Elsi - Surviving the Outdoors: Camping 101 - Stay Alert - Stay Safe

Travel Videos and 101 Tips

Fire Restrictions
Before building any fires outdoors, check to be sure there aren't any fire restrictions. Ask the attendants when you arrive at the campground, or, if primitive camping, call the local forest district for information.
Starting a Fire
Learn to start a fire simply with paper, matches, and kindling. I advise against using charcoal lighter fluid, gasoline, or kerosene. If the wood is too wet to burn, then you're better off without a fire as all it will do is pop and spark all night.
No Bonfires Please
Small fires are easier to tend, you can sit closer to them without getting a tan, and the wood pile will last longer. Besides, you don't want kids roasting marshmallows or wieners over a bonfire.
First Aid for Burns
The first response to a burn should be to apply ice or cold water. I's also good advice to include burn ointment and bandages in your camping first aid kit. Sparks and dust flying around campfires can get into the eyes, so include saline eye wash in your kit too.
Cooking Over a Campfire
Campfires don't make very practical stoves or ovens. Sure, some foods taste good and are fun to cook over the campfire, but without appropriate utensils and a proper fire, the food will not cook correctly, and you'll likely wind up with blackened cookware.

Before going to bed or leaving the campsite, be sure that all campfires are out. Stir the embers and dowse them with water. Remember, "Only you can prevent forests fires!"

Sleeping in the countryside, away from city lights, out under the stars on a clear night is simply spectacular. But waking up in the middle of the night during a downpour can be quite miserable. Just waking up in the morning covered with dew is bad enough. There is a solution to this problem: put a roof over your head.Your campsite bed is made; you've geared up with pads, mats, sleeping bags, air mattresses, sheets, blankets, comforters and pillows to get a good night's sleep. Now you need to insure that cozy campground slumber with an appropriate tent to shield you from the wind, the sun and the rain and also to protect you from unfriendly outdoor pests like flies, mosquitoes and no-seeums.
Tents today come in all shapes and sizes to meet a variety of camping needs and weather situations. There are a few things to consider when purchasing a new tent. Look for a tent with a one piece floor, it's less likely to seep water than a floor with seams. Make sure the rain fly is an adequate size covering most of the tent with an extended section at the door to allow entry without soaking the inside of the tent. Make sure the tent is big enough to accommodate all the campers plus a place to stow their gear.
Particular circumstances, like snow camping, beach camping, or backpacking, may call for specialized tents, accessories or considerations. Let's look further into the aspects of selecting a proper tent.

Bring On the Marshmallows
What's a campfire without the marshmallows? Just be careful to supervise young children and remember that marshmallows and other foods cooked over a campfire will be very hot at first. How to Make Campfire S'mores