What is a bell tent shaped like?
If you love to spend time outdoors, taking in everything that nature has to offer, then give camping a try. The following article has guidelines for what you should be doing and planning for before and during your big trip. If you are prepared, camping is great fun and worth the effort you put into it.
One of the most important parts of your camping gear is your tent. The tent you buy should suit your needs and the size of your camping party. If you have young children, you probably want to purchase a large tent so they can sleep in the same tent with you. If your children are old, buy them their own tent so they don't have to bunk with the adults.
A big concern with many people who go camping is the bugs. Do not get stuck in the middle of nowhere without having some sort of bug repellant. Check your surroundings before setting up camp for any wasp nests or ant hills that could cause you problems. Wear long pants and long-sleeved whenever possible and inspect yourself for ticks occasionally.
While a campfire gives off enough light in the general area around it, you want to be sure you take along a flashlight on your camping trip if you plan to venture outside of the campfire's glow. This is a definite safety precaution you don't want to ignore. It can be quite dark out there in the woods at nighttime.
If you are camping and the weather is starting to rise significantly, tale the coolers that you have with you and put them somewhere in the shade. It will also help to keep them covered with some type of tarp. This will keep the temperature inside the cooler from rising too much.
Practice makes perfect when pitching a tent. Take the time to put the tent up before leaving for your trip. This allows you to build your proficiency at erecting the tent, and will also help locate any issues with the tent in case you need to exchange it for a better option.
Bring supplies for 'Smores. 'Smores are an integral part of any camping trip. Simply pack graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows. Toast the marshmallows, then make it the filling to a graham cracker/chocolate sandwich. When you have a 'Smore, you will want 'some more'--bring enough for everyone to have at least two of them!
Let people know where your group is headed. Just in case anything happens to any of you, you want to know that there are people who know where you are at. This is a good precautionary measure to take if something were to happen to your camping group, because help will be on the way soon.
While camping seems synonymous with a campfire, that campfire doesn't necessarily have to be made from wood. In fact, it might be safer and easier to use a portable campfire unit powered by propane. For the most part, these units are permitted unless there is a fire ban in place. Marshmallows taste just as good from these units as they do over an open, wood-burning fire, too.
If you're new to camping, you're going to want to arrive early to the campground. The reason for this is you will be new to the campground site and rules, and this will slow you down. You don't want to be stuck setting up camp after dark, so just arrive a little earlier than you usually would.
Prepare some of the food ahead of time so you will not have to mess around with it at the camp site. Make up some sandwiches, precook the pasta and take along foods that can be eaten as is to make each meal less tedious. Other meals can be enjoyable to tent platform plans prepare in the woods, but some should be ready to go on the days the weather is not perfect.
Plan out all of your clothing before leaving for your trip. A ready supply of clean clothing should included in your inventory. It is also important to have clothing that is right for the weather you might encounter. Sturdy shoes or hiking boots are considered essential footwear for any camping trip.
Be prepared for your next camping adventure by taking precautions on conserving flashlight batteries. It is very common for flashlights to be turned on inadvertently when going through camping supplies or while being stored. You can safeguard the power by slipping the batteries in backwards in the flashlight cylinder. Your batteries will remain fully charged until you turn them around the right direction, and you won't be able to accidentally turn the flashlight on.
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.
Make sure the sleeping bag you choose for your camping trip is right for the time of year and all the weather it brings. If it's summer time, look for the lightest weight bag you can find, to keep extra cool. Meanwhile, if you are camping during the winter months, you will probably desire a more heavyweight sleep bag that will protect the body's extremities from frostbite.
When you are purchasing your camping supplies, spend a little extra on the better supplies. If you buy the better quality products, you will only have to buy these things once. After you have them bought, camping can be a very affordable way to get away from home for a weekend.
Make a list of what to bring on your camping trip ahead of time. Planning ahead will save you the hassles of last-minute shopping. It will also ensure that you don't forget any essentials. You don't want to arrive at your campsite to discover you've forgotten your cookware, knives or soap.
Stick with food safety when you camp. Pack food and drinks in airtight pouches and containers. Other foods should be kept in insulated coolers when appropriate. Store raw food apart from cooked food to avoid contamination. Keep your hands and preparation surfaces clean when handling your food, either with soap or hand sanitizer. Make sure that you cook foods throughout so that you do not risk any sickness.
Some members of your camping party might not be thrilled about being in the great outdoors. Others might not feel like you have packed all that you need, and everyone needs entertainment. This article has provided you with a number of ideas you can use to make sure that your camping trip is an all-around success.