The Great Outdoors

Escaping from the often hectic city life to the solace of the natural world is only an hour or two away for most. The wonder of God’s creation is obscured by the manmade concrete and steel of cities. If you are one of many who live your life in one of mankind’s cities, you should consider experiencing the beauty of the pristine, natural world through the eyes of a camper. If you’ve never been camping, consider packing up, traveling to the country and setting up a home in the woods.

Set the Agenda and the Location!

Planning ahead will make the difference between an exciting and memorable experience, and one you might regret.

First, determine where you will go. The location chosen will depend on activities that interest you. For example, if hunting interests you, you must decide what to hunt, and where you might go to be successful. And don’t forget, scheduling is also critical, as most places in the world only allow hunting during specific times of year. Game animals tend to be very nervous when shot at—especially out of season! Don’t forget your hunting license and tags.

If you want to develop your fishing skills, first research the types of fish, and the locations where fishing is most successful. If you live near the ocean, perhaps you could camp near the beach and fish on a nearby pier. If you prefer lake fishing, you must decide whether to fish for warm-water game such as largemouth bass or cold-water piscine critters such as rainbow trout. By the way, you will need a license for this activity too! (No matter where you choose to camp, make sure you have the proper permits and follow all rules and regulations of the campsite.)

Backpacking can also be a unique experience. Carrying all you need on your back to a remote location requires research, planning, preparation—and sometimes strength! You should be able to use a compass and map to determine where you are at all times, as well as your destination. While handheld Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are now affordable to most, don’t rely on them as your primary means of navigation! The batteries can fail and satellites might not cooperate—especially in remote locations. Without a map and a good compass, you may experience butterflies catapulting into the lining of your stomach as you woefully acknowledge, “I’m lost.”

Is backpacking too extreme? You can simply drive yourself and your gear to a nearby maintained campsite. Would you prefer a lake and, if so, what will you do when you arrive? Are boats available for rent? Will you fish from the shore, or from a boat?

Choose the Proper Tools

Obviously, a short article cannot provide detailed instructions describing the use for thousands of camping tools available. There are, however, some basic tools needed for most outdoor camping activities.

Most likely you will need to bring a tent. Many are inexpensive, and you will need to decide the type, the manufacturer and the size. Large, family-sized, multi-roomed tents are available, but probably more than you need. If you plan to carry your gear on your back, you should limit the weight to a few pounds.

You will also need a sleeping bag. The time of year and the place of your camp will determine the size and type you purchase. For example, camping in the Klondike of Alaska requires a different sleeping bag than an excursion in the Yucatan in Mexico in August. Average temperature data is available if you have access to the Internet (try ncdc.noaa.gov, for starters). However, understand that even good data is based on averages. In some areas, you must be prepared for snow in August, even when the average daytime temperature is 85 degrees! (The author speaks from experience.)

Unless your meals are prearranged, as in the case of a group camp, you must plan them in detail. Don’t depend on your hunting and fishing skills alone, or you may become desperately hungry.

For backpacking, dried foods are light, and provide adequate nutrition when mixed with fresh water. In preparing for such a camp, you might purchase MREs, or “Meals Ready to Eat.” While not as light as dried foods, they are sufficiently compact, and even a little tasty.

If you intend to do most of your walking to and from your car, you can plan your meals with more luxury in mind. Sizzling beef sausage, eggs and cheese are a favorite on cool mountain mornings. This breakfast, along with a cup of hot coffee (or cocoa, if you prefer), is pleasant to the taste buds. For dinner, you might consider something as simple as a hamburger, or the unique, exquisite culinary experience of Château-Brianne.

Now, on to sanitation in the wilderness: how about toilet paper? Don’t depend on kind, generous, understanding friends to bring this necessity. They may choose to impress such negligence into your memory by providing instruction on the best leaves for such a task!

How about a toothbrush? The breath from most people can become rather foul after only a day or two in the natural world. Do your compadres a favor and bring along your own toothbrush and paste. If you forget, there are few friends so friendly as to lend you their toothbrush. Your breath will likely remain very unpleasant.

If you are growing facial hair, bring a razor along. If facial hair is left to grow, the average teenager will appear like a vagabond, with patches of fine hair on his face. Thus we are brought to an item customarily overlooked by the average teenage boy—the soap bar!

If there is fresh water available, you should be sure to bring a bar along. The crowning glory of the creation—your body—was designed to eliminate waste a number of ways. Your skin was designed with this in mind, as thousands of pores secrete an impure liquid called sweat.

Now sweat, indeed, has its purpose. However, if the residue combined with accumulated dirt is not washed periodically, you will begin to stink—and you might not be aware of the intensity level of the putrid odor coming from you. You could find yourself pursuing many group activities by yourself!

Plan to Have Fun

Organization, research, planning and preparation are all necessary if your experience in the great outdoors is to become one you wish to repeat. Choose to be prepared, and become an expert in the tools and devices needed for your unique experience. For any camping activity, pack the necessities, and then add to them the articles that are unique to the pursuit at hand. Then, you will enjoy the Great Outdoors and a taste of the majesty of our Creator!