Camping for Dumbies

This next weekend I'm going camping with my family and our close friends. I have been camping since before I can remember, I grew up with it. Honestly, some of my best memories and most enjoyable times have been when we were camping, sometimes it's better than going on a fancy trip by plane. My family always has a better time when we go with other families, all the kids share a tent and we all share food and sit by the fire together. I could go on and on about all of my camping experiences but we'd be here all week, lets get on to the actual post about camping tips.

The Grand Canyon

1. Don't expect to be clean.
When you have the opportunity to shower when your camping, I'm sorry that's not camping. Camping is all about dirt, grime, and more dirt. Your hair will be a rat's nest full of oil and dirt, just get over it, no one looks good while camping. One thing you could do is bring shampoo and bathe yourself in a nearby lake or river, I've done it many times. If you don't have access to a large water source, bring dry shampoo to help soak up the nastiness on your head. Another thing, your hands an feet will be very dirty, but hey, whats a little bacteria anyways? Camping is dirty and I advise that if you have a problem with this you should opt out now.

Our community fire

2. Be prepared for everything.
When you're out in the wilderness, you have to be prepared for the worst. If the weather says mostly sunny, don't forget to pack sweats and a windbreaker just incase the weather changes its mind. Another thing you should always do is plan out your meals. Pack exactly what you need for every meal and stick to it. You don't want to run out of food to make dinner, and you don't want too much to go bad. Most things you will eat should be cooked on a camp stove, but if you don't have one or your's breaks then bring tin foil to throw food in and cook in the fire. If the campsite you're going to has some sort of an outhouse remember to bring toilet paper, you don't know if it will run out or even be there at all. Wipes or hand sanitizer are good for quickly washing your hands after going to the bathroom.

Hiking in Arizona

3. Things to do.
Whenever we go camping we go somewhere recreational where we can hike or bike. These are great things to do during the day, I don't know about you but staying at the campsite all day is really boring to me. After long hikes we might go into the nearest small town and get a treat like ice cream, this is a great incentive to getting everyone to do something. In the evening we always play card games, frisbee, and paddle ball while listening to music and sitting by the fire. Glow-sticks and flashlights are always fun to bring for games and they are also beneficial for trips to the bathroom in the dark.

Windy Grand Canyon

Well, there you have it. An entire post about camping for beginners. I hope you found it somewhat intriguing and fun to read. I also hope you liked the pictures of my camping adventures! Until next time...
xoxo,
Stella