When camping, there is no heating, air conditioning or kitchen. You need to make sure that you thoroughly plan your trip. Use this article to get some ideas down for what you should think about when going camping.
If you are camping at a public campground, make sure you pack shower shoes for everyone in your party. Not only will they protect your feet from the bacteria on the shower floor, but they are great for those nighttime runs to the bushes when you need to use the restroom. They can be old flip flops, Crocs, or even slip-ons.
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.
Did you know that a simple mirror can save your life? If you are camping and end up in a survival situation, a simple hand held mirror can be used to signal for help many miles away. Do not buy the standard glass mirror, many camping supply stores sell mirrors made of Lexan that will float and are practically unbreakable.
At night, create "bear bags." Tie a rope around the bags with your food and your trash. Then, find a tree and toss bags over a branch, raising until they are at least seven or eight feet off the ground. Tie the rope around the tree so it is secure. This way, bears and other animals will not be able to get into your food and trash during the night.
Bring supplies for 'Smores. 'Smores are an integral part of any camping trip. Simply pack graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. Toast the marshmallows, then make it the filling to a graham cracker/chocolate sandwich. When you have a 'Smore, you will want 'some more'--bring enough for everyone to have at least two of them!
Make sure you have a first aid kit with you. As an alternative, you could pack some supplies in a plastic bag. While hopefully your trip will be free of injuries, you never know. It is best to be prepared so that you can handle anything that happens in the best way possible.
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.
If you are on a camping trip and forgot the bowls for stew, make your own from large plastic soda bottles that have been emptied. Just rinse the bottle and cut down the plastic to the depth you need. Lightly sand the edges to smooth out any rough spots and prepare to scoop up dinner!
Just because your tent is labeled waterproof, do not count on it to keep you dry when it rains. Pack a couple extra-large tarps to take along with you. Use one to set on the ground under your tent and keep one dry to use to cover your tent if it looks like it is going to rain hard.
Bring along some interesting activities when planning a camping trip with kids. If you're out in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do, boredom will set in. While fishing, pitching a tent and starting a fire might sound fun, they are not the activities kids are used to. Expose them to these activities prior to embarking on your trip.
Unless you are a wildlife expert, you should never drink water that you haven't brought to the campsite with you. Water may look crystal clear but actually be home to a host of diseases or bacteria. If you are in an emergency, always choose running water over stagnant water.
Take the time to get a map and to get to know the land. This will help prevent you from getting lost, and to help you figure out how to navigate around your camping grounds throughout your entire trip. This is a good idea to help save time and worry for you.
A good way to pack eggs on a camping trip is to crack them open and pour them into a recyclable water bottle or other container. Shake a few times for scrambled eggs and omelets,or pour them one at a time into a frying pan for sunny- side- up!
Always take a map with you, and make sure you know how to read the map and a compass before you go. You need to do this even if you've been to the campsite before. You may get lost even in a familiar site because so many areas look alike. You will be able to avoid possible tragedy when you learn how to use both of these life saving items.
If camping with children, place each set of their clothing in a zippered plastic bag or a tied plastic grocery bag. By sorting and packing their clothes in this manner, each morning your child can grab a package and have an entire outfit of clothing for the day. When it is time to go to bed at night, each child can stuff the soiled clothing back into the plastic bag and place it back into their suitcase and not soil unworn clothing.
Improper food packing leads to food poisoning in many campers each year. Preserve the food by vacuum sealing or canning it to prevent food poisoning on long camping trips. Pack a lot of ice with you to keep any food that needs to be cold as cold as it can be, and drain your cooler out frequently to avoid wet food.
Dress in layers when camping. Sometimes the weather changes unexpectedly. It can be chilly in the early morning, only to be followed up with a sweltering, humid afternoon. The evenings may turn cold again very quickly. By canvas tent wedding dressing in layers of clothing, you can easily shed layers when the temperature rises and then add layers when the temperature drops.
Bring a few Frisbees with you next time you go camping. Not only will they give you something to do, but they are helpful, too. Use a Frisbee to help you hold your paper plate. It will give it the structure that it needs, and it will be a lot stronger.
A wonderful camping trip is just around the corner, all you have to do is follow what you have just learned. Camping is a great activity to get your family involved in, and as long as you work to prepare well ahead of time and continue to read about great camping tips, you will find camping to be one of the most enjoyable things you do for fun.
