A Camper’s To-Do List A great summer getaway with the family is spending days at a campsite, taking pleasure from Mother Nature: the scenery, the flowers and the wildlife. While being excited for the whole trip, it is most important to prepare for the best, and the worst, things that nature can give us. The ultimate camper’s check list should be categorized into the following items: Personals, Camping Essentials, First Aid Kit, Clothing, Children and Baby Supplies, Sleeping, Kitchen Utensils and Equipments, Camping Fire and Before-Leaving-Home List. 1. Personals would include grooming and hygiene kit such as shampoo, soap, insect repellant (which one cannot do without!), toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, deodorant, towels, toilet paper, lip balm, sun block, sun glasses and a trusty sewing kit. 2. Camping Essentials would include driver’s license, money, ID card, map, compass, flashlights and battery packs, lantern, bulbs, water, rope, clothespin, clothesline, radio, canteen, clock, camera, lots of film, binoculars, lounge chair, foldable table, tent repair gear, pocket knife and a lighter. 3. A good First Aid Kit should have the necessary medicines for fever, headaches, flu, allergy and stomach ulcer.  Antibiotics cream, antiseptic and band aids for wound.  Tweezers should also be there to take out splinters.  Pocket tissues are advisable. 4. Clothing should include a cozy pairs of sweat pants and shirt, sweater, thermals, gloves, jacket, pants, underwear, socks of varying thickness, pajamas, swimsuit, t-shirts, tank tops, bandannas, hats, sandals, sneakers and hiking boots. 5. Children and Baby Supplies depends on the child that will go camping.  Babies would need lots of baby food, milk, bottles, pacifier, diapers and baby wipes, bibs, spoons, high chair, blankets, play pen, stuffed toys, stroller, tub and books,  For bigger kids, games for rainy days and for traveling, toys, pencils, crayons, paper, bucket and shovel, Frisbees, kites and magazines are essential, 6. Sleeping gear would include the tent, poles, mallet, ground cloth, sleeping bags, mattress, pillows, blankets, air pump, rope and stakes. 7. Kitchen Utensils and Equipments would consist of food container, insulator for frozen food, pots and pans, stove, fuel, matches or lighter, disposable plates and utensils, bowls, mugs, coffee pot, thermos, aluminum foil, dish towel, spatula, tongs, bottle and can opener, knife, dish soap, sponge, trash bags, zip lock bags, table cloth and skewers for campfire barbecuing or marshmallow toasting. 8. Camping Fire Checklist would include the kindling, matches, newspaper, fire extinguisher, shovel, ax, wood and the campfire permit. 9. The Before-Leaving-Home List includes locking of all the doors and windows, turning off all the lights and appliances such as the computer, adjusting the thermostat, holding of all mails, watering of plants and making pet arrangements. With these filled-up, the trip will surely be a blast! Camping Must-Haves for a Safe, Worry-Free Trip Planning to go on a camping trip? While there is so much to bring and so much to pack, make sure you don’t forget to take these five camping must-haves with you to ensure that you have a safe, enjoyable trip: A Compass One of the worst and most dangerous things that could happen to you and your group on a camping trip is to find yourselves lost in the forest, unable to determine where to go and how to get there. To avoid such a troublesome situation, make sure that you have a compass at hand to help you find your way to your campsite. It would be best if each of the members of your camping group has his compass. That way, in case one of you becomes separated from the group, he might be able to find his way back. A Map This camping must-have goes hand-in-hand with the compass. So that you don’t lose your way while hiking to or from your group’s campsite, make sure that you have a map of the camping area, along with your compass, to help you find your way. And before you start your camping trip, make sure to review your map, taking note of the trails your group must take in order to reach your campsite. As a final reminder on maps, be sure to keep yours from getting wet or dirty – they get damaged easily, so cover them with plastic if possible, in order to protect them from the elements. A First Aid Kit Sometimes no matter how careful we are accidents are still bound to happen, especially when we’re camping in the great outdoors – which is why the first aid kit is a camping must-have. What exactly to store in your first aid kit is up to you, but some common first aid kit items include bandages, aspirin, and water purifying tablets.  Also, be sure to check the expiration dates on the medicine contained in your first aid kit. A Fire Starter (Preferably a box of matches or a lighter) It can get really cold in the outdoors, especially at the onset of dusk, when you will most likely need to start a fire. Matches or lighters are ideal campfire starters, so make sure to bring a couple of them with you when you go camping. Matches in particular should be protected from getting wet, so keep them in a water-proof bag or container. In case you’re camping with children, be sure to keep your fire starters away from their reach to avoid accidents. Keep these must-haves handy when you go camping and you’re sure to have a worry-free trip.