Even an experienced camper, will always find a few things that he forget or wished he'd bring along. So, the first thing to do when you get home, after a long hot shower, is to troubleshoot your camping experience and write a list of things that you will need for next camping trip.

Plan all your meals before you leave, making a list of every ingredient you'll need. This way you won't forget anything, and you'll be sure to bring the right amount of food.  

Put your food in the car or in a lidded box at night or whenever you leave the campsite in order to keep the forest animals out of your food supply. 

If hiking-in camping, bring along a burlap bag and rope. Use the burlap bag to store your food and use the rope to tie and secure it from a branch at least 10 feet high and ten feet out, away from the trunk of the tree to keep animals away from your food supply.

Mosquitoes and biting flies are attracted to dark colored clothing so wear light colors. Light colors are also cooler in the summer time.

Camping Checklist

The following is a checklist of things frequently used on a camping adventure. It may not be necessary to take all of these items, but going over a list like this will help you remember what is needed and what to leave behind.

Air Mattress
Batteries
Camera
Heater
Coffee Pot
Compass
Cooking Utensils
Cooler
Dish Pan - Pot Scrubbers
Eating Utensils
First Aid Kit
Flares/Mirror (emergency devices)
Flashlights
Folding Chairs/Stools
Folding Table
Fuel
Ground Cloth
Hand Ax
Ice/Ice Substitutes
Insect Repellent
Jug of Water
Knife
Lantern
Lighter
Lantern Mantles
Maps
Matches & Waterproof Container
Pad, pen or pencil
Plastic Zipper Bags
Prescription Medicine
Rope, cords, or wire
Shovel (folding type)
Sleeping Bags
Snakebite Kit
Soap
Stakes
Stove
Sunglasses
Suntan Oil or Lotion
Tablecloth
Tent, Poles
Toilet Paper
Toiletries
Tool Kit - Hammer & Nails
Towels - Paper & Bath
Trash Bags
Water Container/Purification Tablets