What do you put under an air mattress when camping?
Whether you pitch a tent or roll up in a motor home, choosing to spend your vacation time camping can be a blast! Make sure you plan and prepare for all of the little hazards that living with nature can present, by reading the following tips and adhering to their advice!
When it comes to food, bring only what you need on a camping trip. Extra food out in the wilderness is a calling card for wild animals to come visiting your campground. If you do find that you have additional food, tie it up in cloth and handg it as high as you can in a tree away from your immediate campground. This will help keep you from unwanted animal introductions.
Do plenty of research on your camping site and ensure that it offers everything that your group will need. Consider the individual needs of each camper to ensure that everyone is taken care of. This alleviates the need to make supply runs, or worst case, have to end the trip too soon.
When you go camping, be sure to wear closed-toe shoes. Walking in wooded areas, you can come across almost anything; not to mention things can fall on your feet. You may also want to take a hike. So the next time you go out camping, make sure to wear shoes that can go everywhere you want to go.
Take along a box with essential supplies when you go camping. Include things like stick matches, a flashlight, cooking tools and hand cleaner. Prepare in advance. Think about all the things you might need days before you leave on your trip, especially if you will be far from any store.
If you are traveling with children, consider staying at a campground that is specifically designated for families. Campers in these areas know what to expect and will not have an issue if you have a cranky toddler or your children want to run around, scream and play. You will probably be more relaxed as a result and have a better time.
It's important that you make an effort to ensure that all camping gear you will need is packed before you leave to go camping. For example, your trip can be ruined if you forget your sleeping bag or tent. Look over the items you plan to bring and create a checklist before leaving to ensure that all of your essential gear comes with you.
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!
Look up grocery stores near your campsite. Make sure you know how to get to them. Particularly, if your trip is spanning more than three or four days, the food you bring with you probably isn't going to last the length of your trip. Not only, that, but your family is going to get tired of eating the same things day after day. Variety is the key.
If Fido is coming with your on your camping trip, don't forget his leash. Other campers might be fearful of your dog, no matter how friendly he might be. It is essential to respect the feelings of your fellow campers. In addition, dogs are capable of causing a great deal of damage to a campsite if not well supervised.
Unless you are a wildlife expert, you should never drink water that you haven't brought to the campsite with you. Water may look crystal clear but actually be home to a host of diseases or bacteria. If you are in an emergency, always choose running water over stagnant water.
Orange peels can help manage mosquitoes. This is especially helpful if you forget bug spray, but have oranges on hand, or can borrow them from someone at your camping trip. Rub the white, pithy insides of the orange skin over your skin. The mosquitoes should steer clear of you for several hours.
Plan ahead and make sure your flashlight batteries have full power before you leave for a camping trip. It can be really easy to inadvertently press the "on" switch on your flashlight when jostling through a bag of camping equipment. Keep the batteries for the flashlight in backwards. This will allow you to keep them stored without accidentally turning them on and wasting the batteries.
Never park your vehicle under a single tree when you are at a campsite. If there is a storm, it will attract lightning. This also means that you should avoid sleeping under any trees that are in a particular area by themselves. Try to be in an area that is free of trees or one that has many.
Never force anyone to go camping with you, including family or girlfriends. Some people just don't enjoy being in nature, and they will be miserable and in turn, make you miserable as well. If your children are simply not interested, find a babysitter for the weekend and relax alone!
One thing that many people forget to pack for their camping trips is the Sun-block. Even best tent fan 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.
Protect yourself from disease carrying ticks while on your camping trip. Always dress in light-colored clothing while in wooded areas so that ticks can be easily seen. Check your body frequently for ticks during the day. Use a tick repellant to discourage ticks and other biting insects. Tuck your pants into your socks for added protection.
When setting up a tent, ensure that the seams are all sealed. If your tent doesn't have a tube, you can find easily find them. This will keep any critters and/or rainwater from getting inside your tent.
Many get food poisoning due to improperly stored food on a camping trip. If your food isn't canned, vacuum-sealed or preserved, you can get food poisoning because your food spoils. Pack plenty of ice to keep any perishable foods cold and remember to pull the drain plug in the cooler so the food does not get soaked.
You need to be fully prepared for anything when you go camping. Now that you have read the ideas in this article, you can be truly prepared to do just this. Keep in mind all that you have read both in the days leading up to your trip and while you are in the great outdoors.