Most people consider camping to be a fun and exciting way to escape the stress of everyday life. But, if your preparations are inadequate, issues may arise. Prepare in advance to avoid this and keep your “must have” list handy when preparing for your trip.

Make sure to find your shelter before it gets dark. Once blackness falls out there in the woods, it can be extremely difficult to pitch a tent, find good firewood and prepare food. Someone who isn’t very familiar with the outdoors can come to harm by placing their tent in an unsafe area due to being unable to see. Don’t let this happen to you. Look for adequate shelter before it gets this dark.

Make sure that the sleeping bag you bring camping is right for the weather. A sleep bag designed for winter camping would make you sweat during the summer. The opposite is true as well, a summer bag won’t keep you warm in the winter. Hypothermia can be experienced, as well.

Survival Kit

Bring a survival kit that you can carry on your person at all times. Your survival kit needs to have water-purifying tablets, a type of survival knife, a first-aid kit, a flare gun, and waterproof matches. For any life threatening situation, these items may be the only thing standing between you and disaster. Carry it at all times.

Go to a class to learn about first aid. Camping can be very remote, so it is best to be able to deal with emergencies on your own, until help can be reached. Never forget to research. Find out if the area has poisonous snakes, what type of wildlife lives in the woods, etc.

Don’t miss the opportunity to add swimming activities to your next camping trip. You might long for a good shower when you are camping. Cool water can give you a feeling of exhilaration that may help you to miss your shower at home much less.

Take a luxury item with you when camping. This can be something simple like fresh coffee or a favorite candy. You can really feel good on your trip when you bring these food items.

Oranges can be used for insect repellent. Enjoy the oranges and then rub the inside of the peel on any exposed skin to keep insects at bay.

Look into pillows made specifically for camping. Regular house pillows will become sticky and uncomfortable when exposed to humidity. They may also get mildew from all the moisture outside. Camping pillows are coated to prevent this from happening, keeping you dry and comfortable.

If camping is new for you, start somewhere nearby. You could have problems with your gear, or you may find you don’t like camping. Maybe you will find you have not brought enough food, clothing or other necessities. A lot of issues can happen for the new camper, so do not go too far for your first camp trip.

Be certain to have multiple lanterns or flashlights handy as well as additional batteries. This will ensure everyone remains safe. Without a flashlight, you could easily fall or be surprised by an animal. It’s a good idea to bring along one flashlight for each person in your camping party.

Take along a current picture of any kids you have camping with you. This can help you locate your children quickly if they are lost during the trip. This is particularly useful if you will be camping somewhere far from where you live.

Most of the time, camping is fun. You must be prepared if you want things to go well. The great thing is that if you use the information above fully, you will almost surely have a wonderful time. And make sure you do one thing extra, and that’s have a good time!