Staying in Touch

Keep in touch even when camping out

How should you do just that when you are outdoors and away from all the amenities and convenience of civilization?

Easy, there are various ways and means as well as gear that is available to cater to a camper’s every need.

The following are tips and advice to make keeping in touch during camping as easy as a-b-c.

Set boundaries and follow them

Camping, especially if there are kids around, could be quite a complicated activity. To make it less complex and safe, try to set some boundaries in and around the campsite. Advise campers, especially kid campers, what are the things they should do and not do with or without an adult. Usually, an effective method is requiring kids to always be with a buddy. This could be an assigned partner where one could check in on each other on where the other’s location is, or update the rest of the group of any location changes.

Familiarize yourself with the surroundings

Once you arrive in the camp, make sure that you and the campers immediately familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Try to take note of any noticeable landmarks that are around. A large tree perhaps, yet make sure these landmarks are locatable in relation to the campsite.

Whistle, whistle, whistle

Equip each camper, especially children, with their very own whistle. Establish a code for specific situations that everyone could easily follow and heed. For example, a whistle blown two times could be established to mean “help.” Whistles that are blown three times could mean “I am here.”

Color your world

Or at least, have campers carry trash bags that are colored brightly. Once lost, these bags could be used as a device to signal to the others your location. Also, the bags could be used during an emergency like when it is cold outside and they need temporary shelter. Simply cut a slit at the bag’s top and have it pull through the head. Believe it or not, this plastic bag could serve as an effective albeit temporary protection that could keep a kid camper alive through the night.

Choose a camp that provides high-tech communication

Believe it or not, there are camp sites that provide campers the same amenities one would usually find in civilization. Email facilities, fax as well as phone equipment are available in a New Zealand camp site called Old Macdonalds. That is if you prefer to surf the internet while enjoying the comfort and glory of the natural outdoors.

This type of camp is perfect for those who might want to be in touch with their business or personal affairs while at the camping grounds. This type of camp strikes a balance between the rugged outdoors and the comfort and convenience of modern technology.

Make use of high-tech communication gear

If you really want to stay connected, utilize modern technology through the following gear:

Hand-held radios. This equipment is very handy now-a-days and so could be easily transportable anywhere and anytime campers need to communicate with each other. Currently though, such an equipment is also used not just in camping but also by families that are out shopping or attending a large sports event.

Laser Range finders are now just as handy as radios. Though they were once large and difficult to actually use, today’s finders are light, user-friendly and extremely accurate. Believe it or not, these laser range finders are also used in golfing.

Global positioning system. Currently, units that have gps are used by the military and units involved in search and rescue operations. Though these equipments have features that are high-tech, they are still easy to operate and very user friendly.

Night vision goggles. The movies are not the only place this equipment could be seen and used. These devices are now readily available. Though these are sophisticated, they are very easy to use, light weight and are compact and handy.

All in all, staying in touch while camping out may be a bit difficult if you have no idea how to go about it. To be able to avoid this, prepare the equipment, rules and stuff you need to go through beforehand. Camping should be fun. Ample preparation adds to enjoyment and lessens the stress.