Camping can be a great way to get out and enjoy the outdoors. It can also be an experience that you would give anything to forget. If you properly plan for your trip, it will turn out great. Use the following tips to prepare for your next camping trip to make it one you want to remember.
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.
Before you head out on your long-awaited camping trip, make sure the area where you plan to camp doesn’t require a camping permit. If you happen to camp in a place that does require one and you didn’t get one, then you could be facing quite a hefty ticket or fine from a local forest ranger.
If you are planning any kind of backcountry camping, a must carry item is a fire starter kit. If you are in a survival situation, fire is a way to cook, keep you warm, purify water, and signal for help. Many camping stores sell fire starters that can be used when wet and do not require any fuel. Also, try making fire when you are not in a survival situation so you know you can do it if the need arises.
Prior to leaving, take a few minutes to make a checklist of everything that you need. There is nothing worse than getting to a campsite and then finding out that you don’t have what you need to be comfortable. A checklist is a great aid as you are packing. Try to start getting thing’s together several days before you leave so you have plenty of time.
While you may think that nature will offer up enough wood to keep your fire embers burning, it could quite possibly be wet wood that doesn’t really want to burn. To prevent this problem, bring along a few pieces of your own wood. Make sure to keep that wood dry in your car or another secure location.
Allow everyone who is going on the trip to have a say about the campsite. Engage in conversation about what state and location they would like to visit. Choosing one can be really hard in the United States, given how many places there are to go! It may be easier to choose a few front runners and have family members vote.
When planning for your camping trip, don’t forget to pack the sunscreen. Just because you are not on the beach doesn’t mean that you don’t need protection from the sun’s burning rays. A sport sunscreen can be a smart choice if you will be doing strenuous physical activities during your trip.
Bring your cellphone with you when you go camping. Even if you are serious about roughing it, cell phones are still very useful in emergencies and should not be left at home. A cell phone is no longer a hobby, and when you go camping it can help you reach police and emergency personnel–bring it.
Save space in your bag by leaving mixing spoons and containers behind, and instead just bring plastic zip-lock bags. Place the foods or liquids that you want to mix in the bag, and ensure that the zipper is well closed before mixing. Not only do the bags take up considerably less space than bowls and spoons, but they’re much more lightweight as well!
When kids are in your camping party, it is important to let them know what the rules are as soon as you get there. They must have strict guidelines to follow, or they could get hurt or annoy others. For example, talk to them about screaming and how their voices could disturb others. It is much harder to enforce rules after you have been there for a few days, so get going early.
A large number of camping related injuries are due directly to carelessness with fire, so be sure to use fire with caution. First, make sure that fires are permissible in the area of your camp site. Set a ring of stones around the fire to keep it contained. Never leave children unsupervised near an open fire.
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.
Before going on a camping trip, make sure that you compile a list of things that you will need to take with you. For trips that take a while to arrive at the destination, this is crucial. Start getting things together a couple of days before you plan to leave, and check things off the list as you pack them.
Think carefully when you pack. Compile a checklist of things that you need for your trip, then check the items off on the list as you add them to your bags. This is something you should strive to do if you are camping in a secluded spot, away from first-aid or emergency amenities.
You should carry a survival knife on your camping trips. This portable knife can be used for hunting, for protection, and for a signal if you need help. You need to carry one that is durable, so try to invest in a quality knife from an outdoor goods or camping store.
Now that you have a good idea about how to plan for your camping trip, you can start planning and packing. Explore the wonders that nature has provided you to enjoy. Keep your camera ready! You are going to want to capture as many memories as possible on your next camping excursion.
