The Top 12 Guidelines of Camping in New York

It's officially camping season in New York. Whether it's your first trip or you're a veteran, there are some 'rules' you should know...

1 - Bring Extra Socks: Seriously, if your feet get wet for a second, you're going to be miserable. Bring a pair of long socks too, in case you get a little chilly.

2 - If You Think You Have Enough Wood, You Don't: Get more. Like, twice as much, at least. You would rather have too much wood than run out in the middle of the night, before you're ready to wrap up the day's festivities.

3 - Tarps Are Important: They will keep you and everything you have dry. Even if you have one of those "rain guard" things on your tent, a tarp will do a better job.

4 - You're Not Too Cool for Sunscreen: Come on, don't act tough. You know what's really rough? Trying to "rough it" in the woods with a terrible sunburn.

5 - And You're Not Too Cool for Bug Spray: Same as above, except with hundreds of bug bites, mosquito bites, itchy marks and stinging bumps. Why would you do that to yourself?!

6 - Bring a Few Extra Hoodies: Whether you're camping in the Adirondacks, the Catskills, or just at some campground somewhere in our state, when you're out in the open it can get cold. Be prepared, and have a few hoodies. You may want to even pack a jacket or an extra blanket, depending on where you're going.

7 - Meet Your Neighbors: You don't have to become best friends with them, but you should know them. Whether you may need to rely on them if there is an emergency or you just want to have an adult beverage with them, go over and say "Hi!"

8 - Prepare for Everything: It's okay to overpack for camping. You want to make sure you have enough clothes, extras in case it's warmer (or colder) than you expect, can opener and other utensils and plasticware, extra batteries for flashlights and electronics (just in case), extra cans of bug spray and sunscreen, toilet paper (again, just in case)... Anything you may need, bring!

9 - Don't EVER Leave Food Out: Even if the campground isn't warning about bears (although that IS something to be concerned about camping in New York), don't do it! You'll end up attracting some kind of animal and may end up with a mess on your hands. ALWAYS put your food away. Seriously, we can't stress that enough.

10 - Speaking of Food, Bring Lots of It: Yes, you want to make sure your food gets put away, but that doesn't mean don't bring a lot of it. Camping can be exhausting, you need to keep your energy level up. And to do that, you need to have snacks throughout the day, and make sure you eat some good meals as well.

11 - You'll Need Lots of Water Too: Don't risk getting dehydrated while you're out and about going on adventures. And if you're throwing back a few beers or some wine, you'll definitely want that extra water. Oh, and for the morning too. Just bring a lot. Be over-prepared.

12 - Make the Most Out of Every Situation: It's camping. Sometimes things don't go according to plan (okay, most of the time they don't), but it's supposed to be fun. Make the most of it.

If you've been camping many times before, this should just be a friendly reminder, but if this is your first or second time, hopefully these "guidelines" can help you out. We hope your adventures go well and happy New York Camping Season 2018.

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