How do you hold a tent down?
In an age filled with technology, electronics and a daily battle to escape from these communication pressures, vacation time should be as far removed from these intrusions as possible. Escaping into the great outdoors for some fresh air and no power outlets is always a great option. Everything you need to know about camping but were afraid to ask can be answered in the following article.
Those big, colorful plastic storage bins make excellent places to store and organize all of your camping gear. While at home, keep it in a closet or the garage and right before you leave for your camping trip, pop it in the trunk. It should keep everything air-tight, dry and easily accessible.
Before you start out on that relaxing camping trip, it is essential for your safety to make sure to let someone know you are going. Give a friend or neighbor the name of the campsite if you are using one. If you are headed out on a less structured trip, give your contact a general idea of where you are headed and a timeline for your return. If something goes wrong, there will be someone to know where to look for you.
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.
A Frisbee makes for excellent support under paper plates, and can avoid the usual camping spillage and drops! Grab as many of them as you have around your home or yard, or pick up a few at your local dollar-type store. They conveniently stack for easy, space-saving packing and are tremendously helpful with little one's meals.
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.
Any time you go camping, do not forget to bring a first-aid kit along with you. Since accidents can happen at any time, a first-aid kit is a very valuable asset to possess. Be sure to include topical creams for bug bites, sun burns and poison ivy when putting your kit together.
If you are taking kids camping, have them eat a "jungle breakfast." Use serving sized boxes of cereal, pieces of fruit and juice boxes and tie them to trees near your campsite. Once the kids are awake, they can go search for their food. This is a wonderful way to spice up the whole camping trip.
Always have an emergency kit on hand when camping with family, or even staying alone. There may be different items in it depending on your camping location, but there are some things that should be in any kit. For example, if you will be camping in a Southern state you should certainly carry anti-venom for the local wildlife that you may encounter.
If you don't like to drink water, you will be in real trouble on a long camping trip. Water is essential to staying hydrated, so if you really hate the taste, purchase some one-use lemonade and add it to bottles of water. This will keep you hydrated throughout your adventure.
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.
Before you head out for your camping trip, be sure that you take the time to practice setting up your tent. You do not want to get yourself frustrated at the site. Setting the tent up the second time will be much easier than it was the first time around.
Bringing everything you need for your trip is important. Even just a few missing items can turn your trip into a disaster. Write a list of all the items you need and make sure to cross them off of the list once you pack them. Make sure that you bring a lot of water, knives, soaps and food on your camping trip for safety.
Don't let your flashlight batteries get drained inadvertently. It is very easy to accidentally press the 'on' button of your flashlight when it is jostling in a bag with other camping equipment. To prevent this, load batteries into the flashlight backwards. It will keep the power from draining from the batteries living in a bell tent and have them easily installed when you need it.
On your next camping trip, take along some empty prescription bottles. These can be used to store a lot of small items for a low price. One good use of them is to help keep your matches safe and dry. The matches will fit in perfectly, and they are fairly leak-proof, so you won't have to worry about the contents when it rains.
Make sure your cell phone is fully charged before leaving your car or campsite. Even better, try bring along some spare batteries in case your phone's battery runs out. Your cell phone makes for excellent emergency equipment, so you must ensure it does not die.
If you are on a camping trip and forgot the bowls for stew, make your own from large plastic soda bottles that have been emptied. Just rinse the bottle and cut down the plastic to the depth you need. Lightly sand the edges to smooth out any rough spots and prepare to scoop up dinner!
Pack strategically. Make a list of the things you need on your trip. Check each item off when you pack it. This is very important if you're going to a far away place that doesn't have first aid supplies or thing you'll need when an emergency arises.
Camping is a special time for anyone, regardless of how many times they have done it. You can really do some soul-searching and reflection at the same time you are having fun! So make sure you use the tips laid out here to give yourself a special experience and a pleasant time.