There aren’t many other things that equal the excitement of camping. There is truly nothing that can surpass the feeling of enjoying nature first hand and witnessing its beauty. If these are things you wish to start doing, the ideas in the following paragraphs can help guide you towards this.
Sleeping Bag
Choose a sleeping bag that is seasonally appropriate. If you bring sub-zero sleeping bags with you in the dead of summer, you will probably sweat all night. The reverse is also true. Using a light, cool sleeping bag in the middle of winter will keep you very cold. Packing the wrong sleeping supplies is certainly uncomfortable, and it might even become dangerous.
If you are camping in the summer, go swimming too. When camping, home showers can seem like a luxury. The cool water helps you to feel fresher, and you may just miss your shower a bit less.
Make sure that your camp site is complete before night breaks. When traveling in an RV, locate a safe parking area. Seek out flat, dry ground if you are roughing it with a tent. Doing so before nightfall will allow you to familiarize yourself with your surroundings. It will also make it easier to see what you’re doing, saving you a lot of frustration.
If you are camping in uncharted territory, make sure that you understand potential dangers lurking there. This would include stuff like what spiders dwell there, how steep the terrain is, and if the area is prone to flooding. All camping spots have some dangers associated with them and you want to make sure you pick a spot that isn’t too bad.
Try to schedule activities for your children such as board games or card games. Far from civilization, kids tend to get bored. Kids are often not used to outdoor activities such as pitching a tent or fishing. If they aren’t used to camping activities, teach them before you leave.
If you are a camping novice, you should initially stay near home. That way, if problems arise, you won’t be too far from help. You may come to realize that you should have packed different clothing, or need more food. There are many unexpected problems you may encounter the first time you go camping, so stay close to home.
Take along items to use while you are camping in the wild. Card games, fishing poles, scavenger hunt lists and other supplies can make hanging out in the woods more fun. If you have kids going with you, you may want to go a little overboard with the things you take for entertainment.
If the area you are camping in is known for dangerous wildlife, you will need to be doubly careful with food storage. This means wrapping things up tightly, keeping them far from your tent, and avoiding some types of food completely. This will help prevent wild animals from being tempted to visit your campsite.
Remember the Boy Scout motto – be prepared! Sometimes camping trips don’t follow your plan. Someone could get hurt, the weather could change drastically or people could get sick. Always avoid unnecessary risks and try not to be careless.
Never let your kids roam out of your sight. Cars abound at campgrounds, and it is easy for a little one to walk into the woods and have trouble getting out. Something could happen very quickly, so if you keep an eye on your kids, your supervision will help keep them safe.
If you are taking children with on your camping trip be sure to bring pictures of them as well. This can come in handy if they are separated from you while on your trip. Always bring an emergency photo, especially if your campsite is far from your home.
Beef jerky and trail mix are two camping staples you should always bring with you. At the end of the day, you might feel too tired to cook so having these nutrient-filled snacks on hand can be very useful. These foods are non-perishable; if you do not use them, you can simply bring them home.
Everyone knows to make a shelter, but many forget you should do it before dark! It is very hard to put up a tent when it is dark. It will be necessary to build a fire or at least have a flashlight. It is best to do this before dark so you can put it up correctly.
As you leave for home, clean up your space. Bring enough trash bags for the anticipated clean up. Do not leave any left over food behind. The best practice to follow when camping is to clean the campsite well, and leave only your footprints behind.
How do you plan to cook at your camp site? Think about the meals you want to make before you head out, and plan your trip around that. A lot of people are excited about cooking thing over a flame, but that is hard to do without the right supplies.
Camping is a memory like no other. The air, the things in nature and all of the land are great things to check out when you’re camping. Use these tips to have a relaxing trip to your desired location.