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Get over your fear of camping

July 7, 2020

Even if you love the idea of camping, if you’ve never done it before there’s a lot to be apprehensive about. Anything unfamiliar can be scary, but this is especially true when you don’t have your everyday comforts to put you at ease.

When it comes to camping, maybe you don’t like the absence of a sturdy deadbolt to lock behind you when you drift off to sleep. Maybe the notion of encountering wildlife is unsettling. Maybe you’re afraid others will steal your camping gear. Maybe you don’t like the idea of sharing a pit toilet with a bunch of other dirty campers. Maybe you simply hate bugs. A friend of ours perhaps said it best, “A tent provides a false sense of security.”

All of these concerns are 100% valid and also compounded when you’re venturing into the wilderness where cell service may be non-existent. So how do we get past these fears and learn to relax and enjoy the wilderness around us? We have a few experience-based tips that hopefully will help put you at ease and get you out the door onto your next camping trip.

Photo by Uryadnikov Sergey - stock.adobe.com

Wildlife

If you’re camping, there is always a chance you might encounter wildlife. It’s their home, not ours, but it’s how we anticipate these interactions and how we react that will keep both you, your family, and the animals safe.

First, it’s important to research where you’re planning to camp and read the wildlife advisories before you arrive. Follow the guidelines about food safety when camping in known bear areas, storing all food in a bear safe container, bear locker, or in your car.

If you’re planning to leave your campsite for any reason, don’t leave a cooler out, tie trash into a tree, or leave food wrappers in your tent. These are all things that will attract bears to your site. For added safety, carry a can of bear spray clipped to your belt and, more importantly, know how to use it.

keep your gear from getting stolen

When leaving your campsite, lock anything valuable or personal inside your car and out of view. This includes your food.

If your campsite has a bear locker, a simple padlock will protect your food inside. Luggage locks can be used to make it difficult but not impossible to steal things like a bike or tent if secured to a nearby tree or picnic table.

You can even set up an outdoor surveillance camera if that provides greater peace of mind or use a lantern with a built in motion-sensor and alarm system.

Reading the reviews of campgrounds can also go a long way in feeling safer. Many have frequent patrols, which is something worth asking about for your first time.

Photo by Vincent Neal / Travels and Curiosities

Personal safety

We carry a first aid kit, bear spray, and a machete with us on all of our outings, camping included.

A machete is a good multi-purpose tool to have for clearing a spot for a tent, cutting kindling and stirring campfire coals. But it does more than that. For us, a machete makes us feel safer when we fall asleep at night.

Bugs

If you’re bug phobic, you aren’t alone. But it doesn’t have to ruin or deter you from camping.

There are several natural bug repellents you can use to help deter flies and mosquitos.

Make sure to keep your tent zipped and it should stay free of insects.

Store used dishes and food scraps in your trunk until you can wash or discard them appropriately. And don’t spill things near your tent like soda that will attract swarms of ants.

For added safety, carry a sting and snake bite kit with you.

Going camping? Use our Ultimate Car Camping Checklist to prepare for your next trip!