Camping can be both the best time you ever have, or the worst. The difference can be the weather that happens while you camp, or how well prepared you are for it. To learn how to be as prepared as you can for camping, read on into the following paragraphs.
If you are using a tent for camping, put a great deal of thought into buying your tent. Consider the climate. Consider your price range. How often will you be using this tent? You don’t want to buy a tent that won’t be able to stand up to the elements. At the same time, you don’t need to pay a fortune for a tent you plan to only use once.
Make sure you are aware of what hospitals are close to your campsite and how to get to them. While you don’t want to think about anything bad happening on your trip, it is a possibility. Certain injuries will necessitate a visit to the doctor, so it is best to know where to go before something happens, and you are in panic mode.
Set up a “jungle breakfast” when you are camping with your kids. Tie to the trees small boxes of cereal, fruit, and juice boxes. Let younger children wake up and hunt for their breakfast. This adds a little sprinkle of adventure and excitement to any camping trip.
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.
Know the climate of your camping area. You will want to have the proper clothing packed for the trip. Knowing how cold the nights get or how hot the days are will help you dress best. You will not want to get caught in the great outdoors with inadequate protection.
An indispensable item to pack for your camping trip is Ziploc bags. You can separate items in your gear like sunscreen and bug spray so if they puncture they do not get all over your gear. You can also use them to keep items like matches and cellphones dry if it rains.
Duct tape can be a camper’s very best friend. When disaster strikes on a camping trip, a roll of heavy-duty duct tape will usually save the day. If the tent fabric needs patching in the rain, duct tape will hold back the water. When tent poles need reinforcing, the duct tape will provide support. Do you have holes in your tennis shoes? Duct tape right over it. Whatever the mishap, a roll of duct tape is sure to help!
If you have never been camping before, then be sure to bring extra of everything. This is most important for things like food and drinks. Since you are inexperienced you may underestimate how much food you actually need. Remember, you will probably be very active, and therefore need more food than normal.
Unless you are a wildlife expert, you should never drink water that you haven’t brought to the campsite with you. Water may look crystal clear but actually be home to a host of diseases or bacteria. If you are in an emergency, always choose running water over stagnant water.
If camping with children, place each set of their clothing in a zippered plastic bag or a tied plastic grocery bag. By sorting and packing their clothes in this manner, each morning your child can grab a package and have an entire outfit of clothing for the day. When it is time to go to bed at night, each child can stuff the soiled clothing back into the plastic bag and place it back into their suitcase and not soil unworn clothing.
Always make sure that your cell phone is with you when you get to your campsite, and it should be fully charged. It is an even better idea to bring extra batteries as an emergency backup. Your cell phone makes for excellent emergency equipment, so you must ensure it does not die.
If you decide to leave your campsite to participate in activities like fishing or hiking, be sure you know how to get back. Many people become lost when doing these things and it could be hard for you to be found; remember, most cell phones do not work in these areas.
Recreational camping is not just for warm weather. If you are feeling especially adventurous, you can go camping in early spring and late fall at most camping grounds. You can even camp in the snow if you have the right gear. Make sure your sleeping bags are suitable for whatever weather you are camping in.
If you have more than three people camping with you, take along more than one tent. You are going to want to have some privacy at one time or another. The additional tent will make it possible to get some “me” time while at the camp site. It also gives you additional storage to keep animals out of your supplies.
Make sure you secure all sources of food at night when you go to sleep. There are many animals that can frequent campgrounds at night and scavenge your food, especially when left open and unattended for hours. You don’t want to wake up to your food scattered everywhere, and you left with a shortage.
If you are sleeping in a tent bring a rug or welcome mat. It is easy to track dirt and debris into your tent. This can be very unpleasant and uncomfortable to sleep on at night. To combat this, put a rug outside the entrance and wipe your feet before you enter.
Weather can ruin a camping trip, but there is little you can do about it. Poor planning can also ruin your camping trip, but there is a great deal that you can do about that. Keep in mind all that you have read in this article so that you can be prepared for you next trip.
