct tape is an interesting item to be included in your inventory while camping. Duct tape is very useful camping, the same as it is at home. It can be used as a quick patch in the case of a punctured air mattress. Use it to enclose a rip in a tent, sleeping bag or weather-proofing tarp you have laid down. You can even put some under your feet before long hikes so that you don’t get blisters. It can also work as a bandage.
It’s imperative that you take along the things you need when you’re going camping. Your trip will not be as fun if you forget imperative items. Write a list of essentials and as you pack the items, cross them off. Good items to bring include a sleeping bag, water, food, hygiene supplies and things that can help you get a fire started.
Take along a sleeping bag that matches the climate where you’re going. 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. You need a sleeping bag that fits snugly and keeps your body heat in if you’re going to sleep outside in a tent.
Take steps to prevent dead flashlight batteries while camping. It is very common for flashlights to be turned on inadvertently when going through camping supplies or while being stored. To prevent this from draining the batteries, store the batteries in the flashlight backwards until you need to use it. This way, you’ll still have fresh batteries for your trip.
Never let your kids roam out of your sight. There are many people coming and going all of the time and you do not want them to get kidnapped or lost. An accident can occur quickly, so it is important to be vigilant.
Always keep an eye on your children, no matter where they are. There are always cars arriving and leaving from campsites, and it is easy for little kids to get lost easily in wooded areas. Accidents and mishaps occur in a split second; make certain your children are safely supervised at all times.
Orange peels may protect you from mosquitoes. Don’t worry if you forgot your bug spray. Experts say to rub your exposed body parts with a inside layer of a ripe orange peel. This will keep the mosquitoes away for long periods of time.
Try to arrange all of your clothing in advance before you go on a camping trip. A ready supply of clean clothing should included in your inventory. Also, before you leave, check the climate to determine what types of clothes to bring. Don’t forget to pack durable, comfortable shoes for walking.
If you’re taking along the kids, pack current pictures of them. This is the perfect tool in case you can’t find them during the trip. When camping far away from your house, remember to bring one in case of an emergency.
A camping trip could be a relaxing, tranquil experience, or it could end up being a vacation from hell. Preparation makes all the difference. By being prepared for various situations, you’ll most likely have fun on your trip.
Make sure you know how to use a compass and map before you go camping. Although you might know your site, it is still easy to get lost, as many places in the woods look similar. Avoid problems by learning to use these items that can save your life.
Be sure to create your shelter before it gets dark. When it is daytime, it is a much easier setting for pitching a tent. It will be necessary to build a fire or at least have a flashlight. Making the effort to do the work before the sun goes down will make for a more enjoyable trip.
Seal all of your tent’s seams when erecting your tent. If your tent doesn’t have it, you may purchase a tube at a sporting goods store. Sealing the seams of your tent will prevent any insects or water from getting inside.
Lots of camping novices set up their camp beside the rest area. They have convenience in mind, but might find out the situation is different than they thought. Bathrooms are a light source but are also high-traffic areas. Therefore, they end up not having the convenience and comfort that they expected.
The best way to dress for camping is in layers. Weather in the outdoors can change very quickly. It may be chilly one moment and sweltering the next. Nighttime can often be much colder than mornings and afternoons. Dressing in layers will allow you to easily change your clothes as the weather changes.
When you are camping, clothing layers are ideal. Outdoors, the weather can change frequently and quickly. It can be chilly in the early morning, only to be followed up with a sweltering, humid afternoon. It can get really chilly again when the sun starts going down. You will have to have a lot of layers of clothing so you are always ready for the weather, whatever it is.
Plan things that are fun to do so your trip is filled with excitement. There is so much more to camping than just roasting marshmallows. Think about enjoyable activities for all family members. You should plan activities that both the older campers and younger campers alike will enjoy.
If camping has always appealed to you, but you remain a novice, you can rapidly determine whether the pastime does indeed suit you. Pick up your tent, set it in your own back yard, and spend the night there. Do not go in the house for any reason. If you find that you have fun, there’s a good chance that camping in the mountains or woods will be even more of a blast for you.
Planning the perfect camping experience is easy when you use tips like the ones in this article. The information here is just the beginning of what can be done to make your camping trips more enjoyable. As you go camping more often, you will learn other things.
Use older shower curtains as a cheap tarp. You can also use it as a way to control run-off as you are washing or cooking. Therefore, instead of putting your old shower curtains in the trash, wash them and save them for your next camping trip.
About The Author
