PE REVIEWER
Camping - the first thing that might come to your
mind will be sleeping in tents and campfires. Being a
Boy Scout or a Girl Scout, which is camping on school
grounds, local parks, or even on a nearby mountain
or beach.
TWO TYPES OF CAMPING
• FRONTCOUNTRY CAMPING - sometimes
also called "car camping" is camping on
planned campgrounds where it is close to a
vehicle, with certain amenities (such as
bathrooms and stores) and emergency aid.
• BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING - is the opposite,
where no amenities are readily available
and motorized vehicles cannot reach the
camping site. It will require some physical
exertion such as hiking or canoeing to travel
to the location or to move from place to
place.
HOW CAMPING BEGINS
NATIVE AMERICANS - used tents as shelters as di
armies who were on the move. But it was only
around 100 years ago that camping was thought of
as a recreational activity.
THOMAS HIRAM HOLDING- is considered as the
father of modern camping (Ryall A. & Petrin, R.L.,
2016). He was a British traveling tailor whose passion
for camping was developed as a child. Together with
his parents, they used to cross United States in a
wagon train heading for Oregon Territory
1880s - He took a canoe and camping trip in
Scotland.
1908 - He wrote the first Campers Handbook. It was
in his book that the basics of camping were
described which he learned from his experiences.
Years later, with four of his friends, he took the first
bicycle camping trip to Ireland using portable
camping equipment which he designed.
He then wrote a book about his bicycle camping
experiences which opened interests to fellow
enthusiasts. This led to him founding the
Association of Cycle Campers in 1901.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR A CAMPING TRIP
1894 - One of the first campsites was held on the Isle
of Mann. It opened in the summer and had
continuously attracted people that by the end of
1800s, it was having 600 people per week
1932 - The first international camping was organized
and the Federation Internationale de Campinge de
Caravanning (FICC) was founded.
Basic preparations that are common to both.
• The first thing to know is identifying the
participants in the activity. Names, contact
information, and health information are
needed. For emergency purposes, one
should keep information of the participants.
• The date, location, and itinerary are the
next items to plan. Location will be a major
consideration in the preparation as this
becomes the basis for other plans.
In the Philippines, there are several
frontcountry camping sites that are located in
eco-parks, camping resorts, and few islands
open to the public.
Most of these venues have designated camping
grounds, cooking facilities, and toilets. Water
sources are also present in most of these
places.
Traveling to the sites can be either by public
transportation or using private vehicles. There
are other sites though that are located on some
islands, thus, the need to hire a boat to bring
the campers to the island.
At the outset of preparations, one should get
in touch first with the administrators of the
park or the camping resort to find out
conditions of accommodation especially during
peak season, to confirm if there is a need for
reservations. Most of these sites also offer
other activities such as fishing and water
activities. Inquiring about these ahead of time
would facilitate planning the itinerary.
Camping in the backcountry is usually part of
an organized climb or trek. Thus, it is normally
done with a mountaineering club or with a
trekking tour group.
In these groups, orientation and skills training
are part of the pre-departure requirements of
the participants. The itinerary is planned as a
group.
ESSENTIALS TO BRING IN CAMPING
CLOTHES- are the first line of defense so that
the body can maintain an appropriate core
temperature.
When it is hot, the body must be able to rid
itself of excess heat; otherwise, the core
temperature will start to rise and heat
exhaustion or heat stroke may happen. When it
is cold, one must conserve the body heat to
avoid dropping of the body's core temperature,
thus avoiding hypothermia.
HYPOTHERMIA - is a condition where the body
temperature is below 35 °C
HYPERTHERMIA - is when the body
temperature is above 37.5 °C.
LAYER 1: BASE LAYER OR SKIN LAYER
This is the clothing next to the skin. Thus, if one
is dressing to stay cool, the fabric should be thin
and does not block wind.
The recommended fabrics are synthetics, wool,
or silk. Cotton is not a recommended material
in this weather. Cotton absorbs the sweat but
retains the sweat as well, leaving the material
wet and might leave you chilled.
Thermal undergarment may be used for cold
temperature and wool undergarments for even
colder conditions.
LAYER 2: INSULATING LAYER
The insulating layer, worn over the base layer,
helps you retain heat by trapping air close to
your body.
Multiple layers are able to trap air as long as
there is an outer layer that blocks out the wind.
Without the second layer, the air that the body
has warmed up will be replaced by fresh cold
air. Natural fibers like wool and fleece are
excellent insulators. In extreme cold and wet
situations, an insulated jacket is usually worn.
LAYER 3: WIND AND/OR RAIN-BARRIER LAYER
The outer layer, sometimes called shell, is your
protection from wind, rain, or snow. It is the
most important layer during bad weather.
If the wind and water penetrate the inner
layers, you will begin to feel cold. In the same
way, if there is poor ventilation, perspiration
cannot evaporate and instead condenses on the
inside of the shell.
Fit is also a consideration because it should be
roomy enough to fit easily over other layers and
should not restrict your movement.
The most functional are those that are
waterproof and breathable shells which use
laminated membranes (having layers of
materials) such as Gore-Tex. There are also
water-resistant and breathable shells usually
made of tightly woven fabric like nylon which
blocks wind and light rain. For rainy days but
with light activity (such as fishing), waterproof
but non-breathable shells may be used. These
are made out of polyurethane-coated nylon,
which makes it waterproof and wind-proof.
Soft shells emphasize breathability of the fabric
which adds comfort during aerobic activities.
Insulated shells such as fleece have a built-in
layer of insulation, making it comfortable in cold
and wet conditions but not very versatile for
layering in fluctuating temperatures.
SLEEPING BAG AND PAD
Sleeping Bag provides warmth and comfort for
a good rest at night. The warmth of the sleeping
bag is determined by:
• Kind of insulating material
- Down (soft feather from goose or
duck) is warmer but is not
waterproof.
- Polyester/synthetic is virtually
waterproof but not so warm. It is
heavier and bulkier.
• Loft (refers to thickness of bag)
- Thicker loft will provide more
warmth.
• The shape of the bag
- Mummy-shaped bags are better
when trekking because they are
lighter and warmer.
- Barrel-shaped bags are roomier at
the midsection providing more
comfort but they are heavier.
- Rectangular-shaped bags are the
roomiest, thus great for warmer
weather, however, they can be
bulkier and heavier.
Camping Pad is also essential as it serves as a
cushion from the ground and most importantly,
as an insulator against the coldness of the
ground.
The tent gives protection from the rain, wind,
and bugs. It also adds warmth, comfort, and a
sense of security.
Tents come in many shapes, styles, and sizes.
Tents should be light and compact so it will be
easier to carry. It is a must for a tent to have a
waterproof floor, must protect you from
mosquito, and must be made from breathable
material such as ripstop nylon or nylon taffeta.
Tarps are also used as shelters in place of the
tent. They are lighter because no poles are
carried. It can be set up in a variety of ways.
However, using appropriate knots is important
in setting up tarp shelters.
Cooking and Eating Utensils
A small lightweight backpack stove is more
efficient than open fire because temperature
can be controlled. It also lessens the threat of
starting fires and most importantly it has less
impact on the environment as it will not leave
fire residue.
Cooking pot can double as an eating utensil, if
one wants to conserve on space. Bring spoon,
fork, and knife although these can also be
combined in a camping swiss knife.
WHERE DO WE GET OUR WATER?
Water is a day-to-day need. People use it for
drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing.
Frontcountry camping, water is usually either
brought by the camper or may be provided
through .plumbing or pump.
Backcountry camping, it is important that the
campsite has a nearby water source from rivers,
streams, lakes or springs, otherwise you will
need to bring your water.
There are varied ways of purifying water and it
all depends on the preferences of the camper.
Each method of water purification has its pros
WHAT KIND OF FOOD SHOULD WE BRING?
In frontcountry camping, almost any food may
be brought because one can always bring a
chiller or an ice chest to keep food from
spoiling.
Cooking is typically done with a portable stove
or with the use of charcoal or wood if a fire ring
is present.
Backcountry camping as bringing an ice chest is
out of the question.
• Food should be those that will not
spoil and with consideration on the
calorie content, food preparation,
and weight of the food item. There
are several freeze-dried food as
options which only require boiling
water.
• Cooked food that can last for days
without refrigeration is another
option such as adobo.
• Canned goods can also be brought
but it needs to be repacked as tin
cans can weigh more.
• Ziploc bags are the best way to
repack and pack food.
Cooking is done on a one-burner stove and only
a single pot should be brought, along with basic
utensils.
As firewood leaves lasting impact on the
environment, it has to be avoided if possible.
The stove comes in different sizes and fuel
requirements. Some stoves use white gas, while
others use the butane canister. It is advisable to
try them first at home and follow instruction
before using them in a camp.
Conserving fuel is also essential to minimize the
weight of the backpack. Covering the pot with a
lid and lighting the stove only when you are
ready to put the pot are two ways of conserving
fuel.
Food should be stored well. The smell of food
will attract animals. This is giving an
opportunity for them to get your food and
make yourself and others vulnerable to animal
attack.
Never feed the wild animals as this will be
unhealthy for them and may even cause them
to get sick. Never leave food in the tent and in
the pack.
One method of keeping food safe from animals
looking for meals by putting food sealed in a
bag and hang it on a branch of a tree (Bunting,
2006)