Enjoy your next campfire!

* Clear area of all debris/avoid area with overhanging branches
* Construct a fire ring surrounded by rocks
* Have a bucket of water, shovel and a fire extinguisher nearby and ready to put out a fire
* Gather wood and stack in separate piles away from fire area. Do not use green or freshly cut wood.
o There are three different kinds of wood needed for a successful campfire
+ Tinder – small twigs, wood shavings, dry leaves or grass, dry needles, bark or dryer lint. This should start to burn immediately with a lighted match.
+ Kindling – small sticks 1″ around or less
+ Fuel – larger wood that keeps the fire going
* Elements required for a fire to burn properly. When one of these three things are removed, the fire stops burning. Example – Water cools fuel below ignition point, dirt cuts off the oxygen supply.
o Fuel- material that will burn
o Heat – enough heat to bring fuel to ignition
o Air – to provide oxygen to burning process
* Start with a couple hands full of tinder loosely piled in the center of your fire ring.
* With your back to the wind and match protected by the cup of your hand, ignite tinder with a match. Discard used match into the fire.
* Slowly add more tinder. You may need to blow softly at the base of the fire.
* Once the tinder has fully started to burn, slowly add some smaller pieces of kindling. Keep close together but allow space for air.
* Gradually increase the size of the kindling you add to the fire.
* When you have a good fire going , add the fuel one piece at a time as described below. Allow for adequate air flow.
* Types of Fires
o Tepee Fire – good for quick cooking since the heat is concentrated in one spot. Lay the fuel over your kindling like a tepee.
o Crisscross Fire – good for a long lasting fire with a lot of coals. Excellent for a campfire. Lay the fuel over the kindling in a crisscross pattern.
* Safety with Fire
o NEVER build a fire near tents or other flammable items.
o NEVER use flammable fluids to start a fire.
o NEVER leave fire unattended.
o Build a fire only as big as you need.
o Make sure to completely extinguish fire.
+ Scatter ashes or embers out.
+ Sprinkle with water. Stir with a stick. Repeat.
+ Drench charred logs.
+ Repeat until everything is cold.

As our society becomes more and more technological, cold and urban, ever more people are starting to feel the urge to get away from it all, take a break from modern life and go back to the way things were for our ancestors. Perhaps this explains the rising popularity of camping holidays, the ultimate experience of going back to nature and living in the wild, with only a basic structure for shelter and a fire for cooking.

Of course, lots of people don’t exactly do it that way. Camper vans are popular, as is ‘car camping’, and all sorts of electrical appliances have been adapted for camping – there are even camp microwaves. Most people consider at least modern toilets and showers to be a campsite necessity, regardless of whether it’s really true to the spirit of the activity. Camping doesn’t really have to be an outdoors thing if you don’t want it to be, as many camper vans aren’t that much different to houses on wheels, and many families stay in them for a large part of their holiday. It’s all about doing what you feel comfortable with.

For hardcore campers, though, the truest form of camping is camping which teaches survival skills, such as eating-wild caught food, finding your way around by the position of the sun and making fire. You would have to be very hungry to eat the animals that can be found in the woods of most countries, however, and for this reason camping with facilities and packed food is far more popular.

Most campsites are in woods or open fields, and are often publically-owned – if you want to find one, they should be clearly marked on maps for walkers and on road signs for cars. It’s up to you what you take with you, but most people will prefer to have at least a tent, sleeping bags, torches, and either a tool for making firewood or portable oven where campfires aren’t allowed.

We’ve all had tons of fun playing I Spy or taking part in a camping scavenger hunt. There are plenty of board games that are ideal for playing by the campfire and a deck of cards is a must have on any camping trip. But what about some fun camping games just for adults?

Traditional camping sports, like horseshoes, volleyball, and shuffleboard are always fun, but here are a few creative camping games for adults and older teens that are sure to bring lots of enjoyment, as well as a few laughs. Coleman paintball gear is also a fun choice for adult outdoor entertainment.

Mr. B’s Shave

Give everyone a balloon and a marker. Blow up the balloons and instruct everyone to draw Mr. B a face. Apply shaving cream to each balloon and give everyone a plastic knife for their razor. The first person to shave Mr. B without popping him is winner.

Where’s the Grapes?

First, be sure you have plenty of table space for each participant. Put 5 grapes on a plate and heap whipped cream over the top until the grapes are hidden. Place a plate in front of each participant, have them put their hands behind their backs, and see who can uncover and eat their grapes first. Be prepared with lots of napkins for this adult camping game.

Popping Crazy

Before the game, write a selection of crazy actions on strips of paper, like “cluck like a chicken,” “do the twist,” or “imagine your Elvis and perform a song”. Put each action inside a separate balloon and blow them up. All participants should sit, facing one another, in a large circle. Play some upbeat music and start passing the balloons from person to person around the circle. After a few minutes, stop the music. Each time the music stops, everyone should put the balloon they are holding in their chair and sit on it with all their weight for about 5 seconds. Wait for those who popped their balloon to perform their crazy action, then start the music back and continue.

Things That Go Bump in the Night

This camping game for adults is so much fun that you may want to invite your neighboring campers to join in! You need at least 4 people, but the game is more fun the more people involved. You will need a flashlight and should play at night with all your camping lanterns off. Designate one person as the curator and another as the visitor, everyone else is a statue. Statues can move through the dark, but must be completely quiet. The curator should have the flashlight and he and the visitor will walk around trying to catch the statues moving. If a statue is seen moving, heard bumping into something, or talks he becomes a visitor as well and joins the curator in eliminating other statues.

Balloon Lift

This is another camping game for adults that promises hilarious fun! Divide everyone into teams of two and place a balloon on the ground in front of each pair. The object of the game is to pick the balloon up, then pop it between the two people, but without using any hands! The first team to pop their balloon wins. Teams that use their hands are eliminated.

Any camper who claims never to make a mistake in the bush is either handling the truth carelessly or doesn’t get out there too often. No matter how many years we’ve been at it, all of us are guilty of an occasional “error of judgement”.

But is that such a problem? Certainly not. If we admit to the blunder, carefully think through it, and try to salvage a lesson from it, each mistake becomes a more effective learning experience than any number of trouble-free camping trips.

It seems to me, though, a few campground blunders crop up more frequently than others, particularly among newbies of the outdoor scene. Here are seven bloopers you should watch out for:

Mistake #1: Poor choice of equipment

No doubt the earliest trap of all for enthusiastic but inexperienced campers lurks among that vast array of equipment and hardware that confronts them in a well-stocked outdoor supplier’s store. It’s right here where they are most vulnerable to the well-meaning but poorly informed — and usually equally inexperienced — sales assistant. Possible results are inappropriate, insufficient and unnecessary camping gear.

Solution: Hasten slowly. Hold off buying too much stuff until you get a feel for the outdoor lifestyle and activities that most appeal to you and your family. Read, ask, look around; maybe hire some gear to see if it suits. After each trip, review your equipment options, then add (or discard) according to your needs, wants and outdoor aspirations.

Mistake #2: A tough first trip

By leaping straight into the deep end — perhaps a week-long trip through remote and uninhabited desert country — it is possible that you or your family may never want to go camping again. Unfamiliar equipment, seemingly hostile terrain, lack of established routines and very little skill add up to a trip you all, quite probably, would prefer to forget.

Solution: Take your camping one step at a time, progressively developing each trip from the one before. For example, try a shake-down trip, first up, to a not-too-distant country town where there’s a commercial campground or RV park. Next, visit national parks that offer basic facilities and amenities. Finally, venture into the “real bush” or further into the backblocks where higher levels of self-sufficiency are necessary.

Mistake #3: Traveling too far or too fast

Many outdoor people fail to distinguish between camping and touring. They spend maybe a week of their two-week camping vacation just getting to and coming from. Or they travel on such a tight driving schedule that the whole trip becomes one frantic dash from campsite to campsite. Isn’t this meant to be a holiday?

Solution: When touring, take time to see and experience the country. A good daily maximum is 300-400 km. On the other hand, when off on a camping trip, try to spend no more than 25 percent of total holiday time travelling. Plan your route or your destination accordingly.

Mistake #4: No stand-up-height shelter

With the increased popularity of small, low-profile tents, more and more campers get caught with no other form of shelter. A two or three person hike tent is fine for sleeping, but that’s all they’re good for. Who wants to spend a day of foul weather hunched and huddled in a space the size of a dog box. After all, no matter where you go, one day it’s going to rain. Every so often, it will bucket down.

Solution: As well as your sleeping accommodation, take along a large tarp or awning to string up, at head height, between trees, vehicles, poles or whatever to provide day to day living space during pouring rain or blazing sun. Go for quality and sturdy construction, with sufficient room for all in your group, plus a bit of camp furniture.

Mistake #5: Unsuitable toilet arrangements

If there’s one thing that’s inevitable in the city or the bush, it’s the need for a toilet. On unimproved campsites for a night or two, the camp shovel and a long walk is often adequate. But always use the shovel. There’s not much worse than finding toilet waste around the perimeter of a campsite — the hygiene implications don’t bear thinking about! Unfortunately, this is so common I can only conclude that few campers give toilet arrangements any forethought at all.

Solution: Add a small shovel to your camping gear and take it along on every trip. For camps of four days or more, a bucket-style chemical toilet will be more convenient, but you still, eventually, need to bury it. Indeed, in some areas, taking all forms of waste back out with you is now the only legal option, so prepare accordingly.

Mistake #6: No campfire preparations

A cosy campfire — where they’re allowed — is an integral part of camping’s attraction, so it’s always a surprise to witness the blundering, half-hearted attempts of many new campers. Scrounging for damp wood, huffing and puffing (even dousing their meagre efforts with petrol!) they usually finish up with more smoke and frayed tempers than flames and comfort. Believe it or not, most campsites — particularly the popular areas — rarely provide sufficient kindling let alone dry firewood.

Solution: Plan ahead. Collect enough dry firewood and kindling for your first campfire, either before you leave home or along the way. A bow saw and an empty carton is all you need. Also, a supply of waterproof matches, newspaper, and firelighters should be packed on board where you can get to them soon after arrival.

Mistake #7: Inadequate refrigeration

It seems to me, whoever came up with the idea to carry an icebox on roof racks or in an open trailer is a couple of cans short of a six-pack. He’s probably the same guy who buys a bag of party ice for a long-weekend camping trip and wonders why the steaks are sloshing about in a cooler of bloodied water by Saturday night. Getting the most out of an icebox requires a bit of thought and careful nurturing.

Solution: If possible, use block ice. (Make your own in the freezer at home.) If party ice is your only option, choose bags that are frozen solid and leave them unbroken. Carry more ice than you think you need. Better still, find a supplier of dry ice. Always carry and store the icebox in a shaded spot, or cover it with a heat-reflective tarp. Keep a layer of cans or watertight containers across the bottom to keep food (in containers!) out of the water.

Don’t be too surprised if, in your early camping days, you bump up against a lot more mistakes than these. But take heart: Each error you make eventually adds to your outdoor savvy. And although there will always be campers with more experience than you, there are even more with considerably less. Watch and learn from their mistakes.

Did you think all camping enthusiasts sat at home and bemoaned their fate during the rainy season? Nothing could be further than the truth! Veteran, hard-core campers don’t let a little or even a lot of rain dampen their adventurous spirit. Much like Gene Kelly who picked up his umbrella and went ‘Singing and Dancing in the Rain’, true campers pick up their tents and happily go ‘Camping in the Rain’. And if they are lucky, the rain may just let up long enough to let them indulge in some rambunctious singing and dancing around the campfire at night.

While camping in the rain is certainly no picnic, with having to endure slushy puddles and wet socks; it can be fun if you carry along the right attitude. Think of every puddle you step into as an amusing story to regale others with at future campfires. Soaking wet, ‘putting-up-the-tent-in-pouring-rain’ stories sure beat ‘putting-up-the-tent-under-the-moonlight’ stories any day.

Choosing the right tent and packing the right gear can help make your rainy camping trip a tad drier, at least while you sleep at night.

Choosing the Right Tent

Choosing a good quality, rain-proof tent is most important. You may be able to endure anything a rainy camping trip throws up at you while you are awake, but there’s nothing faintly amusing or interesting about a tent that sprouts a leak when you are tired and fast asleep. Read the label carefully and ensure the coating of the tent is waterproof; not water-resistant.

Tents with ‘bathtub floors’ are especially designed for camping in the rain. The entrance way forms a lip and is not as flat as the rest of the floor. These tents also have a full fly sheet, which has a sufficient overhang so as to prevent the mud from getting splashed upward.

When camping in the rains, chances you are will be spending a lot of time indoors. Buying a large-sized tent will help you and your camping buddies stay sane longer.

Packing the Right Gear

Always carry one or even two spare set of clothes, a towel and a change of shoes. Wrap them all up in waterproof bags so that they stay dry no matter what. Other handy necessities are the same as for any camping trip in dry weather and would include a first-aid kit, torch and most important of all, a lighter. Soggy matches do not a bonfire make.

A pair of rubber slip-ons would come in really handy if you need to make short trips to check on something outside the tent. They are easy to slip-on and slip-off at the front door.

Though an umbrella may sound like a strange choice for a camping trip, it is invaluable for keeping things dry when moving them from the car to the tent.

Consider carrying along a tarp to lay on the ground under the tent. This helps protect the floor of the tent from tearing and letting water get inside. Make sure the tarp is smaller than the tent’s floor and is completely under it. A larger tarp will collect the rain water that runs off your tent and cause it to collect between the tarp and the tent floor.

A pack of cards and a couple of board games are all you need to round off your camping trip in rainy weather.

How much effort you put into adequately planning your camping trip will determine how successful (and enjoyable) your trip will be. Though some of these tasks may seem tedious and tiresome, the more often you put these tasks into practice the more fun you will have doing them.

Here are just a few suggestions for you to try:

1. Gather all your camping equipment, etc, in a corner of a room and keep adding to it as you think of it. Start weeks in advance if you’re new to camping.

2. For easy storage in your vehicle, use basket shelves.

3. Use sports bags for clothes instead of cumbersome suitcases.

4. Place items at easy reach that you will have to use first when you arrive at your camping ground.

5. Place heavier items in the bottom of your car boot and lighter items on the top.

6. Make sure all heavy items are secure to avoid any nasty incidents when traveling.

7. It is far more important to have equipment that is durable and reliable than the flashiest and shiniest new-fangled way out gear.

8. Pack binoculars.

9. After every dinner under the stars discuss what the next day’s menu will be.

10. Always take a good first aid book with you.

11. Carry a comprehensive first aid kit for trips to uninhabited areas.

12. Always carry a first aid kit whether you are going on a day trip or an extended journey.

13. Consider carrying anti-biotics in case anyone in your group is prone to infections eg. Ear, nose and throat, etc.

14. Consult your doctor for medications for vomiting and diarrhoea, etc.

15. Consider doing a first aid course if no-one else in your group is qualified.

16. Be well-versed in what to do in the event of spider or snake bite.

17. Fit your vehicle with a CB or UHF radio.

18. Keep bug repellants away from all plastics. They actually will dissolve plastic glasses, Swiss army knife handles, etc.

19. Lightly soak a cotton bandana in insect repellant and tie it around your neck to keep bugs clear of your neck.

20. Lessen the pain of mosquito bites with household ammonia and water. Apply a wet salt pack to hornet, wasp and bee stings and allow it to dry.

Years ago, camping food was seen as boring, simple, and anything but fun and attractive to look at. However, those times are long gone. It’s possible for you to enjoy the same quality of meals you now enjoy in your home kitchen in your campfire kitchen with little fuss.

Remember that the number one priority of every single person on a camping trip is to have fun. Cooks should not have to worry whether they will end up slaving in front of a dutch oven for hours on end only to create an inedible glob of something that’s supposed to be edible – that no-one will eat, and will leave your friends and families all growling like bears with sore paws for the remainder of the trip.

If you can put up with being asked “Are we there yet?” precisely 57 times on the way, you can be assured that you and your children can have the experience of a lifetime camping together.

A family camping trip with kids is a lot of work but also a lot of fun and the more prepared you are the better time you and your kids will have.

Here are 20 quick and easy ways to entertain children every minute while on a family camping vacation.

1. Hold a selection of secret treasures in a surprise box. Add one or two new ones every day for added enjoyment.

2. Take your video camera. If you don’t have on then think about hiring one.

3. Teach your children about bush survival and safety around the camp site. Encourage help with meal preparation but always supervise them around the fire as it is a very dangerous place.

4. Always bring a bug jar.

5. Bring along some toy zoo animals and let your children create their own zoo in the wild.

6. Bring some glow in the dark necklaces and torches. Bring along glow sticks for night lights. If your children are scared of the dark then tie a glow stick from the top of your tent.

7. Bring a constellation chart and try and find different stars at night.

8. Bring along scrabble, memory games and a deck of cards.

9. Create a scavenger hunt.

10. Have a nature hike giving each child a list of items to collect.

11. Have a flashlight dance in the spotlight.

12. Allocate one soft small bag per child to put their favourite items in like colouring books, pencils, reading books, etc.

13. Have a special children’s tape handy in the car for just that moment when the car (heaven forbid) breaks down, your tyre goes flat, or you get stuck in a traffic jam.

14. Let your children be involved in the planning and if they see places they’d like to go to or explore think of their needs as well. The more well-rounded your trip is the more fun every member of your family will have as a whole. Remember, this is a time for family togetherness so as long as you are together that’s the main thing.

15. Bring along a pack of pipe cleaners which amuse kids for hours. They can turn them into numbers, letters, animals, bugs etc. They’re only limited by their imagination.

16. Let each child create a little camp diary where they can do drawings, write stories, stick in pictures, glue in pieces of nature, etc.

17. Get your children involved by collecting water, grating cheese, setting the picnic blanket, collecting firewood, washing the vegetables, etc. You can even create a little competition and split chores into groups and keep a tally for your whole trip.

18. Bring along a couple of flashlights for some after dark exploring. Remember at night there is a whole different world of wildlife out there.

19. Keep teenagers happy by letting them bring Game Boys, walkmans, their favourite books and magazines, etc. Teenagers are renowned for wanting to spend time alone so let them. They’ll usually come out when they’ve had enough of their own company and if they’ve done something they wanted to do there’s less chance that they’ll whinge (hopefully).

20. Allow each member of the family to choose a meal and help fix it.

If you are planning to spend some time trekking and camping out in the wilderness, there will be some additional camping gear that you will need to take along with you. If your time away is going to be an extended hike through the great outdoors for several days and you plan on sleeping outdoors, there may be other additional items that you may want to consider adding to your backpack. Instead of rushing out and buying your camping gear at the last minute, plan your camping trip ahead and only purchase the camping gear that you will need. This will give you time to shop around for the best quality at the best price.

The amount of camping gear that you will need to take will depend on several factors
1. The length of time you will be away. If it is a short time such as a few days or over night then you will only need a small amount of food and clothing. Cooking can be kept to a minimum. For longer periods away you will have to take more food and better cooking equipment.
2. The time of year is an important consideration. If it is in the summer months then light clothing is all that is required. If it is in the cooler months then you will require heavier, warmer clothing and better rain wear. Remember to always take good quality rainwear regardless of the weather forecast.
3. Are you camping out in the wilderness or are you staying in hikers cabins. This will determine whether you need to carry a suitable tent.
Always remember to share your camping gear between your hiking partners to balance the load.

The most important piece of camping gear that you will need is your backpack. This needs to be large enough to carry everything that you will need for your time away. Do not buy the cheapest backpack but look for the best one that will sit on your back comfortably. Make sure that it is light enough. Most camping store owners will show you how to adjust the backpack to balance the weight correctly. Another tip is to always use a waterproof pack liner. I have yet to find a pack that will not leak from consistent rain.

Take plenty of Food and Water

Never make the mistake of loading all of your food for your trek straight out of your pantry into your backpack, such as tinned items or food in a jar. The best food to take is dehydrated meals. Although these meals may not look too appetizing, they will sustain you and they can be a fraction of the weight. Also make sure you take plenty of water. This is important because you need to stay hydrated during your walk and when you camp there may not be any good quality drinking water.

Never take away large quantities of basic items such as sugar or salt. If you work out what quantity you need for each meal and then double it you will be surprised how little you need. Make sure that all of your camping gear is in water proof containers or plastic bags.

The most important thing is not to pack any unnecessary or heavy items of camping gear that you probably will not use, especially on a short trek away. For those weekend stays away in the wilderness, if you do find something that you left at home, then it doesn’t matter. It is only for a day or two and you can not take everything.

There are those who prefer to camp during summer when they can bask on the warmth of the sun, get a tan and take refreshing dips in the nearby lake. On the other hand, there are those who are into the adventure and cool breeze that winter brings and opt to go camping during cold weather. While both are fun and exciting, the downside to the latter option is the difficulty of getting a good night’s sleep.

Before, camping trips done in the middle of cold or in winter used to mean uncomfortable and chilly sleepless nights. But not anymore. Fortunately, there are ways you can do to ensure that you get yourself a comfortable and warm sleep that will rejuvenate and recharge you for the next day’s activities.

First secret in acquiring a good night sleep is to invest on a comfortable sleeping bag that is made of fabrics designed to provide warmth and insulation. Coleman’s line of sleeping bags for example features the ComfortSmart™ technology, which provides thermal efficiency.

Second secret is to wear thick layers of clothing. If it’s too cold and you think you can use even more heat, put on jackets, shirts, and jogging pants that will provide you with the comfort and warmth you need to drift off to a peaceful sleep. It would also help if you have someone to snuggle with since skin to skin contact is often a good source of heat. If not, you can always have a snuggly pillow to hug on to.

Third secret is to purchase a reliable and safe indoor heater that you can use inside your tent. A catalytic heater like the Coleman ProCat™ Portable Catalytic Heater can provide you with flameless warmth that can make sleeping in the coldest type of weather cozy and relaxing. Just be sure you follow the safety guidelines of using this heater like providing sufficient ventilation and keeping the heater at least two feet away from any thing.

Fourth secret is to bring along a tent that is made of durable fabric and tent poles that are strong enough to provide protection against rain, wind and snow. There is nothing worse than a tent toppled over or blown away, leaving you exposed and vulnerable to the cold.

Fifth secret to lull yourself to dreamland is to play classic lullabies or serene songs in your mp3 player or Discman or to read some books. Soft melodies and tunes are useful in calming you and enabling you to rest your mind while reading can also make you sleepy. That’s why it would be a good idea to pack a couple of CDs or paperback pocket books for your listening and reading pleasure. And surely at once, you’ll be sleeping like a baby.

Sixth secret is a drink of hot chocolate or milk before sleeping. This will also likely remind you of your youth and the good old days when mommy or daddy used to bring you a hot drink to make sleeping easier.

With these simple guidelines you can follow, sleeping in cold weather need not be an impossible feat. Just equip yourself with the right camping gears and you’re off to dreamland in no time.

Camping is essentially for those of us who love the outdoors and can do without all of the comforts of home for a short while. However, just loving the outdoors is not enough to guarantee that the experience will be a fun one. The essentials of having fun in the great outdoors are preparation and an open mind. Preparation is easy, if you follow some simple rules.

When you are getting ready to plan a trip, you must select a convenient time that will give you flexibility of one to two days. This will make the trip more about you, and less about your timetable. You may run into weather problems or you may just want to camp for an extra day. Next, choose a location and make it specific. Don’t just choose a county where you saw a campground. Call the campground or the park office and get reservations or information about the time you have allotted. Many parks are happy give you information and tips about what to expect. The most complicated step in preparation is making a list of what to bring. Making a list is essential and your list will change dramatically the more you trips you take.

The first thing you need to put on your list of things to take is the things that will get you there. If you are hiking to a campsite, list the number of backpacks. If you are simply driving to a site, list the number of cars. Then you must plan your shelter and sleeping situation.

Remember, tents are a luxury and heavy to carry. Hikers usually bring a plastic tarp that can shelter up to four people. With a tarp, you can tie it between trees for cover from the elements. Many time you won’t even need that but you can always lay the tarp on the ground to designate a clean sleeping area. After this has been set, you will go over what food you will need. We stress need here. Stray from fresh produce and meets because they spoil easy and their scent attracts animals and insects. Stick to dried food and canned items. Canned items will add weight, but they are more calorie rich and very easy to cook in multiple situations. Most of your food should be snacks, so that you don’t have to cook very much. Trail mix and yogurt covered raisins will fill you up more than you think, and they are a cheap alternative to buying food from camping stores that hike up the price on dried meals.

The last things you will put on your list are what will make you comfortable. Minimal clothing is best. One of each type of outfit is best. One pair of shorts, pants, sweatshirt, tee, and a couple pairs of undergarments including socks is enough. One poncho will take up minimal space. Small LED flash lights will get you around at night if you stray from the fire. Then make sure you have some things to keep you busy. Books, playing cards and a nerf football are all light and can be very entertaining for hours on end. As long as you don’t start dragging along things that aren’t meant for the outdoors, you should be fine. Remember that everything will be at home when you get back. Most importantly make a not of the things you didn’t use and the things you wished you brought. That will make each trip you take more enjoyable and different than the last.