As I said, I have been camping most of my life. I, like anyone else, have made many mistakes. For example, when I was around 9 years old, I spent a night with my clothes frozen solid. Anyone who tells you Dawn dish-soap won't freeze is a liar. It froze SOLID that same night... you see I fell in a river trying to follow my dad. If I hadn't gone with them, and that still happened, I would have died that night. Somehow their bodies kept me warm enough to survive, even though my clothes were frozen when I woke up.

Camping can be extremely rewarding. It can help you de-stress and enjoy life again. It can help friends be closer. It can help you grow and change. There are, however a few rules that should be followed. Below is a list of some of those rules.

Rule #1: NEVER camp alone. Always go in a group of at least two, even if you don't share tents. This will help keep you alive and healthy in event of an accident. It can also make the experience far more rewarding than it would have been, had you gone alone.

Rule #2: Plan your trip. Make sure you know when you will be leaving, when you will arrive. You should also have a good idea of when you will be breaking camp and arriving back home. As part of this rule and rule #1, please let someone know your plans, so that you have your bases covered and are safe. If something should happen to both you and your camping mates, this will make sure someone will miss you and start looking/worrying.

Rule #3: Know something about where you are going. Know its climate and weather forecast when possible. Know how to get there. Know where you will camp when you get there.

Rule #4: Please take food that won't spoil on your trip. A lot of people make the mistake of taking meats, eggs and dairy products that they can't keep. They end up being sick. One can pack nearly anything, IF you do it right.

Rule #5: Camping is more fun if most of your food is homemade (whether the original preparations were at home or at the campsite/on the trail). Carrying some trail-mix or snack food is one thing, but carrying soda pop, potato chips or Dorittos will make the camp less fun. Not only that, but if you will be exerting a lot of energy, things like soda pop can affect your blood oxygen levels and make you tire more easily.

Rule #6: Store your food and trash away from the tents/sleeping area. If at all possible, hang it out on a tree branch well above ground. Whatever you do, try to keep it where animals, such as bears, cannot reach it and will give up and go away. NEVER TAKE FOOD INTO THE TENTS!

Rule #7: Pack as lightly as possible. Do not bring the kitchen sink. Most things you bring can easily do double duty. Bring a large pot, use it to do your clothes washing and dishes, as well as cooking. A good idea may be to make sure that everyone in the group has all they need, then distribute weight as needed.

Rule #8: Always bring a tent and ground cloth. This is true even if you don't plan on using them. You never know when it might rain or other such things which will make it necessary to use a tent.

Rule #9: Always bring at least one spare change of clothing. It might also be recommended that you bring a lighter than needed and heavier than needed clothing. This could be avoided by bringing clothing that will layer. When you are cold, add another layer. When you are too warm, take one off. BUT ALWAYS HAVE A SPARE SET... Just in case.

Rule #10: Bring a compass, flashlight and extra batteries. A map would also be very helpful. If you are taking a stove of some kind, bring a little extra fuel.

Rule #11: Bring plenty of matches. It doesn't matter how you will start your fires or even if you plan to. You should always have them.

Rule #12: Bring an adequate first aid kit. Accidents can and will happen. You can avoid most, but when you can't, you really want to be ready.

Rule #13: Bring along some card games and a good camp song book. I personally would take Uno, Rook, and Hand and Foot. As for a song book, the Boy Scouts of America has one I like. It has some religious songs, many good marching and campfire songs.

Rule #14: Have lots of fun. Enjoy the outdoors. Enjoy being with your friends.

Obviously, this list is not a complete list. There are many good books that can help you make sure you are ready. One that I always use is the lists found in the Boy Scout Handbook. I am sure there are other good books as well.

Don't always go where everyone else goes. Doing so can lead to a less than happy experience as well as damage to the land scape. Please be a low/no impact camper. If you bring it in, you take it out. If you moved it, move it back. Try to leave as little evidence that you were there as possible.