When going on a camping trip, it is essential that you have enough supplies to last the duration of your trip. If you want your camping trip to run smoothly, like clockwork, then it is almost essential that you learn how to make a camping checklist. A checklist will allow you to be prepared for your trip and minimize the chance of forgetting important items. Unfortunately it's often very hard to buy the items you have forgotten when you arrive at your camping destination. Or you can buy them but you wind up paying a very high price for the items).



1. Make The Master List

The most basic way to create a checklist is simply to get out a piece of paper and start listing the items you'll need to take on your trip. For this we recommend a lined piece of paper. It's important to take the checklist with you on your next trip and add to it. It may take a couple trip to get the checklist just right. But once it's right you are set for future trips.

2. Double Check Everything

It's often not good enough to go over the list once, we recommend you go over it at least twice and make sure you have everything in the car before you leave.

3. Sample Items

Often times it's the simple items that you don't think about that get forgotten on a camping trip, stuff like:

- Flashlight

- Soap

- Extra batteries

- Food - Monday Breakfast - Oatmeal

- First Aid Kit

4. Survival Items

Only one person needs to bring a first aid kit. Similarly, at least one of you should have a cellular phone in case of an emergency. Just because you are camping in rustic style doesn't mean that you can disregard the added levels of safety that technology can provide. Accidents can and will happen and when you are far away from a hospital every minute matters. Also depending on how far into the woods you go it's important to bring a compass just in case.

5. Bears?

Another thing to find out is are there bears in the camping area? If there are it's important to take the necessary equipment to put food out of the bears reach. Make sure you do your research and read up on ways to protect you and your family from bears. Often times all it takes is a phone call to the camping site, or if it's a state park, you can simply look up the appropriate number online or by looking in the telephone book (Most states include common phone numbers in the front pages).