Camping has long been known as a cherished pastime for the young and old alike. It does not matter whether you plan to just kick back by a warm fire and relax, hike or any type of other recreation, you should always be prepared with some basic camping knowledge.
Keep the needs of your family in mind before selecting a destination. For example, if you have a baby or toddler, it may be best to stick close to home in case things don't go as planned. If you have teenagers, however, you may enjoy traveling to a different state. Choose what is best for you!
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.
Choose your campsite carefully. The location in which you're camping can make all the difference. Do plenty of research before you make any plans. What is the weather like? Does the campsite have specific rules? How crowded will the campsite be? Poor planning can make for a miserable camping experience.
Make sure that you avoid any venomous plants. A good way to do this is to stop at the ranger station and ask what kinds of poisonous plants are in the area so you can identify them if you come into contact with them on the trail. Never eat anything while hiking on the trail if you do not know it is edible.
Do not take anything that belongs in nature with you when you leave. Have fun and take pictures, but when you are loading up the car, make sure rocks, pinecones and other objects remain where they are. This is one of the unspoken rules of camping. Everyone should have the same opportunity to enjoy these things.
If you have never been camping before, then be sure to bring extra of everything. This is most important for things like food and drinks. Since you are inexperienced you may underestimate how much food you actually need. Remember, you will probably be very active, and therefore need more food than normal.
A pre-made list will help you remember exactly what you need for your camping excursion. For trips that take a while to arrive at the destination, this is crucial. Pack several days before you leave, and check things off as you tent fabric go.
If your dog will be joining you on your camping trip, keep him leashed and under constant supervision. Not all people are dog lovers, and some are extremely terrified of dogs. You should be respectful of other campers while at the site. Besides that, dogs can also damage equipment and campsites if they aren't supervised.
On your next fishing trip, go fishing. Fishing is a great way to enjoy yourself while you're out in nature, but it also helps you pack more lightly because you catch your food on the trip instead of having to bring it with you. Learn to de-bone a fish before leaving home and you'll have easy fish dinners on your camping trip.
Make sure you have a good chat with your children about basic camping dangers before you head away. The information contains pictures of poisonous plants that they can use as a guide of what to avoid.
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.
A great idea when planning your camping trip is to make a list of everything you need before you go. As you pack each item, you can cross it off your list. This is really essential because you do not want to be stuck blowing up your air mattresses because you forgot to pack an air pump.
Pack ready to eat foods in your camping gear, like trail mix and jerky. It's likely that you'll be so worn out at dinnertime that you will only feel like snacking and not cooking. These snacks should preserve for a good while, so there's no wasting involved if they aren't eaten.
Camping can either be an extremely relaxing or an extremely torturous experience. How your camping experience turns out is down to one key factor: preparation. If you know how to prepare for everything that may pop up, you'll be able to better enjoy your trip.
For easier food preparation on a camping trip, prepare ingredients at home, and pack them in plastic zipper bags. You might want to chop, and other ingredients can be cooked quickly and easily when the prep work is done ahead of time. Throw a few bags of vegetables and meat into a pot over a fire, and you have soup or stew!
Never hike alone. It may sound juvenile, but always use the buddy system. It can be easy to get lost or turned around in nature. You could slip and hurt yourself. In instances like these, it is best to have someone along. Even if you have your cellphone handy, you may find it doesn't get reception in the woods.
You always need to have your shelter set up before it gets dark. If night is already falling, there may not be enough time to get things built before dark. It will be very hard to make shelter at night if you don't do this.
If you feel as though you are an advanced camper and what to add a challenge back into the activity, you can look into wilderness survival. This is quite difficult; however, and should just be undertaken by the most advanced camper. This type of trip means only eating food that you catch or find yourself!
You can make camping a fun and relaxing way to spend some time out in nature and enjoy all that it has to offer. Use the helpful tips shared in this article and you will have the time of your life next time you go on a camping adventure.
