Do you put a tarp under your tent?
Camping is a great activity to share with family and friends. Yet, many never try it because it sounds so hard to do. It isn't that hard if you get the right advice first. This article will provide you with the knowledge you need to be a camping professional.
If you are camping at a public campground, make sure you pack shower shoes for everyone in your party. Not only will they protect your feet from the bacteria on the shower floor, but they are great for those nighttime runs to the bushes when you need to use the restroom. They can be old flip flops, Crocs, or even slip-ons.
With camping, comes the campfire. Make sure your campfire is in an open space and far enough away from brush or trees so you don't run the risk of a stray spark catching them on fire. Surround the fire with stones to help keep it contained. Most importantly, never leave any campfire unattended. If you need to leave for any reason, make sure the campfire is extinguished completely.
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!
Introduce yourselves to other families camping in your immediate area, as a means of being social and more apt to help each other out. If another crew arrives after you've set up, offer to help with their tent or equipment. If something goes awry during the trip for anyone, it's much easier to ask for help from somebody who was courteous enough to introduce themselves.
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.
Dryer lint can make great kindling for creating campfires. Start collecting lint from the filter in your tumble dryer several weeks before your camping adventure. Keep a plastic bag right next to the dryer and put the lint in there. This is a good way to have kindling ready when it is time to go.
While camping seems synonymous with a campfire, that campfire doesn't necessarily have to be made from wood. In fact, it might be safer and easier to use a portable campfire unit powered by propane. For the most part, these units are permitted unless there is a fire ban in place. Marshmallows taste just as good from these units as they do over an open, wood-burning fire, too.
To avoid blistered and chapped feet on your camping trip, bring a bar of soap along! Prior to any lengthy walk, rub the soap into the heals of your socks and this will minimize friction, thus reducing soreness. Keep the soap in your pocket for a quick dose when your feet start feeling beat-up or blistered.
When preparing for a camping trip, people often fail to bring enough clothes. Remember that there will be no washing facilities, and you also need to think about how the weather can call for certain specific attire as well at times. You always want to be prepared, so pack accordingly.
When you are going camping, do your best to get as early of a start as possible. It will be your job to pitch your tent so you have somewhere to rest comfortably, and that will be much harder for you to do once it starts to get dark outside.
It is a great idea to put your tent together at home before you go out camping. Some tents can seem very complicated, and you do not want to get stuck in the dark without your tent being assembled. If you practice when you are at home, you will already have the experience of setting it up, and it will go smoothly.
If you are camping with others, ensure that there is something available to keep everyone entertained. There is nothing worse than a bored campmate, as they will constantly pester you for activities. Talk to your family and friends before hand and make sure they know how to entertain themselves for the trip.
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 urt tent simply not interested, find a babysitter for the weekend and relax alone!
You should leave your car or basecamp with a cell phone that's fully charged. If that's not an option, bring an extra battery. Your cell phone can help should an emergency arise.
Flashlights, spare batteries and an oil lantern are always handy items to have with you on your trip. This will ensure everyone remains safe. Sufficient light can help you avoid falling or bumping into to animals. If you have little ones with you, make sure to pack a flashlight for them, too.
A great tool to take whenever you go camping is duct tape. Duct tape is a very versatile tool that can be used from anything to mend broken tent poles, to patching up tent holes, all the way to serving as a band aide if you get a cut.
Wrap up your fishing gear, like line and lures, in plain old aluminum foil! This will keep everything from tangling up and if you do it properly, water proofed as well. Foil will also prevent rust from ruining your valuable fishing gear, so make it part of your camping trip every time.
So many people suffer from food poisoning because food is not stored and prepared correctly. When food is not properly preserved, it can increase the risk of becoming spoiled and make you sick. Take a lot of ice for keeping food cold and pull out drain plugs so you don't soak the food.
After reading the article, you see how fun it is to camp. Anyone can learn how to be good at camping. Use what you've read here when you next go camping. Before you know it, you'll be enjoying the great outdoors and making memories of a lifetime.