Camping Advice for Beginners
Think about the great outdoors: birds chirping above, a light breeze rustling through the trees, and a late morning hike through a wooded waterfall trail, followed by a delicious meal cooked over an open fire. Camping is often viewed as a great way to de-stress, clear your mind, and even escape distractions like social media and all those electronic devices that are usually at your fingertips. Here is some need-to-know camping advice for beginners from your friends at Unruh Insurance, your local home and auto insurance agency.
At Unruh Insurance, we’re all about safety while having fun — whether it’s for your car, home, boat, or even your ATV. That’s why we’ve put together this list of camping tips to ensure that your trek into the great outdoors is just that — great!
6 Camping Tips Everyone Needs to Know
We’re sure you have heard (or experienced some of your own) camping horror stories. Despite the negative possibilities, camping has risen in popularity in recent years according to a 2018 North American camping report sponsored by Kampgrounds of America, the largest campground ownership company. The report found that 77 million US households have someone who camps at least occasionally. The majority of these campers are going as often as 3 times per year, with Millennials and Gen Xers making up an impressive three-fourths of all campers.
While almost anything can happen in the great outdoors, the right preparation and the right camping advice can keep your trip fun, safe and comfortable.
Here are 6 beginner camping tips we thought could be useful to make your next camping trip more like a dream-come-true than a nightmare:
- Practice Setting Up Your Tent — If you are tent camping, practice setting up your tent at home at least once if you have a new tent or if you are completely new to camping. If you have children, you could have them “pitch” in as well. Having some experience with tent setup is especially useful if you get to your site when daylight is waning — or if you had a long drive and your patience is wearing thin when you get to the campground! This piece of camping advice is simple but important for new campers.
- Have Your Sleeping Situation Figured Out — Making sure that you get a good night’s sleep is essential to guaranteeing that you feel your best — after all, you want to actually enjoy your wilderness vacation! That’s why we highly recommend bringing a comfortable sleeping pad (or an air mattress if possible). If your site has electricity, even bringing a fan along is something to consider to drown out any noisy neighboring campsites or those chirpy birds at sunrise. Earplugs are a must as well!
- Waterproof Your Tent (If it Isn’t Already) — This piece of camping advice could help prevent another camping “horror story”. Adding an extra layer of waterproofing to your tent is an essential camping tip. You can purchase a can or two of silicone sealant and spray the exterior of your tent from top to bottom, left to right, including the zippers. If a downpour occurs, you can rest assured that the inside of your tent will stay dry and comfortable.
- Never Forget these Camping Essentials — No camping advice would be complete without these essentials. This is what you need to bring every time you head into the woods:
- Flashlights
- Bug spray
- Tarps
- Rope
- Firewood
- Ice and lots of clean drinking/washing water
- Outdoor games
- A good book or two
- S’mores ingredients
- If You Rent an RV, Opt for the Insurance — Renting an RV has quickly become a trend for travelers. Unruh Insurance Agency recommends that you purchase the insurance offered by the RV rental company, as there is not automatic coverage for RV rentals on your auto policy. The cost might be high, but it will prevent you from paying a much larger sum out of your pocket in the event of a claim or accident in the RV.
- If You Buy an RV, Trust Unruh — If you end up loving the camping lifestyle so much that you decide to purchase an RV or motor home, please remember to contact our agency for quotes. We would be happy to help you insure your new “adventure”!
- Did You Know — If you’ve ever wondered if your personal belongings are insured while camping in a tent or RV, your Erie home or renter’s policy covers your personal property anywhere in the world, up to 10% of the personal property limit on your policy (minus your deductible).
Unruh Insurance for Boating and RV insurance
Unruh Insurance is committed to keeping you and everything you care about protected. That’s why we offer a wide range of personal property insurance, specifically for things such as boats, RVs, and motorcycles.
The first step to securing your insurance and enjoying the adventure is a phone call with your local Lancaster agent. Contact us today to learn more — and to get your FREE quote!
