A Beginner’s Guide For Camping

Summer is here and every day is a bliss with warm weather and greenery around. What would be the best way to enjoy summer than an outdoor activity?  Summers are meant for Hikes, Biking, Fishing, and Camping. It’s been our long-term desire to camp in a forest.  And, this summer we did it! We camped for a night in a campground near to The Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Err… if you wonder about The Grand Canyon of PA, then do check out my Travelogue here. As I promised, I tried to pen down our first-time experience about camping, the difficulties which we faced and lessons learned. I might add details in future to make it a one-stop post to know everything about camping. Wait for more camping stories in future!!

Why should you go for camping?
My mom questioned as for why do we stay in a tent when we can comfortably stay in a hotel? But then, we wanted to connect with Nature and have a soul enriching experience. You never know the people you come across and the inspirations from them when you camp. And camping allows you to have a quality time with your friends and family – Pitching up a tent, Campfire, grilling the chicken, playing games and relishing your memories. It could turn into a life-changing experience. It’s an experiment to analyze your inter and intra-personal skills. 
Moreover, it is cheaper than visit places. Yes, it does involve upfront costs but then it’s an investment for the lifetime. 

“Whatever form it takes, camping is earthy, soul enriching and character building, and there can be few such satisfying moments as having your tent pitched and the smoke rising from your campfire as the golden sun sets on the horizon–even if it's just for a fleeting moment before the rain spoils everything.” 

Basic Essentials that every camper needs:
What will you need?  
It’s obvious that camping involves some upfront cost. Let’s start with the basic gears needed for camping.

• Camping Tents and Tarps: You need a place to sleep in, hence tents are essential. Tents are available in various sizes and shapes. I highly recommend you to visit the sports stores and check the model tents if available any in the shop; walk around and check for space. You will need a tarp to prevent the water from entering inside the tent.
• Sleeping bags and Sleeping Pad: Sleeping inside the tent is not an easy task. Ensure to carry your own sleeping pad and bag so that you won’t feel the rough surface underneath and sleep comfortably.
• Plan your meals: For the first time campers, I highly suggest to plan your meals as one might it exhausting to prepare meals on the campground during their first camping.
• Plan your clothes: Dress according to the weather and ensure to carry additional clothes. Even though it’s summer, it will become cold during the night and in early mornings. 
• First-aid Kit: I highly recommend to carry a first aid kit with you. It should include aspirin, cotton, antiseptic, antibiotic, pocket knives, bandages, gauzes, bug sprays, insect repellant and other specific medicines if any.
• Portable Charger: Even If you have rented a camp area with electricity, I suggest you carry a portable charger with you as the outlets will be less and you might need your mobile with a full battery in a campground. One can use mobile as lanterns, flashlights, and torchlights.
• Lanterns/Flashlights: It gets dark in the woods and when you want to walk out of your tent in the midnight for any nature calls, you might need a lantern/flashlight with you.

There are many other gears available for the camping but the above-mentioned gears are more than essential for a camping.

How to plan for a first time camping?

• Keep it short and simple: If it’s your first time camping, keep it short and simple. Camp for a night and enjoy simple activities during the day like short hikes. 
• Reserve a good campground: Your camping might turn as a bad experience if the campground is in high traffic area, without basic amenities or the spot has a rugged surface with no shade.  I highly suggest reserving a campground with flush toilets, laundry areas, proper cleaning area and electric outlets for the first time. Let’s take one step at a time. 
• Go with Friends and Family: You might get bored if you don’t have a proper company during you camping. Pick up your loved ones and camp with them for an enjoyable experience. If you have a friend who camps often, then it’s not a bad idea to accompany them as they know about the gear and equipment.
• Plan and Pack comforting food: Cooking or grilling during your first camping might be exhausting. It’s better to pack your foods. Always ensure to pack for an additional person as you might end up in eating more after a hiking day. Moreover, enjoying dinner with friends in woods is fun and you never know how much you gobble.
• Camp near your home: It’s better to plan camping near your home so that you can return if it rains or if you find uncomfortable sleeping in a forest.
• Plan for proper sleep: I often heard from many of my friends that they don’t sleep properly in the tent. Let me suggest you some ideas which I personally followed for a good night’s sleep.
• Get an extra-size tent: Ensure to buy a 3 people tent for 2 so that you will have enough room in the tent.
• Plan your own sleeping bag and Sleeping pad: Believe, it’s a wise investment to buy your own sleeping bag and sleeping pad. Comforters won’t solve its purpose and one might feel the chillness and the ruggedness of the land. The sleeping pad provides a smooth surface and sleeping bag provides comfort and warmth. Sharing a sleeping bag is a bad idea as the twists and turns of another person might disturb your sleep.
• Stay warm: It might get cold during midnight. Hence ensure to dress accordingly.
• Bring ear plugs: You never know how the night in the forest looks like. The dogs might be barking. It might rain and the sound of rain drops on your tent might be unpleasant for you. It’s advisable to carry an ear plug to cut down those nighttime noises.

Common Mistakes of a First Camper:
Believe me, we also did these mistakes and I would love to share those here as it might save you from what we faced during our first camping.

• Congested Tent:  We bought four people tent initially for four of us and when we checked we found it congested. Always purchase a three-person Tent for two, 5 for 4; in that way, one will have enough room and can sleep peacefully. Make sure your tent has a rainfly.
• Couldn’t set up a Tent: If you are pitching up the tent for the first time, it’s better to do a trial run so that you won’t spend more time in pitching up the tent in the campground.
• Slept in the Rain: We didn’t buy tarps and it rained the entire night. It’s always good to carry tarps with you so that it protects the bottom of the tent. They are easy to fold and occupy only in a little space in your camping bags. With ear plugs and a sleeping pad, one can sleep comfortably even if rains. And sleeping while listening to the rain drops is fun. Experience it!
• Couldn’t lit the Campfire:  We forgot to carry the fire starters and we had to check with the nearby experienced campers. Mr. Joe and his wife were kind enough to lend us fire starters and they helped us to light the campfire. Ensure to carry fire starters.
• Ran out of food: Always while we camp or hike, we tend to stuff ourselves more. Hence it’s advisable to carry additional food items. Ensure to carry some bread and Peanut butter. That helps to fix you hunger packs.
• Ran out of Ice:  We carried water bottles and food items in our ice box. We called the campground ahead and checked for the availability of Ice. Ensure to check the campground for the availability of ice packs. Else, look out for the general stores in the nearby area.
• Animals ate food: It’s highly advisable to pack your food after your dinner and lock them in your car. The smell of the food might attract animals. Ensure not to keep food items in the Tent.
• Slept with the bugs: Bugs are annoying and one could not avoid them in the woods. Ensure to close the tent always. Ensure to carry a mosquito repellent.
• Forgot the first aid kit: It’s advisable to leave the first aid kit in your car so that you don’t want to worry about carrying it the next time.
• Battery died: If you are camping at a site without electricity, there are high chances that your mobile or flashlight battery might die out. Ensure to carry a fully charged portable charger for your mobile and additional batteries for your flashlight.
• Confused about the directions: We downloaded a map of the location where we stayed and used offline maps for our navigation. One might lose directions easily in the woods. Hence, carry the printout of maps with you or use offline maps.
• Brought the wrong clothes: Though it’s summer, one cannot sleep with his pajamas in the tent. Ensure to carry a jacket with you and pack clothes according to the weather.

I have tried to include the common mistakes which we did first-time campers and some of our friends. Please feel free to let me know in case if I missed something.

Camping Checklist

Shelter:
•    Tent, Poles, Stakes
•    Tarps
•    Mat for Tent Entrance 
•    Dust ban/Brush to clean inside
•    Extra tarps
•    Rain fly

Bedding:
•    Sleeping pad
•    Sleeping Bag
•    Comforters, if needed
•    Air Pillow, Mattresses, cot (if you prefer)
•    Air pump

Bath:
•    Shower Shoes
•    Towels
•    Utility bags for storage
•    Hand Sanitizer
•    Soap in Zip lock bags
•    Traveler  Kit – Moisturizing lotion, Shower gel, Shampoo, Conditioner
•    Comb
•    Deodorants
•    Feminine Products

Campfire:
•    Matches/Lighter
•    Fire starters
•    Newspapers (you might need for fire starting)
•    Firewoods

Food (we didn’t cook, so the checklist is created accordingly)
•    Packed Food
•    Water bottles
•    Bread/Cereals
•    Jam/Peanut Butter
•    Paper plates
•    Spoons
•    Forks
•    Napkins
•    Energy drinks
•    Snacks
•    Knife
•    Pocket Knives
•    Zip lock
•    Trash bags

Miscellaneous
•    Sunscreens
•    Lip balms
•    Camp foldable chairs
•    Board Games
•    Flashlights
•    Lanterns
•    Extra batteries
•    Portable Charger
•    Maps
•    First Aid Kit
•    Insect Repellant
•    Sunglasses
•    Scissors
•    Plastic Grocery Bags

Keep everything organized.
Keep food supplies in a leak proof and durable containers
Always let someone know about your camping details – the location, contact number, duration, vehicle information and the routes which you might use for your travel.

If you love my space and would wish to get regular updates, then, do subscribe for my website or connect with me in the social space – Facebook/Instagram.

Thanks,

Karthi