Should you put a tarp over your tent?
Whether you choose to go camping by yourself or take the whole family, few destinations make for such amazing fun and adventure! Learn how to make the most of your time with nature in the great outdoors, by reading the following tips that will guide you to the best camping trip ever.
Pack a few shovels if there are children with you on your trip. Kids love nothing better than digging in the dirt, and having the right accessories is crucial. If you have room, bring a bucket too. The children will happily entertain themselves in the dirt while you unpack, set up camp and do everything that you need to do.
It's imperative that you pitch your tent before the sun goes down. Once the sky becomes dark, finding a good spot for your tent, necessary firewood and food preparation become near impossible. Someone who isn't very familiar with the outdoors can come to harm by placing their tent in an unsafe area due to being unable to see. Do not wind up in this position. Seek shelter and make camp for the night well before darkness sets in.
Preparation could mean the difference between a good camping experience and a dreaded one. Prepare in advance to avoid the downfalls of camping. If you're visiting a new location, be sure to research its wildlife, climate, and geography.
For an exciting twist on the morning meal while camping with your kids, get up early and prepare a "jungle breakfast". Bring small cereal boxes, juice drinks and fruit, and keep them tied up high in the trees. When the children awake, tell them that they have to "hunt" to get breakfast. This is a fun way to bring excitement to the morning.
Always pack and carry a survival kit. In addition to your first aid kit, you need waterproof matches, a flare gun, water-purifying tablets and a knife. This kit may keep you alive if you are lost and these items are indispensable for a survival situation. It is important that you carry your survival kit with you at all times.
When camping, most people enjoy relaxing around a campfire. To prevent your fire from becoming out of control, you should incorporate a few safety practices. First of all, build your fire away from bushes and trees so that sparks from your fire will not start a forest fire. You will also want to use a circle of rocks to contain your campfire. Do not ever leave your fire unattended. Before leaving your campsite, make sure your campfire has been totally extinguished and that there are no remaining hot embers.
When collecting wood for a campfire, focus on three different sizes: the finger-size wood, that will catch fire right away, the arm-size wood that will keep it going, and the leg-size wood that will allow you to keep the fire going for a long time. Getting different sizes of wood helps you to start the fire and keep it going.
Take along a fire extinguisher! You never know when canvas tent stove 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.
One thing that many people forget to pack on a camping trip, and which quickly turns the trip into a nightmare is bug spray. This simple repellent will save you both annoyance and can protect your health as many types of bugs can do a great deal of damage to you quickly.
Giving yourself enough time to enjoy your camping trip is key. Plan out your trip far in advance and get a couple of days off from work if possible. You want to enjoy yourself camping for at least a few days, that way you feel like you got the full experience out of it.
A large number of camping related injuries are due directly to carelessness with fire, so be sure to use fire with caution. First, make sure that fires are permissible in the area of your camp site. Set a ring of stones around the fire to keep it contained. Never leave children unsupervised near an open fire.
Part of the fun of camping is cooking over an open fire or on a camp stove. To make sure you don't forget to pack any key ingredients, make a list of the meals you plan on preparing. Don't forget to take a small cutting board along with you so you have a clean surface for food preparation. Also remember to pack a couple of potholder or oven mitts to handle hot utensils, such as marshmallow forks.
If you are camping in an area that has loose or very sandy soil, you should make sure that you place large, heavy rocks on top of all the stakes of your tent. This will keep the stakes planted firmly in the ground and your tent from collapsing on its own.
Packing key essentials is necessary for good camping. Your whole trip could be ruined if you forget a couple of things. It may be helpful to make a list of everything you need and cross it off the list when you pack it. Be sure your list includes the tent and sleeping bags, as well as food items and personal hygiene items.
One great tip for anyone who is planning a camping trip is to bring along plenty of 550-cord. This cord is extremely useful for many things like staking guy-lines, installing tarp and hanging bear bags. It is always better to bring to much chord than too little and find that you really need it.
People who don't pack food correctly risk food poisoning. If your food isn't prepacked or canned, food poisoning might be a risk. Pack plenty of ice to keep any perishable foods cold and remember to pull the drain plug in the cooler so the food does not get soaked.
If you don't like to drink water, you will be in real trouble on a long camping trip. Water is essential to staying hydrated, so if you really hate the taste, purchase some one-use lemonade and add it to bottles of water. This will keep you hydrated throughout your adventure.
If cooking is not your strong suit, and you want to keep things simple camping, find a local military surplus store and look for MRE's. Meals Ready to Eat are freeze dried foods that usually just require water for preparation. If you wanting an easy meal and not looking for great taste, these can even be consumed without cooking.
As was stated earlier, you can have a ton of fun camping, but you do need to be educated, informed and prepared. Be sure that you take what you have learned here and use them when you're about to go camping next time. The tips will ensure a positive experience in the great outdoors.