Is a tent necessary for camping?
When you camp out in nature, there are no modern appliances like a stove, heater or air conditioner. You must plan out your trip completely and be prepared for anything. Look here for some great ideas to help you plan out the best possible camping trip that you can.
Reserve your spot at a campground as soon as possible. Particularly in the summer, many people are interested in camping with their families. If you make your reservation in the winter, you are much more likely to get the best rate possible. Those savings can translate into additional family fun while on your vacation.
Those big, colorful plastic storage bins make excellent places to store and organize all of your camping gear. While at home, keep it in a closet or the garage and right before you leave for your camping trip, pop it in the trunk. It should keep everything air-tight, dry and easily accessible.
Always become familiar with the potential dangers of a campsite before you enter it. Knowing what poisonous creatures to watch out for, where terrain gets rugged, and when to expect dangerous weather are key to ensuring your safety. Each camping spot poses its own dangers.
Put together a survival pack and have it on you all the time. You need to pack a flare gun, utility knife, matches and a first aid kit. Your survival kit can be the difference between you making it out of the woods on a stretcher or your own two feet. Your kit should not be left behind at the camp site, but should be carried with you wherever you go.
Get everyone involved in choosing a campsite. Think about where it is you want to go. The United States offers so many choices that choosing one can be hard! Try to select a short-list and then put it to a family vote.
Make sure you plan out your route in advance of your trip. Look to see if there are any special places that you can stop at along the way. It will make the drive much more enjoyable and you may have a lot of fun in the process. Granted, you may need to get to your destination quickly, but if you have time, taking the scenic route is worth it.
When you are planning a camping trip with children, take some time before you go to talk with them about common camping dangers. You can all get together and check out pictures of various plants that are hazardous so they can learn what they can't touch when they're looking around.
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.
A major mistake that campers make is they will get lost on occasion. Do not let this happen to you. If you are unfamiliar with the area you are camping in or if you are in a wilderness area, do not stray too far from your campsite. A portable GPS is an excellent investment if you are planning any kind of wilderness camping adventure.
Many people are deterred from camping because they have to sleep on the ground, but you do not have to be uncomfortable when you go camping. Stop by the local drug store and purchase some inexpensive pool floats. These are far more comfortable than the ground to sleep on, and will keep you high and dry as well.
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.
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.
Make sure you always have a source of clean water with you. When camping, you can't always trust that a natural water source is clean enough to drink from without boiling the water first. So keep a canteen filled with water at your side during any daily adventure. In the evenings, boil any spring water for ten minutes to create clean water reserves for the next day.
Don't forget waterproof matches in a camping survival kit. Store them in a container that is both airtight and watertight. You also can create waterproof matches yourself by taking regular ones and dipping them in nail polish or paraffin. A great container for storage is a film canister. A plastic medicine bottle also works.
Make sure you pack carefully and wisely. Make a list of what you need, and check off items as you pack. If you are planning to camp in an area away from first aid access, then this will be especially necessary.
Always inform friends and family of your camping trip and location. Make sure to establish contact numbers and pertinent information on how to find you should something untoward occur. When you have a safety net like this in place, it will allow you to relax on your trip, knowing help can always find you.
Do not approach any wild animals while you are camping. Something that may appear harmless and adorable could be incredibly territorial. Furthermore, be sure not to feed any animals, as doing so may lead to injuries. Avoid keeping any food inside of your tent to prevent animals from destroying your campsite. Keep it stored canvas tent rentals away safely or in a nearby tree.
If you have other people sleeping nearby your campsite, do not bother them by leave your awning lights on during the entire night. Instead, use a timer that you can set to turn the lights off after a certain time period. By doing this, you won't bother others with your lights.
Learn how to read a map or use a compass ahead of time. Even if you are familiar with your intended campsite, you could still get lost because many areas look the same. Learn to use these survival tools to prevent potentially bad situations.
Camping is a pretty simple outdoor excursion for just about anyone to handle. But this article shared some information that should help you field any mishaps that come your way before they ever have a chance to become a problem for you. Keep this information in mind on your fun camping trip!