You may have camped as a child, but it still has a lot to offer you. With the proper advice, you can make your camping experience enjoyable. Use these tips for help.

When camping, be sure to locate a shelter before dark. Once it gets dark, it is much harder to find wood for your fire, prepare food, and get your tent ready. This is particularly the case for city slickers who are unaccustomed to darkness. Do not get yourself into this situation, and find your shelter during daylight hours.

You may feel that when you get to your campsite you will have enough wood to make a fire. This is not always the case because green and wet wood will not burn easily. Make sure you bring some of your own dry kindling and make sure it stays in a dry area.

Oranges are good things to bring for your camping trip, and not only as a healthy snack option. After you’ve enjoyed the orange, keep all the peels. If the mosquitoes are swarming, rub the peels over your body to keep them at bay.

Duct tape is a valuable item to carry for many different situations. It is good for patching holes in tents, shoes, and inflatables. It is also good for securing tents and sealing up mosquito nets.

Before you plan to camp in an new area, it is important to be aware of any dangers commonly found there. Knowing what poisonous creatures to watch out for, where terrain gets rugged, and when to expect dangerous weather are key to ensuring your safety. Each camp is individual, so scope out the one you are planning to enter before every trip.

If you’re camping where there is dangerous wildlife, double your food reserves. This means you must warp things up tightly, keep them away from the tent, and avoid some food types while camping. This will help prevent wild animals from being tempted to visit your campsite.

Camping’s main idea is to generally live off of the land, however, you still need to be well-prepared. While a sleeping bag is obvious, it is still a good idea to bring extra blankets. This helps to warm you up in case it gets too cold at night. They are also good to use for extra padding.

When you show up to go camping, pitch your tent wherever you can find flat and soft ground. Pitching your tent on bumpy, rocky ground or on a slope won’t make for a very comfortable night’s sleep. Make sure you place a tarp underneath your tent to keep water out, also.

Write down a list of your necessary items before heading out on a camping excursion. This is doubly important for campgrounds that are far away. Start getting things together a couple of days before you plan to leave, and check things off the list as you pack them.

Think about your clothing before your camping adventure. Take extra pairs of clothes to last you throughout your whole trip. You should also make sure that you pack suitable clothes for the weather forecast and activities planned. Shoes need to be closed and durable, especially for hiking.

Bringing your survival kit and first aid kit is crucial. These items can help save a life or help keep a harmful situation from going from bad to worse. Being prepared can prevent a serious situation from worsening and can buy you time when helping a sick or injured person to safety.

Reading a map and using a compass are two things that should be done before heading out for a camping trip. You can get lost in the woods even if you have been to the area before. Using a map or compass can actually save your life if you’re lost. Learn to use them so that you don’t suffer a tragic fate.

With just a little bit of advice, you can relive the wonderful childhood memories of those exciting camping trips of yesterday. Let this article help you stir your imagination and spark your mind so that you can have a truly memorable camping experience and learn to love it all over again.