Camping Preparations

By Andrew Clarke

Summer/Winter Sports Sales Manager

Night Time at Crosby Manitou State Park, MN

Many campers had their first camping experience as part of the Boy/Girl Scouts of America.  Because these organizations introduce so many to camping, Joe's Sporting Goods offers 10% off retail to any scouts when gearing up for the next adventure. Whether it's a glorified “car” camping experience or two weeks backpacking in the back country of New Mexico, scouting has been working hard to keep camping a mainstay in our technological age.  One issue I see often when gearing people up for a trip is what gear to bring on a camp out.  Depending on if you are car camping for a weekend at a state park with your family or backpacking for a week in Isle Royale with a few friends, your gear list will vary on where you are going and what you are expecting to face on your journey.  Though there are a number of lists out there (we are no exception to that) to give you ideas on what kinds of camping gear to bring, there are a few truth's learned from my own days hoofing it on the hiking trails to make any camping experience a success.

Isle Royale, MI

One of the most important things to keep in mind is something I learned from my own Boy Scout days… Cotton Kills.  While cotton is a comfortable material at home, when it gets wet, it stays wet.  Cotton is hard to dry and cold when the sun sets.  This is where nylon, polyester, fleece, and other synthetic fibers come into play.  Any of these synthetic or blended soft goods dry quickly when wet, are lighter weight, and can still keep you insulated even when wet.  Wool is a perfect natural material with the same properties as fleece and other synthetic materials and has never let me down, even after falling in a river.

Base Camp, Philmont Scout Ranch, NM

Next, you will want to make sure that you bring only the things that you need.  Pack ahead of time and shake your gear down to make sure everything is working as it should so you don’t get surprised when you arrive at your camp site moments before a rainstorm hits.  Leave the tech toys at home.  It does not matter if you are going to the Superior Hiking Trail or even a drive-in site at William O’Brien; make sure that the things you bring will help you enjoy your time outside.  When you stop and enjoy the world around you, all of the problems you once faced melt away and you have a sort of freedom that otherwise would be lost to the electronics you play with at home every day.

Crosby Manitou Park, MN: preparing for a cool night

Finally, when you are all packed up and your trip has ended, Leave No Trace.  Police your camp site(s) one last time before taking off and ensure that you did not leave anything behind.  Even small things like a misplaced tent steak to a piece of Pop Tart wrapper from that morning’s breakfast need to be picked up.  The Leave No Trace's motto is “Take only pictures and leave only footprints.”  This motto is LNT's core principle and allows the next group (like you) to enjoy the land just as the people before you.

Deep in the forest at Philmont Scout Ranch, NM

There is a lot to take in when you go outside and rough it.  For a final bit of food for thought, the two things to make any trip a success is to prepare you and your gear and most importantly, have fun.  Some of the greatest memories you can make are those that are set apart from your norm. 

And until next time, GET OUTDOORS!