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When people get out of the city to go camping and enjoy nature, they don’t expect to run into pollution problems. After all it’s nature, right? Everything is supposed to be pristine. Well, don’t let mother nature fool you. The crystal clear water you see from lakes and rivers might not be as pure as you might think.

Untreated water from the great outdoors might contain bacteria, parasites and viruses that can become harmful once ingested. Symptoms can include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. That’s why it’s important to be educated on the water purification process when going camping.

There are three basic methods of purifying water when camping. They are the filter process, the chemical process and the boil method.

The boil method is the best bet to kill all bacteria, micro-organisms and viruses dead. However, it is also a time consuming process to bring large quantities of water to a boil. After that, you need to let the water cool down unless you wish to drink hot water on a hot day. Boiling water also requires a fire or some other source of heat source. In any case, while boiling water is effective, it isn’t the most convenient option.

An alternative option to the boil method is to use a water filter. Filters are a mechanical method to separate parasites and other undesirables from the water. Look to buy a water filter of 1 micron or less to strain out protozoa like giardia and cryptosporidium. A more refined filter of less than 0.4 micron will remove most bacteria. Or, a water filter system with a built-in iodine component will kill the bacteria and viruses. This leads to the third method of water purification: the chemical method.

Iodine is often used in chemical water purification tablets to kill bacteria and viruses. Tablets are cheap and easy to use but they have some drawbacks as well. The shelf life of tablets is about six months in an open bottle and the iodine also leaves a taste in the water. To combat this problem, carbon filters are used to remove the iodine.

As you can see, the most effective method for fast drinking water is through a combination of mechanical water filters with a chemical component of iodine. With this in mind, make sure you are equipped with a good water purification system the next time you go camping so you can really enjoy the outdoors.

Mariam Ma is a freelance writer for Silverman Village, where you can find such camping survival supplies as personal camping water filter bottles and civilian MRE rations.

Activities are an essential part during camping otherwise, it would only be boring and you will all go home frustrated. Camping usually involves long days and long nights if you plan to take two to three days off your city life and spend it in the wilds. We can split the activities into two groups. You can have one group being in day time and the other during night time.

Day time activities:

- Hiking. You and your camp mates would explore the camp area by doing hiking. This is especially true if someone in your group knows the area too well. Another alternative would be to hire someone from that place to accompany your adventure.

- Fishing. More often than not best camp sites are those that are near to lakes teeming with fish. Your group can make a contest of whoever gets the largest fish wins. This is a fun game not only to fish enthusiast but also to those who have no fishing background especially when the prize is tempting.

- Cooking fest. You can divide the group into two and let them cook the most delicious dish they could muster using only native ingredients. These ingredients may be been brought to the camp which are previously bought or those that can be found on the camp site because usually sites have many vegetables growing in those areas. You just have to make sure nothing poisonous is included for that matter though.

- Sack race. Again splitting the group into two, this can be a very fun game. Played like any normal racing would. However instead of silly prizes, you can have a prize like winners can relax for the night and losers will take care of everything from food to massage.

- Egg relay. The object of this game is still whoever first one who finishes wins. With just the addition that the egg used during relay should still be intact until the end otherwise the player who cracks the egg will go back to the starting point and will do it all over again.

Night time activities:

- Bon fire horror stories. Gather everyone around and let everyone take turns telling their horror stories. It is fun doing this not only to kill time but also to see who has strong bones and heart that could stand fear.

- Truth or dare game. This game is better played at night. I have experienced it during night time and it has been more fun than playing it during day. Each one should have questions and consequence ready for the one who is about to do them on each cycle of the bottle.

- Drinking game. I have put this during night time because it is just appropriate that participants could go directly to bed after the game. Otherwise, if you put this during day time, the participants could no longer be able to participate more activities because of too much alcohol consumption.

- Barbecue party. The most common activity where you will be able to socialize with each other.

- Getting to know bonfire. This is the kind of activity that will let you know each other if not well then relatively better by taking turns in introducing some likes and dislikes that each of you has.

There are still a lot of activities you can think of, however personally I find the above effective and fun.

James Brown writes about Mountains Plus Outdoor Gear discounts, Backcountry discounts and Sun and Ski Sports.com discounts

Camping can be a dangerous activity; at least, it can be if you do it anywhere outside of a backyard or secure camping area. Without the proper gear and training one could be hurt or otherwise made miserable by the experience. Likewise, camping is an activity that takes a fair amount of planning to execute. Without making a list of supplies, anyone could forget something vital. And if this forgotten item is vital enough, one may have to backtrack home to retrieve it and thus taking time out of camping. This kind of error could essentially kill a weekend.

This is why it is necessary to make sure everything is packed and ready before setting off. Flashlights, tents, food, among other essentials are needed. Today I’d like to talk about a couple other very important items: the backpack and airbed.

The backpack is a camper’s, hiker’s, and biker’s essence in the woods. It typically cares everything that is vital for a trip which is particularly crucial hiking. One never knows when basic medical aid and food may be needed. A backpack can be viewed as the life blood of anyone who enjoys adventuring in the outdoors.

Because of this, it is critical choosing the right backpack for the trip. Make sure it has enough pockets to hold and protect necessary items. If it cannot hold enough volume then it is probably time to look for a pack. Also, make sure you choose a backpack that has been made out of sturdy straps and material. It will be a pain if it breaks mid-trip and needs to be cared by hand rather than a person’s shoulders.

Choosing the proper air mattress for camping, while not life critical, is very useful if you do not want to incur the expense of buying a new one every year. These are also useful and will make the trip less miserable if you are older and have a back that doesn’t do well on solid, uneven ground. For these make sure they are also made of thick plastic and strong material. You don’t want an airbed to pop and deflate or else you might have not brought one at all. Also, check to see if it seals well. Any air leaks and you’ll wake up on an airless mattress.

Hopefully, next time you go camping you’ll take these tips and warnings to heart. Always make sure your gear is top notch, you never know when someone’s life may depend on it.

Justin Oliver has an aero airbed store and has written a great potato salad recipe.

Camping is one of the best ways to foster a sense of family harmony. Even the youngest of preschoolers can benefit from the camping experience. Every part of the trip provides an opportunity for teaching teamwork and instilling an appreciation for nature. Even pitching the family tent offers good teaching tools for children.

To make your family campout a success, begin with a good tent. Fortunately, there is a wide array of options when it comes to camping tents. Picking the best one will require assessing your family’s own particular needs. Some of the most important considerations you’ll need to make are:

* The number of people in your family. Tents are typically labeled according to how many people they will sleep. Family-style tents may range from ones that sleep three people all the way to ones that sleep eight or nine. If you have a family of five, you’ll naturally want to consider at least a five-person tent. However, it’s important to remember that these sizes are generalizations. A tent that is made for five typically refers to five average-sized adults. For this reason, a four-person tent may be suitable for a family with two adults and three small children. Conversely, a family with two adults and three large teenagers may find a five-person tent a bit cramped. In this case, a six- or seven-person tent may be a better choice. Remember, you’ll also want to take into account the amount of gear that you’ll be storing inside the tent. The more luggage you have, the more sleeping space you lose.

* The sizes of all campers. In addition to the number of people a tent sleeps, you should also consider the dimensions of the tent. Adults and taller children may find it more comfortable to have some extra headroom when standing up. Some tents are shaped in such a way that some parts of the tent are wider or longer than others. Dome and tunnel-style tents may be wider in the center and become narrower at the edges. Tall children or adults may have trouble sleeping if the area isn’t long or wide enough.

* Years of use. If camping is going to be a lifelong hobby, you probably want your investment to last as long as possible. Do you plan to have more children? Factor this in to the size of the tent you plan to buy. If your children are small, they’ll most certainly need more space five years from now. Consider purchasing a larger tent that will accommodate your family longer.

* Privacy needs. Some families prefer sleeping in the same space. This may be especially true of families whose children are still young. Families with older children may want a little extra privacy at night. In this case, you might consider a tent with separate “rooms.” There are two basic styles of roomed tents. The two-room style is simply divided in half down the middle by a fabric barrier. The three-room style usually has a common room in the center, with two separate rooms at each end. In some tents, the fabric barriers can be removed. This allows you the option of having a one-room tent when the children are younger. Then as they grow older, barriers can be added as needed to create separate rooms.

Camping tents come in various styles and types of materials. They can be simple or very elaborate. Whatever camping tent you choose, you’re off to a great start for making camping memories that will last a lifetime.

Warren L. Smith offers a fountain of information on Camping, such as Camping Tips, Family Fun, Hunting, Fishing, Tents, Equipment, and Wilderness Tips. For the best, up to date information, go to: http://www.CampingBreak.com

Think your tent is weatherproof? Many campers do, only to find themselves waking up drenched in the middle of the night. If you prefer a dry sleeping bag, make sure your camping tent really is weather-ready.

When you purchase a new tent, read the label carefully. This means to also read between the lines. Understanding some common terms can help you decide just how waterproof it really is.

Many people mistakenly believe that if a tent is water- or weather-resistant it will not leak. In reality, the material will resist leaks in a light or short rainfall. Weather- or water-resistant tents usually have not had any additional weatherproofing treatment. Instead, the word resistant refers to the inherent ability of that tent’s fabric to keep rain out. In a light rainfall that lasts a few minutes to a couple hours, it will probably do fine. However, if it rains heavily or for several hours straight, water may begin to penetrate the fabric.

If you camp frequently or in areas where regular rain is likely, you should consider greater protection. There are three options available in this case:

1. Purchase a camping tent that is waterproof. A tent labeled as waterproof is reasonably assured not to leak. It also means that the fabric has been treated with a sealing agent. It may also mean that it is made from a type of material that is more naturally resistant to water. The material might also be more tightly woven to keep rain out.

2. Purchase a rainproof cover or tarpaulin. Some people prefer this method. Tents that are rain-sealed or have fabric that is tightly woven sometimes don’t breathe well. Using an untreated tent may allow for better airflow. A rainproof cover or tarp can then be draped or hung over the entire tent to keep water out.

3. Treat your tent with a sealant. You can increase the water-resistance of the fabric by applying a chemical sealer. Sealants can be purchased in most hardware and camping supply stores.

If you decide to apply a sealant to your tent, there are a few things to remember. Like any product, you may get what you pay for. If you skimp to save money, you might end up getting soaked anyway. Read labels to make sure the sealant that you purchase will work for the type fabric that your camping tent is made of. It’s best to buy one that is designed specifically for tents, rather than an all-purpose sealant.

Be sure to follow the directions carefully. You will usually have to apply at least two coats. Even if the label does not specify two coats, you should do this anyway. Apply sealant outdoors to avoid inhaling fumes. Allow to dry thoroughly between coats. You should allow a minimum of 24 to 48 hours of drying time. This will ensure that the sealant adheres strongly to the fabric. Allow the second coat to dry another for 24-48 hours before using your tent.

Tent seams are very prone to leaking. This includes the stitching around zippers. It’s important to note that spray sealants do not always provide the best coverage for seams. To rainproof seams, you should use a brush-on gel or wax. Apply at least two coats (both to the outside and the inside of seams) and allow each coat to cure between applications.

Finally, give your tent a test run before you hit the woods. Pitch it in the backyard and make sure it really does stand up to rain. If you can’t wait for a downpour, give it a good soak with the water hose and see how it performs. If water is still breaching the fabric, apply another coat of sealant and try again. This will ensure that you stay warm and dry the next time you camp out.

Warren L. Smith offers a fountain of information on Camping, such as Camping Tips, Family Fun, Hunting, Fishing, Tents, Equipment, and Wilderness Tips. For the best, up to date information, go to: http://www.CampingBreak.com

When you hear someone mention tents, you probably immediately think of the camping variety. However, tents are used around the world every day for numerous other purposes. Some are temporary or permanent living facilities, some provide a dedicated space for a special event, and some tents can simply extend the living space and comforts of a home into the outdoors.

Tents have been used in nearly every part of the world for nearly as long as recorded history. Asian nomadic tribes lived in circular tents because this design helped the structures stand up to extreme conditions and harsh winds. The light weight and easy deconstruction of the tents made it simple for the tribes to move on to new lands whenever necessary.

Even today, some people make permanent homes of tents. Many tent-dwellers enjoy the small ecological footprint left by tents. Yurts, tepees and other types of tents are easy to build and rely on renewable resources for their materials. They can easily use alternative energy sources, such as solar power, which is more difficult with traditional framed homes.

Armies all around the world have made use of tents to house soldiers. They set up easily, come down quickly, and don’t require vast amounts of manpower to move to new locations. Semi-permanent military tents are used to house soldiers in combat areas. They are more sophisticated than camping tents. Some military tents have climate control systems and enough room for several people to move around comfortably.

Tents are also used often in emergency situations to shelter displaced people. As an inexpensive and lightweight housing solution, tents are sent to house refugees and victims of natural disasters.

The use of tents isn’t limited to structures that you can sleep inside. Some tents are used as a convenient temporary shelter for outdoor events. Circus tents are a great example of temporary structures that are used specifically for an event and taken down afterward.

Festivals and outdoor concerts often make good use of event tents as well, using them to shield participants from the sun or from inclement weather. Even private parties can use gazebo tents or other temporary structures. They are often used to cover the event’s food or to provide a separate seating or dancing area.

Even camping tents aren’t the plain, boring structures they once were. There are plenty of new and interesting types of tents in use today. The lightweight hiking tents used by serious hikers are amazing pieces of technology. The materials used in hiking tents are among the most lightweight and waterproof materials used in any consumer item, and many years of research have gone into developing them.

Car tents are a fun innovation in the camping world. These tents rest on the luggage rack on top of your car and fold out to create a unique and space-saving sleeping area on your car’s roof. This is a great way to conserve interior car space for luggage and save money on lodging when taking a long road trip.

Tents have enjoyed a long and varied history and will continue to be valuable accessories for camping and for life. As long as people have a need for easy outdoor shelters, tents will be there to provide shade and protection from the weather.

Warren L. Smith offers a fountain of information on Camping, such as Camping Tips, Family Fun, Hunting, Fishing, Tents, Equipment, and Wilderness Tips. For the best, up to date information, go to: http://www.CampingBreak.com