in Outdoors / Camping    (submitted 2011-02-04)

Experienced campers know that using a camping checklist will help them remember the small things that can get forgotten in the rush to get their camping get packed. Using a checklist will ensure their camping trip isn’t plagued by problems caused by forgotten or missing items. A simple tool like a printable camping checklist is the first step they take when planning their next outdoor camping trip.

Most outdoor campers would probably never forget the tent, or the camp stove. They also remember the camp lanterns and first aid kit. But ask them if they ever had to fix their favorite campfire recipe by firelight or flashlight because you didn’t think to bring extra lantern mantles? Or eat a cold Sunday breakfast because they forgot the extra fuel bottle?

Smart campers know how easy it is to forget the small things. They know how the smallest forgotten item, can change a pleasant camping experience into one made miserable because they didn’t have what they needed.

Personal gear, camp food and prep items, and camp tools and accessories, are the three areas where a checklist is most helpful. These are the areas that can be most affected by forgotten gear.

Personal camping gear:
• Disposable items like a small emergency poncho or bug spray
• Convenience items – hat, sunglasses, camp pillow, or tent light
• Travel kit – toothpaste, soap, deodorant, etc.
• Back-up supplies like; extra batteries and film, or socks and underwear
• Trip-specific items like cold weather gear or activities items like your fishing rod and equipment

Camp food and prep items: – make sure you have all your campfire recipe ingredients, and a can opener, and any of the dozens of minor items needed for your camp meals
• Go over your menu plan – make sure you have all the utensils and cookware you need to prepare the meals
• Chuck box supplies – make sure you replaced any basics that were used up on your last camping trip
• Check you campfire recipes to see if there are any special ingredients you need
• Camp food – make a list of what and how much you need

Camp tools and accessories - all those handy little camp gadgets and the basic stuff too
• Replacement items: fuel canisters, lantern mantles, tent stakes, fire starters
• Camp tools: rake or shovel, stake mallet, garden trowel, camp saw and axe, file for blade sharpening
• Utility items, like 2″ s-hooks, bungee cords, extra rope or cord, duct tape

Whether it’s hand-written on a legal pad, or formatted and printed, these are just a few of the things a free printable camping checklist will help you remember. Using a camping checklist will help ensure your next camping trip isn’t an ordeal because of some forgotten items.

Even if you make a checklist – can you be sure you remembered to put everything on it? You can if you use a Free printable checklist.

You can find individual checklists for the areas mentioned above, and also a printable master checklist that includes everything you need for a camping trip. Take a look – check out these Free printable camping checklists available at CampingwithGus.com.

About the Author

GA Anderson, better known as “Gus” in camping circles, has been camping for over 40 years, including seven years as an adult Boy Scout leader.

You can take a look at his camping checklists, campfire cooking recipes and menus, and outdoor tent campig tips and stories at CampingwithGus.com.

http://goarticles.com/article/Printable-Camping-Checklists-A-Tool-You-Should-Use/4128089/