DIY Life

Summer camping really blurs the line between outdoors and indoors. That's a good thing ... most of the time. I'm a pretty nature-loving kind of person, but even so I hate dealing with flying and scuttling insects up in my face all the time. Hate it when bugs invade your campsite? Here are a few tips to keep them at bay!

1. Don't pitch your tent near standing water since this is where many flying insects prefer to live and breed. Kind of obvious, but worth stating up front.

2. Pitch your tent facing into the breeze so flying insects are unable to congregate around the entrance. If the weather is warm and winds are not too strong, try an exposed site where the breeze can really help you out with bug control.

With skyrocketing gas prices, and the subsequently rising costs of food and what seems like everything else, most people just don't have quite as much room in their budget for vacations as they used to.

It's no surprise that staycation seems to be a major buzzword this year. This summer, my son and I are sticking quite close to home. If you ask my son, his favorite "vacations" of this summer may be the camping trips we've had in our own backyard.

I know it sounds silly, but there's something about setting up the tent and bringing out all the gear that's just thrilling for a kid. Even if the scenery is the same thing you see every day, somehow it looks new through the mesh window of a tent.

With a little creativity, you can make this no-cost activity actually feel like a vacation. Just think of the things you would do if you were camping away from home, then recreate the experience as much as possible. I'll share some ideas after the break.

Building a strong, safe campfire is a crucial part of your successful camping trip. Most of us know the basics of camp fire safety: never leave the fire unattended, never use fuel starters, and never build the fire close to your tent. Where I always struggle is building a strong and lasting fire.

Love the outdoors offers full instructions on building successful campfires. They discuss the three types of kindling, outlining the most effective order in which to add each. Pay particular attention to their tips on safely extinguishing a fire.

Bring on the s'mores!

Most of us used sleeping bags throughout the summer for various camping trips and overnight adventures. Unless you're going survivor style in the snow, you've packed away your camping gear and brought out your down blankets and warm coats. How you packed away that sleeping bag will make a big difference as to how well it serves you next season.

These instructions for proper sleeping bag maintenance and storage are particularly useful. If you read through and find that you didn't clean your bag thoroughly or don't have it packed away in the best manner then you'll want to dig it out of the closet right away. Take care of those things and pack it away confident that it will be ready when you need it. Here's how your clean and dry bag should be stored:

When most people think of camping they imagine a few nights of sleeping outdoors in a state or provincial park, hiking during the day, and roasting marshmallows and drinking by the fire at night. To others this sounds like a poor excuse for "roughing it," and they are not at all satisfied by regular camping. Some people want extreme survivor type experiences where they are actually battling the elements and challenging themselves to the fullest, both physically and emotionally. If you're one of these people, your season is coming. Start planning now for winter snow camping.

Snow camping takes a lot more preparation, and carries harsh impacts for those who plan poorly. If you're planning on trying this out for the first time, it's wise to get some expert advice, especially when it comes to packing. This checklist is a great resource, listing off all the snow camping essentials. Each category has an abundance of items listed under it. It is a very thorough list so be sure to check it out in its entirety. Here are the main headings: