If you’ve never gone camping, you are in for a treat. Nothing beats falling asleep under the stars and awakening to the birds chirping. If you are looking for ways to make your camping trips enjoyable, the tips below can help.

You might imagine that nature has an inexhaustible supply of firewood, but there might be nothing but wet wood that refuses to burn. Therefore, take some wood with you on your camping trip and store it in a location where it can remain dry.

It is important to remember that getting dirty is inevitable. If you’re ready for this, it will bother you less when it happens. Allow yourself to be improper, messy and just “let go” while outside. You can return to being clean and civilized when you’re at home.

Preparation and organization are chief factors to facilitate a great camping trip. It is a bad idea to go camping unprepared. If you are camping in a new location, research the local wildlife, geography and the climate before leaving home.

If you’re camping with kids, try a “jungle breakfast”. To do this, tie cereal and juice boxes to trees so that your kids have to hunt for their breakfest. Then, have the kids go on a hunt for their breakfast when they awaken. This is a fun game for the kids and makes their camping experience more interesting.

Emergency kits are one of the most important things to bring on a camping trip. This kit must include the basics for the event of an emergency. Species specific antivenom should be packed to protect against animal bites.

Always set up your camp before nightfall. When traveling in an RV, locate a safe parking area. Pitch your tent on land that is flat and dry. You will be able to see the area better before nightfall and become familiar with it. This can help you see what you are doing and prevent frustration.

Packing all the essentials is vital to the success of your camping venture. If you forget a few things, your trip may just get ruined. Creating a checklist of all the things you need can help you. Be sure your list includes the tent and sleeping bags, as well as food items and personal hygiene items.

Be sure to avoid draining your flashlight’s batteries on your camping trip. It can be really easy to inadvertently press the “on” switch on your flashlight when jostling through a bag of camping equipment. To prevent draining the batteries, place them in your flashlight backwards. That way, the flashlight cannot possibly drain the batteries if the ON button is bumped.

Sleeping Bag

Make sure your sleeping bag is fit for the environment in which you are going to camp. So bring a lighter sleeping bag for the hotter months out of the year, and a thicker one for the colder months out of the year. Be sure the bags you bring hug your body so your body heat is contained.

Always watch your kids closely. Kids love to explore in the woods and they can very easily get lost. Accidents and mishaps occur in a split second; make certain your children are safely supervised at all times.

You should never leave your car or basecamp without a fully-charged cell phone. You should also seriously consider bringing a spare battery for your cell phone in case the main battery dies. Your phone could be the most important equipment you have in an emergency.

Always pack a first aid kit and a survival kit. These two things will make the difference between ending your trip early and taking care of many situations quickly and easily. You may also be able to prevent things that are serious from becoming deadly and earn yourself enough time to get the injured some medical help.

You can start planning your next camping trip with the advice you have just read. Just be sure to go prepared, use the tips you’ve learned and act cautiously in the woods. No matter how far you travel, you will have a great camping experience.