Archive for Camping Tips

What Is Glamping?

Do you want to camp in luxury? Let’s go glamping!

Glamping emphasizes ease and luxury while camping. It’s about enjoying the outdoors with less hassle. While a fairly new phenomenon, glamping is fast growing in popularity.

You can glamp in luxury tents, yurts, tree houses, or even teepees, usually cozied up in a framed bed with plush linen and comforters. Often meals are provided at an additional cost. You get to be one with nature without the hassles of setting up camp, sleeping on the ground, and using outhouses. One of the most comprehensive websites for glamping destinations worldwide is Glamping Hub.

With the right gear, it’s not hard to create your own glamping experience

By having the right gear, you can make your own camping experiences more luxurious while enjoying the freedom to go where you want to go. You can create your glamping experience in your favorite national or state forest or even your backyard. How fancy or glamorous you make it is up to you. It does not have to be difficult or costly, but to really enjoy yourself, you will need top-notch cooking gear.
My Camp Kitchen Summit with Cooking Gear

My Camp Kitchen provides the perfect glamping kitchen

We have several camp kitchens that make cooking outdoors easier and more comfortable. Our kitchens are crafted for ease of set-up and use. With the strength and beauty of hardwoods, classic joinery, and sturdy hardware, they are built to last. If you are looking for a more deluxe version, then you should consider our Summit.

Enjoy glamping outdoors in style and comfort

Check out our full line of My Camp Kitchen outdoor cooking products.

Camping Tips for Keeping Your Campsite Organized and Clean

If you are a car camper, you probably bring a lot of stuff along for your camping trip. Organization and cleanliness are essential for happy camping and keeping the animals at bay.

Here are some tips:
  • Personal belongings can be brought in a suitcase, backpack, or duffel bag and left in the tent or back of your car or truck.
  • When you remove something, always be sure to put it back where you found it after using it.
  • Trash accumulates quickly over time. Be sure to bring plenty of large, heavy-duty trash bags. Bringing a collapsible garbage can helps provide a secure location for your trash if the wind picks up or little critters come searching. Having a separate recycling bin is also advised, as often drinks in glass or aluminum are enjoyed in large quantities.
  • Each morning after waking, straighten your sleeping bags and other personal sleeping items so everything is where you want it when you go to sleep. Remember by then it will be dark, and you will want to just crawl into bed.
  • The kitchen tends to be the hangout on a campout. Keeping it clean and organized with a portable camp kitchen is essential. With a quality camp kitchen, you can store all your kitchen gear and dried goods in one place. There is a place not only to cook but to clean. Clean up soon after enjoying each meal, putting everything back in its storage space.
  • When fires are not banned, campers tend to collect wood for the campfire. Be sure to set aside a space not too far from the fire where the various-sized pieces of wood can be kept. Under a tree is good so people aren’t tripping over the wood in the dark. The tree will also protect the firewood from the rain.
  • Camping is a time to relax and enjoy the natural environment. When either sitting and reading or hiking and fishing, be sure to put all your wrappers from sandwiches or snacks either in your pocket or backpack and dispose of them in the trash bin when you return. Never drop trash on the ground for someone else to find.
  • Before you leave your campsite, pack out or dispose of trash and recycling in proper bins. Be sure to check your campsite for any forgotten belongings or stray trash.

Having a clean and organized site while camping also makes packing up to leave a breeze.

Camping Safety Checklist: Stay Safe on Your Next Trip with These Tips

Whether you’re camping with young children or with old friends from college, safety is a top priority. Spending a weekend outdoors can lead to injury if proper safety precautions are not taken, so use our camping safety checklist to keep everyone safe and having fun on your next trip.

Camping Safety Checklist

  • Pack a first-aid kit with essentials such as personal medications, aspirin, sunscreen, bug repellent, tweezers, bandages, tape, sterile gauze pads, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic cream, cotton balls, poison ivy cream, and aloe vera lotion.
  • Bring flashlights or lanterns. Make sure you have extra batteries.
  • Always hike with a buddy.
  • Keep children within eyesight at all times.
  • Be on the lookout for snakes, tics, poison ivy, bees, and leeches.
  • Never eat berries you find in the wilderness; they might be poisonous.
  • Wear protective clothing, sunscreen, and sunglasses to prevent sun damage.
  • Leave wild animals alone and never feed them.
  • Keep knives and other sharp kitchen supplies stored in your portable kitchen and out of the kids’ reach.
  • Practice good fire safety and never leave your fire unattended.
  • Store food after meals so you don’t attract bears and other wild animals.
  • Check the weather forecast before leaving to prevent being caught in a bad storm.

In general, practice your best judgment on the campsite. If there’s ever a situation that seems questionable and potentially dangerous, it’s best to avoid it.

8 Must-Have Tools for Camp Cooking

Who says you can’t cook while camping? As long as you have the right tools, preparing a delicious gourmet meal out in the woods is easy! Before your next trip, make sure you have these eight tools for camp cooking.

1. A camp stove

Not every meal has to be grilled or prepared using a stick. There are plenty of camp stoves available that are lightweight and easy to pack.

2. Pots and pans

If you’re going to bring a stove, you’ll need some pots and pans, too!

3. Knife

This can be forgotten easily. When packing your knife, make sure you put a plastic cover over the blade for protection.

4. Spatula

Bring along a spatula that can handle both heavy and lightweight foods. That way you can use the same spatula while cooking your steak and potatoes.

5. Portable camp kitchen

You’ll need a place to store your kitchen items and prepare food. Pack a portable kitchen to make camp cooking a breeze.

6. Can opener

It would be frustrating to bring cans of beans and vegetables and then not be able to open them!

7. Headlamp

If you’re preparing a late-night meal, a headlamp can help you see so you avoid injury. It’s a lot more convenient than trying to hold a flashlight.

8. Cleaning supplies

Before you prepare each meal, make sure your pots, knives, and spatulas are clean. When washing dishes, keep at least 200 feet away from the lake or river so you don’t impact the natural environment.

How to Camp Safely in Bear Country

Keeping food away from bears and acting calmly in an encounter with one are important strategies for staying safe while camping.

Here are five tips for camping safely in bear country:
  1. When you’re not eating, keep food safely stored in bear-resistant containers. This will prevent the smell from attracting animals. You should also pack containers to store your leftovers and garbage.
  2. Never bring food inside your tent. If you can, set up your tent about 100 yards from where you store and prepare food.
  3. Before sleeping, change your clothes to get rid any food odors.
  4. If you come across a bear while hiking, do not run away. Instead, distinguish yourself as human by putting your arms out and slowly moving them up and down while speaking in a calm voice. Slowly back away, but make sure you’re facing the bear.
  5. If the bear attacks you, lie face down and play dead, protecting your head and neck with your hands. You can also use bear spray, but be sure to read the directions before camping.

Visit the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center to learn more ways you can reduce the risk of a bear attack and keep out of harm’s way on your trip.

How to Choose the Best Tent to Buy This Season

The right tent can enhance your camping experience and make it more enjoyable for all. Before you make a decision, consider how you will be using your tent and what you want your shelter to provide. These four considerations will help you narrow down your option so you can make a practical decision.

1. Seasonal use

Do you only camp in the summer, or are you a four-season camper? If summer is your preferred season, you can select a tent designed to protect you from rain, heat, and insects. On the other hand, four-season tents are available if you like to camp throughout the entire year. These will offer additional protection against the cold and snow when needed.

2. Size

Consider the average number of people occupying the tent on each trip. If you mostly go on family camping trips, select a tent big enough for everyone to sleep comfortably in. Remember to account for any gear you may want to store in the tent.

3. Weight

If you load your vehicle with camping gear and drive to the campsite, weight isn’t much of an issue. If you’re a backpacking camper and take your gear with you, opt for a lightweight option that will be easy to carry.

4. Special features

There are a variety of special features some tents offer that you may wish to consider. For example, some tents have reflective strips for better visibility at night. Others have fabric zippers to prevent noise when it’s windy. Consider the various features available and decide what’s most convenient for you.

Buying a tent can be a big investment, so make sure your decision best reflects your needs. With the right tent, you can feel more comfortable on your trip and enjoy the experience more fully.

Practice These Low-Impact Camping Tips on Your Next Trip

Camping is a time to experience and enjoy the wonderful beauty of nature. It’s hard to appreciate its wonder, however, when human activity has altered an environment’s natural state. Do your part to protect the natural environment you camp in by following these low-impact camping tips.

1. Choose a durable campsite

Grounds fewer than 200 feet away from rivers or lakes tend to be soft and can’t withstand camping wear and tear as well as firm and dry dirt can. You should also avoid setting up camp in an area heavily populated with flora. Walking on plant life too much could eventually cause them to die.

2. Protect the water

Soap pollutes waterways and can cause harm to animals who drink from them. Set up your own washing station away from the waterway and use biodegradable soap as well as naturally based cleansing products.

3. Be cautious with fire

Most campers don’t realize how their fires impact the environment. If possible, use a stove for cooking. If fires are allowed where you’re camping, be sure to use the fire rings or pans to keep it contained.

4. Respect wildlife and plants

While you can enjoy the wildlife and plants surrounding you, be respectful and don’t touch. When hiking, leave any rocks or plants exactly as you found them and don’t follow animals or feed them.

5. Leave without a trace

Overall, your goal in camping is to leave the campsite exactly as you found it. Bring all of your trash with you when you leave. Bury human/animal waste and food scraps under the ground.

These low-impact camping trips will allow you to enjoy the great outdoors without completely altering its appearance.

10 Camping Tricks to Make Your Life Easier

In the summer, there’s no better way to spend your time than to go camping. Still, little inconveniences can sometimes diminish the experience. Enjoy your trip even more this summer by following these 10 camping tips.

1. Protect your matches

Cardboard does little to prevent your matches from getting wet. Use a small plastic container instead.

2. Make your own lantern

When you need ambient lighting to fill your whole tent, attach a head lamp to an old milk jug. This simple trick will light up your space in an instant!

3. Use sage to keep the insects away

If you prefer a natural insect repellent, simply burn a bundle of sage to keep the bugs away.

4. Add flavor with spices

There’s no reason why you can’t eat delicious, gourmet meals while camping. Pack a variety of spices in your portable kitchen to keep meals from tasting bland.

5. Brew coffee like tea

Don’t have a coffee maker? No problem! Simply place ground coffee in a tea bag, close it with dental floss, and then let it soak in hot water.

6. Switch out your marinade for rosemary coals

When smoking meat or vegetables, place rosemary right on the coals to enhance the flavor.

7. Pack extra undergarments

There’s nothing more uncomfortable than wearing old or wet undergarments, so be sure to pack extra!

8. Make cooking easier with foil

Almost any meal you want to create can be made using a foil packet. Don’t forget to pack this useful item on your next trip.

9. Prevent sunburn with shade

Along with wearing protection like sunscreen and hats, take some time to relax in the shade now and then so you don’t wake up in pain the next morning.

10. Plan meals ahead of time

If you plan meals ahead of time, you can make sure you have all of the necessary ingredients for your trip and won’t be forced to eat hot dogs every day.

There’s no reason for camping to be difficult! These 10 tricks will help make your camping experience easier and more enjoyable overall.

The Man Behind Nature Deficit Disorder: Richard Louv

Richard Louv may not be a doctor or a psychologist, but that hasn’t stopped him from influencing the way we think about nature and our well-being. A journalist, Louv has conducted extensive research into our relationship with nature. Featured in his book Last Child in the Woods, the condition he calls “nature deficit disorder” has raised critical issues every parent should consider.

In case you haven’t heard of nature deficit disorder, the term refers to the mental and physical symptoms that can occur when kids don’t spend enough time outdoors. These symptoms include anxiety, depression, obesity, and attention deficit disorder (ADD). As you can probably guess, we at My Camp Kitchen believe in the positive effects of the great outdoors and are interested in Louv’s theories.

Louv’s thesis is more than just a theory, though. His books have started an international movement to bring kids and nature back together, and they have inspired campaigns across North America. He has won prestigious awards for his work, including the Audubon Medal given by the nonprofit environmental organization National Audubon Society. Louv has been featured on national TV shows such as ABC’s Good Morning America. With Louv gaining recognition, more parents are becoming aware of the damaging effects of spending too little time outdoors on their kids. We hope they will be compelled to take action.

So what’s the solution for nature deficit disorder? According to Richard Louv, it’s more time spent outdoors. In his latest book, The Nature Principle, Louv discusses his hopes for the future and challenges readers to rethink their relationship with nature.

How to Choose the Best Place to Camp on Your Next Big Trip

Trying to choose the best place to camp on your next big trip? While you can’t guarantee a perfect pick every time, you can choose a campground that is more suitable to your liking. Just consider these four questions during your search to help narrow down your options.

1. How much of the week do you want to spend driving?

Even if you’re taking a week off to go camping, a lengthy drive can make it feel like you’re only getting three or four days to camp. Consider how much time you want to be on the road versus camping. If you would rather spend most of the week cooking up meals by the campfire and swimming in the lake, choose a campsite nearby or just a day’s drive away.

2. Are you bringing kids?

Children can play a large part in determining which campground you choose. If you have younger kids who aren’t experienced campers, it’s best not to travel far away or to an area without showers or bathrooms. If, on the other hand, your kids are older and have been camping many times, you can broaden your options.

3. What kind of outdoor activities do you enjoy?

Activities like swimming, canoeing, rock climbing, hiking, and fishing are common camping activities, but some campsites have better lakes while others offer nicer hiking trails. Determine which activities you enjoy the most and then find the campsites considered best for each.

4. How authentic do you want your camping experience to be?

If the thought of camping somewhere without typical bathroom facilities freaks you out, there are plenty of well-developed campgrounds that offer showers and toilets as well as a great camping experience. If your camping style is more primitive, then try to locate a spot that’s at least 100 feet away from a water source.

No place is perfect, but these questions will help you get a better idea of what you’re looking for in a campsite so you can enjoy your trip even more!

For more on the best places to camp, see these posts: