Camping Accomodation Tips

August 22, 2012 by  
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You may not think about this, but camping requires a lot of common sense. You will need to use basic education that you have acquired through out your years of school so that you can avoid doing anything that is basically dumb. You will find that there are a lot of dangers that lurk in the woods and you will find that the most commonly found dangers include the climbing aspect and lightening.

Did you know that there are over a hundred people who die in a year because they were struck by lightening? You will want to make sure that you use your common sense when it comes to being outside in an electrical storm. You will also find that the lighting will occur mostly in the clouds, but there are going to be a few strikes every now and then. If you happen to be the tallest thing around like standing on top of an open mountain site, you will find that your odds of getting hit by lightening are very high. This is because of all the salt water that is in an human body will attract the lightening and forms a conductor. You will find that when you are wet, your odds are even worse. You will want to think about the safety by taking cover. Even though your odds of being struck (even at higher risks) are very low, you will need to still take precautions because it is not something that you can predict.

Being struck can end up seriously hurting a person and could end up killing them, depending on the voltage. You will want to consider that this odds or not something that you will want to mess with. As for the second major danger, you will want to consider that you need to have common sense in the safety matters of hiking.

Obviously, you don’t need to stand too close to a cliff, and you never know when a gust of wind will knock you down. You don’t want to put your life at risk just for a thrill. You will need to think about how sturdy the mountain side is before you climb it, because you never know about rather or not your stepping area will give away. You will also find that even if you don’t get seriously hurt from a fall, you are now at danger for parasites and infections from the open cuts and scrapes.

Camping Safety Tips

August 22, 2012 by  
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There are millions of people everywhere who enjoy the relaxation of camping. Whether you’re spending the weekend camping with your family at the local state park or backpacking through the backcountry, there are some general rules of camping safety that you should always follow. Many of these camping safety tips are simply common sense, but it is still a good idea to review these guidelines before setting out for any type of outdoor adventure.

General Camping Safety
Camping safety begins before you ever set out on your vacation. Check the weather forecast ahead of time and be prepared for rain or storms. Pack emergency rain gear, as well as a well-stocked first aid kit, and plan to arrive at your campsite as early as possible. You want plenty of time to set up camp before the sun sets.

Upon arrival, inspect your campsite closely for glass and harmful debris, poisonous plants and animals, and areas that may be prone to flooding in the case of a heavy downpour. Set up your tent on flat ground and remove any rocks, branches, or other objects that could damage your tent or be uncomfortable to sleep on.

If you are camping with children, check the campsite closely for fire ants, hornet or wasp nests, dangerous grades, and other potential hazards before settling in. Wear light colors and refrain from using scented lotions, soaps, and perfumes to prevent attracting bees and mosquitoes. Coleman citronella candles can ward off mosquitoes as well.

Use caution whenever you operate your propane stove or grill and anytime you have a campfire. Never leave any of these unattended. Keep your campsite clean, storing food in closed containers and disposing of garbage, to reduce the chances of bears, raccoons, or other wild animals entering your campsite. Never keep food items inside your tent.

Hiking and Outdoor Activity Safety
Anytime you decide to enjoy the great outdoors, it is important to remember that you are in nature’s domain. To stay safe, it is your responsibility to follow the proper safety precautions. It is a good idea to become familiar with poisonous and harmful plants, animals, and insects that are common to your area. Always carry a small first aid kit while hiking or biking and have knowledge of first aid procedures for outdoors. If you should come in contact with poison ivy or sumac, apply calamine lotion to the infected area to relieve the itching.

Stay on the designated trail and avoid high grass and overgrowth. Wear light colors so ticks are easy to spot and check your head and body for any possible ticks each night. If you find a tick that has already bitten, remove it gently with tweezers, taking care not to crush the body or leave the head. Clean the bite area with warm water and soap and see a doctor if you experience a fever or rash within the next few days or if you think the tick was attached for more than 2 days.

Never enjoy the beauty of nature alone. Have at least one companion with you wherever you go and whatever you are doing outdoors and tell your friends and family where you will be and how long you plan to be gone.

Selecting A Good Campsite

August 22, 2012 by  
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Let it be known that I’m an avid, happy camper and I love the outdoors. With that said, I’ve also met a lot of people who would love to try camping but don’t know where to start. It’s perfectly understandable that they wouldn’t want to go out and try something new without preparing for it, so I decided to write a short article that will provide some essential information for camping beginners, and send them on their way to experiencing and enjoying the joys of camping and the outdoors.

If you’re just starting out camping, I would suggest visiting one of the plentiful public campgrounds that you can find in national and state parks. Always pick the one that’s nearest to your home if possible. These public campgrounds are usually run by government agencies like the Bureau of Land Management, the Army Corps of Engineers, etc. They are typically found along scenic spots and on vast lands that are set aside for preserving the natural environment, and for people who want to enjoy the outdoors. Where to find them? Going online is the best way to do so. Websites like Park Net and Reserve USA offer a vast database of information about ideal and available camping spots.

Now that you’ve found your perfect campground, there’s more to learn. First, always stop by the campground office and check in when you arrive. Introduce yourselves and provide some necessary information, like the number of campers with you, how long you’re planning on staying, and whether you’re in a tent or an RV. You can also ask if you can take a drive through the area to find a suitable campsite. If the office has a map of the campground, you can use it to check the locations of important spots.

Inform the attendants if you’d like a campsite close to the lake, or about any other preferred locations you might have. It’s not guaranteed that they can always accommodate you, but telling them about it as early as possible will let them make the necessary arrangements and increase the odds of you getting the location you want. You might also want to inquire about the camp rules and regulations during this time, and any other questions that you might have.

You should also know what to look for when picking out your campsite. Ideally, choose a site where you can set up your tent on relatively high ground. This way, water will flow away from your tent when it’s raining, so your tent and everything else inside will remain dry. But avoid setting up your tent on a slope, either. Pick a site where the ground is high and level. You may also want to have some shade during the hotter parts of the day, so if you can, pick a spot near some trees. The only time when this is inadvisable, though, is when the weather shows likely signs of raining. Then you’d be risking the chance of becoming a target for lightning strikes.

Other things to check for are water sources and cooking areas. You will need lots of water for cooking, washing, and drinking, so make sure you camp near a water source. Check out the locations of the cleaning stations, as well. Never use bathrooms or drinking fountains for washing dishes. Make sure also that your campsite has a grill and a picnic table with benches. A flat, wide area without any leaves or twigs nearby is also ideal for campfires and using stoves.

Another important thing, especially if you have kids, is the location of any playgrounds or play areas. You might want to be near playgrounds, so that the kids won’t have to walk far and you can easily keep an eye on them, but if it’s peak season, the playgrounds will be sure to have lots of other children playing as well, so you might want to stay away from them to avoid the noise. It all depends on what your preferences are. You also need to look for locations where you can play ball games, or if you’re near a lake, go fishing, swimming, or boating.

Experience will teach you a lot more than I could in this article, so the best advice I can give you, aside from the things I told you here, is to go out and start camping. Enjoy life outdoors!

Have The Best Camping Trip Ever With These Amazing Camping Tips

August 22, 2012 by  
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While we all know that camping is fun, great and so on, we also know that it entails careful planning to make it a memorable and fun experience. But the thing is, you don’t need to be a seasoned camper to enjoy camping. You don’t have to be a camper for 10 years or more to experience what an amazing camping trip is.

With these useful tips, you will know the secrets to having a wonderful camping trip.

Smart Packing

  • Create a checklist and bring only the real essential things. Bringing a dozen suitcases filled with what you think are important will not only slow you down but might ruin your camping trip.
  • Ration out supplies like medication, fuel, lotion, shampoo and the like in smaller containers filled with the amount that you’ll need for the duration of the camping. Add only a little extra for emergency.
  • Picking a Campsite

  • Pick a spot with a clean and safe water source. Bringing too many bottles of water will slow you down and not having enough to drink will dehydrate you.
  • Choose a shady spot. But don’t pitch your tent directly under the trees because it is dangerous in case of sudden thunderstorms.
  • Keeping Unwanted Guests Away

  • Spray ammonia on garbage to remove the smell of leftover food and to keep animals away.
  • After washing, use baking soda on your hands and clothes to remove the smell of food so bears and other wild creature will not go near you.
  • Draw lines around your tent floor with chalk. This will keep ants and cockroaches away.
  • To protect yourself from mosquitoes and ticks, wear insect repellent lotion and tuck in your clothing like your shirt into your pants, pants into socks and so on.
  • Convenient Cooking Techniques

  • Prepare and measure ingredients at home before you leave for the camping trip so that you need not bring your measuring spoons and cups. Place the pre-measured ingredient in small containers and be sure to label them so you don’t mistakenly put salt in your coffee.
  • Half-cook food at home to save cooking time and fuel at the campsite.
  • Always cover pots and pans while cooking so that food are cooked at a much faster time.
  • Make your matches waterproof by dipping them in nail polish or melted paraffin.
  • Getting a Good Night’s Sleep

  • Try being naked when you sleep in your sleeping bag. The heat of your body will be reflected back to you.
  • Don’t forget to bring a catalytic heater like the Coleman BlackCat™ Perfectemp™ Catalytic Heater that will provide you with safe and flameless warmth for a comfortable sleep.
  • Hiking Tips

  • Don’t forget to bring the hiking essentials: snacks, water, watch, whistle, cell phone, compass, flashlight and knife in case of emergency.
  • Opt for light running shoes and nylon socks if hiking boots cause blisters on your feet.
  • Put a wet towel on top of your head if it’s hot. This will help keep you cool despite the scorching heat of the sun.

These tips will prepare you for your camping trip. And your camping trip will surely teach you more tips that you can add to these ones.