How do you keep a tent warm in the winter?
Camping is among the most fun activities that you can do with friends and family. Nobody should go without at least trying camping once. You must prepare yourself with knowledge and planning for camping. Read on into the following paragraphs for a number of helpful hints about camping.
Reserve your spot at a campground as soon as possible. Particularly in the summer, many people are interested in camping with their families. If you make your reservation in the winter, you are much more likely to get the best rate possible. Those savings can translate into additional family fun while on your vacation.
To increase your sleeping experience while camping, bring a pad along that you can place under your sleeping bag. This pad acts as a barrier between you and the hard ground where twigs and tree knots may cause strange sleeping conditions. If a pad isn't handy, bring a few extra blankets that you can fold over on themselves to create some cushion.
If you'd like to prevent mosquito bites, but want to avoid using harsh chemicals, use an orange peel instead. Rub the orange peel over exposed areas of the skin, such as the neck, arms, face and legs to naturally repel mosquitoes. Not only will the orange peels feel better on your skin than traditional repelling chemicals, but they will smell better, too!
As a courtesy to other campers, don't leave your lighting on overnight, if you are close to others. Pack a timer that you can attach to your lights that will automatically shut them off after a certain time. Leaving lights on overnight is a popular complaint among most American campers!
Consider purchasing inexpensive walkie-talkies to take with you on your next camping trip to provide a way to keep in touch with everyone in your party in areas where cell phone reception may not be available. This can be especially important if you are camping with children and need to keep track of their whereabouts.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Be sure to check your first-aid kit before you leave for your trip. You need to be sure it has all the basic necessities. Make sure it includes items like bandages, tweezers, disinfectant, ointment, etc. You never know when something may injure you or another person on your trip, so it's best to be prepared.
Make sure to carry a utility knife with you when you are camping. Utility knives can be quite versatile, so be sure to have an extra with you.
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.
Bring toilet paper along when you travel. If you don't happen to have toilets at your site, your only option will be to go in the woods. It is best not to use something from nature to clean yourself, so toilet paper will come in handy.
Talk to everyone in your next camping party about the health of their backs. Some might not be able to sleep on hard ground or need more than a standard camping toilet options mat or cushion. Also, portable or foldable stools might be needed around the campfire, as constant standing or sitting on the ground is not good for their spine.
If you are already an experienced camper and are finding yourself bored with the same routine, then you should volunteer to help a friend learn how to camp. This will help you to see things through his or her eyes and may give you your passion for camping back.
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.
Use proper food safety techniques when you go camping. Make sure to pack your foods in airtight containers. Any perishable food should be stored in insulated coolers. Keep food contamination low by separating raw and cooked foods. Always wash your hands, cutting boards and preparation surfaces to optimize safety and keep yourself from getting food poisoning. Cook foods to the right internal temperature and get foods that need to be cold chilled quickly.
As was briefly mentioned, much fun can be had while camping, and you should always keep the advice shared here in mind. Make sure you implement the tips you've just read before heading out on your next camping trip. If you take the time to implement all you've learned, you can have a fun-filled trip.