Ten Common Sense Camping Tips for Beginners

Camping is all about using your noggin. If you can't be prepared and if you ignore common sense, you can easily be hurt while camping and you probably won't have any fun. You have to remember where you are and the dangers of coexisting with wildlife. Not only that, but camping means learning important survival skills and slowly immersing yourself into the habit of choosing good locations and putting safety first. So here are ten common sense camping tips for beginners.

Research Different Camp Grounds

A beginner should never just choose a camp ground from a directory and head out without first doing some research. Common sense dictates that you should look into several different camp grounds before choosing one that suits your needs. Beginning campers should always remain close to civilization and should choose camp grounds that offer a camp director or someone else who watches over the property. If you have an emergency, help will be nearby. And even if you plan on pitching a tent, it's a good idea for beginners to choose camp grounds which are accessible by vehicle.

Make Reservations

It can be disappointing to arrive at a chosen camp ground and find out that there isn't any space available. To avoid this, always make reservations on the Internet or by phone. Ask about cancellation policies and whether refunds are given if space isn't available. Leave your phone number so that you can be contacted if changes need to be made and always request a confirmation number to provide when you arrive at the camp ground.

Test Camping Gear

It's never a good idea for a beginner camper to simply buy camping gear and hope that it works when you arrive at the campsite. Common sense would tell you to try it out at home and make sure that you are able to set everything up. Make sure you have enough lanterns by trying them in your backyard at night and take a nap in one of your sleeping bags to make sure they are sufficiently comfortable. The most important thing, however, is to practice pitching your tent in the backyard and to practice breaking it down and stowing it away.

Explore the Campsite

When you arrive at your camping destination, follow common sense by exploring everything before it gets dark. Find out where the restrooms and showers are, look for neighboring campers and seek out garbage receptacles. Knowing the proximity of all of these things will help you find them when it gets dark and will ensure that you have everything you need. You should also look for raised tree roots and logs that might cause you to trip as you make your way toward the bathrooms.

Plan Tent Placement

Where you pitch your tent is almost as important as choosing a campsite. It should be on the highest ground at the camp ground and should be erected sufficiently far away from a fire that sparks can't reach it. While choosing a high place to pitch your tent is important, the ground should also be reasonably level and shouldn't be bedded by anything sharp that might disrupt your sleep.

Pay Attention to Food

Obviously, camping requires that you eat while you're in the wilderness, but be careful where you put your food. Common sense would tell you to keep food tucked in sealed containers. Avoid snacking inside your tent so that bugs and small animals don't try to eat holes in the tent to scavenge for leftover crumbs. If you have a cooler or other large container, don't fall asleep without securing it with a heavy rock or branch to keep larger animals out. You should also pay attention to fire alerts in your area to make sure that you're following the law.

Watch the Weather

Beginner campers should never set up camp when bad weather is afoot. Watch the weather channel and tune in to your radio on the way to the camp site so that you know if storms are brewing. It is always best to listen to common sense and cancel your camping trip if you think it might storm or offer otherwise unfortunate weather. You'll have a far better time camping when the weather is more accommodating.

Practice Campfire Safety

Campfires are one of the most exciting things about camping, but be sure to use common sense. Keep a bucket of water nearby in case the fire gets out of control and never leave a campfire unattended. Your campfire should be reasonably small -- don't let it get out of control -- and make sure to keep children and animals away from the flames. Remember, also, that food cooked over a campfire will be hot, so give it time to cool before putting it in your mouth.

Beware the Wildlife

Camping means sharing your "home" with all different types of wildlife. Plants, bugs and animals will abound, so take common sense precautions. Always pack bug spray along with your other camping gear and observe all animals from a distance. Never put your campsite near poisonous plants; in fact, you might want to take a book that identifies things like poison ivy with you to make sure.

Clean Up and Pack Up

When you are ready to leave your campsite, make sure that the campfire has been properly extinguished and that you've disposed of any trash in the proper receptacles. If your tent or sleeping bags are wet, wait until they are dry or store them in plastic bags. When you get home, be sure to spread everything out to dry before packing it away to avoid mold and mildew.

Camping is a great experience, even for the beginner. Just make sure you use appropriate common sense and that you ask questions when you have a concern. It sometimes helps for novices to go camping with experts until they get the hang of things.