Camping Advice
From Camper to Camper

Anyone who has been camping more than a few times is sure to have some camping advice for other campers. You've been camping... You've learned a few things about living in the great outdoors. Would you like to read the advice of other campers? Or maybe you have some advice of your own to share?

There's nothing like hearing someone's first-hand experience to help you make up your mind about taking a trip camping, Whether the experience is a horror story of monstrous mosquitoes and deer flies or an overpriced RV park filled with noisy kids - or if, on the other hand, the experience was a slice of heaven- either way, your shared experience matters.

Nature lovers naturally will bond over their stories of finding untouched hidden treasures. Parents will benefit from knowing whether a campsite is kid-friendly, with a canteen for buying candy and snacks. Cyclists will want to know about the availability of scenic bike paths. You'll make new friends and prevent someone from making the same mistakes when you share your camping advice.

Campers should share their advice because safety and health of people is at stake. One rule for camping is to never drink water from a stream or creek unless it has been properly treated. Only individuals who are properly informed should try to sanitize the water for drinking. Otherwise, bring bottled water or tap water in containers.

Another safety tip is to familiarize yourself with the area and know your surroundings. It can be dangerous and frightening to lose your way in the wilderness. There may not be other people for miles, and cell phones do not always work in remote areas. Camping should be fun, but being safe and healthy is the number one priority.

Only those with experience in the field really know what to expect from camping. It's possible to learn from books, magazines, the internet, etc., but there is no replacement for camping advice from real human experience and knowledge.

 Experienced campers are likely to know about the realities of dealing with rain, they will have possibly gone through the horrible experience of improperly setting up the rain shield on their tent, and with that terrible experience will be all the more likely to explicitly tell how to deal with a problem.

The other benefit of having camping advice from other campers is that talking face to face with another person allows for a more interactive pedagogy. Instead of merely searching for information, you are bringing your question directly to the brain of another human being. This other person will be directly reacting and doing their best to answer the question and will be far more flexible than say a website or book.

This is the group of people that shares common interests and can offer advice and support. Location is always a concern for campers; people are usually looking for various experiences. Sometimes families want to be camping where there are lots of activities for their children and other camping families can offer great tips and suggestions.

Other people want to camp in very natural surroundings and other campers who have had those trips would be best to give directions and advice in that area. Campers would obviously look to other campers for the guidance needed to make their trip a success.

Get camping advice from other campers, they know what they are talking about! Experienced campers are the best source for new campers for advice on everything from what you need to what to expect to where to camp. Plus, those who have camped a lot, can tell you when to go where (i.e. this camp is really busy during this time and this one is not etc.). Experienced campers can also let novices know what the best foods for grilling are or how to cook on a fire if they never have. Listen to your elders!

Relaxing in front of a campfire is often the very best part of camping, with or without marshmallows or s'mores. But getting the campfire started is often a trying exercise, especially for city folk. I stuff empty prescription medicine bottles with lint from my clothes dryer to help get our fires started and it works like we know what we are doing. Be sure to take the lint out of the bottle before you start the fire. These same bottles can be washed out and used to carry little things, such as spices, needles for getting out stickers, safety pins and such. The bottles are clear enough that you can see into them, can be labeled, and the tops can be childproof or not.

More serious campers can take a little more time and pack paper egg cartons with a piece of charcoal, sawdust, dryer lint, or even pecan or pistachio shells in each egg section, and cover it with melted wax. These can be broken apart to use a little piece at a time or light the whole egg carton for a can’t fail campfire.

Campers should get camping advice from other campers because they have experience and have been in the situation before. You can not fully imagine what all you need while camping unless you have actually been out there doing it. Camping is not something everyone enjoys nor does it mean the same thing to everyone. My personal idea of camping is a tent, fire, cooler full of food and lots of bug spray. For the next person it may be a cabin in the woods with a refrigerator. Make sure you have the same idea as the person you are getting advice from.

Next, I suggest you do research on the area you are staying at. Is there a lake for swimming, can I build a fire, do I need to rent a space, are there public restrooms for use? These things will all affect your camping experience and tell you how to pack for your trip. Don't forget to check the weather and pack accordingly. Most of all remember to have fun, bring lots of yummy snacks and drinks, and relax.

Now you can share your camping advice!