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Regardless of the way that campers travel and camp, a good knowledge of the great outdoors such as map reading and first aid. With a good site and the right equipment camping can be really good fun for the whole family and a great way to escape the rat race without going abroad. Camping is relatively inexpensive, often nostalgic, and gives campers a chance to really appreciate their natural world.

Whoever you are, whatever your walk of life, camping is a brilliant way to spend your weekends and vacations. After all, camping truly does let you get away from it all. When you are hiking deep in the forest, or fishing by a lake, there are no phones ringing off the hook, or deadlines to meet. On a camping expedition, you are totally free of the pressures and stresses of modern life.

Whether you are a newcomer to camping, or a seasoned ‘old hand’ having the right equipment is critical to enjoying your time in the great outdoors. Choosing the right tent is one of the most important decisions you can make when outfitting yourself for camping.

Before you shop for your new tent, there are a number of things to consider. Firstly, the type of tent you will need varies according to the number of people you are planning to house, and what activity you are involved in. Tents come in a range of sizes, from single person tents, to very large multi-person varieties. If you are planning to hike, you will need to carry your tent whilst you walk, so a small, light weight tent will be required. If you intend to pitch your campsite at a fixed location accessible by car, you could opt for a larger, heavier weight model.

Another consideration will be the season and weather conditions that you expect to encounter. Each tent is designed to maintain a high level of human comfort in a specific type of environment, so you need to be clear whether you will be camping in the winter or summer, mild or inclement weather.

Other factors to consider are the strength of both the structure and the material of your tent. For instance, you can opt for cotton, polyethylene, nylon, rip-stop nylon, double sewn seams, and heavy-duty zippers. Whatever the fabric, your tent must be fit to stand extreme weather, even if you are not expecting to encounter poor conditions. Be sure to buy one that is totally seam taped to avoid leaking in the rain.

Ideally you should select a tent that meets all these requirements, and is easy to erect and deconstruct as well. After all, you want to spend your time enjoying the wilderness, not spending hours pitching a tent!

Talking to staff at your local outdoor outfitting store is a good start to finding the perfect tent for you.

Camping with happy kids is wonderful – camping with miserable kids could convince you to pick a new family hobby. There’s lots of ways to ensure a happy camping experience, but here are my picks for the three most important.

1. Keep the sleeping bag dry. Let’s face it, sleeping comfortably is pretty important to all of us, but a wet sleeping bag can make a kid totally miserable. This is especially true if your child’s sleeping bag is one of the big box store $20 variety. You know, the ones that weigh 15 pounds (dry!) and are made of cotton. Get one of those wet, and your camping trip is over, it will take until next year to dry. Even a good kids sleeping bag can get wet, however, and it’s not easy to convince a kid to climb into a soggy bag to sleep.

The key to keeping a sleeping bag dry is to keep its surroundings dry. If you’re going to be in wet conditions (rainy season, or paddling on a lake), prepare your gear. Put kids sleeping bags, and any other gear you treasure into dry bags, garbage bags, or some other water barrier. Put a tent cloth under your tent (properly!) so you keep water out of the tent. Teach your kids good tent etiquette so they don’t crawl all over the tent in their wet boots, or dump a mug of hot chocolate over their sleeping bag.

2. Avoid constipation. Think I’m kidding? I used to take city kids on month long canoe trips, and several of them showed insane talent for “poop in the woods” avoidance. Some made it as long as a week before they gave in and took Mr. Trowel off to dig a hole. Kids like routine and predictability, some kids a lot more than others. When that routine is turned upside down, even by fun activities like camping, it can cause system backup. That can lead to stomach troubles, cramps, and really stinky farts (amongst the 2-12 year old set, this is serious business, and might be for you too, if you’re sharing a tent).

Fortunately, there’s a really easy fix for camping constipation. Eat beans. I used to serve chili the first night out on trail. Vegetarian chili with 5 kinds of beans. Sometimes it took a day or two, but no kid could hold out a week against my 5 bean chili. Other forms of fiber help too – oatmeal for breakfast, dried fruit in your gorp. Also have your kids drink lots of water, especially if fiber isn’t a really common part of their diet.

3. Don’t take over. We spend most of our lives “organizing” our kids, making sure they get up, dressed, off to school, to weekly activities and play dates. It’s an easy trap to try to organize their camping experience too. This is especially easy to do when it looks like their first choices of activities involve sleeping in the tent all day or throwing rocks at one another across the firepit.

However, one of the most fundamental lessons camping can teach is that you are responsible for your own experience. Mother Nature is a great provider of natural consequences. Don’t put up your tent right, you’ll get wet. Don’t collect firewood, you won’t eat hot food. Do collect firewood, and discover the mesmerizing dance of a night campfire. Get up the energy to paddle to the middle of the lake in the middle of the night, and see stars like they were meant to be seen. Step back, and let your kids learn from their own experiences. You might just pick up a little something too.

About The Author

Debora Geary is owner of an online store carrying a wide selection of quality outdoor kids sleeping bags.
kid-sleeping-bag.com
Article provided by Articlecity.com

You have bought the good quality camping gear for those great adventures with the family; now you need to look after your investment so you may use your gear over and over and have it ready and in good condition for the next outing.

Mostly commonsense, but things are not always that obvious and there is always just the right [ or the wrong place ] for your gear depending upon how much gear you have and where you live. Obviously tucked away underneath the house may not be the best way to care for those material items such as sleeping bags and tents, etc

Tents;

Tents should always be stored in a dry place away from insects and mice that may eat or live in your investment without your permission.

Before packing your tent away , make sure it is completely dry inside and out; this will prevent mould and mildew and that rotting smell that will spoil a good nights sleep. If you get caught in the rain and have to pack up your tent wet, just wipe,dry and air it out when you get home otherwise the fittings and stitching will get stressed and possibly rot. Make sure the tent pegs are always packed in their own bag with no sharp ends sticking out to tear any fabric and pack them inside the tent; otherwise they will get lost somewhere just when you need them. Check that all the fittings and fabric is in good condition as well. Don’t put your tent under a pile of heavy items in case some of the poles get broken. The tent that you have is to be your home away from home so it is important that it be maintained correctly and more so if the weather becomes bad.

Sleeping bags

These are usually fairly robust but don’t like dampness at all, they could use a good airing at times although just stored in a dry place away from insects and mice is all they need.

Stoves and Lighting

Ensure these are all clean and in good working order and carry a spare bulb/mantle for those bits that may get damaged or broken and of course check that the tanks are in stable condition [not rusted or damaged] and even make sure the tanks are full if the next use is not too distant. Protective cases will stop damage that may arise from being incorrectly packed or just an accident of some sort ,and these are fairly important in the case of gas lighting with their brittle glass components.

First Aid Kits;

Stockup the various items and possibly carry extra of those items you know you may need/use more than usual.

Backpacks;

These are robust and only require a nice dry spot

Cooking Gear

Gather all your cooking gear together and replace all those things that just disappear or become unuseable for some reason and give them a rough check that they are all clean and easily found.

Your cooking gear is great if it is self reliant and you don’t have to raid the kitchen and find the things you need every time you go camping;once again sturdy containers for storage are important.

Keeping all your gear organized and ready can save you lots of time when it comes to packing the car for your next trip away as you will have lots to remember and should be start of a great memorable camping adventure.

When packing the family car to get away, it is best to pack the heaviest things at the bottom and the things you may need readily available [ like jackets etc, in case the weather gets bad] to be put upon the top.

A little advanced preparation will save lots of headaches later
Article provided by Articlecity.com

About The Author

Donald Vanderlugt is the webmaster of http://www.campingandgear.com and has spent many memorable times in the great outdoors; his site has a comprehensive selection of quality camping gear from tents,sleeping bags,first aid and kids stuff to stoves and gizmos; with free shipping U.S. and real discounts you cannot go wrong;drop in to the free classifieds and forum and leave us a recipe or camping hint.......thats http://www.campingandgear.com

customersupport@campingandgear.com

Looking for a fun and cheap vacation? Camping maybe the solution for you. Camping is a great way for the whole family to chip in and participate, even in the daily activities. The kids can go catch fish for dinner, or help set up a tent. Camping only costs about $400. If you need camping gear, then plan on spending at least $600 dollars more. Even still you can have a lot of fun for a family of 4 for under $1,000 dollars.

Hiking, fishing, there is so much to do when camping. Some camping grounds even offer swimming and show movies at night. Another great camping perk is watching the sunset or start glazing. Since most camp grounds are away from city lights, the stars will be amazing.

Like all vacations, you'll need to plan a camping one too! First you have to decide on shelter. Are you using a tent, a RV or a cabin? I would recommend a tent for first time or light campers. Tents only cost between $60-$200 dollars. They provide protect against bugs and rain. Next I would bring a sleeping bag. You'll need something to keep warm at night. And then I would take a pad. Pads are soft and bring comfort to any camping trip.

The last major camping item is food. Depending on what your planning to eat, you can bring a variety of things. The most basic is a cooler and a bag of charcoal. Cooler for drinks and charcoal for a grill. You can make basic camping food such as steaks, ribs, hot dogs and hamburgers. If you plan on making dishes then you can bring a propane stove and a skillet. With it you can make a lot of stove-top meals. If you're really skilled at camp cooking, then you can bring a Dutch Oven for baking.

To make your camping trip smoother, plan a few months ahead of time. It may not seem like that much goes into a camping trip, but after just figuring out what to bring, it begins to be over welling.

Figure out everything you're going to need and write it down. There's nothing worse then getting to the camping ground and realize you forgot to pack a tent.

Camping is an excellent vacation filled with all sorts of fun things to do.

About The Author

Guy Jieslip enjoys camping and is the author for B Camping. He put together a great collection of articles, resources and camping guides. Visit today and sign-up for free ezine. http://www.bcamping.com.  Article provided by Articlecity.com

Camping for Fun begins with making sure you've taken along all the right supplies. Use this checklist to be sure!

Camp cooking
Hot dog stick you may not cut any thing down to make them
Folding chairs
Plastic table cloth
Lighter and matches in a water proof container
Screened tent room for over the picnic table (optional)

Binoculars
Bungi cords
Plastic clamps
Bug spray
Camera
Cards
Compass
Cloth pins
Duct tape
Flash light with extra batteries
Frisbee
Fishing gear if going fishing
Kites
lantern and extra fuel and mantles
Camp shower and rope at least 50 ft
Whistle
Sun block
Pen and paper
Radio
Knife and axe
First aide Kit

Shelter and sleeping essentials.
Tent
Screened tent (optional)
Sleeping bags
2 plastic tarps or ground sheets.
Pillows for all
Air mattresses or sleeping pads for all

Cooler box Dry no ice
Salt and pepper
Herbs and spices
Cooking oil
Pot holders
Paper towels
Trash bags
aluminum foil
Plastic silver ware (I prefer to buy a set of metal flat wear at the dollar store)
Plastic bowls plate etc.
Cups to drink from and plastic glasses
Dish soap
Zip lock bags
Can opener If you forget this you can use a sturdy knife to open cans.

Cooking Essentials
Water
Food
Cooler one with wheels is nice
Water
Food
Camp stove and fuel
Mess kit
Charcoal and barbecue portable one.
Rope 50 ft for a clothes line

Cloths I will leave for you to decide but be sure every one has a warm sweater of coat as the evenings in the mountains or on the prairies can get cool. Be sure every one has a hat to protect them from the sun.
Cleaning items
Detergent of dishes
1 Plastic bucket
Dish cloth
Broom

You will need to remember to bring personal hygiene stuff for everyone even T.P. as soon places run short on busy weekends. Any medication that is needed as well as aspirin make sure you have a good first aide kit. This is but a short list of things you will need but you get the picture. You will find more stuff that is needed after your first trip. Be sure to bring marshmallows a bag or two depending on how long you will be going for.

The public and private camp ground are the most popular. The public campgrounds are run by a government agency this will include all in the national parks and the state parks or provincial parks Most will require you to make reservations on line in advance .How ever there are still the one that work on the first come first served So do some research and find the campsite for you and you family.

The public owned and private owned camping grounds are on the inter net and can also be found at any tourist bureau in the areas you are looking to go camping in. Most government run parks are funded by the governments of the state or the province and will be the first to fill up on the summer holidays .The private parks will fill up very fast as well so you may have to plan your trip well in advance of the time you will leave in. With more people out and about in the summer time planning will allow you to find a site for you and your family.

I find that the kids with there skills on the computer can find all the camping site for you pretty fast So start a new adventure go camping

About The Author

Ranger Bob has been having fun camping for years and wants to share all his knowledge with you so be sure to visit him at http://www.camping-for-fun.net/.

One of the most fun times you can have while camping is cooking for the group. Cooking is generally done over a fire or on a grill. You should bring foods that are easy to store and keep fresh. You should include snacks for the trail as well as foods to prepare for each meal. Perishable items should be stored in a refrigerator or in a cooler on ice.

Breakfast

Start your day off right with a breakfast that will get you ready for a day of hiking or exploring. Slice up some mushrooms, onions, bacon and potatoes and grill in a skillet over the fire until done. Mix eggs with a little milk and pour over the mixture to heat until the eggs are fully cooked. This is a great skillet meal that is easy to prepare and clean up. Another easy meal to prepare is a breakfast taco. Cook some eggs and place inside a tortilla with cheese and picante sauce. If you feel a bit more adventurous, try a breakfast pizza using pre made crusts and eggs. You can cook the eggs any way you like them and add bacon, potatoes or sausage. Heat the pizza crusts over the fire and top with your egg mixture and cheese.

Lunch

Keep lunch simple and easy to prepare and clean up so you get back to your adventures. Sandwiches are a great lunchtime treat using easy to store and prepare foods. Sliced lunch meats with vegetables on bread make the perfect pick me up. For a hot side dish to accompany the sandwiches take some frozen French fries, chili and cheese sauce; combine them in foil, wrapping it tightly. Throw the package on the fire and cook until the fries are cooked through and then enjoy your gooey chili cheese fries.

Dinner

Dinner consisting of a hearty stew is a great option. Using canned vegetables, mix equal parts of your favorites in a heavy pot. These can include corn, peas and beans. Also add a can of chunk chicken and pre made barbecue pork. Add two cans of tomato sauce and two cans of chopped tomatoes and simmer slowly over an open fire for a filling stew. If you went fishing and were lucky enough to make a catch, fry it for dinner. After cleaning the fish, cut it into fillets. Combine one can of beer with two eggs until thoroughly mixed. To that add twelve ounces of flour, two teaspoons of baking powder and salt and pepper to taste. Dip the fish in cornstarch then the batter. Place it in hot oil and fry until the batter puffs. This is a great way to enjoy the efforts put forth after a day of fishing.

Trail Snacks

No camping trip is complete without snacks to prepare and bring while you are out on a nature hike. Walking and hiking is hard work so you should bring some foods that will help boost your energy. Popcorn popped over an open flame is a fun way to prepare the next day’s snack. Trail mix is a traditional option and is limited to only your imagination. Use a combination of hearty ingredients with sweets. Combine granola, raisins, chocolate chips, M & M’s, cereal, dried fruits and nuts. Use whatever combinations you like.

My favorite camping meals though, are made with pudgie pie makers (also called pie irons). They are made of cast iron or metal and have long handles. Our family uses pudgie pie makers to meal delicious treats for lunch and dinner. Bread is the staple ingredient in making a pudgie pie. My favorite is grilled cheese. To make one, butter two slices of bread. Place the buttered side down in the pudgie pie maker. This will prevent the bread from sticking. Place a cheese slice on top of each slice of bread. Close the pudgie pie maker. Place in the coals of your campfire. It will only take a few minutes for the pie to cook. Turn the pie maker after about a minute. Watch your sandwich closely. Depending on how hot your fire is, the sandwich will cook very quickly. Ham and tomato are also very good additions to your cheese sandwich.

Pizza pudgie pies are popular with our family too. Again, butter two slices of bread and place the buttered side down in the pudgie pie maker. Add your favorite pizza toppings (ours are canned pizza sauce, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese). Close the pudgie pie maker and place in the coals of your campfire to cook. Be careful when removing pudgie pies from your pudgie pie maker. Both the pudgie pie maker and your sandwich will be very hot.

Another favorite type of pudgie pie that our family enjoys are dessert ones. Butter your two slices of bread and place the buttered sides down in the pudgie pie maker. Spoon in some of your favorite prepared pie filling (cherry or apple are our favorites). Cook in the fire and enjoy.

And of course, no camping trip is complete without making smores. They’re also very easy to make. Start by roasting a marshmallow over your fire. Once your marshmallow is warm and gooey, stick it on top of a graham cracker and a piece of a chocolate bar, and then top with another graham cracker.

Cooking while camping can really be a lot of fun. Preparing foods should be easy and require little clean up and use few pots and pans. At the end of the night, though, no camping trip would be complete without toasting marshmallows. Cut some branches and skewer large marshmallows. Hold each stick over the flame until brown and toasty. It makes a great, gooey dessert and an ideal end to your day.

About The Author

Gray Rollins is a featured writer for DreamCamping. To learn more about camping furniture, visit http://www.dreamcamping.com/campingfurniture/ and http://www.dreamcamping.com/campingtrip/.