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Preparing for a camping trip should not be a stressful time, and it doesn't need to be. The biggest key is to break down the preparation into simple steps, rather than trying to deal with it all at once.

Destination: Some people will not have a solid destination in mind, which is fine as long as they have an idea of several possible alternative camping sites. In fact, for many people, part of the fun is in deciding this at the last minute. However, even if this is true, they should have at least some notion of where they are going to go. This may sound rather basic, but quite a few people will get everything together and packed, without any clear idea of where they are going to be camping.

Activities: A little thought should be given to the sorts of activities that are going to be enjoyed. It can be frustrating to go camping somewhere that would be great for fishing and swimming, only to discover that we haven't thought to pack fishing gear, swim suit, and possibly don't even have a fishing license. When activities are thought out, place the appropriate items out where they can't be missed. Don't forget the little things. For instance, if you are going fishing, be sure to check the tacklebox to make sure that there are plenty of hooks, and don't forget the bait, flies, or lures. You can't plan for every contingency, of course, so the idea is to take anything that you might use.

Vehicle: Always make sure that your car or pickup is ready for the trip. Check fluid levels, gas up, check the tires, and make sure that you have at least basic tools for emergency repairs. A minor breakdown that could easily be fixed if you only had the right tools, will do a great job of destroying the joy of a camp trip if you don't have them. This step takes little time, but many people don't do it, with disastrous results.

Camping list and what to pack: There are a couple ways that this can be done. For people who love camping and who go several times a year, it may be wise and best to have the "camping gear" packed and stored. Boxes and large covered plastic containers are good for this purpose. This makes it much easier to pack up for the trip, though it should be pointed out that each time you go out, when you come back be sure to replace any used items, and to include any that you thought on the last trip that you should have.

If you don't go camping often, or don't have the funds to duplicate items, a camping list is a viable option. So what do you include on such a list, or in

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