5 Tips for First Time Campers

Camping is a rather broad term use to describe everything from popping a tent in the backyard to taking a chance on spending 127 of the worst hours of your life in the great outdoors. If you want to learn how to survive on your own when camping, look beyond this list. If you want to make sure you have a good time camping without getting into too much trouble, read on. If you can't stomach the idea of sleeping on the hard ground and being at the mercy of Mother Nature who has, let's face it, been in a rather crappy mood the past decade or so, well, then, watch that Brady Bunch three parter when they head to the Grand Canyon.

Survival Kit

You never know...you know? You need to be prepared for any eventuality when camping and that means a survival kit. Pack a whistle for calling for help. A compass so you don't get lost if you GPS machinery goes wacky. A space blanket can be used for reflecting the beams of the sun to call attention to yourself if you need rescuing. Add an extra battery for you cell phone and may even an extra backup cell phone.

Food and Drink Supplies

Metal plates provide a durability that paper or plastic just can't provide. Paper cups are light, sure, but hot coffee will have to cool down for quite some time before you can feel comfortable drinking it. They say nothing tastes better than water from a natural source, but bottled water is less likely to give you the runs. Carry along some snacking foods that are high in protein and low in sugar and fat.

First Aid

Accidents happen. The first aid you need depends on the campsite. If you are out in the woods, bring along a snakebite kit. If you are camping in cold weather, bring along chapstick. Other items for a camping first aid kid include bandages, bug spray, ointments and creams for itching, alcohol for disinfecting and lotion to deal with sunburns.

Clothing

You should have a change of clothing for every day you plan to be camping. If the circumstances are humid, bring along two or three pairs so you can get out of a sticky situation. If you are camping in the cold, make sure you've clothing lightweight enough for movement, but heavy enough for protection.

Fire

It may be cool to start a fire with your bare hands, but it's totally unnecessary. Save your energy for when you need it: bring along matches or a lighter. Don't pretend to be a caveman; it's stupid and dangerous.