Vacations are a special time to get away, and camping is one of the most exciting ways of spending that time. To enjoy your camping trip to the fullest extent, heed the tips included in the article below. You will learn some great advice to use the next time you head to the great outdoors!

You might think you can find enough wood for your fire in the woods, but the wood you find might be wet and not want to burn. It’s important that you bring extra wood with you that you can keep in a dry area.

When you buy a new tent, set it up completely at home before you take it camping. It will help you make sure that all of the parts are included and learn how to set it up right. It also helps with the frustration of putting a tent up.

Pack and carry a survival kit on your person for the entire trip. Must haves include, but aren’t limited to, a knife, matches, a flare gun, and a first aid pack. You may find that this kit makes the difference between life and death in an emergency situation. Be sure to carry it on your person and not leave it at your campsite.

A cute way to add fun to meals is to make what is known as a “jungle meal”. Portable foods, such as boxed cereal, juice, and fruit, can be tied to trees. Let younger children wake up and hunt for their breakfast. This is a wonderful way to spice up the whole camping trip.

Look into pillows made specifically for camping. Regular bed pillows can become damp if the weather is wet or humid. Your average pillow will also become moldy from the excessive moisture in the outdoor air. Pillows designed for camping offer a coating that prevents moisture absorption.

Camping is great fun for kids if you plan things that they can do. If you are deep in the woods, away from everything, they may get bored. Make sure that they get acquainted with different camping activities such as fishing and pitching the tent. Get them used to it prior to leaving on the trip.

Is this your first tent? Before you head off on that initial camping trip, practice pitching your tent. By doing this, you will know all the equipment that you will need to take with you to effectively pitch the tent. Practicing how to pitch a tent will also ensure you can quickly set up your tent when you arrive at your campsite.

When you find your site, seek out the softest, most level ground to put your tent on. Pitching your tent on bumpy, rocky ground or on a slope won’t make for a very comfortable night’s sleep. Always lay down some tarp first to prevent any water damage to the tent.

Make sure not to drain the batteries in your flashlight by accident. It is not uncommon to accidentally bump the switch and turn your flashlight on when you are digging around in your bag. To ensure that this does not happen to you, you can put the batteries in facing the wrong direction until you reach your destination. This prevents accidental switch nudges so that they will remain fresh when you need them.

Camping can be a lot more enjoyable and easy if you just know what you’re doing, and hopefully you have learned something here. Enjoy some time off by using this article for your next camping trip and to experience the splendor of nature.