Campingaide
Setting up a tent for the first time can be an exciting adventure! Whether you’re planning a weekend camping trip or venturing into the wilderness, mastering the art of tent setup is essential. Let’s break it down into simple steps to ensure you have a cozy and dry shelter during your outdoor escapades:
Choose the Right Campsite:
- Look for a flat area that is free of sharp objects like rocks or branches.
- Opt for a slightly elevated spot to prevent water pooling around your tent in case of rain.
Lay Down a Tarp or Groundsheet:
- Before setting up your tent, place a plastic or vinyl tarp on the ground.
- Align the tarp with the shape of your tent, ensuring no excess material hangs out beyond the tent edges.
- Tuck any loose edges under the tent to prevent water accumulation1.
Raise the Tent:
- This step requires coordination. Having a partner can be helpful.
- After fitting both poles through their connection spots, they should bend and raise the tent into shape.
- Secure the poles in the corners, ensuring the tent is properly aligned with the groundsheet.
Remember, practice makes perfect! Set up your tent a few times at home or in your backyard before your camping trip. Soon, you’ll be a pro at pitching tents and creating your cozy outdoor haven. Happy camping!
Camping Canopy
A canopy is optional although it is something you should have especially if there's a lot of sun to help avoid sun burns. It's great for protection from the rain so you can stay dry.
Camping Chairs
Camping chairs are great to have around the camp site, they can easily be folded for moving around and can be very comfortable. They're also handy to have around your home for use outside in the yard.
It's nice to have flash lights for when it gets dark. A head light is a great item to have for when you need to be able to use both of your hands while also being able to see in the dark. An LED lantern is great to light up the camp site after dark.
Camping Food
Cooking with a camp stove can be a fun and rewarding experience, especially for first-time campers. Here are some essential tips and gear recommendations to get you started:
Choose the Right Stove:
- When selecting a camp stove, consider your needs. Are you car camping or backpacking? Do you need a lightweight option for long hikes, or are you planning to cook at a campsite?
Basic Gear:
- Stove: Invest in a reliable camp stove. Make sure it’s easy to set up, light, and efficient.
- Lighter: A reliable lighter or waterproof matches are essential for igniting the stove.
- Propane: Most camp stoves use small propane canisters. Carry one or two depending on your trip duration.
- Cookware: You’ll need at least one pot for boiling water or cooking food. Consider a set with multiple pots for versatility.
- Spatula: A spatula or cooking utensil is handy for flipping pancakes or stirring meals.
- Optional Extras:
- Tongs and flippers
- Utensils
- Paper plates
- Cups
- Paper towels or wet disinfecting wipes
Ideas for types of food to bring:
Cereals
Bread
Pasta
Rice
Crackers
Nuts
Canned foods like beans, soups, tuna, salmon, sardines.
Canned vegetables like peas, corn, carrots
Fresh fruits & vegetables
Chips
Popcorn
Trail Mix
Granola Bars
Don't forget the marshmallows!
Building a campfire is an essential skill for outdoor enthusiasts, especially first-time campers.
Choose a Safe Spot:
- If available, use a designated fire pit or ring to contain the fire. Another option is to dig a hole approximately 12 inches deep for your fire and whichever diameter you wish and surround it with stones.
Add Kindling:
- Place small pieces of chopped wood or small sticks (kindling) on top of the tinder.
- Kindling helps shape the fire and provides a base for larger logs.
Build Your Fire:
- Lean kindling together in a cone shape over the tinder. Leave space between the sticks for air circulation. As the fire grows, add larger pieces of firewood.
- Light the tinder using matches, a lighter, or fire starter. Our preferred option is to use a barbeque lighter.
Maintaining the Fire:
- Gradually add larger logs to keep the fire burning.
Extinguish the Campfire Safely:
- Never leave a fire unattended.
- When you’re ready to leave, pour water onto the fire.
- Make sure the fire is completely out before you leave.
At many camp sites you are able to purchase fire wood at the site, or you could bring your own fire wood. If you're in the wilderness, you should bring a saw. Either a hand saw or a chainsaw or a battery operated reciprocating saw to cut your firewood. Your best option is to look for fallen trees that are dead and dry.
Basic Camping Equipment
Some of the items you may want to bring would be:
- An axe or hatchet for chopping wood.
- A shovel
- Foldable camping chairs
- (Optional) A hammock
- Lantern for night time
- Flashlights and/or head lights
- First aid kit
- Bear spray if you're in the wilderness
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Toiletries
- Towels
- Clothes:
- Make sure to bring a warm sweater or jacket.
- Rain coat
- Don't forget a hat
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Some of the activities you can do when camping are:
If you're near water you can enjoy fishing, swimming, canoeing, tubing
Otherwise if you're not near the water you can try hiking, stargazing, bird watching, or sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows.
You may want to bring binoculars to get a closer look at the wildlife.
Your next move up from a tent is a popup or tent trailer.
Some benefits of having a camping trailer are:
Comfortable and Convenient - They are quick to set up and provide a comfortable place to sleep and store your items.
Quick Setup - They are quick to set up unlike tents that can be frustrating to set up.
Most vehicles can tow them but be sure to verify your vehicle is capable of pulling the weight beforehand. Some of the smaller ones are around 8 feet long and weigh approximately 800 pounds. Some of the larger ones, for example a 16 foot long one can weigh approximately 3800 pounds.
Pricing:
The price for a previously used small popup trailer starts around $1000, if you were to purchase it brand new it would be around $11000
Bathrooms:
Some larger trailers may have a toilet installed. If your trailer doesn't have a toilet included, you could opt for a portable toilet
Heating:
Most trailers don't have heating installed, but you could always buy a portable propane heater to heat your trailer.
If you already own a pickup truck, you may be interested in a camper for the truck.
Benefits of a truck camper:
Versatile - It is easy to install on a truck. Great for manoeuvrability and parking
Self Contained with a bathroom, kitchen, and sleeping area.
Mobility - You can go to more places, especially if you have a 4-wheel drive truck, it makes it easier for travelling through rough terrain. For example if you wanted to go camping in the mountains.
Low Maintenance - They're less maintenance than an RV or camper trailer.
Storage - You can store your truck camper in a garage, shed, or outside. If you store it outside you might want to cover it with a tarp.
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