One of the best ways to have fun outdoors and enjoy all the nature has to offer is by going camping. However, it is not enough to just head out into the woods without knowing what you are doing. By remembering the following advice, your next camping trip can be one to remember.
When camping, bring the sleeping bag that appeals to the season that you are in. Bringing a winter bag camping in summer can cause you to roast all night. If you are going to bring a light bag in the winter, you may end up freezing and having a miserable time. You may even get hypothermia.
With camping, comes the campfire. Make sure your campfire is in an open space and far enough away from brush or trees so you don’t run the risk of a stray spark catching them on fire. Surround the fire with stones to help keep it contained. Most importantly, never leave any campfire unattended. If you need to leave for any reason, make sure the campfire is extinguished completely.
Before you start out on that relaxing camping trip, it is essential for your safety to make sure to let someone know you are going. Give a friend or neighbor the name of the campsite if you are using one. If you are headed out on a less structured trip, give your contact a general idea of where you are headed and a timeline for your return. If something goes wrong, there will be someone to know where to look for you.
You need to maintain your cleanliness while camping. Good hygiene is difficult when you are camping sometimes, but you can keep yourself clean. A bottle of hand sanitizer is excellent to have so you can clean hands before eating. You can also use rubbing alcohol on areas of your body that are not sensitive. A mild biodegradable soap and a sponge can be used to take mini-baths when water resources are low.
Take along a box with essential supplies when you go camping. Include things like stick matches, a flashlight, cooking tools and hand cleaner. Prepare in advance. Think about all the things you might need days before you leave on your trip, especially if you will be far from any store.
Set your campsite, tent and sleeping bags up before it gets dark. If you’re driving an RV, find a safe parking spot. When pitching a tent, locate dry and flat ground. Doing this during daylight hours will save you hassle and frustration. It will also save some time and frustration since you will be able to see better.
Don’t forget the duct tape when you pack for a camping trip, to solve just about any dilemma! It has several uses like fixing a hole in a tent and holding moisture.
One thing that many people forget to pack on a camping trip, and which quickly turns the trip into a nightmare is bug spray. This simple repellent will save you both annoyance and can protect your health as many types of bugs can do a great deal of damage to you quickly.
If you have special drinks that you like, take them with you camping. It is easy to forget things like green tea, hot cocoa or your special blend of coffee. You can even take wine if it is a romantic camping adventure. Just don’t forget to pack a corkscrew.
Educate yourself about the area that you are camping in, and know what hazards you could encounter. Figure out if there are any poisonous insects, what the land looks like and how the weather will be. Every camping spot has a few dangers to be aware of.
Purchase a multi-use tool to store with your camping gear. This tool should include an axe, hammer and saw. The multi-use tool will come in handy when you are searching for firewood, clearing a trail and setting up your tent. When purchasing a multi-use tool, get one of the good quality one for years of enjoyment.
Camping is great fun for kids if you plan things that they can do. Many of today’s children are not used to downtime away from the hustle and bustle of city life, and the quiet outdoors can cause boredom for them. In today’s techno society, children may not be accustomed to the great outdoors. Teach them about these activities prior to leaving.
Bugs do not like fire at all, so it is a good idea to keep your fire burning all night while you are sleeping. If you find that there is a huge bug problem during the day, it would help to keep a fire burning at that time as well.
Choose your campsite carefully. The location in which you’re camping can make all the difference. Do plenty of research before you make any plans. What is the weather like? Does the campsite have specific rules? How crowded will the campsite be? Poor planning can make for a miserable camping experience.
Prior to your camping trip, create a list of all the equipment and personal items you need to take. This is an important step if you are traveling a distance to get to your camp site. Start getting things together a couple of days before you plan to leave, and check things off the list as you pack them.
Some of the best food options to bring camping with you are things that come in cans. While this may not be the tastiest, it is great for two reasons. It is very convenient and easy to prepare, but more importantly; wildlife will be unable to smell the food inside of the cans.
Once you know what you are doing, it is a lot easier to have fun on your next camping trip. By arming yourself with some basic advice, you can avoid common mistakes and just focus on enjoying yourself. Just remember the tips from this article to have a great time camping.
