Tips for Camping in the Summer

Camping is no stroll through the park. Be sure to follow these tips for staying safe in the summer wilderness.

Gear Up by Location

Your cold-season tent is going to be too hot for sleeping in the summer. If there’s no natural shade where you’re camping, you’ll have to get a canopy or a cooler tent. Portable AC units and reflective tarps also work well.

Stock Your First Aid Kit

Your typical first aid kit will have basic medical supplies, but summer camping means you need to be prepared for insects and snakes as well. Be sure to have soap for bug bites and pressure immobilization bandages for snakes and spider bites.

Chill Out the Camp

Warmer weather means you’re at greater risk of food poisoning. Be sure to keep your cooler filled with ice and pack up leftovers to avoid bears. Speaking of keeping cool, always remember to stay extra hydrated during the summer months. Many campsites do not have clean drinking water, so iodine pills or a portable water filter will be good investments.

Watch the Fire

Summer is also the time of forest fires, with some places banning campfires all together. Check with your state’s fire services website to learn about risks and regulations.