Top 5 Camping Mistakes to Avoid Now

Can’t decide on what to bring for your camping trip? Or double checking if you have a reasonable amount of food supply before you head out?

In this article, we’ll help you bust the main camping mistakes that many people (including you) may be guilty about and show you ways on how to break such bad habits.

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON CAMPING MISTAKES?

Believe it or not, both new and pro campers are prone to committing camping mistakes. In fact, 61% of campers say they have made a mistake while camping. Some of these are:

• Lack of campsite familiarization.
• Not bringing what’s needed.
• Gadget dependency.
• Testing equipment only on the exact camping day.
• Packing heavy.
• Improper campfire setup.
• Leaving leftovers.
• Late campsite arrival.
• No sweaters and comforters.
• No plan C or D.

WHAT ARE SOME CONSEQUENCES OF MAKING THESE CAMPING MISTAKES?

The most common mistake made while camping is forgetting something at home. While forgetfulness is an easy excuse, it has become a misused and abused word. If you’re not careful enough, it could come back to haunt you with shocking results like:

• Getting lost.
• Useless or insufficient amount of supplies.
• Without other means of communication.
• Confused on how a certain tool works.
• Traveling becomes a drag.
• Insufficient heat supply.
• Being at risk of animal attacks because 8% of campers say they have been attacked by an animal while camping.
• Unaware of important camping rules.
• Being exposed to the biting cold.
• Being clueless on how to respond during an emergency.

WHAT CAN I DO TO AVOID MAKING THESE CAMPING MISTAKES?

Avoiding such camping mistakes is easy if you’re eager enough to know the ins and outs of camping; thus, understand them by heart.

• Verify campsite information on your nearest National Park Service (NPS).
• Bring important tools like utility knives, headlamps, ropes, box of matches, peanut butter jar.
• Have a spare map, compass, and binoculars.
• Practice using your tools and equipment before going to the campsite.
• Bring a foldable table, paper cups, and food containers.
• Construct the fire pit accordingly and monitor fire activity.
• Clean or hide leftover food.
• Pack all things a day before the camping trip.
• Use thicker blankets, sleeping bags, gloves, and ear muffs.
• Be open to the possibility of rescheduling a trip if an emergency happens.

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN COOKING WHILE CAMPING?

It’s easy to be distracted in the middle of campfire cooking with a fun or engaging conversation. But don’t get used to it because it means burning your food to a crisp and not having lunch or even dinner at all. Here are some of the bad habits that campers commit when cooking in the open.

• No meal plan – could mean lacking important ingredients.
• Adding too many logs to speed up the burning process – would result in uneven cooking.
• Impatience – quickly putting food over direct flames – can burn your food.
• Not monitoring what’s being cooked – can also burn food and force you to throw it.

If you want to really enjoy your food, you’ll take your time preparing it and that includes planning ahead. Doing so helps you properly check what could possibly be a missing ingredient or if you need to buy more of it. If you’ll be cooking food, the ideal number of logs in a campfire is between 2 to 5 bundles. Plus, if you feel the urge of being impatient, do something worthwhile like playing a game but make sure to have it timed. Then, if you’re not sure whether your food’s been properly cooked or not, use a meat thermometer for accuracy.

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON MISTAKES PEOPLE MAKE WHEN CAMPING WITH CHILDREN?

Camping with family is great. But challenge can have a whole new meaning when you let your kids tag along. Here are some common mistakes campers make when their kids enter the camping picture.

• Letting kids near the campfire.
• Letting kids wander alone.
• Not playing with kids.
• Not explaining important rules to kids.

It’s easy to get carried away in a campsite since a lot of ideas could come to mind. However, don’t forget that you’re with kids and they should never be neglected. One of the reasons why children wander off or get close to the campfire is they’re bored and want something to do. As a parent or guardian, it’s your responsibility to keep them on their toes.

Keep them preoccupied by playing a board game with them. This stimulates their mental alertness and gets them more focused on important matters. If their curiosity gets the better of them and they feel the urge to explore, explain to them that going on their own is dangerous as wild animals abound and could attack them. That’s why they should stay close to you.

POSSIBLE FAQs

1. How do I pack my food to prevent animals from stealing it?

• Store food in air-tight containers and keep them out of sight.

2. Do I need to check the weather forecast?

• Checking the weather forecast is important because it tells you if there’s an approaching storm that can hinder your camping activity.

3. Do I check for food and water supply?

• Checking for the amount of food and water supply tells you if your supply is enough or if you need to restock.

CONCLUSION

Whether you’re a new camper or an expert one, committing mistakes is all part of every adventure. But it shouldn’t stop you from going out and having the time of your life. Now that you know the 10 camping mistakes to avoid and how to fix them, you can dodge those rocks and hurdles that may come your way. Comment below and let us know what you think. 

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John Albert

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