Are canvas tents any good?
There is nothing like spending an evening under stars on a clear night with those you love. Camping is one of the best activities out there, and for a good reason. Remember, however, you must plan your trip in advance. This article will prepare you for a great camping adventure.
Reserve your spot at a campground as soon as possible. Particularly in the summer, many people are interested in camping with their families. If you make your reservation in the winter, you are much more likely to get the best rate possible. Those savings can translate into additional family fun while on your vacation.
If you are going camping with your pets or children, you need to take a few extra precautions. Try to teach your kids the basics of camping safety. They need to know what to do if they get lost and should each have a small survival kit. Make sure you have leashes for any pets and make sure they are current with all vaccinations.
When you pack up your camp site to go home, leave a few logs and some kindling for the next camping group that comes along. If you have ever arrived at your site after dark, you know how tough it can be to find firewood! It's a very nice pay-it-forward gesture that will probably help out more than you can imagine.
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.
Before you bring your dog along for a camping trip, get him used to the idea with a little practice run in the back yard. Pitch the tent in an already familiar area, and let him sleep or play in it for a while. Bringing a dog can really add to the fun of camping, so long as the animal has been adequately prepared for the event.
Take a bandana or handkerchief with you. Not only can it keep the hair out of your eyes, it can also be a sack to carry things, a towel to dry your hands or a potholder to grab your coffee pot from the fire. There are various uses for this fabric piece, so be sure to carry one on your trip.
You can easily start campfires using dryer lint as a starter material. In order to have enough lint to start a fire, begin collecting it a month prior to your trip. You can simply stuff it all into a plastic grocery bag you keep near the dryer. Just grab your bag of dryer lint and go on camping day.
If you have special drinks that you like, take them with you camping. It is easy to forget things like green tea, hot cocoa or your special blend of coffee. You can even take wine if it is a romantic camping adventure. Just don't forget to pack a corkscrew.
Plan some to take some extra snacks on your camping trip such as trail mix or beef jerky. After a busy day of hiking or other strenuous outdoor activities, you may be too tired to deal with campsite cooking. These snacks are healthy and nutrient-dense, making them a quick and easy source of nourishment. They are also convenient because they keep well and don't need to be refrigerated.
On your next fishing trip, go fishing. Fishing is a great way to enjoy yourself while you're out in nature, but it also helps you pack more lightly because you catch your food on the trip instead of having to bring it with you. Learn to de-bone a fish before leaving home and you'll have easy fish dinners on your camping trip.
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.
Prior to leaving for a camping journey, be sure to draft a living in a canvas tent list of necessary supplies. This will really be handy if you have a long hike to get to your campground. Pack several days before you leave, and check things off as you go.
Zip-lock bags can be very handy in a camper's tool chest. Don't worry about hauling mixing bowls in your gear. A gallon size zip-lock bag is great for mixing foods together and is much easier to carry in your pack. Just secure the top of the bag very carefully, then squeeze, knead or shake the ingredients together. Then discard for super-easy cleanup too!
Be aware of the wildlife where you are setting up camp. You do not want to set up in a place where the opossums, racoons and skunks have already called home. Learn the signs of the animals so you can find a safe place to set up camp without worrying as much about these animals at night.
Don't let your kids out of your sight. It is easy for children to get lost, and cars often come and go. It can take just one second for a child to get into danger, so supervise them at all times to be safe.
Use proper food safety techniques when you go camping. Foods should be packed in airtight and waterproof containers. Keep your food inside insulated coolers. Cooked and raw food need to be stored seperately to avoid contamination. Wash your hands while preparing food and afterward, and keep any surfaces, utensils and cooking containers clean as well. Cook all food to safe temperatures, and chill foods as soon as they cool down.
There are so many different types of tents available it can be confusing when you are trying to select one. It is a good idea to choose one that has a vestibule. This is where you can keep any of your wet items to avoid placing them directly inside the tent.
Pack ready to eat foods in your camping gear, like trail mix and jerky. These little nutritious snacks can come in handy after a long day. Even if you don't eat them, these are non-perishable snacks that have a long shelf life.
As you can see, camping isn't as easy as just setting up a tent and falling asleep. There are plenty of other things to think about as well. Now that you're more knowledgeable about camping, you should have no trouble coming up with a plan to make your camping trip go well.