Camping is a great activity, but not everyone sees it this way. There are some stigmas associated with camping, such as the potential dangers that the wild may bring. There is no need to be fearful of camping, as long as you have enough knowledge. The following article contains useful camping advice.
Search out shelter before the sun sets when you are camping. Once it is dark in the woods, pitching a tent can be next to impossible, finding firewood can be difficult and preparing food hard. That is particularly true if you aren’t used to the blackness of the wilderness. Do not wind up in this position. Seek shelter and make camp for the night well before darkness sets in.
Let everyone of your family members have a say on where to go camping. This will make everyone feel invested. The United States offers so many choices that choosing one can be hard! You can select a few places to have the family vote on to make it easier.
Research any potential campground well. They all have different amenities. Some may have showers and bathrooms, while others may not. There are even a few campgrounds that are quite fancy, with onsite miniature golf games or water parks. You may not need or want all that, so figure it out ahead of time so that you are not disappointed when you get there.
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.
Make sure that you know basic first aid before you go out on a camping trip. Should an emergency arise, your knowledge of first aid can prevent further issues until help arrives. In addition, make sure you do enough research on the area. Know the types of wild animals that inhabit the woods and gain understanding of any poisonous snakes or plants nearby.
Before you bring your dog along for a camping trip, get him used to the idea with a little practice run in the back yard. Pitch the tent in an already familiar area, and let him sleep or play in it for a while. Bringing a dog can really add to the fun of camping, so long as the animal has been adequately prepared for the event.
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.
Take along a fire extinguisher! You never know when a fire can spread. Being prepared to put it out quickly could save your life, your gear and the woods around you. Find one that is capable of putting out fires of all kinds to be sure you are prepared to extinguish them all.
When you are going camping, do your best to get as early of a start as possible. It will be your job to pitch your tent so you have somewhere to rest comfortably, and that will be much harder for you to do once it starts to get dark outside.
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!
As you set up your campsite, choose an area that is as smooth and as level as possible for the location of your tent. An area that is sloped or rugged won’t make for the best place to put your tent. Also, put a tarp down on your site to repel water in the best fashion.
Be sure to avoid draining your flashlight’s batteries on your camping trip. It can be really easy to inadvertently press the “on” switch on your flashlight when jostling through a bag of camping equipment. To prevent this from draining the batteries, store the batteries in the flashlight backwards until you need to use it. Your batteries will remain fully charged until you turn them around the right direction, and you won’t be able to accidentally turn the flashlight on.
Take along a battery operated radio when camping. A radio will keep you up-to-date on any late-breaking news and weather reports. A radio will also give you entertainment during those quiet evenings sitting around the campfire. Or if you prefer, pack a guitar for you and your campers’ enjoyment.
If you are camping with children, keep a picture of them handy. This can help you locate your children quickly if they are lost during the trip. This is particularly useful if you will be camping somewhere far from where you live.
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.
After reading the camping advice in this article, no one should see camping in a negative light. Camping should be seen for the wonderful activity that it is, not as a potential danger. If you remember what you’ve read here, you should be able to camp safely without any problems.
