by: Gray Rollins
Camping is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and bring the family together. There are many places you can go to hike, canoe or sightsee. Having the correct camping gear will help make your experience more fun and ensure you are not caught in situations without the proper equipment. Before embarking on your trip, make a list of all supplies you need to ensure everything is packed and ready to go.
Sleeping Arrangements
Decide whether you want to rent an RV, pop-up camper, or use a tent. Using a tent is a fun and inexpensive way to get back to nature. Tents are available at most sporting good stores and can also be found at discount stores. They are easy to set up and are a great way to spend a bit of time bonding when you first get to the camp area. Choose tents that are water resistant, but also bring along a large waterproof tarp to hang over the tent in case there is a lot of rain. Get sleeping bags that are warm and the right size to comfortably fit the individual. Sleeping mats, air mattresses, or folding cots that go under the bag are ways to make sleeping more comfortable. If you opt for an RV or camper, these can be a bit pricier but will better protect you from the elements and will also provide other amenities such as beds, a stove and a refrigerator.
Attire and Food
Do not pack a lot of clothing as space is limited. Choose warm, water resistant clothing and good shoes or hiking boots. Pack several pairs of socks and bring both cool and warm weather clothing even if you are camping in summer. It often gets chilly in the evening. Make sure you have hats and sunglasses to protect you from the sun. Bring coolers to store food and beverages. Pack plenty of water and snacks such as trail mix that will give you energy and are easy to eat.
Supplies
Backpacks will help carry food and water during trips outside the camping areas. Do not pack them too heavily as you may be wearing them for long periods of time. Pack a compass so you can gauge where you are in case you get lost. A flashlight is helpful in case of an emergency or to see at night. Make sure to pack any cookware needed for campfire meals. A tripod that goes over your campfire is a great cooking tool, and the best pans for cooking over a campfire are cast iron. Cast iron is heavy though. If you are going to be doing a lot of hiking and are going to be carrying all your gear, purchase a lightweight cooking vessel. A Swiss Army knife can be handy for many tasks including cutting twigs for a fire or roasting marshmallows. Waterproof matches will help light fires and can be used even if it is rainy. A walking stick can be useful on hikes to help ascend steep slopes and combat fatigue.
Safety
Bring sunscreen and insect repellant to protect you from sun and pests. Apply often for maximum protection. Depending on where you will be camping, you may want to invest in bear spray. This is similar to pepper spray for people but is more powerful. A first aid kit is essential and should never be forgotten. Make sure it is fully supplied. These are available pre-made at many sporting good stores and can also be found in pharmacies. You should also carry plenty of rope. A cellular phone may not always get reception but it is advisable to have one just in case.
Camping is a fun way to spend quality family time. Always make sure you are prepared for emergencies and changes in climate. Keep the bulk of supplies at your campsite and take only what is needed, including emergency supplies, on short treks. Use backpacks to carry food, water and first aid items.
About The Author
Gray Rollins is a featured writer for DreamCamping. To learn more what to take with you while camping, visit http://www.dreamcamping.com/campinggear/ and http://www.dreamcamping.com/gear/campingchecklist/.
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Memory Foam History...Astronauts, Racehorses and Bed Sores
Memory Foam History...Astronauts, Racehorses and Bed Sores
by: Charles "Chuck" Harmon
With all the advertising about memory foam these days, it's hard to imagine that this material has only been in existence for a little over 30 years.
It's difficult to find an exact date when memory foam first came into being, but it was originally formulated during the early days of manned space flight. Most likely, it was in the mid to late 1960's.
The National Aeronautics & Space Administration, aka. NASA, needed a material that would cushion the astronauts from the unparalleled g-forces of launch and re-entry during space missions.
In response the their request, a material was produced, called visco-elastic memory foam.
I've seen dozens of articles explaining what visco-elastic memory foam means and none of them has the same explanation.
The online dictionary gives no definition for the word visco, but the word is derived from viscous,...
Memory Foam History...Astronauts, Racehorses and Bed Sores
Mattresses > Memory Foam History...Astronauts, Racehorses and Bed Sores
Visco Memory Foam Mattress Guide
Visco Memory Foam Mattress Guide
by: Charles "Chuck" Harmon
A visco memory foam mattress gets it's name from the visco-elastic material developed for NASA in the early 1970's in conjunction with the space program.
The astronauts in the space program were facing incredible g-forces, at take-off and re-entry, and the materials that were available, at that time, weren't sufficient to cushion their bodies.
Of course, they weren't looking for a memory foam mattress, they needed seating that was more like a big, overstuffed recliner.
Visco memory foam was developed from foam that had some unique characteristics, such as being open celled and able to return to their original shape and resiliency after being compressed.
You may have seen the commercial with the 30 ton steam roller smashing a mattress flat and how it slowly returns to it's exact original shape...or maybe you're more familiar with the picture of a hand above a mattress...
Visco Memory Foam Mattress Guide
Mattresses > Visco Memory Foam Mattress Guide
Effective Treatment For Fibromyalgia Patients
Effective Treatment For Fibromyalgia Patients
by: Jon Campbell
Fibromyalgia is a perplexing disorder that has just begun to make itself known in the medical community. Because of its wide range of symptoms and often intermittent nature, little is known about effective treatments for the condition, but there is evidence that something as simple as a memory foam mattress or topper can help some FMS patients. www.sleepaidfactory.com
Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread, sometimes debilitating pain in muscles, tendons and other fibrous tissues. Other symptoms may include an overwhelming feeling of fatigue, and difficulty with concentration and complex mental tasks, sometimes referred to as "fibro-fog." As the medical community struggles to learn more about FMS, and to separate it from similar disorders like chronic fatigue syndrome, patients have been left largely to their own devices...
Effective Treatment For Fibromyalgia Patients
Mattresses > Effective Treatment For Fibromyalgia Patients
Finish the Job: a Lesson On Discipline
Finish the Job: a Lesson On Discipline
by: Cameron Elliott
Growing up, my two main chores were to take the recycling out to the curb every Sunday night, and helping with the yard work. There was grass to mow, hedges and trees to trim, plants to water, seeds to plant in our small garden.
Most importantly, trimming that hedge, pruning that tree, resulted in branches that needed to be taken care of. This task was often delegated to me. I'd hack large branches down into a manageable size, scoop up the piles of leaves and dead plant debris, and place them all in the heavy brown yard bags.
As I got older, I was promoted from bag boy to actually doing the yard work myself. One summer day, when I was 14, I was asked to trim a hedge in the backyard. I did so, pleased that my parents trusted me with the sharp clippers. I trimmed that hedge to the best of my ability, leaving a huge pile of branches and leaves. I knew I wasn't supposed to leave the...
Finish the Job: a Lesson On Discipline
Mattresses > Finish the Job: a Lesson On Discipline
Memory Foam Mattresses Under Oath...The Truth and Nothing But The Truth
Memory Foam Mattresses Under Oath...The Truth and Nothing But The Truth
by: Charles "Chuck"
Harmon
Are you thinking about buying a memory foam mattress?
Are you confused about all the hype and confusing claims made by the different advertisements for memory foam?
I've set out to clear the air, remove the "smoke and mirrors", and put into one article all the true information you'll need to make a selection that will thrill you, give you years of value and make poor sleep a thing of the past.
The term "memory foam" or "visco-elastic memory foam" was coined in the early days of NASA's space program. That's why it's also known as NASA foam.
Sometimes, a memory foam mattress is referred to as a NASA foam mattress.
During lift-off, astronauts were being subjected to tremendous g-forces that the human body just wasn't designed to endure.
The need for a new material, that would make these conditions tolerable for...
Memory Foam Mattresses Under Oath...The Truth and Nothing But The Truth
Mattresses > Memory Foam Mattresses Under Oath...The Truth and Nothing But The Truth
Mattresses
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