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Preparation can be just as fun as the trip itself. With time and practice, you will learn that getting ready for a weekend holiday is easier than you ever dreamed. An ongoing list can be very helpful. Take your list with you when you go, and once you realize that you forgot something, you can add it to the list.

WHAT TO BRING

Tent: A tent will provide you with privacy and protection from the elements. Choose a tent slighter larger than the recommended occupancy limit for comfort. Tents can be purchased at a department store like Wal-Mart or Target. High quality tents can be purchased through sporting good stores and outfitters like REI.

Sleeping Pad: Sleeping pads come in many varieties and price ranges. Air mattresses can cost fewer than twenty dollars. You can buy raised air mattresses that give you the feeling of sleeping on a regular sized bed. Self-inflating foam pads are lightweight and take up little space.

Sleeping bag: Sleeping bags are made for different climates. If you plan to camp mainly in the summer, you will need a lightweight bag. If you plan to camp in the winter as well, you will need a separate bag for the cold weather. Sleeping in the wrong bag at the wrong time of year is very uncomfortable.

Camp stove: Eventually you are going to want to invest in a camp stove. It is possible to survive on open flame alone, but the convenience of a camp stove will be a luxury worthy of the expense. A cheap camp stove can be bought at Wal-Mart. Coleman products are a good investment because you will always be able to order replacement parts. Stoves that double as a grill are especially handy.

Mess Kit: You will need a traveling kitchen. A convenient tub is a good place to keep all your kitchen utensils in, on the road, and in storage. Rubbermaid tubs from Wal-Mart work, but a "hard park" made for backing packing is watertight and animal proof. Raccoons can easily open Rubbermaid containers, coolers, and zippers. Make sure you put all of your food, containers, and coolers inside of a vehicle at night. Never keep food in your tent.

The basic components of a campground kitchen include: dish pan, kitchen towels, sauce pan (one small and one large), skillet, spatula, serving spoon, paring knife, spices, hot dog pokers, plates, bowls, silverware, coffee pot, coffee cups, can opener, steak knives, zip-loc baggies, aluminum foil and anything you can think of that you use at home. You can buy egg carriers in the camping section of most stores that keep eggs safe

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