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Step 1
Don't leave food out. Bears, big cats and all sorts of other animals and creepy crawlies would just love to munch away on your hot dogs and chips at camp. It's best to keep food in a storage bin of sorts, and in a vehicle so it is extremely hard for animals to smell it.
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Step 2
Don't hike or walk alone. No matter how short the trip is you are going on, whether it's to the bathrooms, a camp trash area or just down to the water, always have a buddy with you. If you slip, or worse, someone can at the very least get help for you.
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Step 3
Wear thick shoes or boots. Yea, your canvas walking shoes or cool velcro sandals are all the rage, but they have no business in the outdoors. Thick suede tennis shoes are the very least you should sport at camp, but hiking boots are highly recommended. Should you encounter a thorn plant or slip on something, you will be glad you had the leather on. Boots also provide stability on what can be very uneven terrain while camping, and can protect against twigs, rocks, water, mud, and even smaller animals that creep down low.
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Step 4
Do not play with the campfire! I know how fun it can be to throw empty bottles, wrappers, aerosol cans and whatever else you may find into the fire, but it is extremely dangerous and can turn a happy camp trip into disaster. If you have to add wood, add it, and if you have to turn the logs, by all means do so, but if you get the idea to see how long it takes for your shoe to catch fire, please think again. Fire spreads with very little or no warning, and before you know it you could be fighting for your life because you wanted to see if the gasoline in dad's can would make a cool addition to the Styrofoam cup you were already thinking of hurling into the flames.
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Step 5
Try not to drink the water. Although it may seem the lakes and streams around you contain what appears to be clear, crystal mountain water. It isn't. The water is likely infested with bacteria that humans have no clue how to digest, and therefore make us sick. If you pack bottled water or maybe a big jug of it before you leave for camp, you won't have to worry about tossing your cookies for the rest of the weekend.
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Step 6
Don't play with bugs or animals you see. That very righteous caterpillar you picked up is actually a Hickory Tussock Moth, and since you went ahead and handled something you weren't sure about, you will itch to high heck all weekend. Of course, itching is the least of your worries should you cross paths with Mrs. Latrodectus (Black Widow spider) or Mr. Loxosceles reclusa (Brown Recluse spider). Be aware of the critters around camp, and carefully shoo them away if you must, but under no circumstances handle one unless you have a local expert with you at camp.
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Step 1
Don't touch your tent in the rain. I actually learned this lesson camping as a young boy when my mom and dad told me not to do just this. Trust me, you will spring a leak. You are inside, dry and warm and if you want to keep it that way, stay away from the tent sides.
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Step 2
Lock the vehicle and make sure the windows are up. It's easy enough to forget when you are camping in the tent and having fun, or it's raining out, that the windows on the truck are down, because when you got to the campsite it was sunny and warm. Once you unpack and setup camp, roll your vehicle's windows up and lock it, if for nothing else than peace of mind. Besides, that bear won't always honk to let you know he's in your car, taking your beer and smokies.
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Step 3
Get a license if you plan on fishing. It sure is much easier just to go to the campground, unload, walk to the water and drop your pole in, but guess what? It is against the rules, and can be very costly if you are caught. Do it right, stop by the Ranger's booth and get a license. The fees for your licenses go toward maintaining the very campground you are staying at, among other things. Do yourself and everyone else who likes to camp a favor and support the activity by doing your part.
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Step 4
Do not litter! This rule is paramount, and at NO time should you be chucking trash all over! Cigarette butts, Twinkie wrappers, toilet paper, bottles, cans, and anything else you wish to discard should be put in a bag and brought back out with you. If there is a community dumpster at the campground you are staying, put forth the effort and get your trash to it. Doing so not only keeps the area beautiful, but helps keep it open. Period.
Comments
sunnflr said
on 6/17/2008 Great article with wonderful tips!