Discovering the outdoors and seeing what Mother Nature has to offer is not only fun, but filled with adventure; it is imperative that you take some precautions and gather some basic knowledge. These tips can help you have a successful camping trip.
If you have a toddler, pack a blanket. You can lay it out on the ground and use it as a makeshift play area. Bring cars, dolls, or whatever items your child is into. They can play without getting too dirty and you can instruct them that they need to keep their toys on the blanket for safekeeping. This will help to keep things from getting too spread out.
You can make tasty meals even when you are camping. You do not necessarily need to eat just franks and beans or hamburgers. Pack a box with herbs and spices, olive oil, brown sugar or whatever else you like. You can fix meals that have flavor even when you are “roughing” it.
Get everything you need ready for your meals before you get to your campsite. If you are only camping for a few days, this initial trip to the store should be all that you need to do. Stock up on nonperishable items, too. You don’t want you or your family members to be hungry on your trip.
When you go camping, be sure to have a few activities in mind other than just… “camping”. The camping experience is enriched by hiking, swimming, exploring and things like that. Be sure to engage in some of these other activities so that you have the fullest camping experience you’ve ever had.
Consider purchasing inexpensive walkie-talkies to take with you on your next camping trip to provide a way to keep in touch with everyone in your party in areas where cell phone reception may not be available. This can be especially important if you are camping with children and need to keep track of their whereabouts.
Do not dump any type of food waste on the ground. This is a great way to attract unwanted bugs and animals. The best way to get rid of excess food waste is to dump all of it into the fire pit. It is also not a good idea to bury them.
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.
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.
Plan your first camping trip close to home. That way, if problems arise, you won’t be too far from help. You might not pack enough food, or you may run short on clothing. A variety of issues could arise if you don’t know what to expect, so being close to home can prevent you from feeling stranded and stuck.
Make sure you have cover in case of rain. When you’re out in the woods, a rainstorm can be wet, cold and uncomfortable. Make sure you have some kind of protection against the rain, whether it be a tent, cabin or lean-to. In a pinch, you can use a garbage bag as a poncho!
Pack some duct tape next time you embark on a camping trip. Just like at home, its uses are nearly endless. It can be used as a quick patch in the case of a punctured air mattress. You can also seal holes in sleeping bags or tents. It can be used on feet to help fight off blisters during long hikes. In a pinch, you can also bandage an injury with it.
Before you even leave your camping trip, try practicing pitching a tent in your backyard or some other open space. People do not know how difficult pitching a tent can be; you do not want to get to camp and realize you have no idea what you are doing. Practice makes perfect!
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.
You should bring food on your camping trips. You should plan out what and how many meals you plan on eating before going on your trip. As far as how much food you should bring, a good rule of thumb is to only carry the amount of food that you need to prepare your meals.
Do not leave your sleeping bag rolled up until right before it is time for you to get some sleep. Lay it out right away so that it can loft up and give you the highest level of insulation. Do the same for any sleeping pads you have brought along.
If you have other people sleeping nearby your campsite, do not bother them by leave your awning lights on during the entire night. Instead, use a timer that you can set to turn the lights off after a certain time period. By doing this, you won’t bother others with your lights.
Many new campers make the mistake of setting up camp near the bathrooms. People quickly realize that camping near bathrooms is a bad idea. Bathrooms are not only sources of light, but they receive quite a bit of traffic. They may end up ruining the entire experience.
Camping outdoors is one of the best experiences in life. These tips will help you to enjoy your next trip in safety.
