Are you safe from lightning in a tent?
To some people the thought of camping inspires thoughts of bugs, inclement weather, and burned hot dogs. Your camping trip doesn't have to be a letdown. It can mean great food, good times and no bugs if preparations are made. Keep reading for some great ideas to make your trip a pleasurable one.
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.
Remember that your loved ones and possessions will get filthy. Don't stress out when it inevitably happens. Allow yourself to be improper, messy and just "let go" while outside. You can return to being clean and civilized when you're at home.
Practice makes perfect when pitching a tent. Take the time to put the tent up before leaving for your trip. This allows you to build your proficiency at erecting the tent, and will also help locate any issues with the tent in case you need to exchange it for a better option.
If your canteen is beginning to smell musty, you can give it a good cleaning with baking soda. Place a little bit of water in your canteen, and then add three tablespoons of baking soda. Shake gently, let it sit for sixty minutes, and then rinse with water. Your canteen will be refreshingly clean!
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!
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.
Collect more wood than you think you are going ot 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.
It is important to have a flashlight when you camp, but make sure the batteries are fully charged. One way to be sure the batteries don't accidentally drain on the journey is to put them into the flashlight backwards. That way if the switch is accidentally engaged, they stay charged. Plus, you know where the batteries are.
Always understand what dangers are associated with a new place. This includes things like which spiders are deadly, whether or not there rental glamping tents are sheer drops, and if flash floods are common. Every camping trip has different dangers.
Choose your campsite carefully. The location in which you're camping can make all the difference. Do plenty of research before you make any plans. What is the weather like? Does the campsite have specific rules? How crowded will the campsite be? Poor planning can make for a miserable camping experience.
When setting up a tent, be sure its seams are all sealed. If you tent did not include a tube of sealer, you can find it at sporting goods stores. Sealant keeps both insects and rain out of your tent.
Are you the proud owner of your first tent and a beginner at the art of camping? Before you go out and start on your trip, practice setting up your tent. When you do this, you'll know exactly what it takes to get your tent set up in a timely manner. This will also speed up your ability to pitch a tent and keep you safe if nighttime is approaching when you're ready to camp.
The best tip in camping is to decide where you are going to camp and who is going to camp with you before you go. You need to pack for everyone and make sure there are facilities available. If you add any additional people at the last minute, you need to add additional food and supplies for them.
It's a great idea to go to your main camp when you have a cell phone that you've fully charged. If that's not an option, bring an extra battery. This is an important thing to have and you need to make sure you can use it if you need.
If you are camping in an area that has loose or very sandy soil, you should make sure that you place large, heavy rocks on top of all the stakes of your tent. This will keep the stakes planted firmly in the ground and your tent from collapsing on its own.
A Frisbee is a great toy to take for entertainment when camping. It is easy to pack and fun. But in addition to its use as a game, it is also a great way to strengthen a paper plate. Just place the plate into the middle of the Frisbee at meal times and the plate will not collapse no matter how big your hamburger.
As you leave for home, clean up your space. Be sure to bring plenty of garbage bags to put your trash in when you cleanup. Do not leave any left over food behind. The best practice to follow when camping is to clean the campsite well, and leave only your footprints behind.
Camping is an educational and rewarding adventure for kids, and equally so for adults. As you can see, making the most of your camping outing does not have to be difficult. This article has offered some ideas to help you prepare for some situations you may encounter and leave worries behind.