Camping allows you to escape the rat race and build a bond between family members and friends. New campers and experienced campers are always on the lookout for camping tips that can make their lives more comfortable for the duration spent out in nature. Deciding to go camping on a whim without preparation can turn out to be a nightmare.
Key Takeaways
- There are various ways to make coffee while camping – boiling water on a mini stove, instant coffee, sock method
- Wear layered clothing
- Invest in a cooler to keep your food cold
- Store food in an air-tight container away from your tent to keep bears away
- Pack a bag shower if the campsite doesn’t have facilities
Being in the open air enables you to get closer to nature and appreciate the value added by Mother Nature. Preparation for a camping trip will ensure that you enjoy your time with family and friends in the open air. In this article, we will look at some of the most important tips to help you arrive prepared and ready for fun.
Camping Hacks and Tips
How to make coffee while camping
Many people need their coffee first thing in the morning to become functional.
It can also serve as a general time to communicate the activities planned for the day, especially while camping. The whole idea is to build better bonds between friends and family, so coffee is great.
When camping in an area where there is electricity your home conveniences can easily be put to use.
However, when you are roughing it and have no access to electricity you will need some alternatives to make that ever-important morning coffee.
The oldest method to make coffee is the Cowboy method that you have probably come across in some movies.
It is the simplest method to make coffee and while it may not produce the best coffee it will add to the ruggedness of camping in Mother Nature.
Bring the water to boiling point, a nice campfire is ideal for this, and drop your coffee mixture into the boiling water.
Stir the coffee and let it boil for a while to provide the best taste.
You can either pour it through a filter into a cup or straight into a cup. The second method will require you to filter the coffee mixture out with your teeth.
Other ways to make coffee on a camping trip include:
Collapsible Pour – Over Coffee Makers
Place a filter with grounds inside the pot and pour a slow and steady stream of boiling water into the pot over the ground coffee. You can allow it to cure a little to extract the best taste.
Coffee Sock
Although any sock can be used, you are in nature but still want to keep some sense of hygiene.
Many camping stores sell coffee socks that you can use to fill with the coffee grounds and then lower it into a cup.
The strength of the coffee is determined by the time that it sits at rest inside the cup.
The mechanics of this method are all fairly similar to that of the previous technique. Simply fill the sock with coffee grounds, and lower the contraption into a cup of hot water. Let it all steep for a couple of minutes, and then remove your sock and sip a great cup of coffee. Once your coffee is ready you remove the sock from the cup, dispose of the ground, clean the sock, sit back, and enjoy the brew.
Instant Coffee
While exotic coffee making can be extremely exciting, many campers prefer to still use instant coffee that is quick and simple to put together.
What to wear camping
Your camp wear must be planned in accordance with the expected weather conditions.
Your clothing must protect you against those ever-present mosquitoes during the summer months and other bugs you may not encounter in cities and towns.
Wear a comfortable outfit while traveling that will enable you to fulfill the tasks required when you arrive at the campsite.
Temperatures generally vary between day and night so make sure you cater for both hot days and cooler evenings.
Layering is advisable to add quick layers for warmth that can easily be removed as the day eats up or it warms up when sitting around the campfire.
Quick during layers is ideal for an unexpected change in weather or unforeseen fall into a swimming pool.
Invest in a quick-drying base layer such as a vest or t-shirt, a lightweight middle layer such as a jumper or hoodie, a waterproof outer layer such as a jacket or parka, flexible slacks with sun protection, and robust boots with good underfoot grip.
Don’t forget your sleepwear. Sleeping in your daywear will be uncomfortable and can be rather smelly if you have had a big day exploring.
How to keep food cold while camping
When out camping you are unlikely to have access to your fridge/freezer and will therefore have to plan to keep your food, especially perishables, cold until you want to use it.
Quality Cooler
Investing in a quality cooler box is essential if you want to keep your food cold for extended periods.
The thicker the walls of the cooler the more likely it is to be well insulated to retain the cold inside.
Powered Coolers
If you have access to electricity or battery power, you can consider investing in powered coolers. This will keep your food cold and fresh for the longest, almost like having your fridge from home available.
Also, consider coolers that can be powered by propane gas.
A good piece of advice is to cool your coolers and freeze food before traveling to the campsite. This will ensure that the food is still relatively cold when you arrive and will need less power to cool it down.
Should you not have access to powered coolers, you can easily access dry ice to keep your food frozen. However, dry ice can easily cause exposed skin to freeze/burn thus destroying your camping trip.
How to keep bears away when camping
Camping brings you closer to Mother Nature, but it could also bring along unwanted guests which hold danger for you and your family.
When bears awake from their winter slumber, they tend to be rather grumpy and hungry.
Camping sites are seen as easy targets to get food thus you need to take some precautions to avoid any unsettling experiences with bears.
So, how do you keep the bears away from your campsite?
Never intentionally feed bears or other wild animals as they will relate you to some easy food.
To prevent bears from scrounging in your neighborhood keep your garbage cans safe and closed until collection day. Most campsites do the collection daily to prevent the build-up of food for the bears.
It is also advisable to clean barbecue grills after each use and store them in a safe inaccessible place.
A clean environment is less likely to attract bears and other animals so remove fallen fruit or other possible organic matter that could attract bears.
Store food in seal-tight containers preventing the bears from smelling the delicious snack that they are after. Also, store the containers at least 100 yards away from camping areas.
How to wash dishes while camping
The luxury of packing a dishwasher to do the dishes is something you are unlikely to encounter when camping.
The tips for preventing encounters with bears indicate that cleanliness is extremely important around the campsite.
Soon after finishing a meal, you must clean up.
Start by scraping the leftovers from all dishes into the garbage leaving hardly anything on the dishes.
If the campsite does not have a shared kitchen facility, boil the water, and take the water and dishes approximately 200 feet from the camp before washing them.
Try and forego using chemicals out in nature. If you have to use soap, change your normal dishwashing liquid for environment-friendly bio-degradable soap.
How to shower while camping
Many camping sites have shared ablution facilities where you can shower at your leisure, just ensure you leave some water for other campers to enjoy the luxury.
However, if there is no such luxury and you have to look after yourself, there are a few options available.
Have a river or stream close by? What can be more refreshing is to enjoy the natural resources to clean your body. Water on its own will remove most oils and dirt.
However, refrain from using chemicals and soaps that can damage nature and leave an unpleasant experience for fellow campers.
Conserving water while showering
A sponge bath is popular while camping because of the limited use of water this can easily be done by wetting a sponge or washcloth with water and a touch of biodegradable soap to remove dirt. Once completely washed add some water to the cloth and wipe your body. You will use some water in rinsing your body after the wash and using the cloth/sponge.
Bag Showers can be heated by locating it in direct sun for the day. By standing under the nozzle and using the techniques described in conserving water, you can freshen up and let the
Bottom Line
Preparing well for a camping trip will enhance the experience and put you in a position to enjoy the most wonderful experiences with your family and friends.
If possible, get away from the rat race and leave digital devices at home allowing you to concentrate on your loved ones that are also sacrificing their luxuries to be with you in nature. Make sure you take a few key safety items including a personal locator beacon should something go wrong.
When camping you want to leave the environment as you received. There is a saying that you must not take more than photos and leave nothing but footprints.
Ensure that you clean up your camping site thus enabling fellow campers to enjoy the campsite as much as you did.
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