Planning A Camping Trip For Maximum Enjoyment

So you and the family or you and your friends haveDo all the zippers work? Does it need a ground sheet?
decided to go on a camping trip. It's Thursday night andDo the air mattresses hold air? Do you have all the
you are going to leave right after work Friday evening.cooking equipment including gas cylinders, charcoal
Now you go to the garage or basement and pull outetc? Do you have Flashlights, Batteries, Sleeping Bags,
the camping gear from last summer and toss it in theCooler? Check the long range weather forecast. Do
trunk. The tent, the stove and the cooler.(we'll buyyou need boots, rain gear or warmer clothing
some franks and beans on the way).(especially if you are heading to the mountains).
It's late Friday night when you reach your camp groundMaybe you need a GPS device or two way radios.
and you start to pitch your tent when you suddenlyThey need batteries too.
remember that you don't have all the tent pegs andIf you are going with a group of friends make sure
the zipper broke the last time you used the tent. Yourthey have the check list too. Some things everyone
buddy said he'd bring the gas for the stove and lanternneeds others can be brought by just one of the group.
but forgot and the flashlights didn't work and you didNo need having ten air mattress pumps and nobody
not bring spare batteries.brought the any toilet paper. There is roughing it and
This weekend is starting out not so enjoyably.then there is roughing it! You can bet that nobody
Let's step back a week or two and start PLANNING aforgets the beer and snack food!
camping trip.Check your list and go out and buy what needs to be
First decide where it is you want to go camping. If it'sreplaced or order it online.
the same spot as always then decision made but if itBasically, what it boils down to is, if you Plan a camping
is somewhere new you should check out the Internettrip rather than just go on a camping trip you will have
to get as much information as you can about themuch more fun. What does it really matter if it rains if
camp ground you plan to visit. What facilities areyou have all the equipment you need at your fingertips.
available and what rules and regulations are in place.You are with friends and/or family, you are warm and
The next thing to do is make a check list of what youdry and you are roughing it in the great outdoors.
need to take and what you want to take. Make this aNo planning would mean you are cold, wet and
group discussion involving all that are going on the trip.miserable and wishing you are anywhere but half way
The weekend before the trip go to your storage areaup a mountain in the rain, having as MUSH fun as you
(Garage, Basement) and pull out all your camping gear.can.
Put up the tent. Does it need any new poles or pegs?