Spending time in the great outdoors can be made more enjoyable wherever you camp, if you prepare ahead of time. Read the following tips to learn more about preparing to go camping. You will not regret reading this great information.
When packing for your camping trip, do not forget chairs and a radio. One of the best parts of camping is sitting around the campfire. You could sit on an old log, but why bother when you can pack chairs and be comfortable. The radio is for entertainment sitting around the fire. An even better idea is to bring your guitar for a sing along.
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.
Allow everyone in the camping party a say in the location. Think about where it is you want to go. Try to keep a small list, as there is such an abundance of spots to choose from, it can be hard to pick one. To make it easy, pick a few that you really like and then have a family vote.
When it comes to food, bring only what you need on a camping trip. Extra food out in the wilderness is a calling card for wild animals to come visiting your campground. If you do find that you have additional food, tie it up in cloth and handg it as high as you can in a tree away from your immediate campground. This will help keep you from unwanted animal introductions.
Figure out your new gear before you go camping. The practice does really help. No one wants to get to the campground, only to find out that they don't know how to use something or set up their own tent. Practice with your new gear before you ever set foot on the campground.
Always understand what dangers are associated with a new place. This involves finding out which spiders are dangerous, whether flash floods are commonplace and whether there are any sheer drops nearby. All camping spots have some dangers associated with them and you want to make sure you pick a spot that isn't too bad.
An emergency kit is a very important component to have while camping. There are certain things you'll need to include at certain locations (i.e. a snake bite kit.) However, there some basics you should always have with you. Antivenom is another important component to bring with you, depending on the area where you visit.
Before you leave on your trip, use your backyard to help you work out the kinks in your camping equipment. Put up your tent to make sure you know (or remember!) how to put it up. This will also allow you to see if anything needs to be patched up. It will make it that much easier for you when you get to the campsite.
While camping, cook easy outdoor canvas tent dinners like "hobo stew". Simply bring potatoes, ground meat, and veggies. Cut the veggies and potatoes at your campsite. Using tinfoil like a bowl, put the ingredients inside and fold the foil over until the food is covered. Place foil on hot rocks or the coals of the campfire, and eventually you will have a tasty "stew".
An indispensable item to pack for your camping trip is Ziploc bags. You can separate items in your gear like sunscreen and bug spray so if they puncture they do not get all over your gear. You can also use them to keep items like matches and cellphones dry if it rains.
Have you just bought your first tent and want to begin camping? If you are not sure how to put your tent up, practice before going on your camping trip. You should know what you need and how to do it before you actually have to do it. You can do this best before it gets dark outside.
Take along a fire extinguisher! You never know when a fire can spread. Being prepared to put it out quickly could save your life, your gear and the woods around you. Find one that is capable of putting out fires of all kinds to be sure you are prepared to extinguish them all.
If your campsite is known for wildlife, be extremely careful with food. You have to wrap your food tightly and keep them away from the tent; some foods, you may have to forget. This can reduce the chances of wildlife coming near you on your trip.
Learn how to pitch your tent ahead of time. First-time tent pitching can take time, and you may get frustrated if your first time is at the actual campsite. If you practice doing this ahead of time, it will be a breeze to do once you get to your destination.
A great tip for anyone that is going camping is to take plenty of water. In this case, there is absolutely no such thing as too much water. Plan out how much water you will need and then try and at least double the amount just to be on the safe side.
Ensure that you clean your campsite up whenever you finish using it. Pick up any piece of trash you can find. This is just common courtesy for the people who will be using it whenever you finish. You would want and expect the same thing in return from other people.
Think folding chairs when packing for your camping trip. You will want folding chairs to sit in around the campfire. The best type of folding chairs are those that have a case with a strap. This type of chair makes it easy to tote when hiking or visiting other campers.
Anyone and everyone can find camping entertaining. When you apply all the ideas here, you can create a camping trip even those afraid of the woods can love. There is so much to see out there in nature, so get out there and get exploring!
