camping advice?

The one thing i would recommend is try putting up your tent @ home, it can be "difficult" the first time and you dont want to "prat about" on site for the first time (the fellow campers find it entertaining!), it also makes you confident once youre on site.

The other cheap hint is we take empty plastic containers (robinsons 3 litres are ideal!) to carry water from the water tap to your tent. Also take some snack food, for some reason youre always hungry out there. Hope weather is kind but enjoy whatever. Oh and if you take matches, i wrap then in foil and then in open plastic bag to stay "dry".

This will make all the difference.

Buy some rope not too thick about 50 ft. Get some masons twine, I like the pink or yellow. Then get a tarp bug enough to cover your tent and a sitting area, the last one I used was around 20 x 16. Then once you set up your tent, tie the rope more than 6 feet up tween 2 trees making sure that it goes near or above the tent. Then put up your tarp over it. With the masons twine, either tie off the corners and middle (at the grommets) to trees or find some sapplings to make poles.

Once up, your tent will have a "front porch" that you can sit under. And it is rains, not all your stuff will get wet. I do this every time I go camping, it is a little extra work, but it is WELL worth it!!!!!!!!!

That is the best advise I can give. For a better explanation, e-mail me and I will elaborate but I think you can figure it out.

I use a tarp under my tent. I also bring extra rope and tarps and clothes pins to put between me and my fellow campers next door. Bring plenty of firewood. Also bring bungee cords to secure your ice chest along with a heavy piece of firewood on each to keep the raccoons out of them. I came back today from camping the last 5 nights but at 3:30 this morning I was woken up by raccoons messing with my empty ice chest and not messing with my full ice chest that was secure. They also enjoyed playing with the 2 tubs of water that I used for washing my dishes the previous night that I did not empty because I left 1 frying pan soaking over night. So make sure you do not leave dishwashing water overnight the raccoons will play and drink from them. HAVE FUN

If there is a possibility of rain in the forecast, take a careful look at where you set up your tent. Make sure it is not in a depression that will collect water. Try to set up the tent so the wind comes into the door rather than at a side. Try to set it up so that your head will be uphill. Crawl in and check this before you steak the tent down and at the same time check for any rocks, pinecones or other lumps that will make it hard to sleep. If it looks like rain - maybe bring a tarp so you can enjoy being out of the tent to do things - set this up before the rain comes - a simple pup-tent configuration works well for the tarp, make sure you have cord or rope for this ahead of time.

If you are using inflatable mattresses, put it in your tent and throw your sleeping bag over it to protect it from getting small holes. Don't use it outside the tent.

The food depends so much on you, your equipment, etc, but I recommend and easy one-pot meal like spaghetti for a first trip. Get more exotic with time. Be sure you have plenty of fuel, matches and what ever you need for the stove and a fire if you have one. Just like at home spices make all the difference, so don't forget them!

Protect your food froom small animals by locking it in the car if you are car camping or hanging it off the ground on a tree branch at night if not. (If you are in one of the few areas bears are a real problem - your car may not be a good place) It's generally a bad idea to bring food into your tent.

I find a headlamp is real convenient as it keeps both of your hands free unlike a flashlight.

Clean your dishes and organize your camp before dark or at least before going to bed as wind, animals, etc can cause problems otherwise.

Think about the accessory things like spoons, can openers, spatulas etc you may need. Make sure you have plenty of water if it's not provided.

Practice minimum impact - pack out your trash or throw it away in proper recepticles, make sure any fire is out completely when done with it, be courteous regarding noise, etc of other campers. Don't ever cut living trees or bushes for firewood or other needs.

Most camping accidents I see are related to knives, axes, saws, fires and camp stoves, so be careful if using these things. If using a liquid fuel for your stove, make sure it is closed and away from your stove when lighting it. It's not a bad idea to fill your stove in one place and use it in another. If it's a small stove, be sure pots are properly balanced on it and remove the pot from the stove to serve.

Have a great trip.

First time camping I can't remember. I would suggest Take the things you would use if you were camping in your back yard.. If you have kids coloring books , Kite , fishing poles , Take paper and pins to write Grand Ma letters Frisbee , Magnifying glass. I could go through a big list. Bug Spray , Pillows , Camera, Extra money - Just in case a motel might be more fun - A water proof tarp is always a good stand by . Can be used for shade or to keep rain off you. Toiletries , sun glasses, binoculars , ETC...

Happy Caving Carroll

Trash bags. you can hang one from a tree. Close line "twine"

Duct tape

You can NEVER have enough socks/underwear.

Double check torch batteries and bulb.

Take extra carrier bags for dirty clothes.

Put essentials in waterproof bags. Including matches.

No matter how tired you are always put up the tent when you arrive, because a quick lunch/pint first will really not put you in the mood for putting it up.

Depending on if this is a beer fest or family hol consider making the tent highly visable with a flag or similar

Don't set up too near the loos as you may find it noisy in the night, but not too far either.

I am an avid camper. With the family, friends, or Scouts. We went camping last weekend, just before they banned fires from our forest, we were so lucky. You need to know there are different kinds of camping and some are a mixture. Goto REI and read about some of them and their greats tips. You don't have to buy all of the latest and greatest gear to camp though!

Here is my advice:

plan & prepare and you won't be disappointed AND I would never advise against camping, if you can do it, just go!

-If you plan on cooking one way, don't count on it, have a back up method: propane, charcoal, wood,

-Always bring water, ice is good to have if you can bring it.

-bring tin foil because you can use it in a variety of ways; cover a pot, make cooking packets over coals, reflector...

-pack it in, pack it out so don't forget trash bags

-plan every meal, snack, drink and have what you need for them

-do not forget a first aid kit

-if its tent camping, look for shade, level ground, not in a water run-off area

- tent needs to be at least 3 season, use a ground cloth and you should practice setting it up, also seal it before you use it

-learn the Leave No Trace creed and teach it to your campmates

-list and label things, then check them off as you repack if you are worried about losing things or forgetting to bring things

-chairs are almost always nice to bring along

-and my personal pet peeve: keep shoes out of the tent

-no some info on where you plan to go, its hazards, the wildlife, rules on fires, etc... pests to protect against

-dress for the weather, but prepared for other types too

-always have at least two pairs of shoes

-take note of what you wish you could have changed and do that next time. learn from your experience and that of others

have a great time!

Dust pan & brush! The tent always gets grass trodden through, so good for sweeping out. Also some type of washing line that you can fix up easliy for all the towels etc. to dry. Don't forget your washing-up bowl, brush and liquid. Lamps and torches, especially a small torch to find your way back at night. Godd luck and enjoy, it's great fun!

hi like you we are going next week we have camped in every weather england has to offer,but once our tent is up we get inside and do all things we never have time to do at home,we play loads of games etc with the kids,my kids love it,the advice id offer is take your dinner ready made as if your anything like us it takes ages to get straight and there is nothing worse then starving kids or husband.then once your straight just sit and relax and think lovely no washing machine to worry about,oh and yes make sure you take plenty of soxs and shoes as if its a wet week i find we go through them the most,and warm cloathes as the nights are chilly what ever month you go camoing,hope this has all helped and hope you have a nice holiday.

Take a couple of large blue tarps (walmart sells them, as well as MOST camping supply type stores) and ROPE...that way even if it DOES rain, your tent, and surrounding area can stay NICE and dry---especially your camp WOOD. Take along flashlights and a couple lanterns that you can hang in the trees to lighten up your camp area at night....also BOUNCE FABRIC SHEETS... they actually DO keep the bugs away from you IF you put them in a few of your pockets... and they smell SO much better then those chemical bug repellants. Also, take TONS of MATCHES (stick matches preferably and keep them nice and dry)...coolers full of food (eggs, bacon, bread, hot dogs, burgers, buns. maybe a pre-made mac salad, steaks and MARSHMELLOWS for evening fun around the campfire... adventurous people can bring Hershey candy bars and Graham crackers and make S'mores ---(pretty playful activity if you know what I mean)....also AIR MATTRESSES for under your sleeping bags...cheap little $10 types are fine. and bring EXTRA pants just in case you get wet, fall in a lake, or slip in the mud.... also, you might want to bring a BATTERY powered radio or cd player for whatever entertainment you can't generate yourselves... and extra rope to tie your garbage up to a tree so as not to attract big and little critters into your campsite to tear into your trash...Racoons and bears LOVE doing that type of stuff. Also, if anyone plays guitar bring it...(might sound hoakey, but nothing like a good old fashioned sing-a-long around a nice cozy campfire ESPECIALLY if you are bringing children along. Don't forget your PILLOWS!!!!!