The Ultimate Camping Check List: Making Sure You Don’t Leave Anything Behind
By: Benedict Smythe
Submitted: 2008-08-02 05:24:18 | Word Count: 501
Life surely works in a twisted way. Whenever we go out camping or take a vacation somewhere, we always forget something. Make it a habit to have a checklist in preparation for your trip. This keeps your trip organized and at the same time ensures that you don’t leave anything important behind.
In making check lists fun, involve every member of your family. In doing so, everyone’s aware of what should be brought and would remind one another about it. Also, it builds up anticipation and excitement over the trip.
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Checklists are also important for future use; your camping checklist can evolve after several camping trips once you’ve realized you can eliminate some things or replace it with other more important stuff.
When it comes to planning your trip, you need to keep in mind the following basic suggestions:
Bring appropriate clothing and pack light.
Don’t forget your first aid kit. Accidents might happen and you need to be prepared for anything that can happen.
Plan a camping menu before your trip so you know what food to bring. Remember to keep your menu simple and easy to make.
Bring recreational things like board games, toys and books. Also bring along baseball equipment, tools for fishing and swimming gear if there’s a nearby lake or ocean.
Don’t set a rigid and strict schedule. You’re going camping and not to a boot camp. Make activities enjoyable and light so your children won’t be too tired for the next activity.
The following are the basic essential things that you NEED to bring during a camping trip:
Tent (pole, ground stakes and hammer)
Sleeping bag or mattress
Blankets and pillows
Personal necessities like toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap and towel
Fuel and camp stove
Utensils like spoons, forks, knives, plates and bowls.
Cooking equipment like pots, pans, matches and spatulas.
Cleaning materials like disposable plastic bags, soap, sponge and paper towels.
Cooler with ice for your drinks and perishable goods
Clothes
Bottled drinking water (which you can keep inside the cooler)
First aid kid with insect repellant and sunscreen
If you want to bring your own firewood then go ahead
To make the camping time children friendly, plan various recreational activities to chase the boredom away. Make a recreational checklist solely dedicated to the kinds of items you will be bringing to have fun.
Remember to keep your camp site clean. As they always say take nothing but pictures and leave no trace behind. Do not leave garbage and leftover food lying around. Remember that you are living with nature so follow all campground rules and regulations. Always take care of nature so the future generations can also experience it as you did.
If your camping trip gets out of hand and there are too many hitches. Don’t let this stop you from having fun with your family. You’re creating memories. Learn to laugh at yourself despite of all the bad things that might happen.
