If you are a beginner, don’t worry, you are at the right place and you know what, more than 30 million Americans go for camping to entertain their mind at least once in a year as well as if I am not wrong, you are also preparing yourself for going outdoors as well as you need to know about camping preparation.
You must not want to make your trip complex, but if you know nothing and depending on only your ideas without having any experience then there is a chance to fall. However, this is for sure that practical knowledge differs hugely from the theoretical knowledge, but we can ensure you that the following facts are going to make you well experienced though you are a beginner.
Preparation before camping
Research the site before you go
After selecting a place, if possible you can visit there before you start or make some phone calls or emails to know the most possible information regarding that place. The following facts will help you to select an appropriate place.
- Try to select a place near your home.
- Be sure that your selected place is permitted for camping.
- While selecting the place consider the weather. You must not select a ground which is low and surrounded by hills in a rainy season.
- Always try to select a place nearby any lake or river if it is not a rainy condition.
- Be sure about the facilities you are going to get there and the facilities, which are not available, as you can manage those from home.
Make and use your checklist
If it needs something in the campsite, but you did not bring that or forgot to take then it is surely not going to be fun but complex. It’s really very important to be organized while going outdoors.
- Your checklist first depends on this question and which is “how many members are going there with you or you are going single?”. The number of the quantities of things like food or the amount of the space of your tent has to be sufficient.
- Checklist has to have a weather resistant system.
- Don’t make your checklist so long if it is not that necessary because of keeping a manageable weight.
- Make sure that you did not overlook anything in your list.
- Have a trial of each and everything before you packed up.
- If you feel confused after packing than do not let it go, make another revision of your checklist.
- The sum of the things has to be more than enough comparing your duration that you are going to pass there.
Meal plan
There is no alternative to food for survival, so be smart and keep the following facts while making a meal plan.
- Your budget for meal depends on how many people & how long you are going to stay there.
- Try to bring dry food which can stay good for a long time.
- Buy foods one day before you go so it will remain fresh.
- Your camp kitchen has to be well organized according to your meal plan.
- Nothing is the worst to become sick in a campsite so be careful that your food is healthy.
- Keep all or most of your meals easy to prepare, cook and to clean up. No need to make restaurant 3-course meals.
- Check if you will have a campfire, barbecue or using the camp stove. Take the cooking equipment required to suit the food that you are cooking or preparing, Do you need a frying pan, saucepan, tongs, camp oven etc.
- Work out what ingredients you need and only take the food required for your meals. Don’t take five different types of sauce if you are only going to use two or don’t take a kilo of rice if you only need 1 cup. You don’t have unlimited spaces You have limited spaces so make the most of it.
- When deciding how much food to take allow a bit extra for each meal, add a few more sausages, or eggs etc.
- You may like to test out a new recipe and try a new meal or dessert each time you go camping to make it more interesting. If it’s a success that’s great, you may like to add it to the menu next time you go camping.
Health Tips
If you want to enjoy the most then you need to be fit enough in camping. Here you have a few suggestions to maintain good health while outing.
- Sleep well before you start the journey as well as sleep well in the campsite too. Has your sleeping pad is comfortable! Or the tent is good enough for all of you!
- Drink a minimum of 16 ounces of water in an hour while doing the outdoor activities.
- Bring some essentials like bug spray or mosquito spray.
- Clean as much as you can, so don’t forget to take soap, hand wash, toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet papers, as well as keeps the dirty clothes separately.
- If it is summer then cotton is best to stay cool and if it is winter take the cloths which can defend the cool and finally if it is rainy season, then don’t forget to take your raincoat.
- The swimming plan needs to check out your swimming costume as well as don’t forget about your hiking boots also.
- Take some chocolate or peanuts in your pocket. It will give you instant energy while hiking and drink plenty of water.
- Avoid the sun’s heat and ticks as well.
- Check your first aid box that is it sufficient for any injury or a headache or fever or extreme cold.
- Don’t stay in the water for a long time under a hot sun if you are not used to with it.
- If you feel sick then don’t wait to the end, come back immediately.
Safety & rules
Safety is first. If you have the following points in your mind, then you are safe.
- Make a fire for the whole night. Animal fears fire.
- your bed height should be at least one or two feet high from the ground.
- Make sure you have a rain cover on your tent, just in case.
- Don’t cross the caution mark if you find any in your campsite.
- If you find any bear, play dead except the black one. Blacks are cruel, so face it or make a huge noise.
- Be friendly with a positive attitude and necessary equipment if another campsite needs your help.
- Avoid bad weather
- When you break it down make sure the fire is out and you take everything you need to get back home.
With those above discussions, you should also know what you should not do while camping. However, if any one of the group wants to avoid the trip just let him or her know what he or she is going to miss out there. So, hurry up, adventures await ahead.
Camping preparation includes 13 things you should never do in camping
Camping surely is one of the best adventures, but only when you do it safely. It happens so often to forget something to take or things you take which actually a burden.
Here we try to figure out the things which you should not do while camping:
Arrive at dark:
Though you are well experienced, it will be tough to set up all the things in a dark especially tent or if you are new then what it can be tougher to set up a tent in the dark!
Arrive under the hot sun:
If you are planning for camping in summer, then you need to have a plan of starting from home as early as you can in the dawn just because the sun gets really hot from 11 am to 3 pm. It’s important to be health conscious during camping.
Being alone in the forest:
You may plan for only yourself & want to enjoy your own company, but make sure that you told someone that where you are going as well as how long you are going to stay there. It may be the place where you never come before, so it is so obvious that you are not familiar with the unexpected problems which can happen anytime. Or if you are with the plural number of members then it is safe to take someone with you on a walk.
Leave the food uncovered:
Do not leave the food without any protection. There can be monkeys or different insects which can destroy your meal.
Bags unzipped:
People often forget to lock the bags. It may sure that no one is going to steal your things, but have you thought about the bugs!
Packing unwisely:
Don’t take anything which you don’t need or don’t forget something which you need. Choose the right dress code for the session as well as take the sufficient number of cloths but it doesn’t mean you are going to pack like a girl packing for a week through its trip of 2 days. One more thing, make a trail of your gears before you pack.
Getting drunk:
Getting drunk too much is harassment for your partner to control you or if you are alone, then be careful that there is no one to protect you and this, not your bedroom.
Disturbing the neighbors:
You may find a company besides your campsite. Trying to be gentle is always the best option, especially in quite harsh.
Eating too much:
If you eat a lot, then you must feel a lot of pressure for the washroom and don’t you think it is so embarrassing to go out for washroom on cold midnight.
Leaving personal stuff here & there:
No one wants to use your used soap or towel to keep your personal stuff with you.
Annoying the wild animals:
This would be a dangerous thing if you annoy any wild animal. Remember, you are the guest of that place and that is their home.
Leave the place without cleaning:
Yes, you are preparing to get back home but have you checked the fire! Make sure the fire is out and you are not forgetting anything to take.
Bring your pet:
Be confirmed about the rules for a pet of the campground before you bring your pet there.
These are the basic things you can maintain, but sometimes time will say what to do and what not to. However, besides knowing those you may need to know how to face emergencies in the campsite. Just because you never predict what can happen in advance.
Preparation for what you should do for your emergencies while camping
You may have the following question already in your mind:
How to treat
- Wounded place!
- Hypothermia!
- Hyperthermia!
- Food poisoning!
- What will you do if you get lost alone!
Emergency! It is ok. Cool down and do not panic. Yes, it is horrible to get in trouble when you are so far from your home. However, you cannot skip it, but you may already know “there is always a catch”.
We are going to give you the best possible solution of the problems which happens so often with the campers.
Problem no. 1: Getting wounded.
Solution: If you are injured so seriously, we suggest you come back or if it is not so serious like a cut or scrap then use your first aid box. Now for your reminder, your first aid box should be packed with the following items:
First aid box:
-Plenty of gauzes,
-Bandages,
-Rubbing alcohol,
-Hydrogen peroxide,
-Tape, scissors,
-Tweezers,
-One time bandages,
-Water resistance bandages,
-Allergy medications,
-Counter pain relievers,
-Saline,
-Glucose,
-Gastric counter,
-Food poisoning, medications,
-Blood pressure controller,
-Snakebite medications,
-Thermometer,
-High fever medications,
-Antiseptics,
-Sunscreen,
-Bug spray,
-Insect repellent,
-Your regular medicine, etc.
Make sure every item is sufficient for your trip and you know how to use those.
Problem no. 2: Hypothermia.
Solution: If body temperature is 35 degree C or less:
-Immediately remove wet clothes or wet shoes or wet anything,
-Let the individual drink warm liquids first to increase the body temperature,
-Rub his fits and hands to make warm (remember first you need to warm the trunk than others),
-Wrap the person with a blanket to warm him up,
-Immersing the person in warm water can cause heart arrhythmia, do not do it.
-Do not use hot water bottle directly to the skin, but you can wrap them in the cloths or the blanket.
-Try to figure out the reason,
-If the condition is still not improved, get ready to get back to any medical attention.
Problem no. 3: Hyperthermia.
Solution: If body temperature is 104 degree F or more (Normal temperature is 96 to 99 degree F):
Solution:
-Take the individual under a shadow,
-Remove the warm clothes,
-Let the individual drink water,
-Create an artificial air him(If you don’t have any cooling system),
-Take him to the nearest hospital.
Problem no.3: Food poisoning.
Solution:
-Try to avoid solid foods while feeling vomiting
-Spicy, fried, greasy foods should be avoided
-Eat light and blend foods like rice, bread, etc.,
-Drink sipping liquids to avoid vomiting,
-Have clear fluids,
-Drink oral rehydration solution,
-Don’t take anti-nausea or anti-diarrhoea solution without asking a doctor because it has side effects.
-If it still continues with severe belly pain, take the individual to the doctor immediately.
Problem no. 4: Dehydration.
Solution:
-Get the individual plenty of water to drink,
-Give rehydration solution to replace salt or other minerals,
-Let the individual take rest,
-Help them to massage their muscle.
-Still not ok, take him to hospital.
Problem no. 5: Getting lost.
Solution:
-Use walkie-talkies,
-If you are alone in the site than tie a reflector with a tree near to your tent which will help you to find the place,
-If possible, Don’t walk alone,
-Use the compass for the direction,
-Shout for a known person as loud as you can,
-If possible, Take a communication device with you, just in case.
-Try to make a signal in a place that can be noticed from the high helicopter.
However, take some advance preparation like:
-Travel with your health insurance,
-Always keep a torchlight with you,
-Let someone know about your trip details in advance who is not going with you.
-Always use shoes, hat, and sunglasses and keep a water bottle with you.
Mind it, If the situation is not in control, do not wait for the end. Come back soon. However, sometimes problems create for our silly mistakes, so stay aware and stay safe and have a great trip!
