As far as summer recreation goes, camping can be a truly fun activity for the whole family. Kids will learn to love nature and adults can get a breath of fresh air away from the city life. This article will focus on some wonderful tips that can make your next camping trip a success!
Pre-cool your ice chest by filling it with loads of ice, at least six hours prior to departure. When you are about to leave, pack up your refrigerated cooled drinks and block ice, not cubed. Popping room temp beverages will take up valuable ice-life, and the cubes will melt much quicker than a block!
Always take more water than you think you will use when you go on a camping trip. Many times, people forget how much water is needed. It is used for drinking, washing dishes and hands, cooking and even brushing your teeth. Water is not something you want to be without.
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.
You need to maintain your cleanliness while camping. Good hygiene is difficult when you are camping sometimes, but you can keep yourself clean. A bottle of hand sanitizer is excellent to have so you can clean hands before eating. You can also use rubbing alcohol on areas of your body that are not sensitive. A mild biodegradable soap and a sponge can be used to take mini-baths when water resources are low.
Enroll in a first aid course, especially if your trip will include kids. If something unexpected comes up, you will be ready to handle it. Also be sure to do all the research you can about the area. Be aware of poisonous flora and fauna, as well as of what sounds animals make.
Get everything you need ready for your meals before you get to your campsite. If you are only camping for a few days, this initial trip to the store should be all that you need to do. Stock up on nonperishable items, too. You don't want you or your family members to be hungry on your trip.
Any time you go camping, do not forget to bring a first-aid kit along with you. Since accidents can happen at any time, a first-aid kit is a very valuable asset to possess. Be sure to include topical creams for bug bites, sun burns and poison ivy when putting your kit together.
Make sure that your bags include oranges, since these double up as both a handy and healthy snack but also serve as an organic and natural repellant of mosquitoes. After you've enjoyed the orange, keep all the peels. If the mosquitoes are swarming, rub the peels over your body to keep them at bay.
When looking into a campground, inquire about the different fees they may charge. You may find that you are charged for water, electric, fire wood and additional campers. Learning the fees ahead of time will allow you to properly budget for your camping trip. It will help you avoid becoming stressed at the gates and ruining your trip.
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.
Kids love camping, but you need to plan out activities for them to do on the trip. They could get bored out in the woods and away from the things they use to entertain themselves regularly. They probably aren't used to camping activities such as pitching a tent or fishing. Take the time to teach them these skills before the trip, especially if they don't spend a great deal of time outdoors.
If you haven't camped before, then now is not the time to start being a hermit. Ask an experienced friend to go with you and show you the ropes. As you become more advanced in the hobby you can start to take small and then larger trips alone and get your hermitude on.
Pack some duct tape next time you embark on a camping trip. This item has many uses and can help you save a lot of time and money. Duct tape is useful for patching holes in air mattresses. It can also seal rips in tarps, a sleeping bag, or the tent. If someone's shoe falls apart while out and about, it can hold shoes together quite nicely. Applied to the foot itself can prevent blisters. In a pinch, it can even serve as a bandage for injuries.
When camping, many people wake up in the morning, only to find out they they have left items out that are now wet. This is because of the morning dew, which can hardly be avoided. If the weather conditions are right, dew is inevitable, so make sure you put things away.
Take along a battery operated radio when camping. A radio will keep you up-to-date on any late-breaking news and weather reports. A radio will also give you entertainment during those quiet evenings sitting around the campfire. Or if you prefer, pack a guitar for you and your campers' enjoyment.
Leave your campsite clean when you leave it. You will want to bring trash bags for cleaning up all refuse. Pack up any leftover food and take it with you. The only thing you want wall tent rain fly left are your footprints when you are gone.
While creating a survival kit, include waterproof matches. Use airtight container to hold the matches. You can add paraffin to regular matches, or even nail polish for a homemade waterproof match. A great container for storage is a film canister. A plastic medicine bottle also works.
Waterproof matches are an essential part of any camping survival kit. Store these in a waterproof and airtight bag or container. A regular match can be made waterproof by dipping it in nail polish or paraffin. Provide your own caddy for the matches by storing them in a plastic medicine bottle or 35mm film container.
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.
