20 Things First-Time Campers Should Know Before They Go
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- 20 min read
Camping doesn’t have to be complicated, intimidating, or reserved for people who already know how to tie twelve knots and cook dinner over a pinecone. Most first-time camping problems come from small things that are easy to avoid once you know what to look for: wet socks, surprise weather, forgotten flashlights, poor food storage, or not knowing what to do when wildlife shows up. This guide is here to help you feel more comfortable, more prepared, and more excited about getting outside. You don’t need to know everything before your first camping trip. You just need a few smart habits, a little awareness, and the confidence to enjoy the adventure without letting every rustle in the woods turn into a horror movie soundtrack. Enjoy! If you want more of our amazing content, don’t forget to subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow Six Point Survival on YouTube for more hands-on outdoor skills, camping tips, survival training, and family-friendly adventure education.
Jump Ahead - 20 Things First-Time Campers Should Know Before they Go
Before You Go
Before you go camping, take a few minutes to understand where you’re going and what that place actually offers. Not every campground has bathrooms, running water, trash cans, fire rings, picnic tables, or cell service. Check the campground rules, weather, fire restrictions, check-in times, and local wildlife concerns before you leave.
You should also tell someone where you’re going, when you plan to be back, and who is going with you. Download maps ahead of time, charge your phone, and bring a power bank if you’ll be out overnight. Cell service can vary depending on where you camp, so it’s smart to print or write down important information like your reservation, directions, gate codes, emergency contacts, campground map, and check-in details.
A little planning before the trip can prevent a lot of frustration once you’re already outside.
Pro Tips
Screenshot your campsite reservation, directions, gate code, and campground map.
Print or write down the most important information in case your phone dies or loses service.
Check the nighttime temperature, not just the daytime weather.
Pack your headlamp where you can reach it quickly.
Bring one extra pair of dry socks and one warmer layer than you think you’ll need.
Test important gear at home before trusting it at camp.
Put a hide a key on your car somewhere...lossing your keys in the woods is a quick way to ruin your trip.
Day Hike Basics
A day hike doesn’t need to turn into a full expedition, but you should still treat it like something worth preparing for. Dress in comfortable layers that let you adjust as the weather changes, and avoid clothes that are too tight, heavy, or hard to move in.
A few simple clothing choices can make the hike a lot more comfortable:
Good walking shoes or hiking shoes
Dry socks
Sun protection
A light rain layer
A warm layer if the temperature may drop
Bring a small pack with the basics:
Water
Snacks
Whistle
Bug spray
Sunscreen
Personal medications
You don’t need to carry the entire garage, but having a few emergency items gives you options if someone gets tired, turned around, wet, hungry, or mildly injured.
It’s also smart to let someone know where you’re hiking, even if you’re just leaving from your campsite. If you know the trail ahead of time, you can leave a quick note, printed map, or written plan at camp showing where you went and when you expected to be back. It’s not always necessary, but it’s a simple habit that can help if plans change.
Pro Tips
Dress in light, comfortable loose layers so you can adjust to heat, cold, wind, or rain.
Bring more water than you think you’ll need and/or a way to purify along the way.
Pack snacks that don’t melt easily or require cooking.
Keep a whistle and light easy to reach, not buried at the bottom of your bag.
Bring an extra pair of socks. Use them too!
Tell someone your hiking plan before you leave camp.
Happy Feet
Your feet can make or break a camping trip. Sore, wet, blistered feet turn even an easy weekend into a grumpy little foot prison, so take care of them before they start complaining.
During the day, wear comfortable shoes or boots that are already broken in, not brand-new footwear you decided to “test” three miles into the woods. If your feet get wet or sweaty, change into dry socks as soon as you can. Wet socks increase friction, soften the skin, and make blisters more likely.
When you’re hanging around camp, give your feet a break. A pair of sandals or camp shoes lets your feet air out while also giving your hiking shoes time to dry. I prefer to go barefoot when i can but beware, campgrounds are full of sticks, rocks, bugs, hot coals, dropped hooks, mystery pokey things, and other tiny agents of chaos.
A simple foot-care setup can include:
Broken-in hiking shoes or walking shoes
Extra dry socks
Sandals or camp shoes
Blister pads or moleskin
Pro Tips
Change socks before your feet feel miserable, not after.
Keep one pair of socks protected for sleeping only only if required.
Air out your shoes whenever you’re sitting around camp.
Use sandals or camp shoes around camp.
Treat hot spots early before they become blisters.
Weather Smarts
Weather can change a good camping trip fast, so check the forecast before you leave and keep checking it while you’re there. Look at more than just the daytime high. Pay attention to nighttime temperatures, rain chances, wind, storms, humidity, and any sudden temperature drops.
The old saying is true: there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear. Rain, cold, heat, and even snow can still be enjoyable if you’re prepared for them. The problem usually starts when people pack for the weather they hope for instead of the weather that might actually show up.
Before heading out, think through what the weather could affect:
Clothing layers
Rain protection
Tent placement
Fire-starting ability
Sleeping comfort
Water needs
Trail conditions
If a storm rolls in while you’re hiking, don’t panic, but don’t ignore it either. Get away from open fields, tall isolated trees, ridgelines, hilltops, and bodies of water. If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to be a real concern. Head toward a safer low area or a sturdy shelter if one is nearby, and wait for the storm to pass before continuing.
Pro Tips
Check the nighttime low, not just the daytime high.
Pack one layer warmer than you think you’ll need.
Keep rain gear easy to reach.
If you hear thunder, get off high ground and away from water.
Don’t set up your tent in low spots where rainwater can collect.
Water Safety
Water can be one of the best parts of camping, but it deserves respect. Streams, rivers, lakes, and swimming holes can change quickly depending on rain, current, depth, temperature, and footing. Avoid crossing moving water when possible, especially if you’re new to camping or hiking. Even shallow water can knock you down if the current is strong enough.
If you do get in the water, test it slowly before committing. Check the depth, current, footing, temperature, and what’s under the surface. Don’t jump into water you haven’t checked, and don’t assume clear water means safe water. Rocks, logs, drop-offs, slippery bottoms, and current can all turn fun into “well, that was dumb” pretty quickly.
Drinking water is a separate issue. Clear, cold, moving water may look clean, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe to drink. Streams and lakes can still contain bacteria, parasites, animal waste, or other contaminants. Bring enough water for your trip and have a backup purification method if you may need more.
Good water treatment options include:
Backup bottled water
Pro Tips
Don’t cross through moving water unless you’re trained, prepared, and there’s no safer option.
Always purify natural water before drinking it.
Bring more water than you think you’ll need.
Check water access before you arrive at the campground.
Never jump into water you haven’t checked first.
If you can't find any surface water, here are a few ways you can still collect water.
Food and Camp Cleanliness
Food smells travel farther than you probably realize. Keep food out of your tent and store it in airtight containers, a locked vehicle, or approved campground food storage when available. This includes snacks, trash, pet food, and anything that may attract unwanted wildlife.
After eating, clean up right away. Wash dishes, wipe down surfaces, and don’t leave crumbs, grease, or food scum around camp. Even small leftovers can attract raccoons, rodents, insects, and larger animals depending on where you’re camping.
If your campground has a dumpster, use it often. Taking trash out after meals, and definitely before bed, keeps food smells away from your campsite. Don’t let trash sit around camp overnight unless it’s properly sealed and stored somewhere animals can’t get to it.
Good camp food habits include:
Keeping food out of tents
Using airtight containers
Taking trash to the dumpster after meals
Washing dishes after eating
Cleaning up crumbs and spills
Pro Tips
Don’t dump dishwater with food scraps near camp.
Keep your cooking area separate from your sleeping area when possible.
Do one final food and trash check before bed.
Hang your food in a cashe when possible.
Wildlife 101
Wildlife is part of the camping experience, but it’s best enjoyed from a respectful distance. Don’t approach, feed, touch, chase, or try to take selfies with wild animals. Even small animals can bite, scratch, spread illness, or become aggressive when they feel cornered.
At busy campgrounds and large parks, some animals may seem very comfortable around people. That doesn’t mean they’re safe or friendly. It usually means they’ve learned that humans are a source of food, which can make them bold, annoying, or dangerous. You’re not a Disney princess. You can’t sing to the woodland creatures and make them all your friends.
If wildlife approaches your campsite, stay calm and give it space. Don’t run toward it, throw food, or try to scare it by getting too close. Secure your food, trash, and scented items, then make sure kids and pets stay near you.
Good wildlife habits include:
Keeping a safe distance
Never feeding animals
Securing food and trash
Keeping kids and pets close
Watching where you walk and sit
Leaving animals an escape route
Personal Anecdote
We once stayed at a campground where someone had been feeding an owl they named Artie. Cute idea in theory. Terrible idea in reality. After Artie learned people meant food, he apparently decided the whole campground owed him snacks and spent the evening squawking like a tiny feathered debt collector. Feeding wildlife doesn’t just affect the animal. It can create problems, annoyances, and safety concerns for everyone around you.
Pro Tips
If an animal changes its behavior because of you, you’re too close.
Don’t leave food out for “just a minute.”
Use binoculars or your phone zoom instead of walking closer.
Teach kids to look, enjoy, and tell an adult, not touch.
Bear Basics
Bears are one of the animals people worry about most before camping, but actual attacks are extremely rare. In Yellowstone, the chance of being injured by a grizzly bear is about 1 in 2.7 million visits. For comparison, your lifetime odds of dying in a motor vehicle crash are about 1 in 95. That means, using those two numbers as a simple comparison, the car-crash risk is roughly 28,000 times higher. So yes, respect bears, but don’t let bear fear steal the whole trip.
Most bear problems start with food. Keep food, trash, coolers, and scented items secured, and never feed bears. If you see a bear, stay calm, don’t run, pick up small children, speak in a calm voice, and slowly back away while giving the bear plenty of space.
Black bears and grizzly bears can look similar, and color alone isn’t enough to identify them. Grizzlies often have a shoulder hump, shorter rounded ears, and a more dished face. Black bears usually have taller ears, no large shoulder hump, and a straighter face profile.
If a bear becomes aggressive, what you do depends on the bear and the situation:
Black bear: Don’t play dead. Try to get to safety. If attacked, fight back and aim for the face and muzzle.
Grizzly or brown bear: If attacked defensively, play dead by lying flat on your stomach with your hands behind your neck and your legs spread. If the attack continues, fight back.
Any bear stalking you or attacking in your tent: Fight back. That’s rare, but it may be predatory.
Polar bear: Avoid polar bear country unless you’re properly trained and equipped. If one approaches you as prey, get to shelter, use deterrents if available, and fight back if attacked. Also, yes, pray. But don’t make that Plan A.
Pro Tips
Check local bear guidance before camping in bear country.
Carry bear spray where recommended and know how to use it.
Never run from a bear.
Keep food, trash, and scented items out of your tent.
Give every bear a clear escape route.
Snakes AKA Nope Rops
Snake bites are scary to think about, but deadly bites are very rare in the U.S. The CDC reports that about 5 people die each year from venomous snake bites. For comparison, cattle are estimated to kill about 20 to 22 people per year in the U.S. So yes, avoid snakes, don’t play with them, and give them space, but don’t let fear ruin your trip. Statistically, Bessie has the higher body count.
The best snake strategy is simple: watch where you step, watch where you put your hands, and don’t mess with snakes. Stay on clear trails when possible, avoid stepping blindly over logs or rocks, and use a flashlight at night. If you see or hear a snake, stop, give it space, and let it move away.
A snake stick is basically a hiking stick with a second job. You can use it to tap the ground, move grass or brush before stepping through, or gently encourage a snake to move away without getting close. It should be long enough to keep distance, sturdy enough to use while walking, and light enough that you’ll actually carry it.
A few good snake habits include:
Make noise as you walk through thick brush or tall grass.
Watch where you step, sit, and place your hands.
Don’t reach into holes, logs, brush piles, or under rocks.
Use a stick to move grass or brush before stepping through.
Never pick up, poke, trap, or kill a snake.
Back away slowly if you see one.
If You’re Bitten
Stay calm and get medical help immediately. Try to remember what the snake looked like, but don’t chase it, catch it, or kill it for identification. Keep the bitten area still and lower than the heart if possible, remove tight jewelry or clothing near the bite, and call emergency services or get to a hospital.
Do not:
Cut the bite
Suck out venom
Apply ice
Use a tourniquet
Drink alcohol or caffeine
Try to “walk it off”
Pro Tips
If you hear a rattle, freeze first, then slowly locate the sound and back away.
Don’t step over logs blindly.
Wear closed-toe shoes when hiking or walking around camp.
If you find a snake close to you or even on you, just hold still until it passes.
Mosquitos and Bugs and Ticks, OH MY!
Mosquitoes, bugs, and ticks are annoying, but a little prevention goes a long way. Use an EPA-registered repellent with ingredients like DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD, or 2-undecanone, and follow the label directions. Treating clothing and gear with 0.5% permethrin can also help with ticks, but don’t apply permethrin directly to your skin.
A few simple habits help reduce bites:
Wear light, breathable long sleeves and pants when bugs are bad.
Stay near the center of trails when possible.
Avoid tall grass, brush, and leaf litter.
Check yourself, kids, and pets for ticks after being outside.
Use bug nets, citronella, or screened areas around camp when needed.
If you find an attached tick, remove it as soon as possible with fine-tipped tweezers. Grab it close to the skin and pull upward with steady pressure. Don’t twist, burn, smother, or try weird internet nonsense. Clean the bite area and your hands afterward, and watch for rash, fever, or unusual symptoms over the next few days to weeks.
Pro Tips
Apply sunscreen first, then bug repellent.
Keep tweezers in your first aid kit.
Check warm hiding spots: armpits, waistband, behind knees, hairline, and groin.
Dry clothes on high heat after tick-heavy hikes when possible.
FIRE!!!!
This one is my favorite. Fire is one of the most useful camping skills, but it works best when you keep it simple. Start with dry tinder, add small kindling, then slowly build up to larger fuel. Don’t try to start a fire with big logs right away. Fire needs heat, oxygen, and dry material. If one of those is missing, you’re mostly just making smoke and sadness.
For firewood, avoid:
Rotten wood
Punky wood
Live green wood
Wet wood
Use dry, dead wood when allowed, or buy local firewood from the campground or nearby area. Local firewood also helps prevent spreading pests and diseases between forests.
If you’re hiking, carry a small fire-starting backup kit. At minimum, consider:
Ferro rod
Cotton balls with petroleum jelly
Small dry tinder container
Cotton balls with petroleum jelly are easy, cheap, and effective because they catch a spark well and burn longer than plain cotton. A ferro rod is great because it still works when wet, but practice with it before you need it. Your first time using one shouldn’t be in the rain while everyone is cold and judging you silently.
For fire safety, check campground rules and burn bans before lighting anything. Use existing fire rings when possible, keep the fire small, and never leave it unattended. Keep water nearby, fully drown and stir the fire before bed, and make sure it’s cold before walking away.
Avoid building fire rings with wet rocks or rocks pulled from streams. Trapped moisture inside the rock can heat up, expand, and cause the rock to crack or pop near the fire. Exploding campfire rocks are a terrible party trick.
Pro Tips
Build small first, then add bigger wood once the fire is established.
Keep tinder and fire starters dry in a sealed bag or container.
Carry at least two ways to start fire.
Don’t burn trash, plastic, or food packaging.
If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.
Camp After Dark
Camp gets harder to manage once the sun goes down, so do the important stuff before dark. Find your lights, charge what needs charging, organize your gear, and put away anything you don’t want to lose, trip over, or accidentally donate to the raccoons.
Before dark, take a few minutes to prep:
Check lanterns, flashlights, and battery packs.
Put shoes, water, and bathroom supplies where you can find them.
Secure food, trash, and scented items.
Clear obvious trip hazards around your tent and camp area.
Know where the bathroom, trail, vehicle, and kids are.
Once camp settles down, think about light discipline. Bright white lights are useful when you need them, but they also ruin night vision fast. Red light helps preserve your ability to see in the dark, keeps your eyes from constantly readjusting, and is less obnoxious to everyone else in camp.
Pro Tips
Wear your headlamp around your neck once the sun starts going down.
Switch to red light when you don’t need full brightness.
Let your eyes adjust before walking around.
Don’t shine lights into tents, faces, or neighboring campsites.
Keep one small light in the same spot inside your tent every night.
What To Do If You Get Lost
Getting lost is scary, but the worst thing you can do is panic-walk yourself deeper into trouble. As soon as you realize you’re unsure where you are, stop moving and take a breath. Most lost-person problems get worse when people keep wandering, guessing, or trying to “just find the trail real quick.”
Use the S.T.O.P. method:
Stop: Stay where you are and calm yourself down.
Think: Ask what you know for sure. Where was the last place you were confident?
Observe: Look for trails, landmarks, sounds, water, roads, signs, or cell service.
Plan: Make a smart choice instead of an emotional one.
If you have service, call for help or send your location. If you don’t, conserve phone battery and use your whistle, bright clothing, flashlight, or anything reflective to help others find you. Three whistle blasts, three flashes of light, or three loud calls are common distress signals.
If you’re truly lost, staying put is usually better than wandering farther. Make yourself visible, stay warm or shaded depending on the weather, and keep your group together. Your goal is simple: stop making the problem bigger.
Pro Tips
Carry a whistle. It’s louder than your voice and takes less energy.
Mark your starting point if you leave a trail to look around.
Save phone battery by lowering brightness and closing extra apps.
Don’t split up unless there’s an immediate safety reason.
Teach kids that if they get lost, they should stay put and make noise.
Beginner Emergency Kit
A beginner emergency kit doesn’t need to be expensive, bulky, or dramatic. The goal is to carry a few small items that help if you get turned around, stay out longer than planned, get wet, need clean water, or need to signal for help.
A simple day-pack emergency kit can include:
Whistle
Water purification tablets or small water filter
Lighter
Cotton balls with petroleum jelly in a small bag or container
Extra snack
A headlamp is worth carrying even if you don’t plan to be out after dark. Plans change, trails take longer than expected, and getting turned around near sunset is a lot easier than people think. A headlamp keeps your hands free and makes hiking, signaling, first aid, or setting up in the dark much easier than trying to hold a flashlight.
The emergency blanket is especially useful because it can help retain body heat and also work as a reflective signaling device. A whistle helps you make noise without losing your voice, and water purification gives you a backup if you run out of clean drinking water.
Pro Tips
Keep your emergency kit packed together so you don’t rebuild it every trip.
Use a bright-colored bag so it’s easy to find.
Practice using your compass, ferro rod, and water treatment before you need them. We can teach you how here --->Six Point Survival Youtube
Pack items that solve multiple problems whenever possible.
Site Selection
Good site selection can make your night safer, warmer, drier, and a lot less miserable. Whether you’re backpacking or pulling into a campground, don’t just drop your tent in the first flat-looking spot. Take a minute to look above you, below you, and around you before unpacking.
A good campsite should avoid:
Low spots where rainwater can collect
Dead trees or large dead branches overhead
Ant beds, wasp nests, or heavy insect activity
Areas too close to water
Exposed spots with heavy wind
Cold sinks, such as low valleys or dips where cold air settles
Game trails or obvious animal paths
Loose rocks, steep slopes, or unstable ground
Look for a spot that’s flat, dry, durable, and protected from the worst of the wind. If rain is possible, think about where water will flow before you set up. If it’s cold, remember that cooler air settles low, so slightly higher ground can make for a more comfortable night.
Pro Tips
Walk the site before unpacking instead of committing immediately.
Set your tent door in a direction that makes sense for wind, privacy, and morning access.
Keep your kitchen area separate from your sleeping area when possible.
Notice where the sun will rise if you don’t want to wake up baking in your tent.
If a site feels sketchy before dark, it’ll usually feel worse at 2 a.m.
Rookie Mistakes
Most rookie camping mistakes are small, but they stack up fast. The goal isn’t to be perfect. It’s to avoid the easy stuff that makes a trip uncomfortable, stressful, or unnecessarily chaotic.
Common beginner mistakes include:
Not testing gear before the trip
Not knowing how to set up the tent
Forgetting rain gear - even if it's not supposed to rain
Not bringing enough socks or undergarments
Wearing brand-new shoes
Arriving too close to dark
Not bringing enough water
Leaving food or trash out
Forgetting a headlamp
Relying only on cell service
Packing too much gear but forgetting simple essentials
Not checking campground rules ahead of time
A lot of these problems are easy to prevent with a quick practice run at home. Set up your tent, test your stove, try your sleeping pad, check your headlamp, and make sure your gear actually works before you’re tired, hungry, and standing in the dark.
Pro Tips
Pack extra socks and undergarments. Nobody regrets that.
Do a “last look” around camp before bed.
Keep your rain jacket easy to reach, not buried in your bag.
Don’t wait until dark to figure out your tent.
Bring fewer random extras and more useful basics.
Bathroom and Hygiene Basics
Bathroom stuff isn’t glamorous, but it matters. Before you go, find out what your campground actually has. Some sites have full bathrooms and showers. Others may only have vault toilets, portable toilets, or nothing nearby.
For car camping, keep a simple hygiene kit ready:
Toilet paper
Wipes
Hand sanitizer
Small trash bags
Trowel or camp shovel
Soap
Quick-dry towel
Extra underwear
Period products if needed
If you need to pee near camp, step away from tents, trails, cooking areas, and water sources. If you need to poop without a bathroom, follow the rules for that area. In many places, that means digging a small cathole away from water, trails, and camp, then covering it well when finished. Some areas require you to pack out waste, so check before you go.
Keep hygiene products, wipes, and trash secured just like food. Scented items can attract animals, and used wipes or toilet paper left behind are gross for everyone. Nobody wants to find your forest confetti.
Pro Tips
Bring more toilet paper than you think you’ll need.
Keep a small bathroom kit easy to grab, especially at night.
Pack out wipes, hygiene products, and trash.
Use hand sanitizer after bathroom trips and before eating.
Know the bathroom situation before you drink three cups of camp coffee.
Test Your Gear Before the Trip
Testing your gear means more than pulling it out of the box and saying, “Yep, looks like gear.” You want to use it the way you’d actually use it at camp, especially the items you may need when you’re tired, cold, wet, or dealing with a problem.
Before the trip, practice with important gear like:
Set up your tent fully, not halfway. Inflate your sleeping pad and make sure it holds air. Light your stove safely. Try your water filter. Use your fire starter. Adjust your pack. Wear your rain jacket. The goal is to find problems at home, not at camp when the mosquitoes have declared war and your kids are asking 47 questions.
If possible, test gear in less-than-perfect conditions. Try setting up your tent when it’s windy, using your headlamp in the dark, or starting a fire when your hands are cold. You don’t need to make yourself miserable, but you do want to know how your gear works when things aren’t perfect.
Pro Tips
Do a backyard camping night before your real trip, just not the night before.
Practice using emergency gear before it becomes an emergency.
Keep instruction manuals or quick-start guides in a small bag if needed.
Replace batteries, check fuel, and inspect gear before packing it.
If you can’t use it confidently at home, don’t trust it blindly at camp.
Camping with Kids
Camping with kids is less about keeping them entertained every second and more about giving them room to explore, help, and get a little bored. Boredom outside usually turns into sticks, rocks, bugs, imagination, and questions, which is kind of the whole point.
Bring a few simple things that help kids stay engaged without turning the trip into a traveling toy store:
Fishing poles
Binoculars
Nature journal
Colored pencils
Field guides
Small backpack
Whistle
Headlamp
Card game
Ball, frisbee, or simple camp game
Try not to rely on tablets, phones, or movies as the default entertainment. I strongly recommend either not brining them at all or making a hard rule of zero tech. It stops all the asking and complaints. Let them help collect kindling, carry water, identify plants, watch birds, build fairy houses, look for animal tracks, or help cook simple camp meals.
Kids also do better when they know the boundaries. Show them where they can go, where they can’t go, and what to do if they can’t see you. Give them simple jobs and clear rules, then let them have some freedom inside those limits.
Pro Tips
Give each kid a whistle and teach them when to use it.
Let kids be bored long enough for creativity to kick in.
Bring one or two simple activities, not a whole entertainment system.
Teach kids to ask before touching plants, animals, mushrooms, or berries.
Give kids camp jobs so they feel useful, not just dragged along.
Final Takeaway
Camping doesn’t have to be complicated. Most problems can be avoided by planning ahead, packing the right basics, paying attention to the weather, keeping food and trash secured, and knowing what to do if something changes. You don’t need to be an expert before your first trip. You just need to be aware, prepared, and willing to slow down long enough to make smart decisions.
When you get home, don’t just throw everything in the garage and forget about it. If you packed up wet or even slightly damp gear, pull it out and let it fully dry. Tents, tarps, sleeping bags, pads, shoes, and packs can mold, mildew, or get ruined if they’re stored damp.
Before putting gear away, take a few minutes to reset it:
Dry out tents, tarps, sleeping bags, and packs.
Clean dirt, food, and moisture off your gear.
Restock your first aid kit and emergency kit.
Remove batteries from everything.
Repack your gear so it’s ready for the next trip.
A good camping trip doesn’t end when you pull into the driveway. Taking care of your gear afterward keeps it working, saves you money, and makes your next adventure easier.
And that's it for 20 Things First-Time Campers Should Know Before They Go. Now get out there and have fun!!!
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