Your first camping trip whether alone, with family and friends, needs to be one of a kind. They say that the first cut is the deepest and this couldn’t come at a better time. Having an exciting camping vacation is a dream come true to many aspiring campers. There’s no better way to connect with nature than when you finally get the opportunity to experience the backdrops of the most beautiful and scenic locations.
But then again, considering that it’s your first time camping, it’s most likely that you’re nervous and anxious about it. This is allowed, considering the fact that you have no idea what to expect, what you need to bring along, and how to handle unexpected situations. But come to think of it, it’s the best way for families to reconnect and to bridge relationship rifts that may have been conceived in times past. This is also the best time for friends to share the most that life has to offer in seclusion and away from the usual busy, noisy, and polluted environments of everyday life. Nevertheless, it takes a lot of preparation and forethought to get the most out of the camping experience. This is not to mention that anything can go wrong and the smallest mistakes can ruin a once so perfect moment, turning it into an awful experience. To make it a fun experience that will be embedded in your memories for ages, here’s what you need to do for your first time camping expedition.
1. Plan Ahead Of Time
The anxiety, adrenaline, and fear of the unexpected can at times cause panic attacks, even to the most outgoing hippies. These are just a few of the many reasons to ensure that you have a solid plan and a strategy that ensures that you have all the requirements and supplies before heading out. While many campers often overlook the importance of having a camping checklist, it will be your handy guide in reminding you of things you need to pack and ensuring that nothing is left behind. For a seamless camping experience, suggests creating a checklist that will help you in organizing all your essential supplies such as bedding, water, flashlights, and kitchenware, sleeping bags, and tents among others.
While at it, it’s also important to do some research about the various supplies available on the market and what they can do for you. When it comes to tents, for instance, there are so many reasons you’d want to choose a porched tent. In addition to the fact that they are easily packable, they can also be used all year round. Jim says that there are many options of tents with porches out there that you can choose to match your specific needs. While at it, be sure to choose one that has enough room depending on how many you are and what you’re bringing to your first camping expedition. Planning should also involve researching the campgrounds before you go camping. This way, you can better prepare for the weather, you know what to bring, and you know exactly what to expect.
2. Arrive At The Camping Site Early Enough
As a camping newbie, it’s important to arrive at the campsite early to familiarize yourself with the camping amenities, camping rules, and to get the best camping spots. In addition to this, it also allows you time to set up your tent or your rig. A savvy camper will never arrive at the camping site at night as it’s one of the most common mistakes campers make oftentimes. To help you get organized, it pays to get there before dusk so you have daylight to help you out. This also gives you a chance to befriend your campground neighbors if any.
3. Familiarize Yourself With Campground Rules
Being new to the camping situation can prove to be unpredictable, especially considering that campgrounds have no real privacy. You’ll realize that when it’s dark and everything is quiet, sound travels faster, meaning that you have to talk in hushed tones or ideally shut your mouth. This is the ingredient to a good night’s sleep. In addition to this, it’s imperative to also observe campsite etiquette. For instance, if camping with an RV, it’s rude to park close to another rig when there’s lots of space in other spots, it’s unsafe to leave campfires unattended, you can always try a portable firepit, and it’s rude not to clean up after your pet. Other campground rules include;
- Motorized vehicles should be insured and licensed
- Lewdness, drunkenness, and violence are not tolerated
- Stay off other campsites
- Avoid staring at other campers
Camping is fun, but then again, this fun can be cut short by breaking any of the above camping regulations and camping etiquette rules.
4. Take Advantage Of Campsites Near Your Home
If it’s your first time, you have no reason to go camping states away from home. You never know, camping may not be your thing and this may be realized after spending just a few hours at the camping grounds. In addition to this, it’s common for newbies to forget the most essentials such as food, light, or medication. Camping close to home allows you to rush home and restock. Also, you never know, the weather could change for the worse, forcing you to leave. These are familiar circumstances that happen all the time, especially to first-time campers.
5. Plan Your Meals
It’s one thing to light a campfire and it’s another to prepare a meal out in the wild. Your cooking skills while on a campsite will unquestionably be tried and tested, literally! It’s, therefore, important to bring campfire meals that are easy to prepare. If you’re not an experienced chef, consider bringing canned entrees, boxed foods, or bring an experienced camping buddy along. Another idea is to pack a lot of snacks and ready to eat meals that require minimal preparation procedures.
6. Do Not Leave Trash Behind
Most campsites have trash bins that are strategically located for easier access. It’s important that after the camping expedition to ensure that you’ve cleaned after yourself. Collect litter and dispose of it in the provided trash bins. If none, you have the option of taking your trash home to dispose of it safely. You must leave the camping site better than you found it. Before leaving, ensure that all campfires are put off. Campsites are hidden gems to be preserved for other campers.
Camping for the first time can be intimidating. Bringing a friend along can go a long way into ensuring that you’re comfortable and that you have someone else looking after your interests. But before leaving home, it’s important to inform a friend, or neighbor of your whereabouts by sending them your coordinates.