Winters. What images flit by your mind when you hear this word? For some it’s enjoying the chill, having an outdoor barbeque party, and sitting around a bonfire, while for others it’s staying indoors near a heater, cuddled under a blanket, and watching TV.  

For those of you who prefer the latter, burn your comfort blanket this year and go camping. Hate it or love it, it’s worth the experience.

Here’s what you can expect at a campsite in the winters and what to carry with you.

1. Cozy Under the Stars

Campsites are located far from cities amidst nature, with just the sky, ground, maybe a stream/river, and trees for company. You’ll be sitting out in the open and sleeping in tents, so buttoning yourself up warm is your sole priority.

Here are some clothing suggestions: thermal wear, warm sweater, muffler, thick coat, wooly hat, leg warmers, and gloves. Some other measures to keep warm include pocketing a hot water bag and carrying a hot water flask.

2. Toasty Bonfires 

This has to be the best part about camping. Either there’s one massive bonfire around which everyone’s snuggled around or several small one’s for small gatherings. Just sitting around a bonfire with strangers forces a pleasant camaraderie.  The surrounding darkness, thousands of twinkling stars above, and the hypnotizing flickers of the bonfire will make you want to freeze time forever.

Carry some marshmallows to roast over the fire.

3. The Adventurous Tent Life

Sleeping in a tent is quite an experience, and with a variety of different tents pitched at one campsite, the experience of staying in each one is unique. Some tents entail crawling in and out while some offer plenty of headspace to walk around. Some tents have sleeping bags while others can have beds put inside them.

Carry an emergency lamp, especially needed for late night loo breaks.

4. Fun Learning

You can learn a thing or two about building a campfire and identifying edible and medicinal plants in the surrounding forest. Some campsites are located in forests where you can spot and learn about rare species of birds, animals and butterflies.

Carry a good camera to click some wonderful pictures out in the forest.

5. Memorable Mishaps

Whether it’s jostling for space with another person in a small dome tent or using a small tented loo, every awkward situation becomes a funny story to laugh over and retell.  

Carry your sense of humour.