Use Pill Minder for Camping SpicesWhile keeping the other 6 days closed, spoon in the spice of your choice. Once filled, making sure they are snapped closed, turn it over and mark your spice with a felt tip marker.
Start a Fire with WaterHere is a fun Campers or Survival project. Collect some kindling and leaves, dried tiny branches and fire starting materials. Take a round empty bottle like Pom Drinks, you can use it as a magnifying glass to pinpoint a ray of sunlight onto your collected leaves and other fire starting materials to start a flame.
Emergency Aerobed InflationWe use our Aerobed inflatble mattress when we go camping. One time, we forgot to bring the wall socket car adaptor that allows us to plug in the mattress for it to inflate. We jury rigged a pump with a soda bottle and a camping air mattress pump. It worked well enough to allow us a good night's sleep.
Camping Cooler TipsWe have done a lot of camping and usually go for a week at a time. It was getting costly buying bags of ice all the time for the cooler. Then my husband came up with some solutions.
Tips for Making Fire StartersI liked the many suggestions for using paper towel and toilet paper rolls. My problem was that I didn't have a good way to stuff the rolls and pour/dip them in wax. Then I remembered my camp craft class where we made paper baskets (this was a looong time ago!).
Dryer Lint for FirestartersWe always have to buy those expensive fire starter logs for camping. I had the idea to save our dryer lint and stuff it inside our empty toilet paper rolls. It's free and you never run out of it. It is very easy to catch on fire.
Camp Cooking with TealightsToday I cooked scrambled egg on toast and coffee, using two "burners", and had it all piping hot and delicious at the same time. I used the top of my kettle to keep the buttered toast hot whilst I was cooking the scrambled egg.
Easy Camping FirestartersMy son used to be in Boy Scouts and they loved to make a fire at night during the summer. For fire starters, we took the cardboard from toilet paper and taped one end shut. Then he filled the tube up with dryer lint and taped the end shut.
Easier Cleaning of S'mores SkewersIf you invested in the metal skewers for your s'mores, or just for roasting marshmallows, here's an idea for you:
Use Dried Fern as FirestarterWe are camping in Oregon and, as usual, it is drizzling. We found that last year's sword fern fronds make a good firestarter. They stay relatively dry under the new green fronds and are easy to pull out by the handful.
Dryer Sheets To Deter MosquitoesTake a box of dryer sheets along with you camping. Tear the sheet neatly in half and hang within 10 feet of your sitting area. If you use four or five half sheets surrounding your area, you will be mosquito free!
Solar Shower from Milk JugWhen you are camping where there are no shower facilities, try this. Spray paint gallon milk jugs flat black. Set it in the sun and, wah lah, shower water.
Campground Shower MatI save cereal boxes and use them to stand on after showering to get dry and dressed. Shower stalls are usually full of dirt off people shoes so I open boxes up where they are glued and keep a stack of them in the camper.
Using a Grill SheetIf you decide to grill while camping or at a local park, you may find that the grills are pretty gross. One way to avoid contaminating your food is to use a grill sheet.
Packing Eggs for CampingCrack eggs into a jar or container and store in fridge or cooler. You don't have to worry about broken shells and will save on space because you have no cardboard container. They will come out individual as you need them.
Dryer Lint For Fire StartingSave the lint from the dryer in a plastic container. In the winter months when the wood for the fire gets a little damp, use the lint under the kindling to get it started. Works great!
Corn Chips Make Great Campfire StartersPut that stale bag of Fritos to good use. Start a campfire with them.
Use Leftover Candle Wax for FirestartersI save our empty toilet and paper towel tubes, stuff them with waste paper and junk mail or even pine cones. Then I melt my small, leftover candle pieces in a old candle warmer just until it melts.
Washing Clothes While CampingIf your going camping bring a 5 gallon bucket that has a lid, a new plunger, and some rope for hanging clothes. This works good for washing clothes.
Camping Tip for Storing Toilet PaperIf your planning a camping trip, use an empty, clean coffee container to store your toilet paper in. Be sure it has a lid, that way if it rains it won't get wet.
Single Use Salve Packs for CampingIf you are camping and going to be hiking or even just traveling, these will come in handy. Place a straw over the opening of the ointment and squeeze a small amount of it, about one quarter of an inch.
Easier S'moresWhy try to make s'mores from graham crackers and chocolate? Why not buy striped shortbread chocolate cookies instead? I use 2 cookies and 1 large marshmallow to make my s'mores. Yummy!
Solar Lights for CampingI discovered this by chance last year while packing for camping. I took my 2 outdoor solar lights to use in my tent. These have a flat bottom because they hang from small shepard hooks. I put them outside the tent door in sunlight to recharge during the day and brought them inside at night. Worked great and were fireproof.
Tips For Forgotten Camping ItemsIf you forgot the filters for your coffee pot, tear off a piece of paper towel or use a paper napkin in the bottom of the basket. Add the grounds, and water and go ahead with your normal coffee routine.
Tips For Lighting A CampfireMy husband is the king of campfires! He makes a successful campfire by starting the fire with kindling and lighter fluid under wood pieces piled in a teepee fashion allowing air to get to the fire and ignite.
Ideas For Fire StartersUse cardboard egg cartons with stubs of birthday candles in the pockets. Tear off a few pockets, put a few candle stubs in the pockets, and build your fire OVER the egg carton pieces.
Starting a Campfire or Charcoal in a BBQ GrillI have found that if you roll a cotton ball or two in Vaseline or other petroleum jelly, you can set it on fire right away.
Duct Tape as Medical Tape ReplacementLast weekend we were camping and at around 11pm, the camper next to us broke his finger. I set it using a tongue depressor and then wrapped it gauze.
Keeping Track of Sleeping BagsWith two kids and myself, we have probably a dozen sleeping bags among us; light weight for summer, medium weight for most of the year, heavy weight for winter, some are down filled, some are poly filled, one is good for backpacking.
Storing TentsWhen you get home from a trip, set up your tent or hang it on the clothesline until it is completely dry and clean. Then, roll it up and put it back in the bag it came from.
Buying A Used CamperMy husband and I have bought 3 used campers and 1 used motorhome, so we have some small experience in what to look for and questions to ask before you sink money into a used camper.
Use Wet Wipes Instead Of Toilet Paper When CampingWe go camping in our travel trailer almost every weekend during the summer at a place where it is parked in a remote area with no water hook-ups.
Washing Dishes at the CampgroundWe love to camp and cooking over a campfire is the most fun. It's always a challenge each trip to see what wonderful meals we can come up with to cook over an open flame. But at the end of those delicious meals comes time to do the dishes.
Heat Water For Camp Dishes While You EatHave water heating while eating. Put on rubber gloves and add bleach to dish water and rinse water.
Tips For Cleaning Camping DishesScrape your dishes well with a rubber spatula (scrape into a ziplock baggie or empty can), then wipe with a used paper napkin or paper towel. This gets the worst of the "ick" off before you wash.
Rope Lights for Campsite LightingI've seen campers use solar lights to light their site after dark, but if you have one with trees, they may not recharge properly. My husband and I use rope lights.
Take a Solar Yard Light CampingIf you are a camper, you have probably at one time or another experienced having a very dark campsite. I have a simple and inexpensive solution for you. Pack one of the solar yard lights to take with you camping.
Use Raft as Air MattressUse a blow up air raft, the kind used to float in a pool, as a bed when camping. The air raft carries flat and, when folded, it makes a small package. It is lightweight and it can be used as a float near the campsite if you are camping near water.
Make a Master Supply List for CampingOnce you have developed a "standard" camping equipment list, put it on your computer in either a Word file or an Excel file. I put several columns in front of each item - How many? Have it? Find it? Buy it? and print it out for each trip.
How to Make a Fire PitWhen builiding a fire pit, you need to make it safe first. I dug down 3 feet, to make sure that I would not have any plant material, roots, etc. below my fire pit. I then filled it in with gravel and sand.
Premeasure Pancake Mix For CampingWhenever we head to our camper, I always make a couple batches of homemade, dry pancake mix in a ziplock. I never use mix from a box and already having the dry ingredients waiting for me saves me time in the morning when I have to feed my hungry crew.
Camping In a Travel TrailerFor 3-4 years our whole family camped in a travel trailer exclusively. It was fun to prepare an entire meal of home-made lasagne perhaps, complete with china and silverware, and watch the other campers enviously eat hot dogs over campfires.
Easy S'moresWe love making s'mores when camping or cooking out at home, but adjusted the "recipe" for a lighter s'more. Instead of using the regular ingredients of graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows, we use fudge striped cookies and marshmallows.
Bring Eye Wash CampingBring lots of eye wash when going camping! If you get something in your eyes, there really isn't anyway to rinse out the debris in the middle of nowhere.
Tips from Years of Tent CampingCamping tips I've learned from years of camping in a tent at the race track!
Lighting Matches In Breezy AreasSay you're lighting a smoke or something in a breezy area. If you light one match or two and it blows out, combine the spent matches with the new one.
Make Hammock from Plastic Soda RingsAt our favorite camping spot, we've constructed a makeshift hammock out of plastic six-pack soda rings! It takes a little while to collect enough of these, but once you do, you can simply tie them together with thin fishing line.
Mouthwash As Insect RepellentTo get rid of flies or mosquitoes go to Walmart and buy the brown Equate bottle of mouthwash. Put in a sprayer and spray around the house, both on the ground and as high as you can get. Works well the next day, no flies or mosquitoes.
Keeping Ants Off Your Picnic TableTo keep ants off your camping table or picnic table, clean out four tuna or cat food cans. Next fill the cans about 1/2 full with water and put them under the table legs.
Two Ingredients S'moresSuper easy and cheap. You don't have to buy the candy bars. So good!
Fire Starters For ChristmasMake Christmas gifts by recycling egg cartons and dryer lint! Using a cardboard one-dozen egg carton, fill each hole generously with dryer lint. Using melted scented candles purchased at a yard sale, pour hot wax into each hole, filling 2/3-3/4 full.
Rent a Cabin for Summer VacationThis summer, with the price of gas so high, we are taking several mini-vacations in areas close to home. We live about 45 minutes from Blackwater Falls so we will be staying in a cabin in the state park.
Use Aluminum Foil as Pot ScrubberWhen camping, use aluminum foil as a pot scrubber. Simply wad it up into a ball.
Use Film Canisters for SpicesWhen camping, place spices in empty film canisters. Once you get the campsite set up, poke holes in the lids for shaker tops if desired. Film canisters are also good for storing fish hooks, etc.
Leave Camper Refrigerator Open When EmptyIf you have a camper, you know about the refrigerator odor that can occur after a camping trip. I have found that after emptying the refrigerator, if I leave the door open, all of the condensation will evaporate from the unit.
Make Own Ice Block for CampingFor ice when camping, grocery shopping, etc. Use as many jugs as necessary for your time frame. If you need ice for a long time, freeze 1 gallon water/juice/cleaned milk jugs filled with potable water.
Camping HamburgersPlace a tablespoon of catchup on a piece of foil large enough to make into a bundle. Place a hamburger patty on top of catchup, then a slice of onion, some diced carrots and diced potato, salt and pepper.
Dryer Lint for Starting FiresSave the lint from your dryer screen; it can be used as kindling to start fires in your fireplace.
Use a Covered Bucket as a Camping ToiletToilet for camping or emergencies. If you have need of a toilet when there isn't one around or there is no running water, you can improvise one by using a covered plastic bucket and urinating into the bucket.
Backyard CampfiresAll you need are some sticks and a backyard and all of a sudden you have a party everyone wants to attend. Who doesn't remember roasting marshmallows on an open fire?
Make Bag Salads for CampingCamping is a great family time but you always don't have lots of room for cooking and storage. I make what we call a bag salad. You cook all your favorite ingredients (pasta or potato salad) and put in a ziplock bag.
Campfire Roast ChickenBefore a camping trip, prepare a chicken by buttering and adding your favorite seasoning, inside and out. Then wrap it in three or four layers of aluminum foil. Put the whole thing in a gallon zipper bag, and refreeze.
Recycled Camping LanternsOur Cub Scout Pack is involved in Fall Camping. We made lanterns out of recycled plastic peanut butter jars. We used modge podge and affixed the Scout Promise to the outside. We used glow sticks to light their way. Loads of fun in the tent or outside after dark.
Use Bacon Drippings for Starting CampfiresTo start a campfire or charcoal grill, use old bacon drippings. You can use a paintbrush and spread the bacon
Use Freezer Baskets In CoolersI bought some freezer baskets at a garage sale to use in my upright freezer. I had a couple left over and thought of a great idea for them. I cut the corners off and then I folded the ends up and I use them in my coolers for camping.
Use Shower Curtains To Protect Inside Of VehicleI use old shower curtains to put in the back floor of my explorer for my dogs for when we go to camp and they get very wet. To clean, I just take it out and put it a on clothes line and rinse with a hose.
Camping Food SafetyThere are a few basic cardinal rules when it comes to food safety. These rules will keep you and your family on the right track and help avoid a trip to the emergency room for food poisoning.
Easy Potatoes for Camping or CookoutsThese are my favorite potatoes for the summer! My mom used to make them when we were little! I have found that when going camping or if I am going to be busy and will not have time later.
Disposable Camping ToothpasteWhen I go backpacking and don't have one of those tiny travel tubes of toothpaste, I'll make my own so I don't have to cart the large tube of toothpaste with me.
Use Coffee Cans For Camping Food StorageInstead of throwing away plastic coffee cans, wash them out and store them. Then when you are going camping use them to fill up with: flour, sugar, noodles, rice, cereal and other dry goods.
A Resting Place for Kids on a Camping TripIt's really nice is if you have a small extra tent you can put up on your site. If you have a child who needs some time to be alone or if they get bored, they can always go into the tent to play, color, read, whatever they need to do. This gives them some quiet time.
Tips for Campfire CookingI have a few camping tips for cooking. I also would love it if you will share some of your recipes you have. It is always nice to get tips on food they are hard to find for camping.
Clothespins for CampingWell I have a strange tip, but a good one. My husband and I camp. We had bags open with food in them and had forgotten to bring things to close them with so I grabbed a couple of clothes pins the kind with the spring you squeeze to open. They are fantastic, work great and the nice thing is that they are cheap.
Backyard Campsite AreaWhen my husband and I bought a new travel trailer, we constructed a site pad from old bricks we had collected for many years for the travel trailer to be parked on; we used fluorescent paint to mark the bricks that the back wheels of the trailer should be parked on...
Keep Cooler Odor Free with Baking SodaAnother great way to keep camping cooler fresh and odor free between uses is to wash and dry, then sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of baking soda inside before closing the lid.
Electrical Appliances For CampingIf you camp at camp sites with electric hookups and/or water, take 2 essential electrical appliances:
Camp Cooking TipsBy using lids whenever possible, you will greatly reduce the cooking time required for many foods. Prepare soups, stews or chili etc. ahead of time. Freeze and keep in cooler. Reheat for a quick meal.
Fast and Easy Puddings for CampingThrow in an extra empty water or milk jug, a box of instant pudding and milk. Empty your pudding mix and milk in the jug and SHAKE it to mix.
Plastic Plates For CampingTo save money and the environment, I purchased "picnic" plates from the Dollar Tree. They are made of thin plastic, making them easy/light to pack.
Wind Up Flashlights For CampingI purchased a wind up flashlight to use, never have to worry about if I bought enough batteries or if they will last long enough. A minute of cranking will last about 20 minutes and that's usually enough time to get to the shower house/restrooms.
Spider Dogs For Campfire CookingDon't make plain old hotdogs over the fire when you are camping, make SPIDER-DOGS! Place hot dog on a flat surface. At one end, cut lengthwise all the way through to about 1/3 of the way up the hot dog.
Plan and Freeze Food for CampingI plan meals ahead of time for my camping trip, buying any food Items I can on sale and freezing meat. I also prepare and freeze some items to save on the amount of ice I'll need to buy and the room needed to put in ice while still keeping the food safe to eat.
Stay Dry When Tent CampingGoing on a camping Holiday? Great! But don't forget to bring a light-weight blue foam ground mattress to place under you when you sleep, and also a plastic sheet to place over your tent.
Easy Omlets For CampingThis tip is for use when camping outdoors. Get a ziplock bag, add a few eggs (w/o shell) into the bag, add shredded cheese, chopped onions, etc., whatever you like in your omelets.
Tips For A Great Camping AdventureBuild a good fire at night, it keeps the bugs away. Take all the ingredients for s'mores, a must have for camping. And don't forget the marshmallow sticks.
Keep Camp Pots From Boiling OverWhen cooking over an open camp fire, place a stick or one strand of spaghetti across the top of pot to keep it from boiling over.
Homemade Mosquito RepellentUse equal amounts of pure vanilla and water in a squirt bottle. Works great for children too!
Using a Wok When CampingFor camping, my husband (who is Chinese) and I only took a small wok, camping stove and one pot for cooking equipment.
Egg Sandwiches When CampingUse canning rings to make round egg patties for egg sandwiches. Just put a canning jar ring on your skillet, add the egg contents inside the ring and cook until the egg has solidified. Apply a little cooking oil to the ring to prevent sticking.
Washing Hands at the CampsiteHere's a tip for washing your hands at a campsite when there is no faucet. Hang a one gallon milk jug to a low sturdy limb and make a hole in the bottom and plug the hole with a golf tee or a cork. Then fill the jug with water. Wash hands by removing the plug.
Cooler TipsIf you are bringing meat in a cooler that will not be cooked soon, freeze it before putting it in the cooler. Cans of concentrated juice can be brought along to help keep items cool as well, just be sure to put each can in its own ziplock bag in case it leaks.
Baby Wipe Clean Up When CampingAfter a day of camping, spraying bug spray, and using sunscreen give your self a quick bath using baby wipes before you hop into your sleeping bag. Save the baby wipes and they can be used to wipe up the tent floor before you pack it away.
Bringing Electronic Devices When CampingIf you are bringing electronic devices or flashlights, remove the batteries before packing and store them in a ziplock bag. That way if something accidentally gets flipped on, you won't run down your batteries.
Make a Master List for CampingThis tip is for your new recreation section. On one of our camping trips, I took the time to write down everything we had brought with us, tips about how we had packed that had worked or had not worked, and items we forgot.
Camping Cooking TipsTips for cooking when camping. Post your tips.
Homemade Camping Picnic TableWe found a pattern for a picnic table constructed from 1 piece of 3/4 inch plywood. It will seat 4-6 people and is small enough to fit in the back of a SUV.
Making Ice Last LongerCover the ice in a picnic cooler with foil to help it last longer. Keep water in your canteen cooler by wrapping the canteen in foil.
Frisbee for Reinforcing Paper PlatesA Frisbee will add support to paper plates when the plate is place inside the Frisbee.
Camp Clothes Washing MachineMake a camp washing machine with a five gallon bucket and a toilet plunger. The plunger does a good job of agitating the water.
A Flag or Marker For Your TentWhen you are camping all the tents look alike to a kid. So that they always know where their tent is, attach a flag type identifier on the tent as high as you can.
Organized Pre-packed MealsIf you organize your meals by measuring ingredients ahead of time you can save yourself a lot of time. It makes meal preparation a snap and ensures that you don't pack a lot of extra ingredients.
Homemade Waterproof MatchesHere are a couple of ways to create your own waterproof stick matches for camping trips. Melt a small amount of paraffin wax in a double boiler and dip your the match head in the melted wax, then let dry. Or, coat the match head with clear nail polish.
Soaping the Outside of Campfire PotsAlways take soap with you. Of course you can clean up with it, but it is also useful for protecting your pans from smoke and fire damage.
Marking Pans, Dishes and Utensils For Group Picnics Or CampingWhen we go picnicking/camping with other families, we usually mix cooking and eating utensil together for eating and dishwashing. Saves on water and fuel.
Best Tips for Enjoying the BackCountry in the RainIf you spend any amount of time in the backcountry at all, it will rain on you. Remember this - rain is a good thing; without it there wouldn't be much backcountry to enjoy.
Camping As A Frugal VacationFor a very cheap vacation when you've just married and young, why don't you go camping in your own state. Buy a tent when the season is over and borrow fishing poles or buy them at flea markets.
Campfire TipWhen building a campfire, dampen the ground around the perimeter of (but not in) the fire pit to reduce the possibility of sparks and flying embers catching ground cover on fire. And, never line your fire with wet or damp rocks or stones as they can heat up and explode.
