Camping is a great way to bring the family together. Everyone can learn about getting more in touch with both nature and themselves. You can get a lot from exploring the outdoors. The piece that follows offers terrific tips for creating a successful camping excursion.

Although it is not an essential part of your back country camping gear, a machete is something that you may consider packing depending on where you are going. It is a very versatile tool in the wilderness. You can cut a trail, hack bamboo and vines for shelter, cut coconuts for water, chop firewood, and even use it as protection against wild animals.

When you are camping, a necessity for your gear is a survival knife. This is the most important part of your camping gear. Buy a high quality survival knife, not just the cheapest you can find, your life may depend on it. These knives are all very similar; they have a long blade serrated on one side and a hollow handle. Inside the handle you can carry fishing line, hooks, a compass, and matches as a small survival kit.

Pick out your sleeping bag according to what season it is. If you bring sub-zero sleeping bags with you in the dead of summer, you will probably sweat all night. Alternatively, taking a light bag in the winter can lead to great discomfort. You may even get hypothermia.

To increase your sleeping experience while camping, bring a pad along that you can place under your sleeping bag. This pad acts as a barrier between you and the hard ground where twigs and tree knots may cause strange sleeping conditions. If a pad isn’t handy, bring a few extra blankets that you can fold over on themselves to create some cushion.

While you have this vision of a fun-filled camping trip, many times scrapes and cuts just seem to come with all that fun. Be sure you take a first-aid kit with you into nature because accidents just happen, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Hopefully, it will stay packed safely away, but you will have the peace of mind that you are prepared if something does happen.

Make sure that you avoid any venomous plants. A good way to do this is to stop at the ranger station and ask what kinds of poisonous plants are in the area so you can identify them if you come into contact with them on the trail. Never eat anything while hiking on the trail if you do not know it is edible.

Ask a park ranger or a tour guide to let you know about all the places to check out while you are camping. This is a good idea so that you know you are getting the most out of your camping experience, you don’t want to take a camping trip and miss out on a fun experience.

When planning for a camping adventure with kids, be sure to speak to them about camping dangers. It is simple to check out the Internet for photos of dangerous plants like poison ivy so they know what to avoid in the wild.

If you are a camping novice, you should initially stay near home. You may find that your gear isn’t up to par, or your trip isn’t what you thought it would be. Maybe you’ll run low on food or not have enough clothing with you. Many problems may arise for a new camper, so camping close to where you live can help you.

For your first camping trips, try to choose a place that you can drive to. If your car is nearby you can use it as a “fortress” of sorts when you are in the middle of nowhere. Not only can you enter it in case of wildlife attack; it can also protect you from the elements.

Always take along a survival and first aid kit when you’re going camping. These items can help save a life or help keep a harmful situation from going from bad to worse. This allows you to help someone should they become injured.

A great idea when planning your camping trip is to make a list of everything you need before you go. As you pack each item, you can cross it off your list. This is really essential because you do not want to be stuck blowing up your air mattresses because you forgot to pack an air pump.

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.

A great tool to take whenever you go camping is duct tape. Duct tape is a very versatile tool that can be used from anything to mend broken tent poles, to patching up tent holes, all the way to serving as a band aide if you get a cut.

Make a list of the things you need for your camping trip and check each item off once you pack it. Then, make sure you bring each bag to the car. The last thing any camper wants is to reach the sight and find out they forgot something important, like matches or the food.

While creating a survival kit, include waterproof matches. These should be stored in an airtight container. You can waterproof regular matches by dunking them in nail polish or paraffin, a type of wax. A film container or pill bottle can serve for storage.

Use the information shared in this article to have a great time on your next trip. You probably are already probably equipped with a little knowledge, but it’s always good to learn as much as you can about things before you do them. The information in this article will help you make wise choices when you go camping next time.