Camping has always been on my bucket list, however it was not something I got around to doing until this past weekend at Mother Lode River Center in Lotus, California. And after my first experience camping, it is surely something I would eventually like to do again.

However, I know I am not the only person who has yet to go camping, so here are some tips for those who are also new to this camping thing.

What I Didn’t Expect

• For the nights to be supremely cold
• To have to walk a lot to get to the bathroom in the middle night
• For the two-person tent to actually be spacious

What To Pack

Clothing

•  Swimsuit
• Shorts
• T-shirt
• Long pants
•  Wool/fleece jacket or pullover
•  Rain jacket (suggested for early spring and late fall trips)
•  Socks
•  Hat/visor (baseball cap style hats fit under all our helmets)
•  Shoes (closed toe, if possible, tennis shoes work well)

Gear/Equipment

• Tent
• Cooler
• Sleeping pad
•  Sleeping bag
• Blankets
• Pillows
• Camping chairs
• Flashlight/headlamp/lantern
•  Sunglasses
•  Sunscreen
•  Insect repellent
• Cleaning Wipes, Hand Sanitzer
•  Plastic bag for dirty clothing (recommended)
• Waterproof camera (optional)
• Waterproof phone case/pouch (optional)
• Portable Phone Chargers

Optional additional suggestions…

• Rain jacket (suggested for early spring and late fall trips)
• Wetsuit
• Paddle jacket
• Acoustical instruments
• Book
• Campfire stories or poems
• S’mores
• Firewood