Camping is a fun way to travel the country especially when the weather is good.  Check out the many campsites in your favourite locations around the country!

Camping is an outdoor

...Continued

Camping is a fun way to travel the country especially when the weather is good.  Check out the many campsites in your favourite locations around the country!

Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants (known as campers) leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, a primitive structure, or no shelter at all.

Camping is a key part of the program of many youth organizations around the world, such as Scouting. It is used to teach self-reliance and team work.

Camping is also used as a cheap form of accommodation for people attending large open air events such as sporting meetings and  music festivals. Organizers often provide a field and other basic amenities.

Camping describes a range of activities. Survivalist campers set off with little more than their boots. Camping is often enjoyed in conjunction with activities, such as hiking, white-water kayaking, hill walking, climbing, canoeing, mountain biking, motorcycling, swimming and fishing.

Camping may be referred to as roughing it. Those who seek a rugged experience in the outdoors prefer to camp with only tents, or with no shelter at all ("under the stars").

Although many people see in camping a chance to get out of the daily routine and improve their survival skills , others would rather benefit from the many amenities that campsites are nowadays equipped with.

One form of bicycle touring combines camping with cycling. The bicycle is used to carry the gear and as the primary means of transportation, allowing greater distances to be covered than backpacking.

Backpacking is constantly increasing in popularity, especially amongst youth who are willing to go through a challenging experience. Although it can be among the cheapest ways to camp, backpacking is also the most uncomfortable and it is usually performed by individuals who are in a general good condition. Given the fact that the equipment one needs for camping must be carried on the camper's back makes it an athletic activity not suited to everyone. However, the technological development and the increased interest in camping this way lead to an improvement in the equipment carried by backpackers.

Specialized camping

Survivalist campers learn the skills needed to survive in any out-door situation. This activity may require skills in obtaining food from the wild, emergency medical treatments,orienteering and pioneering.

Adventure camping is a form of camping by people who race (possibly adventure racing or mountain biking) during the day, and camp in a minimalist way at night. They might use the basic items of camping equipment such as a micro-camping stove, sleeping bag or bivouac bag.

Camping equipment

The equipment used in camping varies with the particular type of camping. For instance, in survival camping the equipment consists in small items which have the purpose of helping out the camper in providing food, heat and safety. The equipment used in this type of camping must be lightweight and it is restricted at only the mandatory items. Another types of camping such as winter camping involve having specially designed equipment in terms of tents or clothing which is strong enough to protect the camper's body from the wind and cold.

Survival camping involves certain items that campers are recommended to have with them in case something goes wrong and they need to be rescued. A survival kit includes mandatory items but which are small and must fit in one's pocket or could be carried on one's person. This kit is useless in these circumstances if it is kept in the backpack. Such a kit should include a small metal container which can be used to heat water over a campfire, a small length of duct tape which is small and which can prove useful in many situations and an emergency space blanket. These blankets are specially designed to occupy least space and are perfect for making emergency shelters, keeping the camper warm. Also because of the aluminium-like colour this blanket is also reflective which means it can be easily seen from an aircraft. Candle stubs are good in starting a fire as well as in warming an enclosed space. One or two band-aids are mandatory in this type of camping. Any camper, and not only the survival ones need waterproof matches and a large safety pin or fish hook which can be used in fishing. Baking soda is good in rehydrating a dehydrated camper and at the same time, if it is mixed into a paste it helps hastening the cure of mosquito bites. Rubber gloves, antiseptic wipes,tinfoil and water purification tablets are also to be included into a survival kit. Although these seem too many items to be carried on one person, they are in fact small, lightweight  and definitely useful.

Winter camping can be dangerous without respecting the basic rules when it comes to this particular activity. Firstly, the cold is fought against with clothing of three types of layers as following: a liner layer against the camper's skin, an insulation layer (fleece), and a water- and wind-proof outer shell. Although cotton is one of the best quality fabrics there is, it is not recommended to be worn on winter camping because if it gets wet it dries out very slowly and the wearer could freeze. Rather than cotton, winter campers should wear wool or synthetic materials. The boots must be waterproof and the head must be protected against the cold given that more than half of the body's heat can be lost through this part of the body. Although it seems a good choice, campers are advised not to wear too many pairs of socks as they might restrict the blood flow to the feet resulting in cold feet. Gaiters should also be worn to avoid snow and rain wetting the boots. Secondly, one should include carbohydrates into their diet to keep their body warm as well as to provide energy. Hydration is very important so winter campers should drink plenty of water to keep themselves well hydrated.

Camping equipment includes:

sleeping bag and mat

Led light

waterproof matches

mess tins

Insect repellent/mossey net

sun cream

waterproof clothing

Swiss army pen knife

rope /bungees for securing shelter/clothes line