When done well, camping is among life's true pleasures. Before embarking on an outdoor adventure alone or with friends and family, it is important to familiarize yourself with tried and true camping tips and advice. The article that follows offers just the start any burgeoning outdoors enthusiast might need to plan their next outing.
If you are going on a camping adventure, make sure you have enough time to set up camp before dark. It can be extremely difficult to set up camp in the dark and possibly unsafe. You need to be able to scout the terrain, prepare bedding, and possibly build some temporary shelter prior to the sun going down.
Look up activities to engage in prior to getting to your destination. This will allow you to check for any deals that may be offered. Also, it will help you be more prepared when you actually get to your destination. You can find trails that may be appropriate for everyone in your family or restaurants that you would enjoy.
When planning for your camping trip, don't forget to pack the sunscreen. Just because you are not on the beach doesn't mean that you don't need protection from the sun's burning rays. A sport sunscreen can be a smart choice if you will be doing strenuous physical activities during your trip.
When kids are in your camping party, it is important to let them know what the rules are as soon as you get there. They must have strict guidelines to follow, or they could get hurt or annoy others. For example, talk to them about screaming and how their voices could disturb others. It is much harder to enforce rules after you have been there for a few days, so get going early.
Make sure you have a first aid kit with you. As an alternative, you could pack some supplies in a plastic bag. While hopefully your trip will be free of injuries, you never know. It is best to be prepared so that you can handle anything that happens in the best way possible.
At night, create "bear bags." Tie a rope around the bags with your food and your trash. Then, find a tree and toss bags over a branch, raising until they are at least seven or eight feet off the ground. Tie the rope around the tree so it is secure. This way, bears and other animals will not be able to get into your food and trash during the night.
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.
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.
When you select the location for your tent, be sure that it is the right place. The ground should be level and do what you can to avoid setting it up at the bottom of a hill. This will help you keep it dry if the weather should turn bad.
If you bring a dog with you to go camping, keep it leashed up and keep an eye on it. There are those who have a fear of dogs. You must show respect for others when you camp. Additionally, dogs can wreak a lot of havoc on a campsite if they are not supervised properly.
Never park your vehicle under a single tree when you are at a campsite. If there is a storm, it will attract lightning. This also means that you should avoid sleeping under any trees that are in a particular area by themselves. Try to be in an area that is free of trees or one that has many.
Make sure that your tent is ready before dark if you don't plan to sleep under the stars. Some camping locations get very dark and this can make setting up your campsite nearly impossible. You also never know when something could go wrong during set-up, such as a broken pole or a sudden tear in your tent.
One thing that many people forget to pack for their camping trips is the Sun-block. Even if you tan very well, there is no excuse not to protect you from the sun. In the short term, you will end up with a horrible burn, but in the long run it can give you serious problems with cancer.
Master a map and a compass before heading out for your trip. Even if you've been to your campsite before, getting lost one time can still happen since many areas will looks the same. Using a map or compass can actually save your life if you're lost. Learn to use them so that you don't suffer a tragic fate.
Having a roll of grey duct tape is a good idea when camping. Although tents tend to be more durable nowadays, they may still get torn. A few strips of this durable tape can keep you dry and cozy at night if your tent is damaged during the day.
Keep your food safe when you are camping. Food should be packed in bags that are airtight or in waterproof containers. Insulated coolers are a great place to place food. Make sure to keep your raw food and cooked food separate. Make sure your hands stay clean by washing them with soap and/or using hand sanitizer. Cook all your foods completely and quickly refrigerate foods.
Bringing along a cell phone with a full charge isn't a bad idea while camping. As an added safety precaution, you may wish to bring an additional battery so you have plenty of power. A cell phone is valuable in case of emergency, so verify 2 man canvas tent that it is usable.
As long as you try your best to follow the advice that was outlined from this article everything should work out for you while you go camping. Make sure you try your best to go camping because it is a once in a lifetime experience for you, and it will help you relax.
