Can you set up a pup tent?

We decided to brave the great outdoors and give it a try!

Tips for Creating the Perfect Campsite

Plan Ahead.

Always research your nature trek prior to the excursion. A happy camper is one who has a place to camp. It's a good idea to talk to Park Rangers in advance to get maps or make reservations. Some parks and recreation areas offer numbered campsites, and many of these must be reserved in advance.

National Park Service and Parks Canada are good places to begin your research.

Know your environment and locate a water source.

Be sure to learn in advance which animals or plants might live in your campground. Study these creatures and learn to avoid them. It may be very disturbing to wake during the night and find local wildlife scurrying through your campsite to get to their only water source. Remember that you are not the only animals in the woods, and offer proper respect to the other inhabitants by setting up camp in an area some distance from access points to the water.

Don't drink the water!

Mountain streams may be beautiful, but the are saturated with harmful bacteria. Campers who taste a bit of "fresh water" may be sick for days. Bring water with you in jugs, or use a dependable purifier.

Build a fire ring and gather fuel.

Even for those who choose not too use a campfire, the fire ring is a good safety precaution. The honor of striking the fire goes only to a designated adult firebearer, but everyone can help supply fuel and build the ring for safety.

Many campgrounds provide a fire ring at designated camping areas. However, if you should have to build one, follow safety precautions.

• Build ring in the middle of an open area. Stand where your ring will be and stare into the sky. Do you see any trees that might be injured from the heat?
• Build on soil. If there is a forest floor covering, like dead leaves and moss, scrape it away until you find earth beneath. Blowing leaves can cause a forest fire.
• Make your circle larger than the fire you are planning to build. You should have several feet of space around the fire for safety.
• Stack stones neatly around the dirt ring, and keep fuel at least 10 paces away.

Be smart with food.

Always pack food in sealed containers. Animals from miles around may smell your toasting hotdogs and come to search for rations in the night. Keep food properly cooled in an insulated and sealed container. Soft-sided coolers work well with ice packs.

Even with these precautions, you may find paw prints on your cooler in the morning. Raccoons can open coolers, also metal garbage cans. They chew plastic lids to pieces.

Learn First Aid and carry a kit.

The best medicine for adventurers is that of prevention. By avoiding injury in the wild, everyone has fun and no one ends up in the hospital instead of swimming in the lake. But campers can't plan for every instance, and sometimes there are accidents.

Know what to do in case of an emergency. By using first aid, a quick-thinking kid can save a friend's life. First aid training teaches ways to overcome stress in an emergency and react with the courage of a hero.

Pack field guides.

Instead of trying to remember what the creatures looked liked until you get home, take a field guide for nature and look up the information on the spot. Find out if a plant is poisonous, match an animal to it's name, or identify a species you've never seen. Field guides offer great outdoor study opportunities, and exceptional advice for mingling with nature.

Clean up your mess!

Always be green! Make sure that all refuse is placed in the proper containers. We all have to work together to keep our parks clean. Pick up garbage, do not leave camp until all fires are completely extinguished, and take only pictures and memories from the site.