Go forth and don’t forget the bug spray!
You’ve booked the campsite. Group chats have been created. Somebody has already claimed they can start a campfire in 15 minutes because it cannot be THAT hard.
What now?
The good news
If you’ve never been camping before, here’s the good news: most camping disasters happen because people forget something obvious, not because they aren’t “outdoorsy” enough.
The internet is full of camping horror stories like campers hearing “something” outside at 2 a.m. and discovering it was their friend’s bottle rolling downhill.
The goal isn’t to be fearless. The goal is to be prepared.
Double-check this checklist
Before you leave, create a shared calendar or itinerary document that includes:
- Campground address
- Check-in and check-out times
- Emergency contacts
- Nearest hospital or urgent care
- Grocery stores and gas stations nearby
- Daily activities (hikes, swimming, kayaking, etc.)
Bonus tip: download offline maps before leaving. Cell service has a habit of disappearing exactly when you need directions most.
Also, send your itinerary to someone who isn’t on the trip so they know what you might be doing in case of an emergency.
Pack the things Reddit says everyone forgets
One way to truly understand a list of items is through reading the experiences of people who have been camping. After reading dozens of camping threads, these are the items people most commonly forget:
- Portable charger/power bank
- Extra charging cable
- Bug spray
- Sunscreen
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer
- Garbage bags
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Extra socks
- Rain jacket
- Refillable water bottle
- Lighter or matches
- Basic first-aid kit
The item people underestimate the most? Extra socks.
Divide and conquer
Before the trip, divide responsibilities among everyone in the group. One person can handle meals, another can bring cooking supplies, and someone else can be responsible for navigation, first aid, or campsite gear. Doing this helps you stay organized, focus on what you bring to the table and know exactly who to reach out to when something comes up.
Some common camping roles include:
- Food and snacks
- Cooking equipment
- Tent and campsite gear
- First-aid kit
- Navigation and maps
- Firewood and campfire supplies
- Games and activities
- Emergency contacts and trip information
Assigning responsibilities also helps keep tensions low. Nothing tests a friendship quite like discovering nobody brought toilet paper because everyone thought someone else had it covered.
Respect the rules
A common theme from experienced campers is simple: If locals say there are bears, believe them.
Will you probably see one? No. Should you still follow bear safety rules? Absolutely.
Store food exactly where the campground tells you to. Many campgrounds provide bear lockers or specific food-storage instructions. Never keep food, snacks, gum, toothpaste, or anything scented inside your tent. Bears, raccoons, and other wildlife are far more interested in your snacks than they are in you.
Also, don’t leave food unattended.
A raccoon can execute a snack heist with the confidence of someone who pays rent there.
Prepare for the real villain
Spoiler alert: it’s not bears. It’s mosquitoes.
Every camping subreddit eventually becomes a mosquito support group. Bring bug spray. Wear long sleeves in the evening. Check for ticks after hikes. Keep a pair of tweezers in your first-aid kit just in case.
One forgotten bottle of bug spray can become the defining memory of an entire trip.
Prepare for weather you didn’t order
Check the forecast. Then pack for something slightly worse.
Even if it’s sunny, bring:
- A tarp
- A rain jacket
- Warm layers for nighttime
- A dry change of clothes
Because weather apps are often optimistic, while clouds are not.
Plan for boredom
Once the campfire is lit and dinner is over, you’ll want something to do besides staring at your battery percentage. Remember to plan for boredom.
Consider bringing a deck of cards, a portable speaker (where permitted) or a stargazing app to keep you company while downloaded playlists play in the background.
This is the best part of camping. Make memories!
May the camp-force be with you!
Camping isn’t about having the perfect gear setup or looking like an outdoor influencer.
It’s about sitting around a campfire with people you like, eating slightly burnt food and spotting more stars than you’ve seen in months.
And keep those horror stories ready to share!
Feature image courtesy of Chris Holder via Unsplash
Not quite ready to sleep in a tent? Start your outdoors era as a tourist on Lakeshore campus!
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