What you supplies you need is determined by where you are camping and how long you will be there and how avid a camper you really are. Some people think that camping is renting a cabin in the woods with indoor plumbing.

The tent

The first thing that you will need is a tent. If you are not camping in a cabin, then this item is a necessity. There are different styles and size tents that are available so you want to make sure the tent that you purchase will be big enough for everyone. Choose a good quality sleeping bag, and if you like your comfort, bring along an air mattress so you won't be sleeping on the hard ground. It is important to remember that the temperature changes drastically at night, and additional blankets may be necessary depending upon the time of year that you decide to camp out.

Change of clothes

You need to bring several changes of clothes. It is important to pack shorts and tee shirts, however it is equally important to pack warmer clothes. Even in the summertime, higher elevations can be quite chilly at night. Make sure that you bring a few towels so you can dry off after a swim in a mountain lake.

Try to fit everything into one or two backpacks. If you are hiking in the woods, the last thing that you want is to drag along a big suitcase. There are many different styles to choose from, and one of them can accommodate everything that you bring.

Food

If you are camping for a weekend, bringing a cooler full of food is not a problem as long as you have enough ice to keep it from spoiling, or if you have a cool place to store it. Most people do not live off the land when they camp, they simply bring items that can be reconstituted in water. Powdered eggs and milk can be mixed with water to cook what ever you want as long as you do not forget to bring the pots and pans. Cast iron is the recommended cookware for campfires because the fire cannot harm it. Canned beverages are recommended when you are camping because you can put the unopened can in cold water to keep them cool.

Flour, sugar, and spices can be packed into Ziploc bags for easy transportation, and there you have it, the ingredients for a great meal cooked on an open campfire.

Safety

When you decide to go camping, the old adage 'there is safety in numbers' holds true. It is not recommended that you camp out by yourself. Even if you take just one more person, there is someone there should something happen and you need medical attention.

Camping can be a fun and exciting way to relieve the stress from the everyday workweek. It can be a wonderful way to commune with nature and to gain peace of mind before you have to go back to the real world and do it all over again.