How about some time under the stars? Camping has long been one of the most cherished pastimes. While it may be fun, there is a lot to keep in mind when camping. Keep reading to properly prepare for your camping adventure.
When camping, be sure to locate a shelter before dark. After the night falls, pitching a tent, locating firewood and making food can be difficult. This is particularly true for those city-dwellers that are not used to pitch-black darkness. Avoid these circumstances by finding the right shelter while it is still light.
Make sure your sleeping bag is right for the weather. If you're camping in the heat of summer, a sub-zero bag just isn't comfortable or appropriate. Alternatively, taking a light bag in the winter can lead to great discomfort. You may even subject yourself to hypothermia.
Make sure that you know how to set up your tent before going on your trip. That way, you won't be missing any pieces, and you'll be able to set it up correctly the first time. This can eliminate the aggravation felt when setting up your tent.
When choosing a tent, pick one that has plenty of room for you and all of your camping companions. With enough room, getting up during the night will not disturb others in the tent, and you can all be comfortable while sleeping.
Duct tape is a handy tool to carry when you are camping. It is great for patching your tent, repairing your shoes, fixing your insect netting and various other tasks.
Be certain you have everything you will need before embarking on your adventure. It is very inconvenient to forget to bring essential items like your sleeping bag or tent. Create a checklist if you feel like you are going to forget something.
You need to take things to entertain yourself during your camping trip. Card games, fishing poles, and a list for a scavenger hunt are all great activities. If you are bringing children on your trip, you should bring a few more entertainment supplies than you think you'll need.
It's imperative that you take along the things you need when you're going camping. Even just a handful of things missing can really affect your camping experience. Take the time to create a list that can be checked off while you pack. Some useful items are items to create a fire, your tent, tarp, a sleeping bag, water (and lots of it), soap, food that is already prepared, and a utility knife.
Plan ahead to avoid draining flashlight batteries on your next camping trip. It is not uncommon to accidentally bump the switch and turn your flashlight on when you are digging around in your bag. You can prevent your batteries from losing power by storing them backwards in your flashlight. This way, you'll still have fresh batteries for your trip.
When camping with children, bring along a picture of each child. In the case that a child goes missing, having their photo at hand could be of great use. Bring one to use for emergencies, particularly if you are a long way from home.
Pay attention to the surrounding area of your campsite. You want to avoid things like wasp's nest, ant hills and things of that nature. Make sure that everyone wears long sleeved clothing if you camp near abundant vegetation, to minimize poison and insect issues. Insect repellent is a life saver.
Camping Trip
You can have the relaxing camping trip of your dreams, or you can have the disastrous camping trip of your nightmares. Whether it goes well or not is usually determined by how prepared you are. You will probably enjoy your trip more if you're prepared for all sorts of situations that may arise.
Pack wisely and carefully. 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. That is essential if you are going far away to a remote site and unable to get first aid items and other necessary things.
Seal the seams on your tent when you're putting it up. If sealant was not included in your tent, visit your local sporting goods store to purchase some. Sealing your tent will keep out rainwater and unwelcome critters.
Many people who are new to camping think that erecting a tent next to the campsite's communal bathrooms is a good idea. While this can seem convenient, it really isn't. Bathrooms attract many people and also end up lit up at night. Therefore they can be more of a nuisance than anything else.
Keep safety at the front of your mind. Stay away from wildlife, even if they are not very large. Smaller animals can be a lot more dangerous than expected, like squirrels for instance. This should not have to be said, but never feed any bears you see.
Try to prevent your tent from getting wet and be sure it is properly ventilated. You risk condensation building up inside the tent if you seal it up completely. You may even wake up wet. Tents typically have integrated vents or windows that may be opened slightly to keep moisture accumulations at bay.
Toilet paper and baby wipes are two things that every camper will appreciate. While you could certainly "rough it" and use leaves, there's not really a good reason to torture yourself when wipes and toilet paper are easily transported.
Make sure that your camping supplies include sufficient food and water. If you're camping anywhere that has bears, be sure to store any food far from where you're sleeping. Take any garbage and burn it so that bears aren't attracted to where your camp is set up.
As previously mentioned, you have to think about many different things before going camping. Ensure that you take head of the tips featured above, as by doing so, you will be able to enjoy a safe adventure into the great outdoors with family and friends.