The issue people have with camping is that in today's society we've gotten lazy and we seek comfort and convenience.
Camping in a tent doesn't offer these.
It offers much more.
Camping in a tent offers things like bonding with friends and family, becoming one with nature, enjoying all that mother nature has to offer.
But in order to get the most our of camping, you need to be well prepared.
Therefore, I've put together the Top Ten Tips below on things you should do to prepare for camping so it's a blast for you on your next adventure.
Top Ten Tips to prepare for camping 1.
Bring the right tent for you.
There are three key things to look for in camping tents.
Make sure it has a floor.
Make sure the camping tent is waterproof.
Make sure it has plenty of room for you and your friends or family to sleep and move around.
This site provides1-4 person tents, family tents, adventure tents, kids tents, canopies etc.
2.
Bring the right Sleeping Bag, Cot, air mattress and pillow.
Your selection of a sleeping bag is one of the most important things to pay attention to when preparing for camping because if you or others don't get a good nights rest, you'll be awry in the morning and lose some of the Joy of camping.
So pick out a good, warm sleeping bag that is big and has plenty of room to move around.
You may even want to buy a double sleeping bag.
Always store the clothes you are going to wear the next day in the bottom of your sleeping bag so they will be warm and dry when you wake up in the morning, One thing I like to do is bring a double air mattress and lay a comforter over the mattress.
Then lay your sleeping bag on top of the comforter.
It's unbelievably comfortable.
Give it a shot.
3.
Bring the right Food or Snack.
The most common food people bring camping is hot dogs and hamburgers.
While these are great, I also suggest bringing pork chops, chicken and T-Bone Steaks.
These are awesome on the grill.
They may be a bit pricey so bring hot dogs and burgers for the kids and steaks for the adults.
I also suggest bringing some kind of salad and vegetable.
Potato Salad does well in a cooler and baked beans are good too.
You'll have your favorite standard meal but don't forget to bring smores and tonges to roast marshmallow over the fire pit.
If you don't know what a smore is, it's this: 1/2 Graham Cracker, with a couple pieces of a Hershey chocolate bar on the cracker, then roast a marshmallow until it is golden brown.
Put the hot marshmallow on the chocolate and another 1/2 graham cracker on top of the marshmallow.
It will look like a graham cracker sandwich with chocolate and marshmallow in between.
Another favorite of mine that I created is "Care Bear in a Cloud" Buy a bag of marshmallow and a box of chocolate Teddy Grahams.
Stuff one or two Teddy Grahams into a marshmallow then roast the marshmallow over the fire pit until it is golden brown.
Eat the Care Bear in a cloud.
It's delicious.
4.
Bring an extra pair of clothes.
Away bring two extra pair of clothes; socks, underwear, pants, shirts etc.
Why? Because some of your clothes are likely going to get wet from the rain or dew.
The best thing you can do is hang your clothes in the tent somewhere.
5.
Bring a Porta Potty and Toilet Paper Your camp site may have a very sanitary restroom or out house but it may be located far away and be an inconvenience to walk to in the middle of the night.
So I strongly suggest you buy the "Bumper Dumper".
It is the coolest and most convenient item you'll ever bring camping.
It sound silly at first, but once you've used it, you'll appreciate it's true value.
Don't forget to bring some toilet paper.
6.
Bring garbage bags and paper towels.
Always bring plenty of large plastic garbage bags and make sure you hang them high enough in a tree so raccoons and other critters can't get into the garbage.
Also bring paper towels to clean up the grill and picnic table.
The paper towels can also serve as a backup to the toilet paper in emergencies.
7.
Bring a chair and a flashlight for each person.
Everybody loves to site around the campfire at night and share stories or sing songs so always bring at least one chair for everyone.
Nobody likes to stand and nobody like to be an outcast and sit on some stump or picnic table bench.
Make sure you bring a flashlight for everyone so they can keep it by them and their sleeping bag through out the night and not have to interrupt others that are sleeping.
8.
Bring an outdoor grill and utensils.
Bring a two-burner Camping Grill at a minimum.
You can use it to cook breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Make sure your propane tank is full and don't forget to bring matches and utensils to handle the food.
9.
Bring some toys (a Kayak, four wheeler, games & cards).
After the Camping Tents are set up and you've finished eating, it's time for fun, exploration, hiking kayaking, four wheeling etc.
Don't forget to bring some board games and cards to play inside the tent in case it rains.
The game "Catch Phrase" is always fun.
But if it's nice outside, consider a four wheeler to ride the trails and explore the great outdoors.
Four Wheelers are so fun for young and old.
They are easy to control and can maneuver the deep wood really well.
Buy a couple of four wheelers.
One for yourself and one for your child.
If your camp site is by a lake, stream or river, get a kayak and enjoy the spray of water on your face your paddle touches the water and you float quietly downstream.
10.
Bring a friend or loved one.
Camping can be a lot of fun by yourself.
You can overcome fears, face challenges, relax and get away from the stress of the city.
But camping with a friend or loved one is even more fun.
You share things while camping that you would never share in any other setting.
There is a bonding that happens that wodrs can't explain.
Bring a friend or loved one and always consider bringing a child.
But don't bring a child under 3 years old.
Camping is just not the shame when a child under 3 years old is present.