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Camping Hacks
Part 2
Camping hack #6
Bring a tick deterrent.
This hack tells how to make a homemade tick spray using tea tree oil and water.
It sounds like a great idea - but I didn't try it because …. well …. how would I know if it worked?
If I used it and didn't get bitten by a tick, was it because I used the tick deterrent, or because no tick happened to land on me on that particular day?
We always take precautions against ticks whenever we hike in tick-friendly country.
We wear long sleeves and tuck our pants into our socks.
You can learn more about avoiding ticks here.
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My tick remover is one of those things I keep in the first aid kit and hope not to need! It is sturdy and easy to use. Perhaps you should get one, too!   |
For more information about how to remove ticks, visit this page.
If you have tried a tick repellent, I'd love to know what you thought. Do you have any other hints for avoiding ticks?
The verdict: I decided not to try it.
Camping hack #7
Glue sandpaper to the top of your match holder.
I decided that this one wasn't worth the effort. Strike-anywhere matches usually come with their own sandpaper right on the side of the box. Why not just put a box of matches inside a waterproof container - or buy an inexpensive waterproof match container?
When you are getting ready for a camping trip, the last thing you need is an unnecessary project.
Of course, if your kids think that making one of these would be fun, let them go to it - and please let us know how it worked!
The verdict: Not worth the effort.
Camping hack #8
Repurpose a coffee can to hold and protect toilet paper.
If I had a cabin with its own private outhouse, I'd try this. But I'm a camper, and the outhouses I use are shared with lots of other campers.
I'm not going to leave my coffee can TP holder in the community outhouse for everyone to
use - and it's a bit bulky to tote along every time I make a trip.
Most
campground outhouses are supplied with toilet paper, but it's good to
arrive prepared just in case. If the outhouse roll is empty, it's nice
to have another option.
Here's what I take along to the outhouse:
We take the paper cylinder out of the roll and store the roll in a ziplock bag. It squishes nice and small - just the right size to fit in a backpack.
The verdict: A cool idea if you have a cottage - but not for camping.
Camping hack #9
Make crescent rolls over the campfire.
We sometimes make our own homemade mix so that we can cook bannock over the fire. This looked like a convenient alternative.
It was! These were tasty - and easy!
My first attempt burned on the outside and was raw on the inside, but after a couple of tries I figured out how close to the fire to hold my stick. (Not too close!)
I put a dollop of Nutella on the dough before I wrapped it around the stick, and it was warm and creamy and delicious by the time the biscuit was cooked.
Next, I wrapped the dough around an already-cooked hot dog and cooked that. It was delicious too!
The verdict: Highly recommended!
Here's everything you need to make your own batch!
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Camping hack #10
Use Tic-Tac boxes to store spices.
This is an ingenious idea!
Tic Tac boxes are a great shape for packing efficiently - much better than my round spice jars.
Each box holds 2 Tbsp/30 mL of spice - just the right amount for a weekend camping trip, or for making one batch of a specific recipe.
There's just one problem: Tic Tac boxes have changed! They are not as strong as they used to be when they were made of rigid polystyrene. Nowadays, Tic Tac boxes are made of polypropylene, which is more readily recyclable (good for the planet) but less durable (bad for spice-toting hikers).
The trickiest part is removing the lid.
Stick your index finger in the hole, and pull firmly but carefully. The new flexible material may or may not stand up to your tugging.
One of our 3 boxes survived intact. The second one cracked but was still usable, and the third one ripped open and had to be thrown away.
The next
tricky part is filling the Tic Tac box with spice.
I used a funnel made of paper, and managed to fill the box without spllling too much.
My kids were delighted to eat the Tic Tacs for me!
The verdict: A brilliant idea if you happen to have some old Tic Tac boxes; an okay idea if you have the new boxes.
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Continue to Part 3.
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