The Camping Checklist – Make Your Camping Experience More Enjoyable
While camping is a good adventure to explore and appreciate nature, the whole experience will also depend on how well prepared you are as a backpacker. Note that not everything can be brought to camping. Aside from the fact that you will have to consider the space in your backpack, you will also have to “embrace” the whole experience – meaning, you will have to set aside things that don’t spell “survival” and “nature” for the meantime.
The idea of a camping experience is to get away from the pollution, noise and bustle of the city life. Communing with nature through camping can take out a lot of urban life stress. That being said, it is best to appreciate the unique view of nature if we do away with our clinging to technology for the meantime.
While bringing your cellphone wherever you go is a usual scenario in your everyday routine, the same may not be true when you go camping. Below is a helpful list that will give you an idea of what to bring for your adventure:
Toiletries. These are everyday essentials – from your toothbrush, to your tooth paste, to your dental floss, soap, shampoo, and the works. Just make sure that you don’t bring too much or else you might end up with no space for the other survival gear.
First Aid Kit. A must-have. There will be times when you will have to walk in the woods, and going there even when you have a flashlight does not guarantee that you will be spared from minor accidents. It pays to be a boy scout (or a girl scout) during this kind of adventure. Plaster strips, alcohol, gauze, cotton, antiseptic solution are just some of the essentials in a first aid kit.
Sleeping Bag. It is not always the case that you will end up in a cabin with ready made beds. In case you don’t have a sleeping bag, 2 pillows and a blanket will do fine.
A pair of tweezers. Yes. As mentioned, minor accidents are inevitable during camping. You can never tell when someone will either get a splinter or a sliver.
Flashlight and camping lantern. Since both can only last for a number of hours, it would be good to have both. It would also be good if you have extra batteries as backup for your flashlight.
Multi-pocket vest or cargo pants. Welcome to camping fashion! Those pockets will definitely come in handy especially if you need to carry a lot of stuff in your hands (not to mention that you might also be carrying something on your back).
Medical Insurance. This should be self-explanatory. If you have an insurance card, it doesn’t hurt to bring it.
Tent. Your humble abode in the wilderness. If you’re not sure of how to set up a tent, make sure you bring the set up instructions with you.
Now, on to what should not bring to the camping site.
What NOT to Bring:
1. iPods, MP3 players, and the like
2. Radios or tape or disc players
3. Cellphones
4. Jewelry
5. Money
6. Firecrackers or any form of fireworks
The reasons for not bring numbers 1-6 should be self-explanatory. What’s important is that you avoid any distraction that will keep you from enjoying the whole camping experience.
