What to bring?

What to bring depends entirely on what you plan to do, where you plan to do it, and what you and your camping buddy already has. Rather than rattle off an extremely long and boring list, I'll just direct you to my favorite sites for newbies and my list of must haves,

REI Ten Essentials: REI is an outdoor store with a grate reputation for customer service and customer education. Their Ten Essentials list is considered one of the best guides by many outdoor enthusiasts.

Real Simple Camping Checklist: If you like organization or are craving an easy way to check off your items, this site might just be for you. Real Simple is a magazine that gears itself toward helping people put a little more calm and order into their hectic lives. However, some of these items may be best left at home, like the axe. Use your best judgement and ask REI if your not sure.

Backpacking 101 Gear Lists: Pick the list that matches your specific type of trip to see what is recommended. Choices range from day hiking, swamp, mountain, desert, snow, and paddling.

Check out this article from Today's Parents for kid friendly ideas.

And check out my How Much post for a few more links and tips as well.

KL's Essentials & Tips:

The items I forget and regret the most: a hat and rain jacket

1. First Aid Kit & Whistle
These items fall under my EMERGENCY category. Have you ever been lost in the woods? I have, while I was in a large group and a short distance from a house and even received directions from kind people, being turned around and uncertain is NOT a good feeling. Take a whistle. It will help people find you. If you have conditions like migraines, asthma, seizures, or diabetes don't forget your meds or supplies, even on the shortest of walks. 

2. Shelter

Remember this handy rule of thumb for survival

3 minutes without air

3 hours without shelter (think heatstroke and hypothermia conditions, sneaky life threatening illnesses that happen when you least expect)

3 days without water

3 weeks without food

Take an emergency blanket at the very least.

3. Water

I recommend Smart Water bottles. They don't crumple as easily as the eco-friendly brands so they keep their shape for multiple refills. They also fit a lot of the camping market's specialty products.

4. Food

Make sure to take some salty snacks and protein (nut, cheese, jerky, etc.) options.

5. Sleeping Gear

Inflatable mattresses, like the kind you use when your brother comes to visit and sleeps on the floor, are supper comfortable, but heavy and cold (very cold!). I use them when car camping but place a cheap ensolite pad between you and it. Easy to buy from you local Walmart or camping store.

6. Light

Take a head lamp or small flashlight. Double check that the batteries work. The first mistake that most new hikers and campers make is predicting how long it will take to get somewhere. Hiking out in the dark is not always recommended, but sometimes necessary. Walking to the bathroom at night is also necessary. Just saying, bring a light

7. Extra Clothing

Even if you just leave it in the car on a day hike, take this precaution. You would be surprised how little you'll use it until the one trip you fall into the mud and your friend says "Let's go to Cracker Barrel after the hike!"

8: Hair Brush/Hair Tie and Finger Nail Clippers

This is my personal extravagance, and if you have long hair I definitely recommend a brush and extra hair tie. Definitely.

9: Camping Entertainment

A must have if you have kids or plan to spend your whole day relaxing in your hammock or tent. My go to favorites are books, journals, cameras, and games. Size and type just depend on who I'm going with and what style of camping I'm doing.

10: A Map and an Exit Strategy

Plan for an emergency. I remember being sick as a dog on more than one trip. Whether you need to know where the nearest drug store is or the quickest route out of a primitive hike-in-site, these are definite must haves.

What Do You Mean By "Camping"?

So someone talked you into trying camping, again. Maybe he or she is imagining beautiful vistas and calm days, and your imagining mosquitoes and body aches from sleeping on the ground. You're thinking back to you last camping experience in middle school, whith your dad or church group, and how you came home covered in poison ivy. Or your just wondering how someone expects a girl to use the restroom, with no restroom! Possibly you just feel like it's time to try a new activity (Go adventurous you!)

Well, first find out exactly what your camping partner has in mind for the trip. There are as many different ways to camp as there are people in the world. 

"Car Camping"- Easily done at most state parks. Drive up to your campsite, a firm foundation of gravel or packed dirt, and set up your tent next to a picnic table and fire ring. Call ahead for reservations and check the map for the specific spot you would like (hint-don't take the ones next to the bathhouse unless you are a sound sleeper). Expect lots of people around you, but they mind their own business.

"Primitive Camping"- This means no running water and possibly no restroom-like place. I personal choose locations with an outhouse or composting toilet, but that's how I prefer to roll. These spots might be drive up, but usually require a bit of walking (distances vary GREATLY, check the park map!). Expect these locations to have other people camping next to you, just not as many.

"Back Country"- This is where you hike out on a trail, or blaze your own if you are experienced (trail blazing is NOT recommended by me!!!). You'll have to scout your own site for the night and your restroom is the great outdoors. Look for a private spot with a nice tree. Not recommended for beginners, even with an experienced guide.

"Cabin"- possible misnomer. You can reserve a night in a cabin at some parks. These are usually the height of affordable nature luxury with real beds, power, running water, and possibly TV. Be careful though, some deep wood hiking trails have cabins or shelters. These are just wooden structures in the woods to protect you from the elements. Price is usually a good way to determine what you're getting. 

"Lodges and Resorts"- aka hotels, or as good as. If the park is big enough and draws enough revenue, it might just have a hotel where you can have an entire stay in style. This is a great option for families with very young children, elderly members, or medical conditions. National Parks with hotels: Shenandoah, Yellowstone, Death Valley, and Grand Teton National Park. Rates tend to exceed a typical family's weekend fun price range, but may be doable for a planned vacation. Check out the parks first since rates vary. You may have to plan a year or two in advance for this camping perk.

If what your buddy, or overenthusiastic inner adventurer, decides is a little too much for you, don't be afraid to ask them to adjust on your first trip. You can always try it their way later.

Where to camp?

State Parks and State Natural areas are a great place to start. State Parks can offer a wide variety of camping experiences so your likely to find some style that will fit your needs. Locations designated as "Parks" are usually geared more towards recreation and family fun, so expect there to be bathrooms, showers, drive up camping, and RV sites available. Playgrounds are fairly common and some have lodges and cabins for use, and I mean real ones, with real beds. Always call or check online first; not all "Parks" are the same. "Natural Areas" are usually a good bet for primitive camping as these locations tend to be more focused on hiking and nature experiences. Most of these locations are found a short drive some a "civilized" store so if you discover an urgent need for say...sunscreen or aloe, it will be a short break and easy trip.
Do your research first by checking your state parks website or calling the visitors center. My two favorite places for primitive camping (which for me includes an outhouse or composting toilet) is a Natural Area while the other is a State Park. And the location I live closet too at the moment is a Natural Area with only drive up campsites as no back-country camping is aloud (this way campers can't destroy the fragile plants and disturb the animals).

Cost varies from state-to-state as do registration procedures. But again ALWAYS CHECK AHEAD! I desperately wanted a picture of my favorite camping place, Grundy Forest, and discovered that after I had moved away my favorite camping spot had began charging a small fee and requiring reservations. Still worth it! If your in the Tennessee and North Alabama are I highly recommend checking out South Cumberland State Park and its wide variety of location and activities.