Whether you know it or not, camping is a great way to get in touch with yourself. It is also a way to have a relaxing time away from the stresses of everyday life. There are some things you need to keep in mind though, so here are a few tips to make your camping trip work out great.
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.
If you are traveling with children, give them the opportunity to assist you when you get to the campground. They can carry gear, support you as you set up the tent and look for firewood. Not only will it keep them busy and out of trouble, it will be fun for them as well.
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.
Bring a plastic garbage bag and put all of you family’s dirty laundry in it. This keeps the items from mixing in with your clean clothing. It also makes things convenient for you when you return home. You can simply dump out the bag in your washing machine and begin working on it all immediately.
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.
As a courtesy to other campers, don’t leave your lighting on overnight, if you are close to others. Pack a timer that you can attach to your lights that will automatically shut them off after a certain time. Leaving lights on overnight is a popular complaint among most American campers!
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.
Before the sun goes down, make sure that you have your camp completely set up. If you are in an RV, a safe parking spot should be found. When pitching a tent, locate dry and flat ground. Choosing a site before night falls gives you an opportunity to get used to your surroundings. It will also make it easier to see what you’re doing, saving you a lot of frustration.
Bring all necessary camping gear with you prior to going on your trip. You would be pretty irritated if it turned out that you left your sleeping bag or tent back at home. In order to ensure that this does not happen, make a checklist before you head out and cross off the items as you pack them.
Bring along some interesting activities when planning a camping trip with kids. When you are in the woods with nothing around but trees, they may become bored. In today’s techno society, children may not be accustomed to the great outdoors. Teach them the basics of these activities before leaving for your trip, especially if they don’t have lots of outdoor experience.
If you are new to camping, you should camp near your home. You may encounter problems with your equipment, or you may decide to come home early. Others may find that they have a shortage of food or their clothing isn’t appropriate. All sorts of things can happy the first time you go camping. It’s better for mishaps to occur close to home.
Do not forget your cooking supplies. You will need pots, pans, utensils and dishes to cook on and eat with. Make sure that you double-check to be sure that you have packed these supplies before you leave the house. You do not want to get all set up and ready to cook your first meal and find that you have left your pot at home.
The supplies for your next camping excursion should include a couple rolls of duct tape. There are multiple uses to put it to when camping, just like at home. It can be utilized to fix a torn air mattress. Duct tape can also seal other rips, such as ripped tents or sleeping bags. If you want to take a long hike it can be put on feet to keep blisters at bay. It even works as a bandage.
Before setting out on your next camping trip, check out your first aid kit. If there are any items that are missing, replace them. If any of the ointments or medications are low in quantity, remove them and replace them will a new package. Check the expiration date on topical ointments and medications and replaced any that are outdated.
Always keep an eye on your children, no matter where they are. There are always cars arriving and leaving from campsites, and it is easy for little kids to get lost easily in wooded areas. Disaster can strike in seconds; this makes it imperative that you always have an eye out for your kids.
You can relax when you’re camping, and when you’re enjoying yourself you can get a bit more in tune with yourself. Use the tips in this article to make sure you really enjoy all there is to enjoy on your camping trip. Look for ways to make your experience one you will remember.
