1. Prevent Forest Fires
Protect your campsite from the elements and from fire by building your campfire downwind, away from your tent. If the wind increases, the fire could blow, and you don't want your tent to burn down. Use dead wood to ensure that the fire burns evenly and remains controlled. Have a bucket of sand or water nearby to put out the fire should it rage out of control. If the forest has a fire ban, use your camp stove as an alternative to the camp fire.
2. Bears and Other Wildlife
Use the trash bins provided and clean up your campsite. Bears are attracted to food, so put your food in your car or the metal boxes provided. These methods help deter bears from coming near your campsite, because they want food, not you. Choose a campsite far away from a berry patch--bears are attracted to berries also. If you are fishing on your trip, dispose of your fish bones properly so as to not attract wildlife to eat the carcass. Wildlife carry disease also, so beware of the animals that do come into your campsite.
3. Stay Dry
Stay dry on your camping trip and protect your campsite from the weather. Purchase a waterproof tent or make your tent waterproof yourself. Get some waterproofing spray at the sporting goods store and spray an even coat all over your tent. Bring tarps to put up over your tent and belongings in case it rains. Pack your raincoat, boots and other gear. At the first sign of rain, bring your stuff in the tent and put your rain gear on. Stay dry on your camping trip, so you are able to enjoy the rest of the trip once the rain has stopped. Beware of lightning storms, where the most hazardous places are the top of mountains or crest of ridges, slopes above the timberline and large open meadows. When caught in a storm, go to a lower elevation in the shelter away from the storm. Stay away from water sources and lone trees. Seek shelter from the storm in a forest with many trees. Squat on the ground with your feet close together to get as low to the ground as possible.
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