Ah, camping in the sum-sum-summertime. There really is nothing like getting back to nature, swimming and/or fishing in the day, campfires at night with marshmallows, weiners and music softly playing. There is something about camping that brings people closer together, maybe it is the story telling and histrionics that take place by the campfire every night. And maybe it's simply doing what we love to do, with the people we love. Camping in the heat of the mid-summer season, though, can be a bit hard on the unwary camper. Bringing the right supplies, and getting a good campsite are the two main aspects that we must consider.

When camping in the heat of mid-summer, reserving a water-front campsite is mandatory, if you want to have any chances at a good, restful night's sleep. The cool air that flows over the water, picking up some moisture over the water, thus coolong it down, refreshes the tent air, cools the temperature inside the tent, and offers a much more pleasant sleeping experience. A well-rested camper is a happy hiker, fisherman or swimmer. When people do not get a good night's sleep camping, they tend to be tired all day, and prefer taking a nap in the early-to-late afternoon. In plus 30 Degree Celsius weather, with no winds to cool you off, sleeping in these conditions will only tire you out even more.

Taking the proper supplies when camping in the heat is as important as taking the proper gear when going cold-weather camping. Here is a list of what to take camping when it is hot out;

* Tent. You want to bring a tent with open, mesh ceilings that have removable covers, allowing the mesh to be open when the weather is nice, and closed by covering it with the canopy when the weather turns to rain. The mesh ceiling allows the cool evening air, in from the lake, ocean or river, to filter the air in the tent with fresh, cooler air. The mesh must be a tight-weave, to disallow mosquitos and black flies from invading in the early morning hours.

* Sleeping bag. You want to bring a summertime sleeping bag, as sleeping bags offer better comfort than sleeping on an air mattress, covered with blankets. The blankets will invariably be kicked off of the mattress during the warm night, and when needed in the cool, early mornings, they will not be handy. Make sure you take a sleeping bag rated for the weather you expect to encounter. That is, of course, unless you are taking one of those new camping beds that are almost as comfortable,

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