Tour and Travel

Archive for the ‘Camping’ Category

Camping is an excellent outdoor recreational activity. Basically for camping, the campers leave urban areas, their home district, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights in the great outdoors. Camping involves the use of a tent, cabin, caravan, motor home, a primitive structure, or no shelter at all (minimalistic). Camping is an awesome activity as well as it having some complexities. Therefore campers should acquire some basic tips and principal guidelines on camping. Here I have drawn some basic camping guidelines: Backpacking: The general principle of backpacking for camping is taking lighter weight items that would be at the bottom of a backpack and heavier items would be at the top, close to the body. The gear needed and how it’s packed will be dependent on the type of trip planned and the type of conditions a person plans to go in. Like, if you are planning to be scrambling or hiking off-trail on rough terrain or snow, you might want to pack the lower weight items to ensure the free movement against the center of gravity. However, while backpacking for a general camping don’t forget to take below mentioned things

Sleeping bag
Mattresses
Clothes depends on weather or temperature
Tents and tarps
Food, cooking utensils and fuel
Essential items ( sprays, repellant etc) for the protection from mosquito’s and insects
Personal items

Camping tips:

Don’t buy cheap camping equipment and tents just to save a few dollars, for such non stability or lower grade products you may be in bigger trouble if poor quality tents for example collapse when you’re hit by a sudden storm. So, it’s best to buy durable and high quality camping gear that you can rely on.
At the campsite, don’t leave food unattended for this may attract bears. Close encounters with bears and other wild creatures is one thing you want to avoid during camping trips. Be sure to put away any surplus food or food containers before you go away from the tent or before sleep.
Try not eating inside the tent. This is a precaution to avoid the small but horrible insects like ants that will follow trails of crumbs inside your tent and will possibly feast on your skin. To keep safe from snakes don’t forget to keep phenol in campsite.
You should protect yourself from mosquitoes and other harmful insects which are common residents in forest areas. These awful insects being as tiny as they are can cause different kinds of diseases like malaria and dengue. Be sure to pack sufficient insect repellent and to bring a tent with mesh screens to protect yourself from mosquito.
Never use or attempt to illuminate candles, cook or use gas lanterns inside your tent. This is awfully hazardous and may start a fire.
Select a safe and well known campsite. Don’t go for isolated areas that are very far from your region. There are many camping spots which are fully safe and secured and may have a security guard to keep you safe even at night. However if you’re the adventurous type and love to go camping in the middle of the forest or far from civilization, it is wise to take suggestion’s from fellow campers to choose such adventurous camping spots.

Camping outdoors is a wonderful experience. Apart from the camaraderie of friends or families having fun together, delicious camping food makes it even more memorable.

Camping food is an important part of camping. So make sure when organizing a camping trip, you must properly plan what you need to do and have a list of things to bring. In the list of things to bring, apart from the usual change of clothing, toiletries, torchlight, matches, a Swiss knife, maps, compass et al, are things that have to do with food. Your personal eating utensils plus camping food such as your favorite snacks, fruit like apples and oranges, or dried fruit like raisins, dried berries, a supply of canned goods, cereal and bread that can last at least the three or four days of camp. Check the expiry date before you buy your loaf or buns.

Usually, camps have one master cook who takes care of all the camping gear needed for cooking camping food. He would probably have an assistant or two who will help him in carrying and preparing up to standard camping food. They would probably be carrying dry food stuff including potatoes, carrots, fruits and other provision that need no refrigeration; chilled meat already marinated in proper coolers.

 Plan your camping meals using the best option for excellent camping food, canned food or anything that can be kept fresh outdoors, easy to prepare and does not need much time to cook. Avoid bringing dairy products that can go rancid or melt unless you plan to use it immediately on the very first day of your camping. Milk in tetra packs should be alright. They will last when kept unopened. Once opened drink every drop and don’t keep any left over. Share the milk if you can’t finish by yourself. Olive oil packed in small quantities would be a better choice than butter. It does have a tasty buttery flavor but more fruity. It will make an interesting difference from the usual camping food.

If you really need to have hamburger patties as part of your camping food menu make sure you cook that first. The marinated meat can last as long as your cooler has enough ice, otherwise, have your chops, steaks and fresh sausages barbecued as soon as possible before the ice melts into warm water.

The first year I went for camping, the burgers went bad because we planned to cook it at a later time; the next camping trip I forgot to bring butter. There was a store nearby but it cost more than what was bought from the supermarket.

So to avoid spoiling the day, make sure you have that check list of things that you need for scrumptious camping food and make sure you did not leave anything behind. Bring more than enough food because you may be far from any towns or camping stores and you never know you may need to whip up some extra camping food to share.

To be licensed, a campsite has to meet state health and safety standards. Licensing and accreditation are two different matters, however. You may feel better about your child attending a camp that is periodically inspected by an independent and knowledgeable organization, as well as by authorized inspectors. In some places, short-term camps, such as one-week sports camps or day camps run by city recreation departments, are not required to have permits or licenses.

Generally speaking, camps that cost more are probably going to provide more physical comfort and more activities. But many of the less expensive camps run by scouting organizations, churches, and the YMCA will offer the opportunity for your child to meet children from different cultural and economic backgrounds.

TIP: Make sure you understand exactly what the camping fee covers. Many camps charge extra for such things as laundry and equipment use.

Staff ratio is important. For campers under the age of 12, there should be a counselor-to-camper ratio of about 1 to 6. For campers older than 12, a l-to-8 ratio is fine. Ask how the camp figures the ratio. Some include office and kitchen staff to lower their ratios. You should be specific and ask what the ratio is at night, when a higher ratio might be acceptable, and for activities such as swimming, canoeing, and hiking, where a lower ratio might be desirable.

You probably will not be able to meet your child’s counselor if you visit a camp off season, but you should be able to meet the camp director. It is a good sign if the director asks you and your child a number of questions about what you want and expect in a camping experience. A good director should address any concerns you and your child have about such common camper worries as what will happen if the child becomes homesick, what kind of food the campers will eat, or what happens if a child doesn’t want to participate in a certain activity.

It’s a good idea to take a list of questions with you to the camp for the first visit. Questions that parents commonly ask are:

■ Where do most of your campers come from and how many of them are repeat campers? The more repeat campers, the better.

■ How do you hire and train the counselors?

■ What are the age range of the counselors? Some camps have counselors as young as 15 or 16. Many employ college students. Again, the ratio of younger to more experienced counselors is worth checking; the more experienced counselors, the better.

■ What is the camp philosophy? Does it jibe with your expectations for a camp? Does the camp philosophy tend toward wanting campers to learn skills or just have a good time? Do the staff seem to want to fit the camper to the philosophy or the philosophy to the camper?

■ Do you have any medical staff onsite at the camp?

How sick does a child have to be before you call the parents? Are all staff trained in the essentials of first aid and CPR?

■ Can my son bring his favorite stuffed animal?

■ Can my daughter be in a tent with her best friend?

■ How do you train your staff!? Some camping professionals worry about camps that outsource training of their staffs. These professionals believe that with outsourced training, neither the camp director nor camper parents really know about the type or quality of training.

■ How many of the staff return year after year? Again, the more the better.

Camping is a popular activity and the range of camping equipment and accessories is vast. So the tent is in the garage waiting to be used and the remaining accessories are needed. Go in to any camping equipment retailer and the consumer is confronted with a whole array of accessories, some of which are vital, some of which are luxurious, some of which are more gadget and everything else in between. For those who are new to camping and looking to kit themselves out for the first time buying equipment is a mind field and can be quite daunting. It is far too easy to fall in to the trap of buying too many unnecessary things even these are suggested by the person working at the store, but where else do first time campers go for advice? What are the essentials?

i) Spare clothing

When camping it is important to ensure you have enough clothes for the trip. There is nothing worse than getting soaking wet and having nothing dry to change in to. Not only could this lead to pneumonia it is also likely to cut your trip short.

ii) A ‘contingency’ kit

The contingency kit should contain items for hot conditions and wet conditions. It is important to pack a hat, sun screen, after sun and sun glasses as well a waterproof and windproof jacket and trouser set that will keep you dry. In addition, mosquitoes are rife in the wilderness so ensure you have plenty of repellent and something to deal with any bites sustained.

iii) Bedding

Some kind of bedding is essential for a camping trip. During the summer months it may be possible to get away with no more than a sheet or a duvet case to sleep in, however in colder months a sleeping bag is an essential purchase. Sleeping bags come in a variety of styles, sizes and thicknesses (rated as seasons) so it is important to match the bag to the time of year you are going to go camping. There is nothing worse than being too cold, or too hot whilst trying to sleep.

As well as a sleeping bag a pillow is a must have. Some people argue that a sweater or unused item of clothing will suffice but this is not the case. A small pillow is more than adequate and these can be bought from many different retail outlets.

The ground is cold, hard and uncomfortable. No matter how thick your sleeping bag is this will not change, therefore something is needed to get off the ground. Those who travel light or don’t have much space will opt for a roll mat (a piece of relatively thin foam that is used to sleep on) whereas others prefer a camp bed or inflatable mattress. Camp beds are generally unstable and the best bet is the inflatable mattress. If a mattress is used ensure you have a pump or the lung capacity to fully inflate it otherwise it won’t be much use.

Sleep deprivation is not good and you will find that you will not like camping at all if you can’t get a good nights’ sleep.

iv) Cooking utensils

When camping the meals prepared in the tent these are likely to consist of foods that can be heated up in a saucepan, boiled, griddled or fried. Most camping cookers consist of two rings or hot plates. There are many different types available that are powered by gas, petroleum or electricity (for use on sites with electric hook ups). The most versatile are the camping gas variety as these are safe and can be used anywhere.

Camping saucepans are made out of light weight aluminium. These are not only lighter to carry but the thin metal heats up very quickly and is ideal for camping gas stoves, which aren’t that powerful. Trying to cook something in a normal saucepan on a camping gas stove would take ages as the stove isn’t powerful enough to get the right amount of heat in to the saucepan. Proper camping saucepans, and kettles for that matter, are a must have accessory.

v) Other kitchen items

As well as saucepans you’re going to need a few basic items of crockery, such as a plate, bowl and mug and some utensils including spoon, knife, fork and can opener at the very least. The best thing to do is think about what you would use at home and take that. The crockery should be made out of light weight plastic, so it doesn’t break in transit or once the camp is set up.

It is important you don’t get dehydrated therefore a water carrier is also required. It is possible to buy specific camping ones which are made out of clear plastic and hold 5 litres of water. When these are empty these can be flattened to take up little room. It is important that the water is changed frequently, especially in hot conditions when it could turn stagnant, to ensure you don’t get any nasty stomach bugs.

vi) Lighting

With no street lighting out in the wilderness it is going to get dark at night, therefore some kind of light is required to see during the hours of darkness. At the very least a torch is needed although it is preferable to have more than one light just in case one fails. Headlights leave both hands free and are great for camping. Electric lanterns that can be hung on tent poles are also worth a purchase. As well as having the light source it is important to ensure you have the means to power it, so always have plenty of batteries or buy a wind up lantern or light since these are widely available across a range of retail outlets.

vii) Entertainment

Whilst camping is all about experiencing the great outdoors, which can provide many hours of entertainment in its own right, it is worth taking something else to do especially for those wet days. Wind up radios, puzzle books, reading books, Ebook readers, ipods etc. are all items that will keep you entertained. However, care needs to be taken to ensure the entertainment can be used for the duration of the trip. After all what’s the point of having an ipod if the internal battery is dead? Fortunately there are many gizmos and gadgets on the market that sell wind up chargers, solar charges etc. that are great for ensuring these technical items can be used.

viii) First aid kit

Being out in the wilderness any cuts or open wounds may get infected, therefore it is important to have a basic first aid kit consisting of plasters (of various sizes and shapes), antiseptic cream, bandages, sterile wipes, scissors, tweezers, a magnifying glass, anti histamine tablets, safety pins, immodium and any specialist medical supplies you may need, e.g. an EpiPen.

ix) Other essential items

There are other items that should be taken on all camping trips, including matches, toilet roll, rubbish bags and refuse sacks (there are no excuses to leave trash behind),

Whilst all the essential equipment can be bought from specialist camping shops it is possible to get a lot of it from other retail outlets. Specialist camping shops can be very expensive and it is often possible to get a cheaper alternative of the same quality from a super market or discount store, therefore these sorts of places should be investigated before the final buying decision is made.

There are many essential items required to ensure a successful camping trip and it is up to the individual to decide how much or how little to take. Some people will take loads of gear where as others will take the bare minimum. It is up to you to experiment and get some camping trips under your belt. Only then will you decide what you can and what you can’t live without.

Often touted as “ideal targeted training” for the Project Management Professional (PMP) exam, many people find PMP boot camps are an attractive option for exam preparation.

While boot camps are designed to deliver noticeable results with a high-output of effort in a short period of time, the drawbacks of choosing this path for exam preparation often outweigh the benefits.

Bootcamps may work for some because the instructors are usually highly qualified with master’s degrees, prior training, and years of industry experience. Most also offer a pass guarantee and will assume financial risk if you fail. They may offer to pay for your exam re-take or provide custom coaching and feedback.

Quoting high first- and second-time pass rates, boot camp programs claim to be the ideal package for exam preparation, often including the PMBOK® Guide, a prep guide, test-style prep questions, and meals during classroom sessions. If you would like a surefire way to pass the PMP exam in a short period of time, then a boot camp may be just what you’re looking for.

However, PMP boot camps definitely have their share of drawbacks and these drawbacks are the reason why I never recommend a bootcamp to any of my students.

Reason #1: Boot camps are expensive.

Designed to be the ideal all-in-one exam preparation experience, the sheer cost of boot camps make them less-than-ideal for those of us on a budget. The intensive 4-day course can run anywhere from to , depending on your location, whether it’s a busy time of year, and the availability of included amenities. While the up-front cost may seem astronomical, check to see if it includes the actual PMP exam fee and comes backed with a pass guarantee. Most boot camp companies will offer to cover tailored tutoring and re-take exam fees if you fail the first or second time. If you fail a third time, they may even offer to let you take the entire 4-day course over again for free.

But all of this comes at a cost. Essentially a pay-to-pass program, boot camps pump a large amount of students through a short-term, high-yield course. Boot camps may only be a viable option if time is more valuable to you than money.

Reason #2: Boot camps are inconvenient.

Unless you live in a large urban area where a course is offered, the 4-day boot camp will usually require travel and hotel accommodations. For most project managers with jobs and families, dropping their responsibilities for four days is not only inconvenient, it’s impossible. Work and life does not stand still (or even slow down!) just because you have an important exam to pass. Most project managers require – and work best with – a study schedule that fits with their lifestyle instead of interrupting it.

Reason #3: Boot camps focus on memorization.

As you are already aware, the PMP exam is based on concepts from the PMBOK® Guide. Specific principles include communication, cost management, human resources, integration, procurement, quality, risk, scope, and time management. The material is broad and the data is often in-depth. So, how do boot camps ensure you thoroughly master and understand these concepts in a mere four days? They don’t.

There is absolutely not enough time in four days to extensively cover concepts and in-depth data. Instead, boot camps focus on rote memorization of high-yield material. While they may be able to guarantee a “first-time pass”, boot camps cannot and do not offer an education that will help you with project management beyond the exam.

Reason #4: Boot camps have limited schedules and openings.

As noted above, the inconvenience of boot camps is often rooted in their location and need for travel away from home. On top of that, many boot camps have limited space and are only able to offer sessions at certain times of the year. If you thought taking time off from work and your family would be difficult, try doing it around their schedule instead of your own. The only available times may be during a busy work crunch or stressful family situation. At best, this may be inconvenient. Often, it is impossible. Project managers with home and work commitments will usually have better success with a study schedule or workshop that still allows them to fulfill their home and work responsibilities.

Reason #5: Boot camp training focuses on passing the exam instead of teaching concepts.

The material on the PMP exam is broad and in-depth. If you are not already familiar with concepts covered in the PMBOK® Guide, boot camps will not be able to help you in a mere four days. As noted in their “guarantee”, boot camps only promise to help you pass the exam. They do not offer an education that will guide or assist you through your career.

One of the secret ingredients to doing well on the PMP exam is understanding of project management principles, both individually and how they work together. Instead of focusing on competency, boot camps rely on rote memorization of high-yield material. While this may result in a high first-time pass rate, it does not ensure that the project manager has learned any skills or gained experience that will help their career beyond exam day.

In conclusion, if your goal is to simply pass the PMP exam without learning new techniques to improve your project management skills, then a boot camp may be just what you’re looking for. If you are unemployed, single without familial commitments, have more money than you know what to do with, and are simply looking to add credentials to your CV, then a 4-day PMP boot camp will probably serve you well. However, if you are genuinely interested in becoming a better project manager on the road to excelling on the PMP exam, then a more in-depth study approach is what you want.

Successfully passing the PMP Exam and achieving lasting and positive effects on your project management skills involves daily study time for 10 to 12 weeks. Individuals that choose to study on their own should read the PMBOK® Guide twice, utilize an additional PMP self-study preparation book, listen to a PMP Exam Podcast, and tackle as many sample exam questions as possible. Individuals that prefer the structure of a classroom schedule should select a training class that meets for several weeks. Self-study at home will complement the in-class lectures and further solidify the information. Following this approach will ensure that you not only pass the exam, but become a superior project manager along the way.