setting up camp"
(some dos and don'ts for preparing your campsite)

You've finally arrived at your camping destination and you're scoping out the area to see which spot looks best for setting up your campsite. What should you be looking for?

look for relatively high, level ground
There's some truth to the saying "high and dry" and you should never set up your tent on a slope or you'll find yourself rolling out of your sleeping bag all night.
 
check for a water source nearby
Water is essential for camping; you'll need it for all your drinking, cooking, and cleaning up. You don't want to have to walk far with a five gallon container.
 
find an adequate area for cooking
Don't ever cook in your tent! Locate a flat area away from any leaves, twigs or brush that may catch fire. And never leave an unattended campfire burning.
 
and another area for cleaning
Don't kill the flora with hot, soapy water. Use bio-degradable soap, and only dump gray water in designated areas or where it will do no harm.
 
don't forget the garbage
Always keep a clean campsite. Collect all litter and keep it gathered away from your tent in a location out of reach of any of the local critters or pests.
 
pick a campsite with some shade
It's nice to have a shady spot to relax in during the heat of the day or while haAfter setting up the campsite it's time to go do what you came here to do, "go play!" Whatever your preoccupation is, enjoy! To many campers, myself included, seeing the campsite set up and smelling the country air is a refreshing change from all of the confines of the city. I like to take this time to just sit down, get something cold to drink and relax a spell. It's usually around this time too that the thought goes through our minds, "what did we forget to bring?" It never fails, there's always something useful that gets left behind, like a bottle opener, or the clothes line, or something. Now where did I put that camping checklist?

keep a checklist
Itemize your gear and all the essentials that you use while camping. Depending on when and where you like to camp, and what you like to do, the list will be ever changing. But most importantly, use it.
 
plan meal times
Whether it's just the two of you or the whole family, let everyone know when it's time to eat before they go running off to play. Meals take more time to prepare at the campground but it's also one of the chores that everyone seems to want to help out with.
 
keep a clean campsite
After meals do a thorough job of cleaning the dishes and the eating area and put all trash in appropriate containers. Never leave food or leftovers unattended at the campsite, because critters will make quick use of it and usually leave quite a mess in the process.
 
observe campground rules
The rules were made so that everyone can enjoy the campground. It only takes one camper from hell to ruin it for everyone else. Be a good neighbor.
 
take a late night walk
Check out the stars, listen to the silence, smell the fresh country air. It doesn't get any better than this.
Now get a good night's sleep and get up and do it all again.nging out at the campsite.

Tents come in all shapes, sizes and varieties; from the high-tech models used by mountain climbers to the multi-room cabin tents made for fair weather family camping. You might still find those bulky canvas room tents around that may have had their place in certain camping situations, but for all practical purposes, you will want a tent that is somewhat lighter and more portable.

Today's tents are usually dome or oval shaped, supported with shock cord poles, made out of double-wall polyester or nylon, with dual-zippered doors, no-seeum screening, and a rain fly.

Here are some quality points to consider when choosing a tent:

living space - choose a tent that's big enough for your purposes, one where everyone will have plenty of room to sleep comfortably and space to stow your gear. If you can, visit a sporting goods showroom where they usually have a variety of tents setup for you to check out.
 
strength - look for sturdy tent poles, securely fastened grommets, double sewn seams, and heavy duty zippers. There's nothing more annoying than a tent that lays down on you whenever the wind blows. You can remedy this with heavier tent poles that better withstand the wind.
 
rain protection - select a tent with a rain fly which has tension adjustments and goes all the way to the ground. You may also opt for a vestibule which gives you a place to take off wet or soiled clothes before entering the tent.
If you are an occasional, recreational camper, there is no need for you to purchase an expensive high-end model tent. You will find many moderately priced tents, by reputable manufacturers, at various outdoor gear retailers that will do quite nicely.

If you are the rugged outdoors type that backpacks and climbs in extreme weather, you will find useful information in the article, four-season tents, by Jason Lathrop of Outside Ostaking the tent"
(using the right stake for the terrain)

Today's popular tents can be typified by dome-shaped, free-standing designs and made out of high-tech, synthetic materials. With an adequate rain-fly and appropriate tarp protection, these tents can withstand just about anything that Mother Nature can throw at them. Just about anything that is, but the wind!

To understand the adverse effects that wind can play on a tent, one need only look at a tent from an aerodynamic perspective. The consequence of wind blowing across the dome shape of a tent is not unlike that of air passing over the curved wing of an airplane, namely lift. And this lift is the main reason why you need to stake your tent, for without the stakes your tent could quickly become a kite in the lightest of winds and destroy itself as it tumbles through the woods or across the sand dunes.

Of course, another reason to stake your tent might be that you didn't find a level campsite, and you toss and turn in your sleep, and you know that if you don't stake your tent you'll wake up in the morning and find yourself and your tent in the next campsite, or worse yet, in the creek or lake. {grin}

When choosing a campsite, a primary consideration should be to find one that has relatively high, level ground for setting up your tent. Such a campsite will help to keep you drier, should it rain, and fixed in place, should you toss in your sleep. Another consideration, particularly if you are camping in a windy locale, is to find a campsite where you can use stakes. Different stakes are made to work in different types of earth. Remember too:

there is no one stake that works in all terrains
The small diameter titanium stake for use in hard dirt is not appropriate for sand or snow camping; just as the bulky angle iron/aluminum stake you use when camping at the beach won't work well in hard dirt.
 
some stakes work in some terrains sometimes
Those bulky angle iron/aluminum stakes that are used at the beach may pull up quite readily should it rain.
 
there are some terrains in which no stake works
Backpackers and mountain climbers can attest to the problems that they face when confronted with rocky terrain and stone outcroppings that resist all stakes.
The next time you're camping, observe the methods of others. Who's tent stays put in the wind? Who's stays dry in the rain? Then follow the successful techniques of your fellow camper's. You will find tent stakes at these outdoor gear retailers.nline.

Camping is great outdoor recreation, but even though we are at a campsite, there are still plenty of daily chores that will need to be done to insure our comfort and well being. With the activities of setting up camp and exploring your outdoor destination, the appetites usually soar, but then food always tastes better at the campground anyway. Besides wanting the expert outdoor chef to prepare the meals (you'll surely find plenty of campground experts), you'll need a volunteer or two to clean up the mess after everyone has filled their guts. Here's some tips to consider:


kitchen location
When arriving at your campsite, besides eyeing the location for your tent or RV, keep in mind where you'll cook and eat. Look for shade where possible.
 
keeping foods cold
Keep all perishable foods well chilled. Place coolers in the shade and check the ice daily for replenishing. If you're not sure, ask where to get ice when checking into the campground. If any food smells bad, pitch it.
 
dry food storage
With dry foods, the only precautions are to be sure the items are securely stowed out of site and off the ground so that birds, ants and other critters don't get into them, and store these foods so they won't get rained on, should you be camping in such a climate.
 
washing dishes
Don't wait! Boil some water, use a bio-degradable detergent, and then clean and dry all your dishes. Not only is this good hygiene, but cleaning up dirty dishes helps keep unwanted pests out of your campsite.
 
disposing of food wastes
Before washing the dishes, scrape all plates, pots and pans into a plastic garbage bag. Don't leave any food wastes around the campsite, dispose of it in the camp dumpster, and store leftovers in your cooler.

Waking up on the morning of my first camping trip was not a very pleasant experience. I and my friends were up well after midnight philosophizing and consequently wound up sleeping well past sunrise. The heat of the morning sun and the sound of buzzing flies soon rousted us from our outdoor slumber.

Stiff from having slept on the hard ground, we laughed at each other as we stumbled out of our sleeping bags and tried to stand up. We eventually rolled up our bags, found our shoes, gathered up trash, said our see yas later and dragged ourselves home.

I remember that overnight camping trip like it was yesterday. Why? Because it was a painful experience; that ground was hard! However, I had learned my first basic camping lesson.

camping lesson no.1 - don't sleep on the hard ground

Whether you are tent camping or sleeping out under the stars, using a sleeping bag or some other form of bedding, you need to put something between your torso and the cold hard ground.

One solution is a sleeping pad. I acquired one some years ago when I got into backpacking. I use a Therm-a-Rest, made by Cascade Designs, and it has served me quite well for over 20 years. I've used it on numerous trips into the Grand Canyon and in the redwood forests of Sequoia National Park, and it still goes with me whenever I tent camp.

If you spend enough time camping, sooner or later rain is going to dampen your campsite. Don't let it dampen your spirits too! Have you ever been caught in your tent during a rain and had to make a run for the truck to get something and you didn't have any rain gear handy? It may have been summer, and it may have been warm outside, but you still brought all those wet clothes and dampness back into the tent where it will eventually evaporate and later condense on the walls, run down to the floor, and gather in little puddles here and there. Not a comfortable situation. Some rain gear sure would have helped avoid this, huh?

So, what kind of rain gear are we talking? Not much, really. For the case of running to the truck in the rain, I find that one of those big golf umbrellas work great and you can leave it outside the tent when you return. For running around the campsite doing chores, a cheap poncho works just fine. If you're into fishing, a little rain won't stop you; and you might prefer a rain suit, consisting of a jacket and pants, and possibly a rain hat, which is less constricting than a hooded jacket. If you're backpacking in rain country, you'll likely have an arsenal of rain gear which might include a rain jacket, rain pants, a rain hat, gaiters, and a backpack cover.

You don't need to spend a lot of money; but you can, if you're not careful. A Gore-Tex rain suit can run into hundreds of dollars. Two years ago I found the jacket above marked half off at a local sporting goods store. Great deal for a Gore-Tex jacket at $75. I must admit, Gore-Tex does everything it says it does! But that's just one piece of my rain gear. I also carry one of those golf umbrellas in the back of the truck; and I have a cheap poncho tucked away in the camper, as well as nylon rain pants with my fishing gear. I'm ready for just about anything!

The next time that dark clouds appear on the horizon, get out the rain gear. Don't let the rain dampen your camping spirits!

Nobody likes a dirty campground! Whether you are primitive camping, or RVing at a campground resort, a little effort is all that need be expended in order to insure that the next camper arriving at the campsite after you will enjoy it just as much.

camping lesson no.4 - don't make a mess


leave no trace
It's all about respect for nature. If all campers would just leave their campsites the way they found them (assuming it was clean to begin with) then we will be doing our share to promote camping as it should be.
 
pack it in, pack it out
Another way of saying, "leave no trace", a concept which I cannot emphasize enough. Now, if you are a backcountry camper this is particularly important, because there are no dumpsters in the backcountry.
 
gray water
This is old dishwater which should not be dumped just anywhere. In the backcountry be sure to dump gray water away from any fresh water sources and use biodegradable soap. Campgrounds usually have designated areas for dumping gray water.
 
ashes from the grill
Don't dump your ashes on the ground. Either dump them in the campfire ring or dump them in a bag and put the bag in the campground dumpster.
 
laundries, restrooms and showers
Simply clean up after yourself. If you're ingenious and the campground has no laundry, you might consider a shower with your clothes on. In the backwoods, take appropriate measures to cover human waste.
 
fish cleaning stations
Use them! Don't clean your catch at the campground.
 
dumpsters
Be sure to take along some plastic garbage bags to collect trash. The last thing you should do before leaving the campground is to make one more round and pick up any trash and put it in the dumpster.
Above all, remember the basic rule, "leave no trace!"

Family camping can be lots of fun but, depending on when and where you go, camping can be an unpleasant experience if you are not prepared for nuisances. Here's some pests to watch for:

flies and mosquitoes
These pests can quickly bring an end to your comfort around the campground, so take along something that will repel these little nasties. Citronella candles help keep them away from the immediate area, but for thorough protection you may need to apply a bug repellent to your skin. I like Cactus Juice™, a non-Deet product made from the prickly pear cactus.
 
ticks
Besides just being yucky, certain species of tick carry Lyme disease. When outdoors, prevention is the best measure: wear hats, cover exposed areas of skin with long clothes; use a repellent, such as Deet, on your clothing, but not on your skin; avoid walking through talk grass or brush; and perform routine inspections to check for ticks. If you find one, remove promptly.
 
snakes and scorpions
"Beware!" As warmer weather approaches these critters become more active. Learn how to identify the poisonous snakes and know what to do if bitten. As a general rule, avoid all snakes in the outdoors.
 
poison ivy, poison oak, and nettles
"Obnoxious plants" indeed! The best prevention is to learn to identify these plants, then avoid any contact. Should you touch one of these plants, do not scratch, and wash the area in cold water. Should you develop a rash, use a topical solution like calamine lotion.
 
chipmunks, raccoons, and skunks
These creatures of the night are out to steal your food and cause general dismay at your campsite. Although they are cute to look at, they are still wild creatures. Observe them from a distance and don't leave food out where they can get into it.
 
birds, crows, ravens, and gulls
Observe the same precautions for birds as you would for the small animals and don't leave any food out at an unattended campsite.
Armed with a little knowledge and proper prevention, your next camping trip doesn't have to be disrupted by any pests.

All good things sooner or later come to an end, and the same goes for camping. When it comes time to pack it up and head back to our other lives, consider these tips before departing:


stow your gear
Use a whisk broom and/or rags to wipe off gear as you stow it; and, try to pack your gear as you had it when you came to the campground. Also, it's a good idea to separate dirty clothes, so that they will be ready to be washed when you arrive home.
 
check the cooler
Dispose of any food wastes, empty out excess water, and replenish the ice, as needed, for the trip home.
 
dowse the campfire
Make sure the campfire is out; dowse the area with the excess water from your cooler or another source.
 
gather all trash
To state it simply, leave no trace.
 
police the area
A broom and a leaf rake come in handy for grooming the campsite and gathering up the last of any litter.
 
one more potty break
Before leaving, take advantage of this opportunity to take a final bathroom break and to wash up a bit.
 
final walk around
One last check, walk around your vehicle and look around the campsite to see if anything was missed.
 
say goodbyes
Until next time

The ride home after a camping trip can be long, particularly when you have a hot shower and cozy bed waiting there for you. But, before relaxing, some final chores need to be done:

camping lesson no.5 - take care of your gear


unload gear
First things first, unload your car, truck or camper and separate everything used on the camping trip.
 
empty the cooler
Remove all food from your cooler and place it in the refrigerator, then rinse the cooler and allow to dry.
 
store food items
Return all remaining foods to the pantry or cupboard.
 
wash the dishes
Even if you did it at the campground before leaving, it's still a good sanitary practice to wash them again.
 
dispose of trash
Gather up and dispose of any remaining trash. Also a good time to whisk out the car or truck of any debris.
 
do the laundry
Before washing, shake out all your camping clothes and bedding, especially the kids' clothing.
 
stow away the gear
Shake out all your gear too. If any gear is wet, lay it out, or set it up to dry, before packing it for storage. Mildew is much easier to prevent than it is to remove.
 

Before sitting down and reminiscing about the trip, the final chore of storing the camping gear still needs to be done. But first, if you haven't already done so, start a gear check list:


make a check list
Take inventory of your gear as your store it and note any broken gear that needs repair, missing items that need to be replenished or items that you wish you had.
 
high and dry
Storing gear high helps keep it away from rodents and insects; keeping it dry helps avoid mildew.
 
avoid freezing
Any moisture in materials can cause damage from expansion when freezing; and some materials, even when dry, may crack in very cold temperatures.
 
food smells
Rodents are attracted to the smell of food and can quickly ruin your gear chewing through it to look for food that is no longer there. To avoid these pests, be sure to air out or wash all gear that smells of food.
 
remove batteries
To avoid any possibilities of corrosion, remove the batteries from any gadgets and store them separately.
 
where to next?
Plans for your next camping destination begin with the check list, and with adding any new items that may further your enjoyment of the great outdoors.

For me, the most peaceful feeling invades the campground at night when the campfires are lit and their smell drifts through the air. There's something about sitting around a cozy campfire, staring at its glow and watching the sparks dance upward against the evening sky. To enjoy a cozy campfire, here's some safety precautions and tips:

fire restrictions
Before building any fires outdoors, check to be sure there aren't any fire restrictions. Ask the attendants when you arrive at the campground; or, if primitive camping, call the local forest district for information.
 
starting a fire
Learn to start a fire simply with paper, matches and kindling. I advise against using charcoal lighter fluid, gasoline or kerosene. If the wood is too wet to burn, then you're better off without a fire as all it will do is pop and spark all night.
 
no bonfires please
Small fires are easier to tend, you can sit closer to them without getting a tan, and the wood pile will last longer. Besides, you don't want kids roasting marshmallows or wieners over a bonfire.
 
first aid for burns
The first response to a burn should be to apply ice or cold water. And it's also good advice to include burn ointment and bandages in your camping first aid kit. Sparks and dust flying around campfires can get into the eyes, so include saline eye wash in your kit too.
 
cooking over a campfire
Campfires don't make very practical stoves or ovens. Sure, some foods taste good and are fun to cook over the campfire, but without appropriate utensils and a proper fire, the food will not cook correctly and you'll likely wind up with blackened cookware.
 
bring on the marshmallows
But what's a campfire without the marshmallows? Just be careful to supervise young children and remember that marshmallows and other foods cooked over a campfire will be very hot at first.
Before going to bed or leaving the campsite, be sure that all campfires are out. Stir the embers and dowse them with water.
Remember, "Only you can prevent forests fires!"