Beginner's Guide to Camping

*written by a beginner camper

Location: Kipahulu campground at Haleakala National Park, Maui

One of the best ways of escaping your daily routine at home is immersing yourself in nature through camping. Camping doesn’t require intense survival skills or overwhelming equipment, but just by having the basics and a few “quality-of-life” or QOL items, you’ll be prepared to spend a magical night under the stars. I only started camping this past year and as someone who had never camped before, I’d like to share some beginner advice.

Basic Camping Gear

These are the essentials that you’ll need to comfortably and safely stay overnight outdoors. To save money, consider renting some equipment if you are unsure if camping will be a recurring activity. Great places to rent tents, sleeping bags and mats include REI, SportsBasement, and other local sporting shops. Walmart and Amazon also sell the basic at a low cost, a great option for just testing it out.

Tent

We purchased our REI Half Dome Plus tent from REI’s garage sale (a members sale of quality returned items). For two people, this 3-person tent is the perfect size to sleep comfortably while also keeping your belongings inside. Make sure to also purchase a tent footprint that is slightly smaller than the base of your tent to prevent water to pooling and seeping in.

sleeping bag and Mat

Depending on where you go, buy a sleeping bag that made for that specific temperature range. You’ll also need a sleeping pad for comfort and warmth at night. Choose the right sleeping bag and mat while also considering your camping method - backpacking, drive-up car camping, etc. When we camped in Maui, we brought along an inflatable queen mattress since we drove into each campsite and had the space in our rental car.

lights

You might take city lights for granted but it gets really dark soon after sunset when you are surrounded by nature. The campfire will provide both light and heat, but you’ll need a flashlight for moving around the campsite at night. Headlamps and tent lights are both ‘QOL’ items, but they make your camping experience slightly more comfortable. We bought both headlamps ($12) and tent light ($5) from Walmart.

what to wear

Besides the essential equipment listed above, clothes are obviously needed. Bring lightweight clothing that suit your planned activities and weather conditions. A good pair of hiking shoes and thick socks will make your life easier if you are planning on hiking. A hiking backpack is also nice to have just for short hikes and exploring around. Always bring an extra set of clothes.

skincare and grooming

Some people might consider this a QOL topic, but protecting your skin is very important! Bring a light, high SPF sunscreen even if you are camping in a forest. Even if you don’t wear makeup, having a pack of makeup wipes or any face wipe is great for refreshing after a hike when you don’t have access to running water. When packing shampoo, toothpaste, and other soaps, avoid harsh chemicals that are harmful to the environment if you don’t have access to a shower with drainage. Lastly, bugspray is key if you are allergic to mosquito bites like I am!

Dispersed camping at Sierra National Forest, California

easy campsite recipes

Cooking on an open fire or a smoky grill is my favorite part of the entire experience. Bring a cooler if you can and prepare for meals that have shared ingredients. Avoid bringing things that can rot easily like bananas or dairy products. Below are a few of our go-to recipes that share ingredients and are easy to prepare.

breakfast - skillet eggs, potatoes, & onions

• Potatoes or your choice. I love the medley of small golden and purple potatoes

• 1 white onion, cubed

• Eggs

It doesn’t sound special, but this three-ingredient breakfast skillet is the perfect breakfast to start your day. Coat the onions and potatoes in oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the potatoes and onions in a cast-iron skillet or wrap everything in aluminum foil and throw the bundle straight into the fire. When the potatoes are soft, fry some eggs and serve with some morning coffee.

shrimp tacos

• Peeled and Deveined shrimp (raw)

• Diced tomato

• Avocado

• Diced onions

• Tortillas

Everyone loves tacos. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and cook them on a grill. I don’t recommend placing them directly on the grill as they can dry up easily or fall through the grill lines. Combine the diced tomatoes, onions, and avocado and season to taste for a tasty and healthy taco topping.

bratwurst dogs

• Bratwurst sausages

• Hotdog buns

• Thinly sliced tomatoes

• Onions

• Condiments - ketchup, mayo, etc.

Step up your hot dog game by buying Bratwurst sausages instead. Slice the sausages vertically before grilling to cook the insides well. You can toast the buns too by placing them on the grill for a few seconds. Assemble everything together and top with your desired condiments.

tuna or chicken sandwiches

• Canned tuna or chicken

• Diced tomato and onion

• Mayonnaise

• Slices of bread

• Raisins (very optional)

This is a simple sandwich that you can quickly make and eat on the go. Mix the canned tuna or chicken with the diced tomato and onions. Scoop in some mayo (or squeeze from those packets you took from Chik-fil-A) and season with salt and pepper. Throw in some raisins if you want and assemble the sandwiches.

Where to go?

Our first night in Maui, at a private property reserved through Hipcamp

Now that most National Parks have re-opened, a lot of official campgrounds are available (some require reservations). The benefits of camping at a campground include the use of shared facilities like bathrooms and showers, but keep in mind some sites might get crowded and make it difficult to social distance.

Dispersed camping (setting up tents in any open area) allows for more seclusion from other groups but you’ll need to do some research on if certain forests or parks allow for dispersed camping. Also make sure to secure the necessary reservations and licenses beforehand for building campfires, fishing, and hunting.

Another option is reserving a spot on someone’s private property through the “Airbnb of camping,” hipcamp.com. We used this option back when most national parks were closed and there are lots of great options that range from tent camping to cabins to yurts, or “glamping” (glamourous camping).

If this is your first time camping, I recommend a drive-in campsite over a hike-in location because it will allow you to pack more QOL items and feel more prepared with having everything you might need in the car. You’ll be able to bring more water, food, and other bulkier items that you might have difficulty carrying otherwise.

Wherever you go, I encourage you to explore outside your comfort zone and really connect with your surroundings while camping.