What is traditional camping?
Not a lot can beat taking a few nights to sleep outside with people you love. Camping is a great pastime for a reason. To ensure that you enjoy your experience, you should do a bit of planning and preparation beforehand. The following advice will help you be better prepared for going camping.
A good multi-purpose tool needs to be part of your camping gear. There are two kinds to bring. First is the saw/hammer/axe 3-in-1 tool to use for firewood and other chores. The other is the standard multi-purpose tool with a variety of tools on it like a can opener, tweezers, scissors, and a knife.
Take only photos and leave only footprints. That is the rule of thumb when camping. Only use the natural resources that you need and do not leave any traces that you were camping when you leave. Pick up all trash, extinguish and cover any fire pits, bury all human waste, and make the area where you camped look exactly as it did when you found it.
Try to get to the campsite well before nightfall. This allows you to get a feel for the lay of the land and gives you the opportunity to set up camp while you can still see what you are doing. In addition, it lets your children feel a little more comfortable with their surroundings because they will have time to explore.
When you reach your campsite, the first thing, you should do is to start collecting wood for your fire. You won't feel like it later on, and if you wait until dark you will have a harder time finding the kind of wood you need to keep a fire going. Do it right away.
To avoid blistered and chapped feet on your camping trip, bring a bar of soap along! Prior to any lengthy walk, rub the soap into the heals of your socks and this will minimize friction, thus reducing soreness. Keep the soap in your pocket for a quick dose when your feet start feeling beat-up or blistered.
Be prepared to handle any emergency that may arise and have a plan in place. You want to bring a kit for any situation that might arise during your camping trip. Take precautions for wildlife too, so keep some anti-venom on hand.
When you are planning a camping trip with children, take some time before you go to talk with them about common camping dangers. The information contains pictures of poisonous plants that they can use as a guide of what to avoid.
Make sure you have a suitable water source. Even if you bring water with you, plan to need more water and know where you will be able to get more. It is a good idea to know where your water source will be before you go camping at all, but surely right after you arrive.
Be certain your camp fire is completely out before you leave a campsite. To your eye it may seem like the fire is gone, but stir the ashes with a stick and you may find burning embers. Pour enough water and keep stirring until you see no more embers in the fire pit.
Duct tape can be a camper's very best friend. When disaster strikes on a camping trip, a roll of heavy-duty duct tape will usually save the day. If the tent fabric needs patching in the rain, duct tape will hold back the water. When tent poles need reinforcing, the duct tape will provide support. Do you have holes in your tennis shoes? Duct tape right over it. Whatever the mishap, a roll of duct tape is sure to help!
One tip that is best portable toilets for camping very useful to anyone who is planning to go camping is to practice finding as well as purifying water prior to your camping trip. You don't want to start this process when you are already thirsty as it could lead to a very dangerous situation.
Plan what you're going to wear before setting off on a camping trip. This way you'll have enough clean clothing for your trip. It is also important to have clothing that is right for the weather you might encounter. You should pack at least one pair of durable closed-toed boots.
Always make sure that your cell phone is with you when you get to your campsite, and it should be fully charged. Even better, tote an extra battery in case your first one dies. A cell phone is valuable in case of emergency, so verify that it is usable.
A Frisbee is a great toy to take for entertainment when camping. It is easy to pack and fun. But in addition to its use as a game, it is also a great way to strengthen a paper plate. Just place the plate into the middle of the Frisbee at meal times and the plate will not collapse no matter how big your hamburger.
Some of the best food options to bring camping with you are things that come in cans. While this may not be the tastiest, it is great for two reasons. It is very convenient and easy to prepare, but more importantly; wildlife will be unable to smell the food inside of the cans.
Whenever you're choosing a sleeping bag, pick one out that's for the climate you're in. So a lighter bag for summers and a heavier and thicker bag for winter time. Meanwhile, if you are camping during the winter months, you will probably desire a more heavyweight sleep bag that will protect the body's extremities from frostbite.
Pack wisely and carefully. List all of the supplies that you need so that you are not missing anything while on the trip. This is especially crucial if your trip will be taking you to a remote location where replacement supplies will be hard to come by.
Now that you know what camping entails, you'll be able to come up with a plan so your trip goes more smoothly. Knowing what to expect is only part of the fun though, the main part would be actually getting out there and doing it. Use what you have learned here, and have a stress free trip!