From pitching a tent to starting a fire, here’s your ultimate guide to surviving — and thriving — in the great outdoors.
Camping is all hunky-dory only
when you have polished the skills compatible with the unknown thrill and adventures awaiting.
Planning
As a crucial cognitive skill, thinking ahead, organizing, decluttering, and problem-solving are priceless when you are living a nomad's life temporarily. Your cognitive abilities are constantly stimulated and engaged in the process of planning so you can identify critical tasks to be completed systematically, assign priorities, monitor activities, and arrange the to-do list in a logical order. Since during camping, things can go haywire, without planning skills, you may find yourself lost in a no man's land or tangled up in an indestructible mess.
First Aid
To stabilize the situation till you avail of further medical help and treat small injuries on the spot, first-aid skills are invaluable. You can never predict when a wound will exacerbate and lead to painful infections or culminate in fever.
Knowledge of Plant and Animal Species
Not that you are required to be a botanist or zoologist before camping, but amassing knowledge about flora and fauna will keep you safe from potential dangers. Being completely naive about species is not ideal, especially when you are around Poison Ivy or venomous reptiles.
Putting a Campfire
The arduous task of gathering tinder and arranging it to light a fire is a savior, especially when you have poisonous insects and predators to ward off. If you are camping in frigid regions or relying on your group for roasting or heating food, there is no other way than to hustle for a campfire. In forlorn corners, a campfire is the best way to keep the embers of friendship and team spirit burning.
Cooking
As a basic life skill, mastering the art of cooking, which may require you to prep a palatable dish out of stale or scant ingredients or come up with creative ideas to satiate hunger and nourish the body without splurging, is significant. Besides sustenance, cooking is fun and a great way to bond. Besides, life in different terrains will gift you with precarious scenarios. Honestly, preparing a meal on an open fire, often with minimum or no utensils, under the sky, is both a pleasure and a necessity you should learn before venturing forth.
Navigating with Maps
Be it a physical or virtual map, being proficient with maps and directions is necessary when you are stuck in a dense jungle enclosed by canopies. Besides, there is always the possibility that GPS will not work or batteries will drain out; hence, a physical map to the rescue.
