15 Things You Must Know Before You Go On Your First Camping Trip
The idea of camping to some conjures up images that may make you cringe, especially those who have never camped as a kid or have heard horror stories from friends and relatives, and have decided never to give it a fair go.
How much effort you put into adequately planning your camping trip will determine how successful (and enjoyable) your trip will be. Though some of these tasks might seem a little boring, the more often you put these tasks into practice the more fun you will have doing them.
Here are 15 Things You Must Know Before You Go On Your First Camping Trip:
1. Gather all your camping equipment in a corner of a room and keep adding to it as you think of it.
2. Use baskets or see through buckets for easy storage and easy access. If you don't have see through, a simple label on top makes life so much easier. You night decide to keep a list stuck on the lid for an easy check before you go.
3. Store your clothes in sports bags. Easy access and easy to move.
4. Make sure all heavy items are secure and are packed at the bottom of your car boot with lighter items on top.
5. Take a prepared meal that can be easily reheated on arrival at your destination. Either prepare at home or get Ready-to-eat meals, like Go Native that can be eaten in the event of emergency. Keep your energy and time for setup an cooking marshmellows on the fire (fire restrictions permitting
6. Make sure you have everything you need for a drink stop like tea bags, instant coffee, sugar, condensed milk, cordial, powder, biscuits, a two litre bottle of water, matches, kettle, wet wipes and tea cloth
7. If you are going away for a short trip prepare your hot dishes so that you have more time to relax at your camp site and enjoy yourself.
8. Stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables at every chance.
9. List everything you will eat on the number of days you are away.
10. Keep extras always on hand which includes flowers for cakes and breads, noodles, rice, beans and lentils.
11. Remember long life milk (two to three cartons of long life milk per day should be sufficient for a family of two children and two adults as a guide).
12. Try camping in your backyard to see how you feel about your tent and sleeping bags etc.
13. Your first camping gear does not have to be expensive. It is more important that it is durable and keeps you protected from all weather conditions. Bring a piece of ground cloth with you, a piece of plastic that goes under your tent. Tuck the edges neatly underneath the tent. The first thing you must consider when choosing the tent is the size ie the number of people your tent is going to house.
14. Take cutlery with you that is old and definitely won’t be missed if it doesn’t come home with you.
15. Keep cutlery separate from crockery by placing them in plastic containers with lids or in a tea towel in a plastic bag.
Here is a list of items of cutlery and crockery that may be useful for your next camping trip.
1. Fork, knife, teaspoon and dessert spoon for each person.
2. Serrated edge knife that can also be used as a bread knife.
3. Vegetable peeler and knife.
4 Spatular for cooking.
5. Large aluminium coffee pot, the larger the better.
6. Barbeque tongs.
7. Egg rings.
8. Sharp knife and sharpener.
9. Can opener.
10. Large serving spoon and wooden spoon.
11. Cup, bowl and plate for every person.
12. Bring paper plates in case you are in an area where water is scarce, and be sure to take your rubbish with you.
For a more comprehensive list, use our printable version below to get you started.
