Camping
trips are some of the most fun and memorable experiences you can
have with your family, friends or church groups. There are a few
ingredients that are key to making these trips successful.
The
first ingredient of successful camping is a good plan. Consider
the time, destination, activities, food, personal equipment and
organization of group tasks. This article is designed to give you
basic information and helpful ideas on all those things you need
to do before pitching camp. Use it to help make your preliminary
trip decisions.
Time
All
the other preplanning for a trip, of course, depends on the amount
of time you have. Will the trip be just for the morning or
afternoon? Will it be for overnight, for a weekend or longer?
Backpacking
trips and long camping trips will take more careful planning than
an evening cookout. You may even need to plan far enough in
advance to obtain a permit or make a reservation.
Destination
Your
destination will determine how carefully you plan the trip. As
much pertinent information as possible should be gathered about
the selected destination so that accurate planning and preparation
can be made.
Considerations
of climate and length of trip dictate the amount and type of
clothing to take. Drinking water may have to be transported to
areas where no water is available.
Activities
It
is important that you organize each day's activities, then plan
the equipment, clothing and meals around them. A long afternoon
hike, for example, will allow just enough time for a one-pot meal
to simmer on the coals.
For
an all-day hike, on the other hand, plan a hearty breakfast, a
simple sack lunch carried in a day pack or sack around the belt,
and a snack for energy. If you intend to return to camp late,
plan a meal that is quick to prepare or was left to cook while you
were away.
Group
Organization Plan
A
detailed plan to involve all the camping participants will make
your experience more satisfying for everyone. This plan will vary
depending on the numbers and ages of those in the group and the
activities already planned.
For
example, if your first meal at camp has already been cooked, this
will give campers more time to unpack and get settled. If campers
are involved beforehand in organizing the trip, if they know
exactly what needs to be done, and if each of them has chosen a
particular assignment for which he or she will be responsible,
everything should run smoothly.
Children
as well as adults will gain more from the camping experience if
they share responsibilities.
Meal
Responsibility
As
well as participating in general camp responsibilities, each
camper should join in some aspect of meal preparation and cleanup.
The following system works very well with a group of six or more
who plan to cook at least three meals.
Divide
the campers into three small groups. Each group will have one of
the following duties: (1) fire building, (2) cooking and (3)
cleaning up.
The
groups will switch duties at each meal until everyone has had the
opportunity to be a fire builder, a cook and a cleanup person.
Fire
Builders
Gather
and cut plenty of wood for the fire. Some parks and national
forests restrict wood-gathering, so first check to see if it is
permitted. If firewood is not available, take plenty from home.
Have
a shovel and bucket of water on hand in case the fire gets out of
control.
Consult
the cooks and build the type of fire they request early enough to
allow for ample coals if they are required.
Keep
the fire burning and assign someone to care for it as long as it
burns.
Extinguish
the fire.
Cooks
Tell
the fire builders which type of fire is needed and when to start
it.
Plan
carefully how much time will be required to cook each item and
when its preparation should begin.
Organize
and set up the kitchen.
Soap
the outsides of all kettles to be used in the open fire.
Prepare
and cook all food.
Cleanup
Prepare
a centerpiece and set the table.
Make
sure garbage areas are established.
Check
to see that all food is properly stored.
When
there is room on the fire — hopefully this will be at least
twenty minutes or more before it is time to wash the dishes —
put the dishwater on to heat.
Prepare
the area for dishwashing.
Put
leftover food away.
Wash
all dishes and cooking utensils.
Make
sure that everything in the camp is put away and the camp area is
cleaned.
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Want
to travel with Dian?
Join one of her trips to China this fall, where you will enjoy a
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Contact@DianThomas.com
or call 801-277-4332 for more information.
Dian Thomas was blessed with the good fortune to be born near and raised in
the remote, breathtaking Manti-La Sal National Forest in southeastern Utah,
where her father was the forest ranger. She took the skills she learned in the
outdoors and turned them into a New York Times best-selling book, Roughing It
Easy. Her appearance on the NBC's "Tonight" show with Johnny Carson
boosted her into the national media scene, where she became a regular on
NBC's "Today" show for eight years and then ABC's "Home Show" for six years.
After more than 25 years of media exposure and 19 books, she now shares her
practical insights and wisdom with audiences who want to savor life.
A former Relief Society president, Dian is currently serving as a visiting
teacher. Visit her website at www.DianThomas.com