Can you touch the sides of a tent?
Camping can be an exhilarating experience. Young or old, everyone can have fun while camping. The best way you can make sure to have a great trip is to know how to be prepared and to understand exactly what to do when situations arise. Review the tips in the following article, and you will be well informed and ready to go on your camping adventure.
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.
Figure out your new gear before you go camping. The practice does really help. No one wants to get to the campground, only to find out that they don't know how to use something or set up their own tent. Practice with your new gear before you ever set foot on the campground.
Avoid any wildlife you may come into contact with. Bears have become a fairly large problem with campers. In some parks they have been known to rip open the trunk of a car to gain access to food. Raccoons are also a big problem in many campgrounds. Not only are they smart and can gain access to your food supplies easily, but they can carry disease as well.
Camping often sounds like a great deal of fun, and it is; however it does require some special preparation. Before going camping for the first time, make sure you have done some research on tents, food and wildlife survival. It can make the difference between a great trip and a dangerous one.
Prior to leaving, take a few minutes to make a checklist of everything that you need. There is nothing worse than getting to a campsite and then finding out that you don't have what you need to be comfortable. A checklist is a great aid as you are packing. Try to start getting thing's together several days before you leave so you have plenty of time.
Bring your cellphone with you when you go camping. Even if you are serious about roughing it, cell phones are still very useful in emergencies and should not be left at home. A cell phone is no longer a hobby, and when you go camping it can help you reach police and emergency personnel--bring it.
Ask a park ranger or a tour guide to let you know about all the places to check out while you are camping. This is a good idea so that you know you are getting the most out of your camping experience, you don't want to take a camping trip and miss out on a fun experience.
Make a list of things you need to take with you before you go camping. You may think you are great at packing, but little else is worse than being out in the middle of the woods and realizing you forgot your allergy medication. Sit down and create a comprehensive list of everything you might need during the week before your camping trip.
Many people are deterred from camping because they have to sleep on the ground, but you do not have to be uncomfortable when you go camping. Stop by the local drug store and purchase some inexpensive pool floats. These are far more comfortable than the ground to sleep on, and will keep you high and dry as well.
Know the climate of your camping area. You will want to have the proper clothing packed for the trip. Knowing how cold the nights get or how hot the days are will help you dress best. You will not want to get caught in the great outdoors with inadequate protection.
If you are camping outdoors instead of in a travel trailer or RV, it is important to dress in (or carry with you) layers of clothing. While on a camping trip, temperatures can fluctuate widely. The easiest and most effective method to control your body temperature is through adding and removing layers of clothing. Having layers of clothing also protects you from bug bites.
Wear layered clothing to manage your body temperature. When camping, it is a hassle to have to change clothing when temperatures suddenly rise or drop. However, if you layer your clothing, you will be able to quickly and easily peel off or put on layers of clothing as the need arises.
For your first camping trips, try to choose a place that you can drive to. If your car is nearby you can use it as a "fortress" of sorts when you are in the middle of nowhere. Not only can you enter it in case of wildlife attack; it can also protect you from the elements.
Wear layered clothing to manage your body temperature. When camping, it is a hassle to have to change clothing when temperatures suddenly rise or drop. However, if you layer your clothing, you will be able to quickly and easily peel off or put on layers of clothing as the need arises.
Always check the weather forecast before you go camping so that you know what kind of clothing you will need. You could be very cold if a front blow through, and you did not pack jackets and blankets. In addition, consider packing some rain ponchos in case any storm's blow through.
Having a roll of grey duct tape is a good idea when camping. Although tent fabric technology has come a long way, tearing is still a possibility. The right strip of duct tape can mean sleeping dry at night after your tent has canvas bell tents suffered damage during a day that was more exciting that you wanted.
If you have other people sleeping nearby your campsite, do not bother them by leave your awning lights on during the entire night. Instead, use a timer that you can set to turn the lights off after a certain time period. By doing this, you won't bother others with your lights.
Now that you've reached the end of this article, you should be ready to plan your trip. It does not matter whether you are camping for one night or two weeks, you still need to carry out extensive planning. Get start now, and you will be very glad that you did.