If you have never tried it, you can’t imagine how much fun camping is. Sleeping and waking up to nature is one of the most relaxing things imaginable. The following article will give you tips and techniques to ensure your camping trip is a success.

Water is critical for your survival when hiking in the backcountry. Carry water purification tablets with you or some sort of water filter that is capable of filtering out bacteria. There are many different kinds available at your local sporting goods store. Whenever you are looking for a water source, make sure the water is flowing; stagnant water can kill you if not treated properly.

If your canteen is beginning to smell musty, you can give it a good cleaning with baking soda. Place a little bit of water in your canteen, and then add three tablespoons of baking soda. Shake gently, let it sit for sixty minutes, and then rinse with water. Your canteen will be refreshingly clean!

A Frisbee makes for excellent support under paper plates, and can avoid the usual camping spillage and drops! Grab as many of them as you have around your home or yard, or pick up a few at your local dollar-type store. They conveniently stack for easy, space-saving packing and are tremendously helpful with little one’s meals.

Look up grocery stores near your campsite. Make sure you know how to get to them. Particularly, if your trip is spanning more than three or four days, the food you bring with you probably isn’t going to last the length of your trip. Not only, that, but your family is going to get tired of eating the same things day after day. Variety is the key.

Be prepared to handle any emergency that may arise and have a plan in place. Though your location can contribute to necessities in the kit, the basics will remain the same. Items that will help with possible snake bites or a sling in case of sprains or breaks is a good idea, too.

Pour out any water that has accumulated in your freezer each day. You want to do this to prevent the ice inside from melting into the water. It is also a good idea because any contaminants that have entered the water from foods you have in, can be poured off.

Don’t forget to include special pillows made just for camping on your adventure. Make sure that you bring camping pillows that do not absorb moisture. Your average pillow will also become moldy from the excessive moisture in the outdoor air. Camping pillows use a coating to lock moisture out to improve your comfort level.

Be certain your camp fire is completely out before you leave a campsite. To your eye it may seem like the fire is gone, but stir the ashes with a stick and you may find burning embers. Pour enough water and keep stirring until you see no more embers in the fire pit.

Educate yourself about the area that you are camping in, and know what hazards you could encounter. This involves finding out which spiders are dangerous, whether flash floods are commonplace and whether there are any sheer drops nearby. Every campsite can have its own dangers.

Bring bug spray. If you forget your bug spray on a camping trip, you will deeply regret it. Try a few different bug sprays ahead of time. Find something that works and doesn’t irritate your skin. You also want to make sure that it isn’t so greasy you’ll be unwilling to sleep in it.

Kids love camping, especially when you plan activities that they can do. They could get bored out in the woods and away from the things they use to entertain themselves regularly. They may never have had a chance to set up a tent or catch a fish. Teach them the basics of these activities before leaving for your trip, especially if they don’t have lots of outdoor experience.

When preparing for a camping trip, people often fail to bring enough clothes. Remember that there will be no washing facilities, and you also need to think about how the weather can call for certain specific attire as well at times. You always want to be prepared, so pack accordingly.

Make sure that you take some activity equipment with you. Card games, fishing poles or games like a scavenger hunt can be very entertaining in the wild. If you bring your kids, these games will help to fill the void when there is free time.

When you select the location for your tent, be sure that it is the right place. The ground should be level and do what you can to avoid setting it up at the bottom of a hill. This will help you keep it dry if the weather should turn bad.

If you’re going camping with a pet, take them for a vet visit beforehand. Inform your veterinarian of where you plan to go camping. Get your pet updated on all their vaccinations and be sure they have protection against ticks, mites, and fleas. You can never be too careful when it comes to the safety of a pet.

In this modern age, there is no excuse for being in the woods without some form of communication ability. Of course, no one likes to receive phone calls when they are relaxing, so leave your phone off but fully charged, just in case there is an emergency, and you need to contact someone.

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.

Now that you are properly educated on how to go about it, you can start working on creating your next camping adventure. Use the information you learned to become a master camper. You can have the adventure of a lifetime, whether you are going out of state or staying nearby.