Camping and wilderness survival is a fun and challenging activity, mastering key skills can help you enjoy nature more safely and comfortably. Here are some practical tips, divided into several core parts:

• Preparation before departure
  • Research environment: Understand the climate, terrain, wildlife, and water sources of the destination (such as whether there are streams or need to bring their own water).
  • Equipment list: Basic essentials: tent, sleeping bag (selected by temperature), moisture-proof pad, headlight/flashlight, lighter/magnesium stick, multifunctional knife, first aid kit, map and compass (even with GPS).
  • Extension tools: portable water purifier, solar power bank, whistle, emergency blanket, rope.
  • Clothing principle: Dress in layers (quick drying inner layer+warm middle layer+windproof and waterproof outer layer), avoiding cotton (difficult to dry when wet).
    
• Camp selection and construction
  • Safe site selection: Keep away from cliffs, river valleys (flood prevention), dead trees (collapse prevention), animal footprints or feces. The ground is flat, slightly inclined for easy drainage, and the leeward area is better.
    Tent technique: First, lay a floor cloth to protect the bottom of the tent, and fix the wind rope with stones or wooden stakes. The tent door should avoid the wind vent, and the entrance should face downhill to prevent rainwater from flowing in.
    
• Water source and food
  • Water source treatment: Flowing water is safer than still water, boil for at least 1 minute (3 minutes on high altitudes). When there is no water purifier, filter with gauze and add water purification tablets, or use solar distillation method (cover wet plants with transparent plastic bags to collect water vapor).
  • Food preservation: Sealed packaging, hung on trees away from campsites (to prevent bears and other animals).
  • Simple recipe: Dehydrated rice, energy bar, or collect edible wild fruits (only 100% confirmed non-toxic varieties such as blackberries and dandelion leaves).
• Fire making techniques
  • Location of the bonfire: Keep away from the tent, clean up the surrounding dead leaves, and surround with stones.
  • Igniting materials: pine needles, birch bark, or dried mushrooms are used as tinder, and fine tree branches are used as matchsticks. When there is no lighter, use a battery and chewing gum tin foil to short-circuit and ignite, or use a magnesium rod to scrape sparks.
  • Thoroughly extinguish the fire: After watering, mix the ashes to ensure there is no residual heat source.
    
• Emergency and Safety
  • Preventing wildlife: Use bear proof jars to store food in bear infested areas. When encountering bears, slowly retreat and avoid direct eye contact. Walking in the snake area, wearing high boots and using sticks to strike grass to startle snakes.
  • SOS signal: International distress whistle: continuous 3 short 3 long 3 short (SOS), mirror flashing signal. Use tree branches or stones to create a large “SOS” sign.
    
• Environmental protection principles
  • LNT (Unmarked Forest): Take away all garbage, including food residues (fruit pits also need to be packed). Wash with water at least 60 meters away from the water source and use biodegradable soap. Do not dig pits to destroy vegetation, use existing campsites.
    
• Practical tips
  • Stay warm at night: Drink hot drinks before bedtime and put a thermos bottle in your sleeping bag (wrap to avoid burns).
  • Moisture proof: Place a pack of silicone desiccant inside the tent and stuff newspaper inside the shoes to absorb moisture.
  • Direction recognition: During the day, use a watch to align the hour hand with the sun, and the bisector of the angle between the hour hand and 12 o’clock points south (Northern Hemisphere).

Finally, it is recommended to follow experienced campers or practice short distances in the suburbs for the first camping trip. Safety always comes first! 🌲🔥