Most people use camping as a way to escape daily life and stress. However, if you are not properly prepared, your trip may not go quite as planned. In this article, you’ll be given tips that can help your next camping excursion to go smoothly.

Don’t assume you can find wood at or near your camp site. As an added precaution, bring along wood from around your yard or logs from a home store, and keep them where they will stay dry.

Survival Kit

Pack and carry a survival kit on your person for the entire trip. Your survival kit needs to have water-purifying tablets, a type of survival knife, a first-aid kit, a flare gun, and waterproof matches. Your survival kit can be the difference between you making it out of the woods on a stretcher or your own two feet. Your kit should not be left behind at the camp site, but should be carried with you wherever you go.

Learn proper first aid. With the training you receive, you will be better prepared to handle an accident or other emergency situation while you wait for medical assistance. Make sure to do your research. Find out if the area has poisonous snakes, what type of wildlife lives in the woods, etc.

Attempt a “jungle breakfast” with the younger members of your camping party. Take mini-boxes of cereal, juice boxes and fruit out into the woods, and tie them to the trees. Then, when the kids wake up, have them go and “hunt” for their breakfast. It adds some fun to camping.

Try combining a swimming experience with your camping experience. The thing people tend to miss most while camping is the convenience of their home shower. The coolness of the water will help you feel cleaner and more refreshed, so you won’t miss your shower as much as you thought you might!

Always prepare an emergency kit when camping, whether you are going by yourself or with others. The content of this kit should be personalized to the type of camping you will be doing. Take things for specific creatures as well, like antivenom.

Even camping purists may find that having a small luxury item is a good thing. Take something that is lightweight, like a chocolate bar or coffee creamer. These things can help to keep you happy and make your trip more enjoyable.

Bring oranges with you since they are great for snacking and repelling insects. After you have eaten the orange, rub the peel onto exposed body parts and this will repel any blood-sucking bugs.

It’s important to have all your equipment with you when camping. It is very inconvenient to forget to bring essential items like your sleeping bag or tent. Use a check list that you can use to double check, to be sure that you have everything before you leave home.

Look for the softest and flattest ground you can possibly find for your tent. It is important to feel as level as possible to maximize the comfort that you feel. Make sure you put down a tarp before you set up your tent. This will keep water from entering your tent at night.

Write down a list of all the materials you need before you go camping. This can be of particular importance if you are traveling a long distance and will be in more remote locations. Start getting things together a couple of days before you plan to leave, and check things off the list as you pack them.

As previously mentioned in this article’s introduction, in general, camping is fun. However, if you do not plan ahead, you could be endangering those you love. The great thing is that if you use the information above fully, you will almost surely have a wonderful time. Remember to enjoy yourself!