How do you waterproof a canvas tent?
Camping is such a delight! It is a terrific outdoor experience that can be perfect for couples, entire families, or those who wish to find a little alone time. You should learn as much as you can about camping before you head out. Use the following tips the next time you go camping.
Prior to leaving, take a few minutes to make a checklist of everything that you need. There is nothing worse than getting to a campsite and then finding out that you don't have what you need to be comfortable. A checklist is a great aid as you are packing. Try to start getting thing's together several days before you leave so you have plenty of time.
Keep an eye on the weather. Rain or other conditions may impact your travel time and your experience at the campsite. Make sure that you have gear that is appropriate for the weather conditions that you may face. Adjust your departure time as necessary to try and avoid the bulk of the bad weather, if possible.
If your canteen is beginning to smell musty, you can give it a good cleaning with baking soda. Place a little bit of water in your canteen, and then add three tablespoons of baking soda. Shake gently, let it sit for sixty minutes, and then rinse with water. Your canteen will be refreshingly clean!
Pack a few shovels if there are children with you on your trip. Kids love nothing better than digging in the dirt, and having the right accessories is crucial. If you have room, bring a bucket too. The children will happily entertain themselves in the dirt while you unpack, set up camp and do everything that you need to do.
With camping, comes the campfire. Make sure your campfire is in an open space and far enough away from brush or trees so you don't run the risk of a stray spark catching them on fire. Surround the fire with stones to help keep it contained. Most importantly, never leave any campfire unattended. If you need to leave for any reason, make sure the campfire is extinguished completely.
If you are camping with others, ensure that there is something available to keep everyone entertained. There is nothing worse than a bored campmate, as they will constantly pester you for activities. Talk to your family and friends before hand and make sure they know how to entertain themselves for the trip.
Understand how your food will be cooked. You need to consider how you are going to prepare all meals. Will you need charcoal? Perhaps you need a small propane tank. It can be difficult to cook every meal over an open fire; no matter, how much fun it might seem.
Just because your tent is labeled waterproof, do not count on it to keep you dry when it rains. Pack a couple extra-large tarps to take along with you. Use one to set on the ground under your tent and keep one dry to use to cover your tent if it looks like it is going to rain hard.
Before you even leave your camping trip, try practicing pitching a tent in your backyard or some other open space. People do not know how difficult pitching a tent can be; you do not want to get to camp and realize you have no idea what you are doing. Practice makes perfect!
If you are camping and the weather is starting to rise significantly, tale the coolers that you have with yurts tents you and put them somewhere in the shade. It will also help to keep them covered with some type of tarp. This will keep the temperature inside the cooler from rising too much.
Take the time to get a map and to get to know the land. This will help prevent you from getting lost, and to help you figure out how to navigate around your camping grounds throughout your entire trip. This is a good idea to help save time and worry for you.
Bringing everything you need for your trip is important. Even just a few missing items can turn your trip into a disaster. Write a list of all the items you need and make sure to cross them off of the list once you pack them. Make sure that you bring a lot of water, knives, soaps and food on your camping trip for safety.
Charge all of your electronic equipment such as your cell phones and gaming equipment for the children to the max before you go to a camping trip. You want to get the most out of their charge when you do decide to use them, so make sure they are charged.
Talk to everyone in your next camping party about the health of their backs. Some might not be able to sleep on hard ground or need more than a standard mat or cushion. Also, portable or foldable stools might be needed around the campfire, as constant standing or sitting on the ground is not good for their spine.
Keep safety in mind on your camping trip. Keep a well-stocked first-aid kit along with the traditional bandaging supplies and antibiotic ointment. But throw into the mix some antihistamine for bug bites and bee stings, pain reliever, hand sanitizer and any other items that could come in handy in the outdoors.
Since the tent is one of the most important parts of your camping trip, be sure the one you get is appropriate. Figure out how many people are coming on the trip so you can get a big enough tent. Also, make sure the tent you get prevents moisture from getting inside.
When building a fire at your campground, do not have one so close to your tent. Many fires at campgrounds could have been prevented has campers thought about this simple tip. It is typically recommended that you build your fire at least 15 feet away from your tent and other equipment.
Camping is a special time for anyone, regardless of how many times they have done it. You can really do some soul-searching and reflection at the same time you are having fun! So make sure you use the tips laid out here to give yourself a special experience and a pleasant time.