Camping is a great way to spend time with friends and family. It bonds you with your loved ones like never before. However, there are many things to consider when you are planning a camping trip. The following article can help you better prepare yourself the next time you go camping.
If you are going backcountry camping, you should probably carry a snake bite kit in your gear. The best snake bite kits are the ones that use suction. Some kits have scalpels and blood flow constrictors in them. Scalpels can actually cut the poison into the bloodstream faster, and constrictors can be deadly if not used properly.
Bring a large trash bag for dirtied laundry, and keep it in a central location, suitable for everyone at your party. Let them pack their clothing individually, as this makes it much easier to find than if you pile it all in a community storage box or bag. Toss in a dryer sheet to any bag you want to smell fresh.
While you may think that nature will offer up enough wood to keep your fire embers burning, it could quite possibly be wet wood that doesn’t really want to burn. It’s always a good idea to take along some wood of your own and keep it in a dry place.
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.
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.
While camping, cook easy dinners like “hobo stew”. Simply bring potatoes, ground meat, and veggies. Cut the veggies and potatoes at your campsite. Using tinfoil like a bowl, put the ingredients inside and fold the foil over until the food is covered. Place foil on hot rocks or the coals of the campfire, and eventually, you will have a tasty “stew”.
Collect more wood than you think you are going to need. Unless you go camping every day, you probably don’t have an accurate idea of what “enough wood” actually looks like. You can always leave the extra wood in a pile as a gift for anyone that uses the campsite after you.
Bring some plastic totes or canisters with you when you go camping so you can store any food products you have opened. This will keep any critters from swarming around your campsite and it will also keep various wildlife from being attracted to whatever it is you have in there.
Before you decide to take off on a camping trip somewhere you’ve never been, you need to do some research on what the area is like and be aware of the local risks and dangers. Knowing what poisonous creatures to watch out for, where the terrain gets rugged, and when to expect dangerous weather are key to ensuring your safety. Every campsite can have its own dangers.
Try to schedule activities for your children such as board games or card games. If you are camping in the deep woods, far from anything familiar, kids can become bored. They may not be familiar with things like fishing, putting up a tent or otherwise roughing it. Consider introducing your kids to these things in advance of your trip so they know how to do them and view them as fun.
If you are camping with others, ensure that there is something available to keep everyone entertained. There is nothing worse than a bored campmate, as they will constantly pester you for activities. Talk to your family and friends beforehand and make sure they know how to entertain themselves for the trip.
Do not forget your cooking supplies. You will need pots, pans, utensils and dishes to cook on and eat with. Make sure that you double-check to be sure that you have packed these supplies before you leave the house. You do not want to get all set up and ready to cook your first meal and find that you have left your pot at home.
As was stated at the beginning of this article, camping requires a great deal of preparation prior to each trip. Use the tips mentioned above to help make sure that you plan your trip wisely so that you and your loved ones are sure to have a great time.
