When camping in fields or the woods, definately use a tarp under your tent. You must be careful when laying the tarp as it must not extend past the edge of the tent. Rain or dew will drop down the sides of your tent and collect underneath your tent floor. So to make sure you don’t wake up in a puddle, fold the edges of the tarp underneath to make sure it isn’t longer than your tent.

When camping at a sandy campground or the beach, a tarp under your tent is not necessary as sand absorbs water very efficiently. Having a tarp underneath your tent will cause rain to pool up inside. You can put the tarp inside your tent if desired.

In general you want to try to camp on as high ground as possible. Also remember to seal your seams on an annual basis.

Look for high and level ground when selecting the best location to pitch your tent. Setting up your tent in a low spot or depression will allow rain to pool underneath the tent and waking up in a wet sleeping bag is no fun - trust me.

Machine Wash
You don’t want to wash your sleeping bag in a home washing machine. Instead take it to a laundramat where you can wash it in a front loading machine. A top loading machine can damage your bag. Your choice for detergent depends on your bag’s insulation material. For synthetic bags, a mild detergent or cleaner specially designed for synthetics is your best bet. Use specially formulated down soap or mild soap for a down bag. Srubbing the outside of the bag especially the head and foot area before washing is a good idea. Water temperature for washing should be warm, with a cold rinse.

Hand Wash
You can also hand wash your sleeping bag in your bathtub using warm water and mild detergent for synthetics and down cleaner for your down bag. Scrub the head and foot of the bag but be gently. You will not be able to remove every stain on the bag. After scrubbing is done, drain the water and press soapy water out of the bag with your hands. Keep the bag on the tub floor and don’t wring it. Refill the tub with cold water at least three or four more times to be sure all the detergent is rinsed. Leftover soap will cause the fill to mat.

Drying
Gently roll the sleeping bag to squeeze as much water as you can. Place the bag into a plastic clothesbasket carefully. Don’t lift from one end of the bag. Tumble dry in large commercial dryer on medium low heat. You may also put in some terry cloth towels to decrease drying time and minimize static electricity. A couple of tennis balls will fluff the fill. UV sun rays will damage nylon so you don’t want to hang your bag to dry in the sun.

WD-40 applied on your sleeping bag or tent’s zippers will allow it to close much easier. A pencil (#2 works best) rubbed along the zipper teeth will also work in a pinch. Beeswax is another option.

One of the most fondest camping memories is the camp fire. They provide heat for warmth and cooking as well as set that perfect atmosphere. Sitting around the campfire roasting marshmellows and telling stories is the perfect end to the day. Below are some important rules to remember: (more…)

Author’s note: This article is mostly geared toward a younger audience.

Snakes Snakes are not likely to bother you if you don’t bother them. Leave them alone and stay away. Insects A good bug spray keeps most of them away.

Poison Plants Learn to recognize poison ivy, poinson sumac, and poinson oak and stay away from them. Never eat anything in the woods unless you know exactly what it is.

Animals Animals are drawn to your campsite by your discarded or left out food. Forest animals such as opossums, raccoons, porcupines, skunks, and chipmunks add the camping adventure but don’t try to catch or pet them.

Swimming Watch for holes and drop-offs as well as bad currents. Don’t get too much sun or get tired.

Getting Lost Alert others before leaving camp for any reason. Keep a whistle in your pocket or wear around your neck. If you get lost, blow your whistle and stay put. Try to sit down and relax. Blow your whistle periodically.

There are several reasons a first aid kit is necessary. Slipping while hiking or being scratched while going through brush is an injury that can happen. Cooking accidents such as burns may occur. Being exposed to the elements, not to mention bug bites can cause a toll. Check your kit yearly and restock items that have expired or are getting low.Essentials:

• Bandages and gauze of different sizes
• Scissors for cutting above if needed
• Antiseptic creams and ointments
• Tweezers for removing slivers and ticks
• Band-aids for basic scrapes and cuts
• Burn ointment for an accidental cooking or fire burns
• Antiseptic to wash scrapes and cuts
• Tylenol/Ibuprofen for headaches and other pain relief. It also works as a fever reducer if needed.
• Anti-diarrhea medicine for intestinal problems
• Sunburn relief spray containing Aloe Vera

Extras to consider:

• Chapstick for lips
• Thermometer to check for fever
• Snakebite kit may be appropriate for some trips

Plan ahead. Your goal should be a simple and filling menu. Write it down on paper for all your meals. This will be a help when packing also. You can measure and combine dry ingredients in ziplocks ahead of time. You can also label the bag with what meal it should be used for. When shopping for a camp stove, remember that propane is easiest to use but gas stoves will produce more heat. Cooking your first couple of meals at time and packed in a cooler will save time on your first day while you are still setting up camp. Precooked meats also last longer than raw meats. To keep things cool, blocked ice lasts longer than cubed ice. Make sure the cooler is closed tightly or even use a strap to keep it closed to prevent animals from entering.

Which stove to select really depends on your needs. Gas stoves burn cleanly without any smell and doesn’t effect the taste of the food. Spilt fuel will not leave an odor and will evaporate quickly. Gas stoves also produce the most heat.

Propane stoves on the other hand are a lot easier to use. You basically just attach a bottle by screwing it into the stove. You turn on the gas and light the burner. If you’ve used a backyard propane grill, you understand this process. Some stoves even have electric starters making the cooking experience more similiar to home.

Ingredients: individual size bags of Doritos, shredded cheese, sour cream, shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, salsa, browned hamburger

Instructions: Mash up a closed bag of doritos smashing the chips. Open the bag carefully and put in your favorite ingredients from the above list. Close the bag and shake it up to mix together. Eat right out of bag.