Camping can be very enjoyable. Experiencing fresh air and being surrounded by nature cannot be beaten. If you’ve never been camping before and the idea worries you, read on for a few helpful hints and tips.

Sleeping Bag

Bring along a sleeping bag appropriate for the season. Bringing a sub-zero type of sleeping bag to use on a trip in the summer will make you sweat the entire night. Alternatively, taking a light bag in the winter can lead to great discomfort. You may even develop hypothermia.

Make sure your survival kit is available on a constant basis. Survival kits must include water purification tablets, a knife, a first aid box, flare gun and waterproof matches. This kit may just be what helps you to stay alive in case you get lost or something bad happens and you’re stuck outside for longer than planned. Never let it leave your side.

Attempt a “jungle breakfast” with the younger members of your camping party. Tie to the trees small boxes of cereal, fruit, and juice boxes. When they wake up, they’ll have to search the “jungle” for breakfast. This makes the trip even more magical for kids.

Pack a bandanna or handkerchief. Not only can it keep the hair out of your eyes, it can also be a sack to carry things, a towel to dry your hands or a potholder to grab your coffee pot from the fire. You can use them to pick up hot pans, or to clean up a tiny spill; therefore, you should always have one with you.

Dryer Lint

You can use dryer lint as a kindling to start a campfire with. Begin collecting dryer lint a few weeks before your trip. To make it easy to collect dryer lint, simply hang a bag next to the dryer and fill with your lint. Your kindling will be ready for you to grab on the way out the door for your trip.

It is vital that you take a first-aid kit with you anytime that you go camping. Depending on the location, the kit may have extra items, but the basic items should be there. Don’t forget to pack the extra for your location, too, such as antivenom for snake bites.

Be sure to bring a supply of oranges with you on your trip; they are both healthy and keep mosquitoes away. Once you finish your orange, save the peel. Rub it easily on all your exposed skin for a chemical-free bug repellent.

If you are not a seasoned camper, stay close to home. You could have gear issues or you might want to shorten your trip. Also, you can easily get home if you don’t have enough food or clothing. So many things can go awry for the newbie camper; it’s definitely best to find a campground near to home.

Camping is about being one with nature and living off the basics, but it is important to go prepared. In addition to your sleeping bag, bring a couple of blankets. They can be used as padding or for warmth.

When you are at your campsite, pitch your tent on the softest and most level ground you are able to find. Spots that are rocky, steep or wet mean an uncomfortable sleeping experience for you. In addition to looking for soft ground, lay down a tarp to prevent moisture from soaking into the bottom of your tent.

Be conscious of where you set up camp. You want to avoid things like wasp’s nest, ant hills and things of that nature. Keep an eye out for animals and insects around your camp, and make sure there aren’t any large populations of them close to you. It is also a good idea to carry insect repellent.

Do your packing deliberately and intelligently. Have a checklist of everything you need on your next camping trip, and then use that list in full to pack. This is something you should strive to do if you are camping in a secluded spot, away from first-aid or emergency amenities.

After reading this article, you are now prepared to set out on your next camping adventure. Apply all that you have read, and you can camp like a pro. Whether you are traveling near or far from home, you will have a great time.