A Girl's Guide to Camping

As a city girl who has gone country from time to time, I can honestly say you’ll never see a prettier sight than a sky full of bright stars—plus making s’mores while gossiping about the men in your lives will undoubtedly breathe new life into your friendships. But before you head for the great outdoors, here's what you need to know about camping.

Reserve your spot.
If you are new to camping, it might be best to stick to established campsites. You can research and reserve a campsite for you and your girls on websites like www.reserveamerica.com.

Prepare for the trip.
Personal Gear
Food. Think of what is light and easy to cook—instant oatmeal and soup, PB&J sandwiches and nuts are all good options. Pack all of your food in plastic bags to keep out moisture.

Water bottles. Besides containing your water, they come in handy if you get a bit chilly at night. Simply pour hot water into your bottle and put it in the bottom of your sleeping bag before you go to sleep. Nalgene is one of the most popular brands of camping water bottles.

Warm clothing. It’s good to have at least one lightweight pair of pants with you to keep you warm and your legs safe from bugs and poison oak exposure. Avoid jeans because they are heavy and don’t dry quickly.

Good socks. Bring an extra pair just in case the others get wet or muddy.

Hiking boots or a good pair of trail runners. No need to spend big bucks on heavy hiking shoes. These days, you can use trail runners with knobby treads for most hiking trips. Check out Salomon XA Pros or Teva X-1.

Sunscreen. Choose a sport, sweat-resistant sunscreen like one from Himaya. The brand offers disposable packets of sunscreen. One packet works great for two to three people.

Bug Spray.

Sleeping bag, or a large sheet for warm areas.

Sleeping mat.

Camping pillow.

Extra batteries. For all battery-operated equipment you’re bringing. You don’t want your flashlight to die during your night-time bathroom run, do you?

Headlamp or a good flashlight. Headlamps have thick elastic bands that allow you to put the light on your head and keep your hands free to set up a tent or start a campfire. You can get a cheap headlamp at your local discount store or a brand name one online or at a wilderness store.

Group Gear

Small, easy to set up tent. When sleeping under the stars, tent-free may sound attractive, but dew, dust, rodents and creepy crawlers are reason enough to carry a tent. Lightweight ones can be found at REI for around $100. Most fit two people.

Portable stove. Make sure someone has a light, compact camp stove that runs on white gas.

First-aid kit. Besides the usual suspects, get a product called Zanfel, an over-the-counter lotion for skin exposed to poison ivy and poison oak, just in case you or one of your girlfriends accidentally rubs up against one of these nasty plants. Also, throw in a pair of tweezers to help remove splinters or bee stingers.

Newspaper or pieces of scrap paper to help build a fire.

Test your gear.
It’s important to test your gear days before everyone caravans to the destination. Make sure at least one of you knows how to set up the tent and that someone has lit your stove to make sure it works. Check your headlamp and make sure the bulb isn’t burnt out. Also, make it a point to try your backpack around your neighborhood—pack it full and walk around for 30 minutes through a park and uphill. You’ll get a better feel for what you can handle on the trail.

On the trail.
How to start a fire.
Your good looks may be enough to get things sizzling when out on the town, but, unfortunately, in the woods they don’t count for much. To start a real fire at a campground, look for a fire pit. Once you’ve found one, crumple the paper you brought into tight little balls and place them in the pit. Next, look around your site for dry branches and bark of different sizes. If you come across wood that is green, don’t use it—it won’t burn. Place small branches over the paper. Lay three to four branches one direction and then a few more in the other direction, making almost a little house on top of the paper. Light the paper and then let it burn a little bit. After the first pieces of wood start to burn, put bigger pieces on to keep it going. Be careful not to put big pieces on too quickly as they can smother the fire. Think about getting as much air through the pieces of wood as possible. To put it out, simply throw dirt on top of the burning embers. NEVER leave a campsite with a fire still burning.

Use this girl's guide to camping and you’ll not only camp in style, but you’ll have as much fun as you do shopping for a new pair of stilettos.

This article was originally published on www.savvymiss.com, a free website community dedicated to connecting, empowering and informing women everywhere. SavvyMiss.com features articles on dating, love, careers, fashion, health, beauty and important societal issues. Members also use message boards and blogs to build relationships with other members.