Before setting out on your first tent camping trip, you need to know how to build a camping tent. By preparing yourself with the needed knowledge for building a camping tent before you leave for the campgrounds, you will be ready to enjoy your camping vacation and be able to avoid any time consuming mishaps. Learning how to build a camping tent also known as pitching a tent, involves only a few simple steps. Following are some camping tips that will help you successfully learn how to build a camping tent. Keeping these simple pointers in mind will have you well on your way to learning how to build a camping tent.

As your home away from home, it’s important to choose the tent for camping that will serve the needs of you and your family so that you remain safe, comfortable, and can enjoy your camping vacation. One of the most important things to consider when looking at a tent for camping is where you plan to use it.

• Find flat and high ground to build your camping tent on. High ground will help your tent and sleeping bags stay dry in case of rain, and level ground will make building your tent easier and allow you to get more comfortable rest during the night.

• Use a tarp or ground cloth. This piece of supplementary gear for your camping tent is cheap to purchase, as low as ten dollars, and will help keep your tent dry during wet weather. A tarp or ground cloth under your tent will also protect it from rocks and other ground materials that may tear or damage your camping tent.

• Your tent will most likely come with stacks, and it is a good idea to stack your tent to the ground. Simply hammer in the stacks with a heavy rock or hammer on each side to secure your tent. This will prevent the tent from being blown if you experience winds and will also keep it from moving while you are inside of the tent.

If you plan to do winter camping or even cold altitude camping in warmer climates, then you would want to look for a four season tent. If you are alone, then obviously you won’t need as much space as if you need to fit a family of six into your tent for camping. Or, if you prefer, you can still have some privacy for the people in your group while camping under one ‘roof’ by purchasing a tent that has flaps which act as dividers inside the tent in order to create 2 or more interior ‘rooms.

You should also invest in a good ground sheet to reinforce the tent for camping and protect it from rips, tears and wear, as well as to keep the groundwater away from you

Keeping these simple pointers in mind will have you well on your way to learning how to build a camping tent. Also, remember never to build your camping tent within twenty feet of your grill or campfire.
by Philippe De Tiege

Tags: building, camp fire, campground, Camping, comfortable, dividers, family, ground, hammer, pitching, plan, preparing, protect, season, sleeping bags, stacks, tarp, tent, vacation

Planning on going camping? Great! One of the first things you need to do is choose a spot. Here are several factors you should consider when choosing a camping spot, as well as a few tips for finding a good one.

Accessibility

How are you going to get to your camping spot? Is it a “drive up camping spot” or is access via a foot trail. If access is via a foot trail, I would suggest finding a spot with a half mile or less hike for your first trip.

Views / Attractions

What’s at the camping spot? Does it have good views? No sense going and camping in a boring place when there are many beautiful camping spots available.

Water

Does your camping spot have access to clean water? If not, you’ll have to pack in all of the water you need, including plenty to put out the fire with.

Firewood

Is there access to firewood at the camping spot. If you want a campfire, you don’t want to have to carry in the wood you’ll need! Be sure that you are allowed to harvest firewood for the area you are going. In most areas, you are allowed to pick up dead wood, but not cut down live trees. Live trees do not burn well, anyway.

Campability

If you’re going into “uncharted areas” or plan on camping where there is no established camping spot, be sure that the terrain is such that you can pitch your tent without rolling down a hillside or sleeping on the rocks all night.

Tips for finding a spot

Here are a few places you can start looking for camping spots:

Local state parks

Local national forests

Your local city/county water supply lake

Ask friends who camp

Search online for “camping your state here” etc.

Be safe…and have fun!
by Gabriel J. Adams

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Tags: areas, beautiful, burn, camp fire, Camping, drive, fire, firewood, foot, forests, friends, fun, good, great, hike, hillside, lake, need, night, parks, planning, rocks, safe, spots, tips, trail, trees, uncharted, views, water, wood

Are you interested in taking a beach camping vacation with your friends or family? If so, it would be in your best interest to plan your vacation plenty of time ahead. Regardless of where you intend to go (the ocean beaches, inland lakes, reservoirs, or river campgrounds) most of the popular sites along the water’s edge are reserved far ahead of time.

Where you camp (tent or RV) is probably the most important factor in determining the outcome of an enjoyable beach camping vacation. It is strongly advised to do your research and get recommendations from friends and others who have already experienced beach camping. Discuss with your family where they prefer to go, what activities you want to plan, distance to travel, and of course your budget. Each of these considerations will make a substantial difference whether the camping trip is a memorable success or a disappointment.

Planning your camping vacation in advance will help to ensure that you are able to get a reservation. Camping is a very popular activity, especially during the spring and summer months. You are likely one of hundreds of people in and around your area who are also interested in having a fun filled camping vacation, possibly even at the same time as you. Unfortunately, many campgrounds have limited space. To ensure that you are able to get a reservation, you will want to make your plans in advance.

Booking your beach camping location well in advance may also help you get a better camping spot. What many individuals do not know is that many campgrounds allow their campers to choose a specific campsite in the campground. By viewing a map of the campground, you may find that the perfect camping spot is located next to the water or perhaps you would prefer one that is closer to a hiking trail. With that in mind, however, it is important that you know that the longer you wait to make your camping reservations, the fewer prime camping sites there will be from which to choose.

Making the reservation. You have made your decision as to which type of water front campground you will stay. If it is a commercial campground for RVs and tent camping, check out The Good Sam Club. This million member club has listings of thousands of water front campgrounds and each one is rated annually for cleanliness, service, location, amenities, etc. As a club member you will receive a discount on your stay. Perhaps you have decided to stay at a State Park campground. Reserve America is a nationwide reservation system that handles many of the State Park reservations. We recommend going directly to the State Park web site for a complete description of the park and camping facilities. Here you will usually find a map of the campsites as well as camping rates. Once you have chosen your camping site, click on reservations. If your choice is one of the many federally owned campgrounds along a major reservoir or in the national forest, this reservation web site should get you the information you will need.

Enjoy your next beach camping vacation. Make your reservation well in advance and plan your trip with a camping checklist. Knowing that you have brought all the necessary supplies with you and that most of your activities are planned ahead of time will make this vacation one to remember in the years to come.

by Piet Van  Lier

Tags: camp, camp fire, camping gear, enjoyable, equipment, family camping, wiener roast

When going camping, it does not always seem feasible to leave the family pet at home and to run off camping. This will only leave a nagging thought in the mind of the camper, wondering about the safety of the pet. This is the reason there are many pet friendly camping spots available today, where you can camp along with your pets.

When going to a pet friendly camping spot, it is usually required that the pet be brought either caged, in a vehicle or on a leash, as a safety precaution. The pet is not supposed to walk on trails, other than the trails designated for them. The pet has to be under the control of the owner, and should not be a cause of disturbance to other campers. And most important of all, when going camping with pets, the pet should never be left unattended. It should be tied up or placed in a vehicle in situations it has to be left unattended. Not a overly HOT vehicle though – make sure there is always a source of good air.

In regards for a dwelling place for your animal, inquire from pet owner friends, and listen to their suggested tent camping equipment. As well, when comprising your camping or packing list, keep your pet in mind when putting together your snacks and food for camping (unless of course you want to share your burger with your dog).

Though these rules may seem stringent on the part of the pet friendly camping spot, let it be known that in some camping spots, pets are not even allowed on the campgrounds! When the pet is being taken along on the camping trip, it will be necessary to include pet food, necessary medicines and soaps in the camping list. Along with this, be ready to pay the extra fees for taking a pet to the camping ground. Most of the pet friendly camping spots charge a nominal fee of $2 per night for one or two pets. This charge is mainly to cover with the additional cleaning involved with the pet staying over.

If you need information on the availability of pet friendly camping spots, all this information is easily accessible through the internet. All that has to be done is to use the search engine to produce lists for you to choose the spot most convenient for you, your family and your pet.

by Sam Jordan

Tags: camp fire, Camping, family camping, hiking trails, pet, tent, vacation