School is out, summer is here and if you’re like my family, camping trips may soon make their way into your schedule.  The outdoors can provide beautiful imagery, new perspectives, fresh air but also has some not so nice perks.  Bugs attacking you from every angle or inadvertently providing a feast for neighboring critters is something I can do without.  So whether you’re out on the road in an RV or truck/car, here are some suggestions on what to pack and some tips I learned along the way.

What To Pack

Mini First Aid Kit

Always a great item to have.  You can pick up a few at your local dollar store for, well a dollar.  Can’t beat that!

SPF Products

You’ll definitely want to take your broad spectrum sunscreen (make sure the cap is sealed tight- I learned this the hard way!), an eye cream with SPF (if you have one), and lip balm with SPF.  Sunburn looks good on no one.

Travel Sized Bottles

You can take your cleanser, toner, moisturizer, shampoo, conditioner and bodywash in tiny bottles so you don’t have to lug huge bottles around, and in case they accidentally get left behind, no major loss there.

Unscented Towelettes/Unscented Baby Wipes

In case you don’t have access to a sink to wash your face, you can use these.  A trick I used:  I spritzed toner into a towelette and used it to remove the sunscreen, dirt and oil that accumulated throughout the day.  Plus, they come in handy to wipe down surfaces, sticky/dirty hands, etc.

Mini Antibacterial Soap

Another good product to have when soap might not be readily available.

Medications

Make certain to pack your medication if you take any; there are little tiny plastic containers you can purchase to store them in.  You might want to also keep Benadryl on hand in case of allergies and aspirin or ibuprofen.  Some camping sites have small stores that provide these items but they tend to hike up the prices a bit.

Bug Repellent

My ‘perfume’ for the trip and a total life saver!  There are also ones you can hang outside your tent- sorry bugs, you’ll need to find your victims elsewhere.

Warm Clothes

Regardless if the weather is super hot during the day, keep at least a jacket, an extra pair of socks, and pants to keep warm in case the temperatures decide to drop at night.

Tips

Do be sure to pack away any edible items lest you want to attract unwanted strangers.  Trust me, animals can and will find a way to open bags and boxes.  Store items in coolers or plastic containers and make sure to secure them.

Activities like hiking or fishing mean long periods of time out in the sun, so make sure to take along your sunscreen to reapply and prevent sunburn.  Hats and sunglasses are great to take along too.

 

Keep hydrated to help control your heart rate and blood pressure as well as regulate your body temperature.

Nothing beats coming back from a day-long activity and firing up the grill to cook a delicious meal.  One caveat?  If you did get sunburned, the heat generated from the grill can further aggravate an already irritated complexion.  Keep some aloe vera gel (and maybe some ibuprofen) handy if this is the case. 

Camping or any other outdoor activity is always an adventure from making smores to setting up tents.  Enjoy it, stay sun protected and safe, and embrace the experience- you’ll be home in no time. 

What do you pack for your outdoor excursions?