There's a first time for everything and that includes
camping! The good news is lots of other people have gone before
you and can tell you what to look for.
So here are some important beginner camping tips to be aware
of so you can avoid the common and sometimes painful pitfalls of
adventuring into the great outdoors.
Your Best Friend is a Camping Checklist
Being prepared is not just for Boy Scouts. Anyone going to
spend any time in the wilderness is smart to think ahead.
You have to plan and creating a checklist of things to bring and
do is your first critical step.
Take the list with you in the weeks prior to your trip and
write down what you need as it comes to you. Include food,
clothes, first aid, medicine, children's needs such as diapers
and toys, gear like stoves, lanterns, flashlights, tents,
sleeping bags and so on. Check the list of articles here for
more ideas.
Become Familiar with Your Camping Gear Before you Head Out
Try our gear that you buy prior to your trip especially a new
tent or lantern or stove. You want to make sure you can
handle all of these things including setup and operations,
before you get to the campsite. Nothing causes more
tension than the family waiting for you to crank up the stove
because they are starving and you don't have a clue what you're
doing!
Less stress means more enjoyment. Remember that.
The Tent goes up Before Dark
Arriving a new campsite is tantalizing exciting. But don't
be tempted to set up the tent "later." Get the tent up in
the daylight and while you're at it, anything else that needs
assembly.
You'll be much more relaxed when the dark settles in early
deep in the forest.
Make Meal Plans Before the Trip
Plan your meals before you leave on the trip. Include healthy
menus and things that are easy to cook and will last a long time
in a cooler. Most people don't what to stop last-minute at
a convenience store, it's usually too pricey.
Pack the Right Clothing
Know the weather predictions for where you are going. You
want enough clothes and then some, especially for the kids who
are going to get dirty more than once in a day. Bring
swimsuits and towels in abundance, probably one to wear and one
to hang up to dry.
Be sure to bring sweatshirts, light coats and rain gear in
case of unexpected cold and wet.
Is Have Everyone Test out the Tent
Get all the bodies going on your trip in the setup tent once
before you leave. Nothing is worse than being crammed into
a tent that's too small for the lot of you.
If you'll be using air mattresses, set those up as well.
Be sure to leave room for people to get up in the middle of the
night and be able to walk out to go potty without stepping on
everybody else.
Beginners Might Want to Stay Close to Home
First time campers are better off staying within 1 - 2 hours of
home. Kids can get sick or hurt themselves, and until you
become more accustomed to camping, it's best to have options.
You Can't See Without Flashlights
Bad enough is forgetting the flashlights and having to stumble
through the dark for days. Worse is bringing the
flashlights and forgetting the batteries. Can you say
checklist?
A lantern gives you the option to hang out at night and maybe
play some games around the picnic table. They come with
small propane tanks that easily screw on and are inexpensive.
Check for Fire Restrictions
Check ahead of time and make sure that there are not any fire
restrictions or burn bans at your campground. If you can have
campfires, be sure to bring firewood and kindling, maybe some
newspaper as well as a couple of lighters.
Be sure to follow the camp rules so that everybody including
your neighbors can enjoy their camping experience. Have a
safe trip!
