Camping 101: Learning The Basics

Many people consider camping as the perfect opportunity to get away from the stress of the outside world, go back to the basics and spend quality time with their families. If you're a beginner when it comes to camping, don't panic! Here is some useful information which can help you know the basics of camping.

Smashing Camping Myths

People who are not outdoor persons find it difficult to drag themselves out of the door to go to a camping trip. You don't have to be the ultimate nature person to enjoy it! It all boils down to finding the right tent, packing a comfortable sleeping bag and eating delicious food and you will feel like you didn't leave home at all.

Some might think that camping is too expensive and yes, everything we do now costs money. The initial camping equipment costs money but you get to use it lots of times over the following years. Other than that, you just need to pay for the use of the camp grounds which usually just cost more or less $20.

Lastly, some people find camping boring especially the kids. In the planning stage of your camping trip, incorporate your kids' favorite activities or sports in the trip. Pack their favorite board games. Go up a nature trail and hike. Teach them how to fish. In this way, they get to see and learn a lot of things.

Finding the Perfect Tent to Buy

The tent is your home for the duration of the camping trip. In choosing the right tent you might want to consider the following:

Take into consideration the number of people staying in the tent and the amount of equipment you're taking with you. As a rule of thumb, add two more persons to the actual persons staying in the tent to make room for the equipment and give enough space for the persons to move around without feeling cramped.

If you're a beginner, stick to the simplest kind of tent that you can find. The more complex the tent, the harder it is to set up.

In shopping for the right tent, ask the salesperson to help you and inquire about the features of the tent you have in mind.

Some factors that you need to consider are size, quality, comfort and the ease to set up.

Dining concerns

It's better to plan ahead and make a camping menu before your trip so you know what food to prepare and what to bring. Ask your family members for suggestions or add their favourite food to the menu.

Bring food that is easy to make and easy to pack. If you want, you can cook meals before your camping trip and pack it with you but be careful of food spoilage especially in hot weather.

Remember to bring snacks or something to munch on whenever someone gets hungry. Keep all the perishable items inside the cooler (with ice, of course). This can serve as your temporary refrigerator.

Lastly, bring food that can be cooked over the camp fire like marshmallows, hotdogs and corn on the cob.