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Fun fact- there is no such thing as “fear of camping”. Well, I am not surprised, something so fun, surreal, relaxing, adventurous, full of experiences and surprises, natural like camping cannot be hated or scared by anyone.

If you don’t believe me, just google “what is fear of camping called” and check. To save your time, you will be lead to a result of what is fear of bears called. You can keep bears away from your campsite with these tips.

If there is nothing like the fear of camping, then what is this initial fear we are talking about. This is nothing but a little anxiousness and nervous excitement that everyone gets before starting something new for the first time.

But what we are missing is, even it seems a little too much initially, but there is always a first time!

Trust me, once you experience camping, you cannot turn back. Those initial fears would be worth fighting against. The kids are never anxious to go camping, cause they are curious to discover anything to everything in the world.

It can also be debated as- “they don’t have to plan so much stuff before camping”, which is also true, but as we told you it will be worth taking the risk. Here is a long list of activities for kids to do while camping, if you planning with kids.

We have the answers to what are some fears we have before we start the first camping trip, and how to tackle those fears.

Let’s get started, shall we?

What Are Some Fears You Might Face Initially?

If it helps, it is entirely normal to be afraid to start something new. It, not your fault if your family was not a fan of outdoorsy events, or you never went on a spontaneous trip with friends. You were just not exposed to these fun activities to face your fear of venturing out.

Whatever the fear is, take baby steps towards solving it. For example: if you cannot spend a whole night outdoor, then try going on a night out with friends for a night.

That would help you see all the perks and cons of spending the night out.

Or the much better idea is you can go camping just in your backyard for a day and see what all supplies would you require for a night camp.

These are some obvious fears one have in the initial times of camping.

1. No Access To Technology Or The Internet

This is the biggest fear of ‘millennials’, that they will have to cut themselves off from the internet and technology, no phones, no laptops, no wifi. This is like getting cut off from the world. Well, to get it straight, this is the whole point of camping!

This seems like a mammoth task for once, but you will have to appreciate the gift of nature including the beautiful seamless sky, the scent of a flower, the sunsets, and sunrises. This beauty is required to be seen and cherished, without phones in our hands and a lot of work stress in our minds.

You cannot exceed the technology on the campground, as you have limited electricity, that will be used for necessary appliances like refrigerator, that will keep your food fresh. I mean, if you value your phone more than food, then may unplug the fridge and charge your phone.

What should be done?

Try getting off social media, for a while, and only contact other people for work, delete all the other fun social media apps on your phone. I know this is too much to ask, but you will not regret the social media detox. This will be counted as large baby steps, towards your fear. Trust me, I have tried it.

Another thing that can be done, is you can carry charged power banks, with you. If you are one of the people, who just cannot resist updating stories on social media, then you will have to carry a lot of power banks, if the trip is a long one.

Camping sites do not provide you with electricity, and also there is less network coverage in the peaceful areas. You can carry your generator if it helps, and here is what type of generator you should get for camping.

2. What If I Get Lost?

This fear is the most found in beginners. You keep thinking that you will get lost in the forest and will never be able to find your way back or way out of the woods.

If you are bad with directions and do get lost in the woods, you won’t die, your survival instincts will keep you alive. How bad it could be living in a forest? Just kidding! You will not have to live in the woods.

What to do?

Do not wander around in the forest too much, if you are new to the area. Always go to a nearby known area, if you are a beginner. If you still have to leave the tent area for some reason, avoid going alone, always take someone, who knows a bit about the place.

The best thing to do would be to carry a compass with you and learn how to use it.

3. Feeling Of Vulnerability

Due, to the city lifestyle where everyone takes care of their own business, we have accustomed ourselves to living behind closed doors. We are just too comfortable in our comfort zone, that the slightest situation that seems out of the comfort zone, scares you. Even a walk in the park is too dangerous.

Well, this is not wrong, there are various things to be worried about and to be scared about. What matters is facing those thoughts and thinking why would that happen to you?

Like what are the chances, that the people camping next to your campsite are thieves or even worst kidnappers. The chances are very low. The thieves and kidnappers would find much more resources in a crowded area.

Being vulnerable (even in the slightest way) is the key to all the new and amazing changes in your life. You might start considering camping as your new comfort zone. Who knows? Almost all the crime stories we hear are mostly fictional. So just go and take the risk to be vulnerable and happy and satisfied in nature.

For a beginner, you can take some sort of protection for yourself. Learn self-defense techniques. Consider carrying a small can of mace with you and a camping knife, if you are allowed.

4. Encounter With Wildlife

I think humans can be faced and fought but what about the mighty wildlife. So many people beginners are afraid of encountering the animals present in their natural habitat.

You should keep this in mind, until and unless an animal does not eat humans, they will keep a distance from you. They will tend to ignore you as much as you want to ignore them.

I am not saying, you will never encounter one, they can visit you as we are the ones entering their habitat. There are so many factors, that will attract animals to your campsite.

What should we do?

The first thing to do is, research the campsite you are going to, and if it has any dangerous animals. Being prepared for any situation is crucial as it tells you what to do if you are ever in such circumstances.

There are various guidelines to follow to avoid each animal. Here is the list of guidelines for your help.

• Bears
• Snakes
• Spider and bugs

5. Lack Of Basic Facilities

This fear also comes from being too comfortable in the comfort zone. The questions around your mind go like, what will I pee? Is there a bathroom at the campsite? Where should I go to take care of my business? What if someone saw me while bathing? Where do I sleep? How to sleep in the tent?

We understand all this but there are so many portable facilities that will take care of your privacy, and are pretty comfortable. Here is how to DIY portable toilets, and how to shower while camping.

Here is how to sleep comfortably in sleeping bags

6. Are Tents Made Of Thin Fabric Even Safe? And If I Can Set My Tent?

This fear is common in people who have never been to a boys/girls scout, where you were tasked to build your tent. Another thing is are the tents even safe?

Well, there is a reason when we think of camping we picture tent and campfire in a beautiful location. The tents are safe if set up in right place and set up properly.

Prepare everything before the trip and practice setting up a tent at home or in your backyard. Practice pitching your tent a couple of times to master your tent.

Here is how you can DIY your tent and maybe watch some YouTube videos on how to do it.

7. I Am Afraid Of The Dark

This fear is also very common and it comes naturally because of all those horror movies. We can’t help but get those creepy thoughts once it’s all dark.

The best way to tackle fear is to face it. Practice camping in dark in the backyard, always keep a torch or flashlight near you. You will have a campfire near you to keep you warm and to light up your area. Having a companion makes it easier.

8. What If The Weather Changes

It might be nice, sunny and warm on the day you are planning, although it has been that way for a month now, we all know how uncertain the weather is nowadays. Thanks to all the climate change we created.

The only thumb rule to this is watching the weather forecast data, ensure you prepare for any weather such that your gear withstands such that your gear can withstand sun, rain, mud, snow, etc.

For more such thumb rules for camping, click here.

FAQs

Conclusion

I hope this article helped you to try camping or even think about it once. This is a lifetime experience for all. It is easier to take this initiative at a young age when it’s easy to be vulnerable. Once you grow old, it is difficult to let go of some things.

If you have any other fears related to camping, then do let us know in the comment section below. We would love to hear those.

Check out our website for more helpful guides.

Until then happy camping!

Why do you need woods for camping? Well, for the campfire. Duh! You will have to agree with me when I say that campfires are the most fun and exciting part of a camping trip. And we cannot have a campfire unless we have woods, right? But the question is- how much?

If you have a campfire, you have a solution to so many problems, like food. You can prepare so many favorites food items on the campfire like Cakes! Potatoes! Cookies! Popcorns!

One of the pinnacles of a camping trip is the campfire. But what amount of wood will keep your fire on all night, or what kind will get the charcoal ready for cooking and stuff.

Well, we have answers to How Much Wood Do I Need For Camping or what kind of wood is required, and other camping necessities.

Let’s get started, shall we?

How Much Wood Would We Require?

To answer your question quickly, we would require 4 to five average-size logs per hour and for cooking on a campfire you will need 6-10 logs per hour.

In most places, you would find the woods being sold in bundles. A bundle generally contains 4-5 logs, each stick is about 4-5 inches in circumference and about 12-14 inches long. You might also consider buying a face cord. A face cord is a wood that has been cut, split, and stacked. The stack is about 4 feet high and 8 feet long.

Besides various factors that affect the burn time of the woods, one bundle can give you an hour to an hour and a half of burn time. This is for a typical campground fire ring.

The data below will show you how many bundles of firewood you need to keep your fire burning for how long. You can use this data to estimate how long will your wood stock will last based on a normal campfire ring, i.e. 3-4 feet in diameter.

Campfire duration-Firewood required

• 2 hours: 1-2 bundles (4-10 sticks)
• 4 hours: 3-5 bundles (12-25 sticks)
• 6 hours: 5-7 bundles (25-35 sticks)

These are general calculation which will give you a rough picture of how many woods do you need? You can always add or decrease the calculation as per your requirements.

Don’t forget to calculate woods for cooking, you might want to add a bundle to the number above like if you want to keep your fire up to 2 hours but you also need to cook in those 2 hours, you can add 1-2 extra bundle for cooking.

Sometimes, maybe, you do need active fire for cooking, it does not make it up to the temperature we need for cooking. That is when you burn down the wood and cook over the coals. Coals are more efficient in cooking your food.

You will have to plan your time for starting a fire so that you have the coal ready by the time you cook. Do not especially burn the wood for coals, it is a waste of resources.

Since wood and fire are affected by so many different factors in nature, this is not an exact calculation. You still have to carry a little extra wood for the buffer.

It is better to have extra than less, you can either leave it for the next camper or maybe use it on the next upcoming camping trip. You do not want to keep the fire burning all the time, it would require an immense amount of wood.

You require wood for making a fire and you would want a fire when it is chilly outside or you want to cook.

To sum it up all, on average along with wood for cooking and relaxation and general use, you would require five bundles a day.

This is also an approximate calculation, you will also have to keep in kind the number of people you are cooking for, which would increase the amount of coal you require and hence increasing your wood necessity.

What Kind Of Wood Is Best For The Campfire?

1. Seasoned Woods

Seasoned wood means the woods that are cut, stacked, and left to dry. These woods are easier to burn than any greenwood. Greenwoods as in not completely green, but they are not dried and prepared, is very difficult to burn and produce a lot of smoke than fire. Unseasoned woods are called greenwood.

Seasoning woods took 6 months, so whatever wood you would pick yourself or find lying around in the forest might not be seasoned. Sticks that fell off the tree have a chance of being ready to burn, based on climate, they might be warm, dry, and lightweight.

Hardwood Is The Best

Hardwood is better wood than any kind of softwood. It keeps the fire for a long time, they are cleaner and sometimes hotter. Everything you need in firewood is what you will find in hardwood.

These are some of the good hardwood for camping:

Oak

• These are found very easily all over North America.
• Oak burns slowly and heavily, and have high heat capacity.
• Its coal can remain hot for hours.
• The embers of it are perfect for cooking any foil dishes.

Birch

• It has a long burning period and produces a bright flame with few sparks.
• It also produces high heat, makes it perfect for chilly nights.
• It a dense hardwood.
• It does not take long to the season and gets ready to be burned in a few months only after cutting.

Ash

• It produces a steady flame.
• Brings adequate heat to keep campers warm.
• It is easy to split, in case you want to shorten to shape the campfire pit.
• It has been devasted by ash dieback diseases.
• If you are in an area of ash trees, then you would have plenty of firewood to burn.

Hickory

• It burns slowly producing plenty of heat and light.
• Ti ignites with a bright flame and minimal smoke.
• It is also famous to produce an enchanting scent that seems to add a flavor to the food you cook.
• It rarely produces a spark, which means if you roast your food, it will not get burnt.

Cedar

• This is the only softwood that is appropriate for a campfire.
• It burns low and slow, can even last up to a day long.
• It flames are not that vigorous, but it produces a lot of heat.
• It also a pleasing smell, when burnt.

What Factors Affect The Woods For Firewood?

Climate And Weather

• It is difficult to find firewood if you are out camping in cold weather.
• Some campsite, do not allow a campfire as it might produce forest fires.
• The climate and the area of the campsite affect the woods needs to a great extend.
• Invest in more woods, if it going to be cold.
• Even if the weather forecast informs for warm weather, it won’t hurt for a couple of more woods.

Firewood type

• We saw hardwood is preferred more over softwood. You saw what are the specific wood names, good for firewood.
• Softwood other than cedar is not preferred for the fire.
• It burns out very quickly, and you might end up spending more money on more woods.
• The best way is to start the fire with softwoods and then continue with hardwood, to keep it burning for a long time.

Moisture content

• You cannot get the woods ready just in a week before the trip, as it will not be dry enough to be burnt.
• If the wood looks dry, it does not mean it is ready to be burned, it still has some moisture content in it.
• Fresh wood is more difficult to burn, as it has a high amount of moisture content.
• Fresh wood also produces a lot of smoke on burning.
• Water in the fire will make it potential to crackle and pop a bit.
• The maximum water content should be 20%, less than that would be great.

How To Build A Campfire?

This can be a bit tricky. It was a task for primitive men, as they practiced ancient methods, but with technology and new methods, it has been a bit easier than before.

These are the steps to follow to start a campfire successfully.

• Find and build a fire ring– some campfires, provide you with pits, but if not you will just have to dig a pit in the ground and then start the fire.
• Gather firewood– We just briefed you about what kind of wood you would require and how much wood you would require.
• Build the campfire– you need to set the woods in a specific arrangement to speed up the firing process. There are 3 types of arrangements to follow- cone, log cabin, pyramid.
• Light the campfire– you can do so by adding the instant fire starter packets inside the woods. You can also burn up some crumpled newspaper between the woods. Here is an amazon link for an instant fire starter.
• Extinguish the campfire– always put out the fire if not in use. Do not leave any fire unattended. It is important to follow fire instructions.

Here is the guideline to start the fire in detail.

FAQs

Conclusion

I hope this article helped you out with all the wood-related questions and doubts. You should never leave a fire unattended. It is mandatory to have a campfire experience.

If you have any new suggestion for woods requirements on camp, feel free to share with us in the comment section, or share your campfire stories. We would love to hear those.

Check out our article on other camping guides on our website.

Until then happy camping!