The drive to get back to nature is ingrained inside us. Our busy lives begin to take over. Every day is just like the one before. However, inside is that little voice telling you to get back… get back to basics.

Camping is an exhilarating experience when done right. Watching the sun setting in the west. The vivid reds, oranges, and blues.

Sleeping under the stars, listening to all of earth’s creatures calling into the night.

Camping is a wonderful medicine for the mundane. It helps you to become mindful and allows for much-needed contemplation.

I am newer to the camping world and am far from a pro. But I do have a fair share of camping expeditions under my belt now. I have lived and learned through my mistakes. I hope this article, beginner’s guide to camping, will help you on your way to becoming an avid camper or occasional camper and making new lasting memories and experiences.

Please check out my other articles on taking a trip away from home that include camping.

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The Uninvited Guest

My parents were big campers in their youth. They even spent their honeymoon camping in Tennessee inside the Great Smoky Mountain wilderness.

As my father tells it, their first night after setting up their tent and eating dinner it started to get dark. They decided to retire to the tent for the night. Once they were all settled in it was completely dark outside.

They began to hear a strange sound. The tent started to sway back and forth. My mother let out a loud scream and grabbed two things before jumping out of the tent and running for dear life.

One… their car keys.

Two… my father.

They proceeded to sprint to their car parked a little ways away. Once they made it safely inside they turned on the headlights to see what creature attacked their campsite. To their surprise, it was a huge black bear! He was rummaging around their tent snorting and stomping their belongings.

Needless to say that night they did not sleep in their tent, but slept with one eye open inside their car.

It is stories like these that will stick with you for the rest of your life. At times almost unbelievable. I think this is what makes life rich and flavorful. It is the stories we make and take along the way.

Camping 101

The hardest step is always the first step. There are so many unknowns and fears. Camping exposes you to the elements. It takes you away from your safe space. It puts you right smack dab in the middle of the unknown.

This can be exhilarating and make your knees shake. Camping is a lot less scary and extremely fun once you know the basics.

Your beginner’s guide to camping will include some of the main basics and some suggestions you might overlook.

There are different categories of camping. You have everything from backcountry or (dispersed camping) to glamping or (luxurious camping).

I want to quickly discuss one rule you need to follow when camping. Rule #1 in camping leave no trace. Make sure you clean up after yourself. Leave your campsite the way it was when you arrived.

Where to Go

There are thousands of choices when it comes to choosing where to go camping.

You can locate some that are not too far away from home by doing a Google search for “camping near me“. Or you can venture further away from home. Try camping inside a famous National Park.

I have stayed at both private campgrounds (owned by an individual) and public (Government agency).

I like the feel and quality of the public campground. The campgrounds are usually really well maintained. The public campgrounds usually offer the same quality of service and amenities nationwide. A lot of the public ones also have the added bonus of being on a National Forest Preserve so there could be hiking trails not too far from your campsite.

An online site that covers public campsites is Recreation.gov. They also have a handy app that you can download onto your phone.

Another place to check out camping sites is through the US State Park of choice. If you do a google search for “state park camping“, the closest states to you will pop up for their official website.

Campsite Amenities

For the sake of this article, I am going to cover basic campsites or (frontcountry).

Most camping that occurs in parks is considered frontcountry camping, where visitors drive to an established campground.

It has a dedicated area for each reservation. Some have grills and picnic tables included within your dedicated spot. Make sure the site also has a fire ring so you can build and burn a fire. I find s’mores a camping must-have.

I would recommend finding a campsite that has flushing toilets for your first camping experience. Some even offer running hot water for showers. Check out your desired campgrounds website to see what amenities they offer.

Essential Camping Gear

To first start off camping, you are going to have to pick up some basic gear. Here is a list of items that are essential for your campsite.

I have included links from Amazon for some of these items you may need to purchase. Please purchase through the links provided, it will not cost you anything additional, but it will keep our website and blog going, thanks so much!

• Tent – Look for a tent that is a little larger than the actual amount of people using it, the extra space will be needed to store your gear
  • Mallet or hammer
  • Footprint or tarp – A tent footprint or ground cover simply helps protect the floor of the tent from abrasion

Tent Tip: Practice setting up your tent at home first. This is important to make sure your tent is not missing any key parts and you will have less stress when on-site trying to figure out the spotty instructions. Once you arrive on-site set your tent, bag, and pad up early, so you don’t have to do it in the dark.

• Sleeping bags
• Sleeping pad
• Inflatable pillow
• Lighting
  • Extra batteries
• Stove & cooking fuel – If you are looking for more information on finding the perfect camping stove check out What Camping Stove Should I Buy?
• Matches & lighters
• Cooler
• Cookware & kitchen set – Invest in reusable, better for environment
  • Pots, plates, bowls, cups, spork or plasticware, measuring cup, paper towels, sponge, dish soap, plastic container for washing
• Camp chair – Look for mesh camp chairs they let water drain easily and dry quickly
• Trash bags
• First aid kit – Tweezers are a must in case of ticks

First Aid Tip: Most important items to have. A lot of people forget to pack one. Always keep it on your person, if you leave your campsite make sure to bring it with you!

Camping Clothing and Accessories

Camping is not meant to be couture or a fashion statement. It is time to be human. Take a hike down the beaten trail and don’t be afraid to get a little dirty.

The lists provided are for warmer climates. Camping in the winter or cold weather is a whole other can of worms.

Clothing

• Quick-dry pants
• Quick-dry shorts
• Breathable shirts
• Rain jacket
• Lightweight jacket
• Hiking shoes
• Hiking sandals
• Clothing for sleeping
• Plenty of underwear and socks – bring about 2-3 extra of each

Accessories

• Hat with brim
• Walking stick
• Sunglasses
• Daypack
• Camping backpack

Toiletries for the Great Outdoors

Always use products that are biodegradable and safe for the environment.

• Personal medications & prescriptions
• Women’s sanitary products
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Body wash
• Toothbrush & toothpaste
• Hairbrush
• Hair ties (for long hair)
• Deodorant
• Hand sanitizer
• Wet wipes & toilet paper
• Mosquito repellent
• Sunscreen

Meal Planning

Meal planning can be a little difficult when it comes to camping. What to bring will depend on how long you plan on camping. A cooler will only keep items cool for so long.

You can go with boxed or canned entrees and side dishes, or fresh food or a combo of all of them.

I would recommend trying some freeze-dried backpacking & camping food. It is super easy to make and will stay fresh in any weather and temperature. All you need to do to prepare the food is add the required amount of boiling water to the package and in a few minutes, you have a filling meal.

Some of the brands I have tried and worked well are:

• Mountain House
• Alpine
• Backpackers Pantry

Don’t forget to bring plenty of drinking water. Some of the campsites might not have drinkable water. You will need enough for cooking, drinking, and washing with.

Meal Planning Tip: Critters that hang around campgrounds are great at stealing your grub, so don’t leave food or garbage out overnight, or unattended. Seal up everything in a large bin anytime you’re away from camp and lock it in your vehicle at night.

Conclusion – Mental Health Moment

Suffering from anxiety, stress, and depression is a common occurrence in day to day life. Anxiety disorders in the US affect 40 million adults.

An estimated 17.3 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. This number represented 7.1% of all U.S. adults.

Returning to nature is good for your heart, soul, and mind. Check out my other article on The Power of Nature.

Our brains are affected by our surroundings more than we realize. Immersion in nature counters the impact of urban living and calms the brain.

“Specifically, the study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, found that people who walked for 90 minutes in a natural area, as opposed to participants who walked in a high-traffic urban setting, showed decreased activity in a region of the brain associated with a key factor in depression.” (Source: Stanford)

Camping is an exhilarating experience when done right. By following the beginner’s guide to camping you will find your camping experience to be more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Just remember my fellow travel friends, we are all in this together.

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