Every August I go camping with good friends from high school. Each year someone picks a different location we haven’t been to yet and we plan a long weekend full of hiking, boating, badminton (I’m probably the worst player in the group), and swimming.
Judging how full the campsites are each year I think many families choose this time to squeeze in some last minute vacationing in the great outdoors (great movie, by the way!). If your family or friends are planning on camping, here are some tips to make your camping trip a safe one:
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Pay attention to weather conditions. This doesn’t just mean being on storm watch. If it looks like it’s going to be exceptionally hot and humid, take this into consideration when packing your food and beverages for the weekend. Pack extra liquids and include water rich foods (think watermelons, tomatoes, oranges, etc.) in the cooler. If there is a chance of storms, however, make note of nearby hotels should you need to seek shelter at the last minute.
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Make Smokey the Bear proud. If you are planning on having a campfire (one of the best parts of camping in my opinion!) keep the area clean and do not leave debris in the vicinity or flammable items near the fire pit. Always make sure to extinguish the fire completely before leaving your campsite and never leave a fire unattended.
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Protect your skin. Apply sunscreen daily and make sure it is consistent - applying it once in the morning doesn’t cut it! Also, if you are swimming you should apply it every 1-2 hours even if it’s waterproof.
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Don’t keep food in your sleeping area. Hopefully you’ll be the only ones eating it, but wild animals are known to get hungry and you’ll want it away from your tent if they come sniffing around while you’re asleep. And remember, no matter how cute an animal looks don’t attempt to feed or pet it, just let it be and watch it from a safe distance.
If you are struggling to decide what to pack for your trip, here is a great packing list from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As far as cooking goes, if you get tired of hotdogs and burgers, try this recipe over the campfire. The tinfoil pouches are made at home and are easy to place over the grill. Try them and let me know what you think! Happy camping!