CAMPSITE SELECTION

Choosing the right campsite can make or break your experience. A good site allows you
to practice the principles of Leave No Trace camping.
CAMP SMART
Tents will mat down vegetation and deprive it of air, water and Sunlight
Walking to and from pathways in and around the camp will trample vegetation
and form unwanted paths
Heavy foot traffic in the same area will compact the soil, making it difficult for
new vegetation to grow
Should bypass places that might not withstand the impact of camping and hiking

Campsite Guidelines
Environmental Impact: use established campsites whenever you can
Safety: avoid dead trees and limbs (widow makers), be weather wise
Size: comply with area regulations on group use. Choose a site that is large enough
to accommodate the group
Water: be sure there is a safe and sufficient supply of water
Terrain: consider drainage, natural cover and sunlight before setting up
Stoves & Campfires: use lightweight stoves whenever possible. Use existing
policy if you must use a fire.
Privacy: respect privacy and solitude of others
Permission: when camping on private property, get permission in advance. Get
permission from land managers for using public lands. Secure proper permits.

Setting Camp:
Locate tent sites
Locate dinning fly sites
Locate kitchen/ food prep sites
Locate cooking sites
Set up tents
Set up dining fly
Locate water supply
Gather wood/ build fire

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Helpful Hints
Check ground area before setting up tent. Avoid rocks and branches that could
puncture the tent floor.
Set tents at least 30 feet from fire ring.
Always have a ground cloth under your tent, tucked under the edges so as not to
be exposed to the elements
Leave your backpack outside of your tent. Hang it on a tree.
Place only your personal gear (sleeping bag, pad, clothing) in the tent.
Never have food in a tent.
Have an extra stuff sack for your boots. Keeps tent floor clean.
Leave a window slightly open at night for ventilation – even in winter.
Air out your tent and sleeping bag during the day. Removes moisture and
condensation.
Place a space blanket under your pad for extra insulation from ground cold.

Camp Layout - How to Set Up Camp

The location and the way you set up your Tent can have a huge impact on your Outdoor
Camping experience. It can make the difference between an unpleasant sleep and a
comfortable night sleep. In this section, we will look at some basic tips in finding a good
camp site:
Spotting a Camp Location
Finding a good camp site is essential, especially in difficult conditions. Here are some
guidelines in finding a good spot and orienting your Tent:

▪ Find a spot that is safe and protected. Stay away from mountain and hill tops as
those are the places that will offer the least protection from hard winds and
lightning. At the same time, do not pitch your camp on the lowest ground in the
area. In case of rains, the water will flow to the lowest ground.
▪ Find a spot that is surrounded by natural obstacles which will provide shade in
hot conditions, wind breakers in windy conditions, and rain stoppers in rainy
conditions. Concentrations of trees and rocks are ideal natural barriers.
▪ If possible, camp near a stream, river, or other source of water that you can use for
your dishes and cleaning up. However, make sure that you are on higher grounds
and that there are no chances of flash floods.
▪

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Setting up Camp

The schematic at the right shows the four general areas that will form your camp site:

1. Tent Area

In general, you will want to set up your Tent on an even surface of smooth soil or
grass that allows you to easily secure your pegs.

You will want to make sure that your Tent is the highest area in its direct vicinity
to keep water from entering your Tent area.

Set up your Tent firmly and evenly so that it can withstand possible strong winds
that may develop overnight. For more information, read our next section on
Pitching Tents.

2. Cooking Area

Unless conditions force you to cook inside you will want to create a special
Cooking Area. It should be at least 30 feet from your Tent(s) and is located in a
way that the prevailing winds will blow possible ashes and sparks away from the
Tent(s) and not towards it.

You should keep all your foods in containers and wash all your utensils to prevent
attracting bears and other animals. Read our section on Forest Fires for more
details on responsible use of fire outdoors.

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 3. Washing Area

The washing area is where you will take baths and wash the dishes. Having it near
a stream or other water source will save you time and effort. If you are going to
use soaps, make sure they are biodegradable and make certain that you wash at
least 300 feet away from the nearest water source. Make sure not to leave any trace.
Empty soap bottles and other containers are a natural disaster.

4. Toilet Area

You will want to keep this area at least a few hundred feet away from your Tent
and other camping areas and out of sight of your camping mates and other people.
Again, make sure you are at least 300 feet away from a possible water source. Find
a place with soft soil that allows you to dig a hole at least 10 inches deep where
you can bury your 'contributions'. Use fuel to burn any toilet paper that you might
be using. Make sure to cover up your toilet area well before breaking up camp and
you might want to cover the area with stones or branches to keep other campers
from digging your toilet area.

Breaking Camp

When the camping trip is over and it is time to pack up and go home, the goal is to pack
all camping gear clean and dry at the campsite. All sand, dirt, stones, sticks, and other
debris must be removed, and everything must be dry to avoid mold, mildew, and
equipment breaking down before it is time. If your camping gear is wet or dirty when
you pack it, you must dry it out and clean it up as soon as possible after returning home.
If you can remember this rule, you should get many years of enjoyment out of your
camping gear.

Packing Up

Here are some general tips for packing up after your camping trip is over. If you require
more details, consider purchasing a copy of The Camp Tripper. The Camp Tripper has
detailed strategies and tips on breaking camp.

• Start early: Start packing as early as possible on departure day. It can take
anywhere from one to three hours to break camp. You also need to vacate your
campsite by the time specified at the campground, which is no later than 2:00 pm.

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 If it is raining on your departure day, your camping gear can get wet, and you will
have to dry it out at home.
• Wipe off and dry out camping gear: Always wipe off and dry out whatever you
can first, since drying time can be anywhere from a few minutes to several hours
depending on how wet your camping gear is and how sunny and warm the
weather is. If you have a campsite with partial sun, look for a sunny spot on your
campsite and drag your camping gear there to dry it quickly on departure day.
• Dowse the Campfire: Pour any excess water from your washing basin or water
jug into the fire-pit to dowse the campfire. You are responsible for making sure
that your fire is out before you leave the campsite.
• Final Campsite Check: After all of your camping gear has been packed in your
vehicle, take a final walk around the campsite to ensure that you have not
forgotten anything.
• Partial Refunds: If you plan on cutting your trip short, many campgrounds will
offer a partial refund, provided that you notify them in advance. Check with the
campground for details.

Reduce Packing Time

If you want to reduce the time that it takes to pack up on departure day, consider these
additional tips:

• Pack nonessential camping gear the day before departure: Make it a habit to dry
out, wipe off, and pack any nonessential camping gear the day before your
departure, including: sports equipment, beach toys, life jackets, and hammocks. If
you are fairly certain that it will not rain overnight on your last night, or if you are
planning on leaving first thing in the morning on departure day, then consider
packing your screen house the day before departure and any tarps that are
hanging overhead.
• Tidy up the day before departure: Clean out your tent, dining area, cooler, stove,
dry food box, dish and cutlery box, stove, and vehicle, and dispose of all garbage.
Also check around your campsite to make sure that you have collected all of your
loose camping gear.
• Empower your children: Take the time to train your kids to help out with breaking
camp. Initially, it will take you longer, but over time you will pack much more
quickly as you give your kids more and more responsibility. The more
responsibility you give them, the happier they become!

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 10 Tent Camping Tips
These 10 tent camping tips can make a trip run much more smoothly. Tent
camping is one of the greatest ways to enjoy nature and the great outdoors. But
there are lots of things that can go wrong.
1. Get to the camp site early in the day. Erecting a tent can be hard enough, but
have you ever had to do it in the dark? It’s important to arrive early in the day
to allow plenty of daylight hours to set up the campsite and avoid as much
frustration as possible.
2. Be prepared for any type of weather. When tent camping, you should prepare
for snow, sleet, hail, rain, sunshine. It can be a truly miserable night if you
forget the space heater in freezing temperatures, or you forget to put the rain
flap on your tent before it rains.
3. Know how to erect a tent properly before going tent camping. The first time
setting up a tent can be particularly aggravating. It’s a good idea to set up your
tent in your backyard at least once for practice before you get to the
campgrounds. Imagine trying to erect a tent for the first time at the
campground, in the rain, in the dark. Talk about a worst case scenario.
4. Plan meals ahead of time. It’s important to plan each meal before going tent
camping and making sure you have all the ingredients, and cooking utensils
you need. Don’t forget about snacks either. Make sure your site will have what
you need to cook, such as a grill, unless you plan to bring your own. It can be
a major problem when you realize you forgot the ground beef and the nearest
grocery store is 2 hours down the twisting mountain roads.
5. Protect your food. If you plan on keeping coolers outside your tent, make sure
all lids are secure. It might also be a good idea to duct tape or bungee cord or
lock the lids down, as raccoons or opossums like to break in and steal
everything. Also, make sure there aren’t any edible items lying around the
campsite before you go to sleep. It’s also a good idea to remove the garbage
from your site nightly. Otherwise, you might have some unwanted furry
visitors. There have also been stories of bears tearing through camp sites,
eating their food; it all depends on where you’re camping.
6. Bring light sources. Make sure you have electric lanterns and flashlights when
tent camping. And don’t forget the batteries! You’ll need light to get to the
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 bathrooms at night, cook in the dark, put stakes back in the ground that come
out, etc.
7. Don’t forget the bug spray. Bug’s aren’t nearly as much of a problem at high
altitudes in the winter, but in hot humid areas they are a major problem. Make
sure to get some good mosquito repellant to keep away the bug bites. You
might also want to get a wide range bug repellant for your whole campsite area.
8. Bring what you need to be comfortable. While a sleeping bag on the floor of
your tent might seem ruggedly awesome, you might regret it the next
morning. It’s best to bring along an air mattress that will fit in your tent. And
don’t forget an inflator.
9. Bring things to entertain, whether outdoors or in the tent. The outdoors is
great, and what’s really great is having fun outdoors. Bring a football, a book,
board games, anything that will make a good time for you and your family. It’s
also a good idea to bring cards or some other activity that can be performed in
the cramped quarters of a tent in the case of nasty weather while tent camping.
10. Have fun! The most important part of tent camping is to have fun. Even if you
had to set up your tent in the rain with no light, while a bear ate all your food
from your cooler and mosquitoes attacked you while you tried blowing up a
whole air mattress… try to shake off the bad experiences, relax, and have a
good time.