Camping is a great activity that you can share with loved ones. Many people avoid camping because it seems hard or requires too much effort. It can be easy if you have the best information. Read this article for some sound tried and true camping advice.
Pick a sleeping bag which is appropriate for the season. Bringing a sub-zero type of sleeping bag to use on a trip in the summer will make you sweat the entire night. The reverse is also true. Using a light, cool sleeping bag in the middle of winter will keep you very cold. You could even experience hypothermia.
Keep in mind that everything and everyone that goes camping is going to get quite dirty. If you’re ready for this, it will bother you less when it happens. Enjoy your time and don’t afraid to be messy. You can always take a bath back at the house.
Learn to set up your tent prior to leaving on your trip. This will allow you to get the experience needed for erecting your tent. This will also eliminate some of the frustration associated with setting up a tent.
Enroll in a first aid course, especially if your trip will include kids. This way, should an accident occur, at least you are properly prepared until help arrives. Be sure to research the area you are visiting. Find out if the area has poisonous snakes, what type of wildlife lives in the woods, etc.
Check out your medical insurance policy. When you travel to camp, you may need to have this updated or add an additional policy. This becomes even more important if your camping trip takes you to another country. Be sure that you prepare yourself in case anything happens!
See if you can integrate swimming into your camping trip. A hot shower can be sorely missed. When swimming, you will feel refreshed and cleaner. If you use some biodegradable soap, you can get just as clean as you would at home.
Take a bandana or handkerchief with you. That small piece of cloth could become a potholder, a bag, a blotter or a towel. Take a few with you anytime you go camping.
Pack things like oranges when you go camping. They are nutritious, and they also keep mosquitoes away. Don’t throw away the peels when you are finished with them and rub them on yourself. Apply to any skin that’s exposed to keep insects away with no chemicals. It’s a lot cheaper than spending your money on bug spray!
Take along pillows that are especially for camping. If you take along a regular bedroom pillow, it can get hot and sticky when it is humid outside. On top of that, they will mildew rapidly as they suck in moisture. Camping pillows are covered with a special coating that keeps moisture at bay.
Inform your children of possible dangers before taking them camping. Use the Internet to teach them about things like poison ivy and the like, and ensure that they will approach nature with respect and caution.
If a pet accompanies you to the campground, do not just let him or her run free. A lot of people have a fear of dogs. Respecting your fellow campers is essential when camping. Additionally, dogs are capable of damaging the camping area if you don’t keep a good eye on them.
Camping is about being one with nature and living off the basics, but it is important to go prepared. Packing a sleeping bag is pretty obvious, but take the extra precaution of including extra blankets too. This will allow you to stay warm, no matter how cold it gets, and it also serves as extra padding.
Have you just bought your first tent and want to begin camping? Practice putting your tent up before going camping. This practice will give you the opportunity to make sure you have everything you need to get set up quickly and easily. That way, you can get things done rapidly once you get to the campsite.
Accidentally Turn
If you put some thought in ahead of time, you will not have to worry about drained batteries in your flashlight while you are at a camp out. It’s easy to accidentally turn on a flashlight when rummaging through your bags. You can safeguard the power by slipping the batteries in backwards in the flashlight cylinder. That way you make sure you don’t accidentally turn them on.
Plan out all of your clothing before leaving for your trip. Make sure that you pack enough clothes to last you for the whole trip. It is also important to have clothing that is right for the weather you might encounter. Robust hiking boots that do not tear are another great item to bring while camping.
Utility knives are great to have when camping. It is even better if you have more than one. These types of knives are the key to success when you need tools at a campsite. Carry an extra one in your bags in the event that your main one gets lost.
You should leave your car or basecamp with a cell phone that’s fully charged. If that’s not an option, bring an extra battery. A cell is the most important tool you have in an emergency, so be sure it works.
Don’t forget the toilet paper. If you are going camping in a place that has no toilets, it will be necessary for you to use the bathroom outside. Using leaves to wipe could open yourself to mistakenly wiping with poison ivy, so be sure you remember the toilet paper.
As you can see, camping isn’t so difficult. Even you can learn to master it. Use what you’ve read here when you next go camping. Soon, you can really enjoy a great time in nature.