When you’re camping, nothing separates you from nature
You’re about to become addicted to camping. Picture it, you’re lying on the sheltering earth, staring up at the blanket of winking stars in the black expanse of the heavens. Your feet are warmed by the fire crackling in the stillness of the night, your head is snug on your pillow, the sound of animals and the wind through the trees is all you hear.
Camping connects us to nature. It shows us that no matter how far we come technologically and socially that we’re still creatures of this Earth. We have an instinct developed by nature, and in our hearts, we always have a longing to return. Given the history of Earth, it wasn’t so long ago that this is how we would have lived: nothing between the stars, moon, and us except air.
Plan your trip and your stay. Where do you want to go? Do you want to enjoy the water? Do you want to hike mountain trails? What is your goal for the camping trip? What location will provide that? Check reviews online to be sure you’re fully aware of the camping experience in store. Once you get to the location, be sure you take a walk around. Know where sites you want to visit are located and take some time to learn the rules of the campground.
Can you do that? What will you be doing while you camp? Have you ever pitched a tent or lit a fire? Take some time before your trip to figure out your new tent – if one is being used – or learn the best way to start a fire so you can spend less time on the necessities and more time enjoying your break from life.
What are you packing? Know your family and what you want from your camping trip. Make a list. Do you expect to cook around a campfire? List everything you’ll need and be sure to pack it. Do you want to go hiking? Are your shoes ready for the trails? Do you have a first aid kit handy? What about trash bags? If you’re camping away from your RV, take a moment to look around each room in your rig and determine what is essential to take, and what can be left behind. Think of your family, what things do they have to have to make the trip easier? Pausing in each room and taking a mental inventory will help you form a list of things to take.
What’s for dinner? Do you have all the snacks you want? What do you plan on eating each day? Is there any prep work you can do ahead of time so that you’re not carrying unessential gear with you? Prepping what you can will also save time while you’re camping to focus on fun! What are you going to do for water? Do you need coffee in the morning?
What are you doing? Sure, you know what you want to do, but what about everyone else? Do you have games planned? Are you going to sit around and tell stories? How are you going to fill the spare time at night? How will you fight boredom if your children experience it? How can you use the trip to educate them and yourself about nature?
Be responsible. Make sure you have water handy if you’re using a campfire and know how to manage one properly, so you don’t risk starting a forest fire. Take along extra trash bags so you can clean as you go and keep nature pristine. Are phones charged in case of an emergency? Do you have a plan if the weather turns south?
Don’t try to control everything. The point of camping is to reconnect with nature and to let go. Things are going to happen while you’re camping, it’s the nature of camping! The weather could change, you may have forgotten something, it could be colder than you’d thought it would be. Just let things happen as they will and enjoy the experience.
Camping can be tricky to plan and have go off without a hitch. Like most things, it’s better to think ahead and plan properly, so you’re prepared to handle anything that arises. Research the area you’re going to visit, so you know what to expect and start brainstorming ideas and supplies.
A membership with RV Advisor can help you plan your trip! Along with discounts for some parks, we also have park recommendations, reviews, and virtual tours to help you decide and plan. Join us today and start camping better.
