In our previous post, we covered the first 5 categories of the most important items you need to consider to go camping, from Food to Clothing. For further details, please check it here.
- Food – What do you want to eat, and how do you prepare it?
- Water – Where do you get it, and how do you store it?
- Sleep – Where and how do you plan to sleep?
- Electricity – Where do you get electricity, and how do you store it?
- Clothing – What to wear?
- Toilet – Where do you plan to poop?
- Lights – How do you get light at night?
- Protection and safety – How do you protect yourself?
- Internet service – How do you stay connected?
- Entertainment – How to spend time while camping?
Today, we continue with the remaining 5 categories from Toilet to Entertainment. Let’s dive right in.
6. Toilet – Where do you plan to poop?
As humans, we always have to answer the call of nature. While doing this noble duty, we have to be responsible for protecting our environment, our health, and our lives and be considerate of others as well. In this regard, if you are at the campground with toilets or you have an RV with a toilet, then please use that.
What if I am in the woods?
Even if you are in the middle of the wilderness or if you do not have access to established toilets, you still have to handle your business responsibly. There are two options for your situation:
a) Portable toilet
A portable toilet is one of the most important items for camping and a very practical solution for your needs. It can give you the comfort of home even though you are in the middle of the wilderness. Additionally, if you have aching knees or cannot squat, then a portable toilet can be your way to go. Most importantly, a portable toilet ensures that no waste is disposed of in the wilderness because you will carry it with you.
There are different types of portable toilets like bucket-style, compact folding with toilet bags, etc. We can cover this in detail in our upcoming posts.
Furthermore, there are chemicals in the market that can be useful to use with your portable toilet. These chemicals can help reduce the smell of the poop, and even turn the liquid waste into solid, so it does not spill out.
b) Shovel toilet
In a practical sense, this is not a toilet in such. It is just a shovel that helps you dig your toilet in the wilderness. This can also be a good solution if you are going camping for extended periods of time in the wilderness and you do not want to carry a stock of waste around with you.
Guidelines for socially responsible pooping
Some guidelines need to be followed to handle your noble duty properly for everyone’s sake. For instance, make sure you do your business at least 330ft (100m) from any water source. This will protect our water sources and make sure anyone, including the wild animals using the water, is safe from the microbes from your waste. You do not want to be the reason for the epidemic in your country.
Please check with your local authorities about pooping in the wilderness. Please do not poop anywhere you feel like it.
We cannot stress this enough: it is quite upsetting walking in the woods and stepping on another human’s waste or smelling the waste along the entire hiking trail. Let’s be responsible and leave no trace behind so that others can enjoy these resources the way we did.
How about my privacy?
Of course, your privacy matters. Even though everyone has to answer the call of nature, it is not fun to stare at a person handling their business, even if it is in the middle of the wilderness. It is always a good idea to have a tent toilet.
There are several types of portable, foldable, lightweight tent toilets on the market. Just do your due diligence to find the one that is suitable for your needs.
Again, put up your tent toilet first just in case. You do not want surprises while you are in the middle of your noble duty.
Items needed:
- Portable Toilet
- Shovel
- Privacy/Toilet tent
- Toilet paper
- Water bottle
- Biodegradable soap
- Plastic/Waste bags
- Smell/Waste chemicals
7. Lights – How do you get light at night?
Whether you go inside your tent, RV or car just after the sunset or you sit around the beautiful camping fire. You need some lights at night.
Most of the mobile phones come with built-in lights, but we suggest not to overuse your phone. Keep your phone charged and ready for what it is invented for, i.e.to make phone calls.
Hence, lights are among the most important items for camping. Consider having dedicated lights such as headlights, flashlights or lanterns.
It is important to consider rechargeable lights to reduce overuse of your power source, and you can still use them even when your power source has run out. If you prefer lights with batteries, then make sure you have sufficient backup rechargeable batteries.
Also, do not take light for granted and do not rely on moonlight alone. You may be surprised how dark it gets at night, especially in the woods and especially when there is no full moon or the sky is not clear.
Items needed:
- Headlights
- Flashlights
- Lanterns
- Rechargeable Batteries
- Light charging cables
8. Protection and safety – How do you protect yourself?
It is important to remember that safety always comes first whether you are at work, at home or at your camping spot. We have to avoid falling victim to accidents that can be avoided. This will make sure you get to enjoy your camping life as well as reduce strain on the public health and emergency services. Hence, it is important to take precautions and be ready in case unexpected things happen.
Safe camping set-up
Do not take people for granted. Remember that some of them have been driving for hours; their judgment may not be the sharpest. Their main focus is only to get to their spot as soon as possible and rest.
If you are working on your set-up or pulling in or out of your camping spot, consider putting on a safety jacket, especially at a busy campground. Safety jacket is one of the most important items for camping.
You do not want to find yourself or your child in front of a moving RV or truck while trying to navigate your camping spot.
If you plan to spend time under the sun, consider carrying sunscreen, sunglasses and a cap.
Safe wilderness camping
And for wilderness campers, make sure you have insect repellent and insect nets. Once you show up at their residence, they will come running to give you a not-so-warm welcome. You do not want to be stung by them. Depending on your skin, your body can show different reactions.
Besides, if you or your kids are allergic to insect bites, then please check with your doctor before going into the forest, especially during the peak season of insects. It is not a very good experience to deal with itching or swelling skin while camping. Especially, folks with kids, please do not overlook this issue. Your camping experience can turn into a nightmare overnight.
Moreover, we take precautions for health and safety reasons, but it can be a good experience interacting with insects. Especially if you camp for more than a week at a single spot, you may get a chance to see different types of insects.
You may learn how their quantity varies depending on the weather conditions (rainy, sunny, cloudy, etc). You can even learn their schedule.
For instance, most of the places we go camping have insects that tend to come and say hello in large numbers at sunset all the way till sunrise. On the other hand, keep in mind that insects’ availability depends on the season and place where you go camping. So don’t be disappointed if you do not get a chance to encounter them on your camping trip.
Accidents just happen
A first aid kit is one of the most important items for camping. Because no matter how prepared we are, sometimes accidents happen. Thus, it is always a good idea to have a first aid kit. We suggest you have a dedicated first aid kit that everyone in your group knows where it is and can easily access it if the need arises.
We tend to assume that adults are there to protect kids, but you may be the one that needs help, and your kids can save you if they know beforehand how to reach that first aid kit and, most importantly, what to do with it.
In addition to a first aid kit, it is important to have an emergency bag for each member of your group. This is important if you plan to go biking or hiking on your camping trip or if you are just a group of at least two people in your camping spot. In the emergency bag, you can keep essentials such as a flashing light, whistle, walkie-talkie, a bottle of water, snacks, and energy bar.
In case of an emergency like getting lost, or if you cannot prepare food immediately, the snacks, energy bars and water will be of vital importance to delay hunger and hence loss of energy.
“Being prepared” is the best item in your emergency kit
Practice at home what to do in case of emergencies. Knowing what to do can give you peace of mind even in the face of a dreadful situation. It can be easy to communicate and track each other even in the middle of the forest. Whistles and flashing lights can be used to attract attention, and walkie-talkies can be used to communicate. Besides, they do not require cell service, and they are fun to use.
If you have kids, please teach them how to use the devices and inform them that the first aid kit and emergency bags are for emergencies and, depending on their age, make sure they can reach them whenever necessary. Because you, an adult, can be in danger, and your kids can save you too. Do not underestimate this.
Items needed:
- Safety jackets
- Insect nets & insect repellent
- Sunscreen, sunglasses & cap
- First aid kit
- Flashing light & whistle
- Walkie talkie
- A bottle of water, snacks and energy bars
- Heat-Reflective Survival Blanket
- Medicines (like painkillers and even prescription meds if you need them)
9. Internet service – How do you stay connected?
There are three options to get an internet connection, depending on your place of camping.
a) Wi-Fi at the campground
If the campground you plan to visit is equipped with wi-fi internet, you can use that. However, it may not be free or inclusive of your camping fees, so it is good practice to take the internet charges into account before visiting the campsite. Per our experience, this option is not available everywhere.
Even in some campgrounds that claim to have wi-fi, it may be available only at their main building and not anywhere close to the camping spots. Please check and confirm this with your campground administration before visiting.
b) Mobile / GSM Internet
This is the internet service provided by your mobile operator. To use this, you will need reliable cell reception in your camping location. Please do not assume that cell reception is available everywhere. You will be surprised how small the coverage area of your phone operator is once you start going places. You can ask your mobile operator for the map of their coverage area or check it online.
But what about a cell phone signal booster?
Well, a cell phone signal booster only works if you are in an area that has a cell/GSM reception. It will allow you to have an increase in the phone reception; say you get 3 bars instead of 1 bar on your device. If you are outside the coverage area, a cell phone signal booster will not solve your problem.
c) Satellite Internet
Satellite internet can be your way to go if the above options are not at your disposal.
Normally, you have a dish/antenna that connects to the satellite that supplies internet to your modem, and your modem provides the Wi-Fi. You can look for local satellite internet suppliers in your region.
Make sure their connection is through satellite, not a coaxial TV cable, GSM or telephone lines.
It is also a good idea to ask for the coverage area. As not all companies are authorized to provide internet throughout the region.
We have been using Starlink Roam for our internet needs. Whether we recommend it or not is a discussion for another time. So, stay tuned for our Starlink review post.
You can look for solutions similar to Starlink based on your region. Make it clear to your internet provider that you plan to use the internet while camping outdoors and not at your residential address.
Do you really need internet? Why is it even on the list of the most important items for camping? Isn’t camping all about disconnecting yourself from the world?
Well, this is a controversial topic. But if you follow us for a while, you will realize that we advocate freedom. Freedom of choice, freedom to do what you want, when you want and wherever you are while staying on your side of the fence. We encourage people to live their lives the way they see fit and not rely on narratives from others.
On the other hand, we understand that sometimes people need to be pushed to the limits to get things done. But this shows a lack of self-discipline. And if the only way for you to stay offline is going to a location with no cell reception or internet, then you have work to do. Luckily for you, this is just a habit that can be changed through education and practice.
Practice self-discipline
You need to control yourself even when you are in the city with your internet connection. You can set time for being online, time for off-line activities and even reflection time (a.k.a “me” time).
With self-discipline, it does not matter where you are; whether you are in the woods, at the top of the mountain, at the beach or even at home, you can still set boundaries and time for being online.
In this regard, the Internet can be an option for some, but a necessity for others. If your means of earning a living do not require you to be online or you can go offline for an extended period of time without any impact, then an internet connection may not be necessary for you.
We run an online business
For some of us, that is not the case; being online is an essential part of our existence. Because, we have to be connected to run our businesses wherever we are on the planet earth.
Hence, you can decide whether you need internet or not based on your lifestyle, preferences and the length of your camping trip. And if you do need it, then consider the below items.
Items needed:
- Wi-Fi password (for campgrounds that have internet access)
- Mobile plan with internet package with/without additional cell signal booster
- Dish/antenna and modem for satellite internet connection
Please check these locally, things differ significantly based on location.
10. Entertainment – How to spend time while camping?
Entertainment is one of the most important items for camping. The last thing you need is to feel bored while camping. You have gone through the entire process of researching, preparation, shopping, driving, hiking, running, biking, canoeing, and even swimming just to get to your camping spot and get bored.
It hurts even more as a parent after all the hassle hearing your kid say, “Oof! I’m bored!”
It is understandable that you go camping to get acquainted with the outdoor life. You may choose to combine your camping trip with other activities such as canoeing, hiking, fishing, or biking.
However, a full day of activities can be demanding. Hence, you might need downtime or less demanding activities. We always carry five things with us: books to read, a soccer ball that we can kick around, a jumping rope, a board game such as Monopoly and our Bluetooth speaker.
It is an amazing and a completely different experience sitting as a family in total silence with birds chirping sounds while getting lost in your favourite books. Additionally, you can create good lasting memories by watching movies in the middle of the forest with your family. If you choose, you can watch videos from our YouTube channel, wycango.
It always brings back good camping memories when you encounter the same movie or its tune somewhere else in civilization. Soccer ball, jumping rope and games always come in handy when we are in the mood of competition. You will be surprised how competitive your kids are when they strive to beat their parents. 😊
These are left for you to decide depending on your entertainment needs.
Items needed:
- Books
- A soccer ball
- A jumping rope
- Board games
- Bluetooth speaker
- PC and tablets
CONCLUSION
Of course, there are many other things you can add depending on your camping style and needs. But these categories should give you the basic guidelines. Therefore, whenever you plan to go camping, consider all these 10 categories to maximize your camping experience.
- Food – What do you want to eat, and how do you prepare it?
- Water – Where do you get it, and how do you store it?
- Sleep – Where and how do you plan to sleep?
- Electricity – Where do you get electricity, and how do you store it?
- Clothing – What to wear?
- Toilet – Where do you plan to poop?
- Lights – How do you get light at night?
- Protection and safety – How do you protect yourself?
- Internet service – How do you stay connected?
- Entertainment – How to spend time while camping?
There you have it! Bon voyage!