9 Ways to Make Camping Easier — Tips from a soldier.
Camping is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and to get into nature. If you are anything like me, you enjoy camping because of the way it de-stresses you. Camping, however, can be stressful if not planned correctly. The point is to keep it simple. As a veteran and an officer, I have spent many times out in the open on military exercises and when deployed. I have nine ideas for you on how to make your camping trip easier.
#1 Plan the dates.
I know, this sounds obvious, but there are many people who go camping without planning everything out beforehand. Write the date of the camping trip down, but also include other relevant dates and times on your calendar. I am talking about arrangements for your pets, shopping for the camping trip, and when you will receive your vaccinations or any similar medical necessities.
The point is to use your calendar for the planning process. Planning on a calendar is easier than writing out some type of plan.
#2 Checklist it.
Never attempt to go camping without using a checklist to ensure you have all the gear and food you need. It is virtually impossible to remember every single thing one needs on a camping trip without referring to a checklist.
On your first camping trip, remember to use a pocketbook to make notes of everything you may have forgotten. When you get home, update your checklist. When you go camping the next time involve the entire family in checking the checklist. It becomes a fun family routine and teaches the kids to be more organized.
#3 Plan your menu.
Food is a very important part of your trip. First, pack your spices. There is no excuse for having bland food on a camping trip.
Do not take food along in a bag or container and think you will plan your meals at the campsite. You will have to carry unnecessary weight to the campsite and maybe back again.
Plan the menu for every single meal. Place the ingredients for each meal in a separate plastic bag and distribute the bags among your backpacks if you have to walk to the campsite. If you are driving there, divide the bags inside the cooler boxes. Prep as much of the food as possible at home.
Remember to take at least one meal’s emergency rations like MRE’s. You never know what can go wrong.
#4 Keep your toilet paper dry.
Toilet paper is something that can make a huge difference on your camping trip. There is nothing worse than having a roll of damp or wet toilet paper to contend with when you need it the most. There are few things worse for a soldier than having to make a plan for toilet paper.
Make a habit of always keeping the paper dry by using a cylindrical plastic container or a coffee can. Cut a slit in the side and feed the paper through.
#5 Mosquitoes hate Sage.
It is rare to go camping where there are no mosquitoes. Remember that Sage is a natural mosquito repellant. Simply throw bushels of the plant on the fire.
#6 All about shelter.
You will probably agree that shelter is a very important aspect of camping. Remember to always plan for rain.
Use what you already have at your camping site. If there is a sturdy tree or a rock, then rather pitch your tent next to those. You can never tell what the weather will do and it is one of your most unpredictable aspects. Something sturdy will be a blessing if you encounter a storm. Tie your tent to the object.
Make sure your shelter is far enough from the fireplace for safety reasons. And if you plan to sleep under the stars, pitch your tent first as a backup.
#7 Fire.
Soldiers are rarely allowed to make fires as a fire would give away your position. We do, however, make fires occasionally and I have picked up ideas on how to do this.
Prepare fire starters at home. Cotton wool and Vaseline make good firestarters. Another way would be to use tampons. Tampons are used to stop bleeding from a wound, but the cotton wool from the tampon can start a fire. Something else to use is Doritos.
Use a strong cigarette lighter or waterproof matches. You can easily make waterproof matches by dipping normal matches in melted wax. The wax coats the match and it cannot get wet.
Did you know that a pencil sharpener is something to always keep in a survival kit? Use it to sharpen a stick and use the shavings to start a fire with, and then you have a sharp stick.
#8 Keep your campsite clean.
Being a South African military officer, I never had to contend with bears, but you may have to. A dirty campsite can not only attract dangerous animals like bears but can also attract nuisances like raccoons and other smaller rodents or even snakes.
Hang a refuse bag in a tree or put it inside an airtight container. A clean campsite is also hygienic and teaches the children to keep tidiness in mind.
#9 Coffee.
Coffee and camping go well together. It is also a great way to start your day with, but do not have too much java.
Always have water ready for boiling in a fireplace kettle. One way to make coffee is to tie coffee in a filter bag and to let it soak in the water. For those who use instant coffee, buy the bags with ready-made sachets in, or make your own. Use small bags and put sugar, coffee, and creamer in each bag. At the camping site, simply empty the contents into a cup of boiling water.
Conclusion.
Follow these tips to make it all easier for you and your family when you go camping. Camping is fun but organized camping is even more fun. Once the kids get used to the routine, they will also enjoy it more.