Camp Cooking

My wife should probably be writing this one. She is a whiz at creative cooking and does most of our cooking in camp. She can make frozen corndogs into a gourmet meal. I can't even come close to matching her culinary skills, but I'll do the best I can.  Fortunately, glamorous, appetizing presentation isn't a prerequisite for camp cooking.

One of the basic principles of successful camp or RV cooking the K.I.S.S. principle (Keep It Simple Stupid). We go camping for fun, so camp cooking should be fun too.  One of the advantages of RVing and modern tent camping facilities is the ability to bring a good hint of home with you -- and that includes mealtimes.  Here are some ideas to get you started.

Camp cooking can be fun.  Even if you're preparing the same things you normally cook at home, doing it in camp adds a little bit of adventure.  My wife and daughter-in-law were giddy as a couple of school girls while fixing breakfast when we went tent camping while my son and I got a nice fire going using flint and steel.

Here are some of our favorite meals, accumulated over years of RVing, OHVing, and camping:

Breakfasts. When the kids were young and (over) anxious to start their day riding, we'd often bring along a dozen fresh donuts (well, they were fresh when we bought them the night before) to get everyone off to a quick start the first morning. Not the most nutritious of breakfasts, I'll admit, but quick and easy and provided lots of sugar-energy.   And what kid every turned down donuts?  Add a glass of milk or orange juice and you can feel good about at least part of the "meal". We noticed that some donuts developed a somewhat rancid smell overnight if they weren't refrigerated. We never had that problems with Foster's brand donuts in California, but I don't think the Foster's chain is still in business.  Too bad.  Refrigerating donuts is a way to keep them fresh and avoid having them smell up your RV, but  you may need to warm them up before you eat them.  Since they tend to be best when eaten fresh,  you will probably want to snack on any leftovers the same day rather then try to keep them for another breakfast.  If you need to warm them up and have a microwave oven in your RV, pop them in for a few seconds to take off the chill.  If they're getting particularly dry, put a damp paper towel over them during microwaving.  When tent camping you might try frying them in butter over the campfire or on your trusty Coleman stove.  We found that is a good way to restore day-old pastries to really tasty treats.   Sometimes we deliberately buy day old treats with that in mind, often at substantical savings.

Once you're settled into camp you may find time for more traditional breakfasts. There isn't anything quite like the smell of bacon cooking on an open campfire. A standard breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast provides much better nutrition than donuts and is not all that hard to fix, even on an open fire. And if you're not up to building a fire first thing in the morning, the RV range, microwave, or trusty Coleman stove will have breakfast ready in a jiffy.

Another favorite, with an almost a pioneer flare, is pancakes. Again pretty easy to make and can be cooked up on the RV or Coleman stove or even over the campfire on a griddle or just in a frying pan. Add some sausage and eggs and you've got plenty of protein to start your day.

Waffles may take a bit more effort, but are even an option when tent camping and campfire cooking using cast iron waffle pans.

Cold cereal is an old standby, however it is not something I enjoy out on the road, especially on cooler mornings. But it is easy, fast, and economical and with appropriate selections is usually a hit with kids.  It is easy to store and transport.   It might be just what you need for warmer desert mornings.

Hot cereal may take a few extra minutes, and since even summer mornings in the desert or mountains can be quite cool, it is a welcome way to start the day. Today's instant packets make it pretty fast and easy, especially if you have a microwave. They may cost a little more than bulk packages, but the convenience is well worth it.  I especially like the instant Cinnabon Cream of Wheat I buy at Dollar Tree --  a box of 3 packages for $1.00.  Pretty good and tasty breakfast for 33 cents a serving!   If you have a microwave in your RV they can be ready in about 1 minute. If you don't have a microwave or don't want to run the generator that early in the morning, boil some water in a teakettle or pan for mixing with instant cereal pouches. If you are feeling a little more adventurous and want to add a pioneer experience to your outing, try corn meal mush. Just cook corn meal in water with a little salt on medium heat for 5-7 minutes. Then serve it with butter and honey.

Lunches. Lunches should always be simple affairs, quick and easy to fix, and with little cleanup. You really don't want to stop what you're doing in the middle of the day to fix or even eat a fancy meal. and then have a lot of clean up to do afterwards. Sandwiches and hot dogs are favorites around our camp. Add some chips and macaroni or potato salad, perhaps some pork and beans, and you've got quite a complete meal without a lot of fuss. Serve it all up on paper plates and you don't even have many dishes to do. Hot dogs can be cooked over the campfire, grilled, fried up in a pan, or boiled. Campfire dogs taste best.  You can even toast your hotdog buns on a stick over the campfire if you're careful. I only boil hotdogs if I have to do a whole bunch of them at once to serve a large group all at the same time.

Dinners. Here's where you may want to invest a little more time and make cooking fun. Old standbys, like hamburgers are almost always a hit. French fries are a bit messy and time consuming in camp unless you microwave some frozen fries.  Steaks are great if you have the budget for them and have a special flavor when grilled over the campfire. Be sure to wrap some potatoes in foil and bake them in the campfire to round out the meal in gourmet fashion. Chili and beef stew are nice on cold nights. With the availability of unbreakable acrylic stemware, you can serve up a quite elegant dinner in your RV, including a touch of the bubbly. Your "bubbly" may have to be sparkling cider as alcohol is prohibited in some campgrounds so make sure to check the rules before you get into trouble. Preparing and serving dinner, as well as consuming it, can be a family affair, a chance for teaching and learning and sharing more than just recipes. There are plenty of tasks to go around. Preparing specific dishes, getting the fire going or the BBQ set up, setting the table. You can bake potatoes right in the coals of the campfire and, of course, they are a perfect side to a fire-broiled steak. Wrap them in aluminum foil and bury them in the coals so they will cook evenly all around. I like to brush mine with butter before wrapping them up. Hobo stews are easy dinners too. Wrap meat, potatoes, carrots and (optionally) onions and other favorite vegetables and seasoning in aluminum foil and bury the packets in the coals. We like to pre-cook the meat in the microwave or on the top of the stove to speed cooking in the campfire and ensure the meat is nicely browned and sufficiently cooked to prevent botulism.

RV and camp stove cooking provide an almost home-like cooking experience in camp. I say "almost" because even though RV and camp stoves approximate our residential ranges functionality, they aren't quite the same. If nothing else, they are more compact so you have to make some adjustments in how you use them.  Ovens and burners aren't quite as large.  The temperature control may not be quite as responsive as it is at home, especially on camp stoves (its pretty good on the propane stoves in RVs, but the ovens are kind of picky). You'll need to watch what you're doing more closely and be prepared to remove things from the heat or make adjustments as necessary. Cooking may take longer and you may have to work with smaller portions and do things in shifts.  the large pans you may like to use at home might not fit on RV or camp stoves.

Campfire cooking can be a fun, rewarding and exciting experience. Give yourself time to experiment and to develop your skills. It takes time to get used to cooking on an open fire. About your only way of controlling temperature and cooking speed is by how close you hold the pan to the fire. Things will continue to cook for some time after removing a heavy cast iron pot or pan from the fire. But with a little practice it can be fun. Obviously it can be done successfully. After all, man has survived by cooking on open fires for tens of thousands of years. We just don't know how many burned or raw meals they had to endure before getting it down.

Dutch oven cooking can provide a single dish meal and is great for stews, pot roast, chicken, soups, and a variety of main dishes. Dutch ovens also are a great way to bake breads and desserts. If you are interested in trying this time-proven method, check out one of the many dutch oven cook books or search for recipes and tips online. Charcoal is the preferred fuel for dutch oven cooking, so you need to prepare ahead of time and leave time to get the coals ready if you want to try out this form of camp cooking. I think of Dutch ovens as a pioneer crockpot.  You can toss in all the ingredients, set the coals, and let them cook for hours without any further attention while you enjoy your activities.

Beverages. There is something special about hot beverages prepared on the campfire. You might keep a pot of boiling water ready all the time to prepare instant hot drinks when needed.  Although I'm not a coffee drinker, the smell of it brewing is pleasant and appealing. Even "ordinary" hot chocolate takes on a special flavor prepared on and served around the campfire, but added flavors (caramel, vanilla, hazelnut, cinnamon, mint etc) can make it really special. Try dropping a fire-toasted (not burnt!) marshmallow on top for a super special treat. For warm summer days, a cooler full of cold beverages is almost a requirement. Water and sports drinks are healthier and better at quenching thirst and preventing dehydration than sodas and beer. Alcohol and caffeine can speed dehydration.  We have experimented with a few summer punch recipes over the years. A favorite we found very refreshing is cucumber punch. It is made from ginger ale, frozen lime concentrate, and sliced cucumbers. I like to add a touch of green food coloring. Served over ice, it is incredibly cooling and refreshing, without the sticky aftertaste of many sodas. It is fun to make it up in a wash tub for large groups. For the ultimate presentation, be sure to ladle a slice of fresh lime into each glass.

Novelties. I have previously mentioned one of our favorite campfire novelties: instant pies. You need bread, pie filling, and, obviously, the pie-makers. Campfire pie makers are long-handled clam shell cookers.  You put a slice of bread in one side, add a scoop of your favorite pie filling, put a second slice of bread on top, close it up and put it in the fire.  In a few minutes you have fresh baked pie.  It was surprising how much ordinary white bread tasted like pie crust when cooked this way.  Of course don't forget the traditional S'mores. Just be prepared for plenty of pyrotechnic entertainment and sticky marshmallow everywhere! On hot days, snow-cones are an instant hit and very refreshing. You'll need lots of ice and a grinder plus various flavors of syrups. Snow-cone syrup can usually be purchased at restaurant supply stores like Smart and Final.  In a pinch make your own from Kool-Aid mix or even dry Jello.

Baking in camp.  RV ovens are a little more than half the size of the one at home.  That puts the burners closer to the cooking platform, sometimes resulting in over-cooked bottoms and raw tops on baked goods.  Baking in camp is going to take some practice  Also pay attention to elevation and follow the special high altitude instructions on the package for things like cake mixes.  Convection ovens are helpful in providing more even heat distribution and reduced cooking times.  Coleman makes an oven that sets on top of your camp stove so even tent campers can do some baking.  They're only about 1' square, so you may have to make smaller portions and bake in shifts.

The availability of microwave ovens to many RV campers gives you a lot of options for quick and easy meals in camp.  There are microwave version of just about every meal or snack.  Frozen meals might be a bit more expensive than those made from scratch, but the added convenience might be worth it. 

Cooking adventures. I've seen Scoutmasters with special wilderness training prepare a whole breakfast in an orange peel. If that kind of experimentation appeals to you, do check it out.  It can be fun.  I've seen it done but never tried it myself. It really looks to be quite fun and tasty as well as ecologically sound. We've cooked up rattlesnake on a couple of desert outings, and, yes, it does taste like chicken. Anyone who has watched Survivorman has seen him cook rodents on a stick. I'm not sure eating rodents appeals to me, but it might be worth trying if you think you'll need the skill for survival. Not sure I could stomach it under normal circumstances, but it would probably be good practice and might be critical in a survival situation.

Speaking of adventures, there are some you WON'T want to experience, such as spilling grease into the fire. This is not uncommon when cooking bacon in a fry pan on a campfire. The resulting flare-up will likely ruin a lot more than your breakfast fare! I've seen more than one unhappy camper go home sans eyebrows and missing hair on their hands and arms. Flare-ups may also catch your clothing on fire. If that happens, DON'T PANIC! About the worst thing you can do is run when you're on fire. The best thing is to drop to the ground and roll to put the fire out. Of course, if you're exercising proper fire safety procedures, you will have a bucket of water and/or sand close by to assist with putting the fire out. If you are burned, by either hot grease or by the flames, immediately cool the burned area with clean cool water. You may minimize your chances of spilling grease into the fire in the first place by using a cooking grid to support your frying pan instead of placing it directly on uneven and unstable wood and coals. Lacking a steel grid, you might make a temporary one from green tree limbs, but it won't last long over a hot fire. Rocks can sometimes be arranged to support pans. Just make sure they aren't porous.  Porous rocks may contain moisture than can expand with explosive force!  A frequent mistake of novice campfire chefs is grabbing the handle of a pot or pan with a bare hand. Bad mistake! The handles get very hot, so use gloves, hot pads, pliers or oven mittens to grasp the handles. Dutch oven lids have special "lifters" or you can use a pair of pliers (I find Channelock style slip-joint pliers work best because of the angled jaws). More than one camper has been badly burned trying to rescue his dinner from the fire. Very few meals (none I know of!), are worth the agony of blistered fingers or burned hands, so if you must retrieve something, use a utensil or a stick, and not your bare hands. Better to drag that steak out into the dirt and wash it off than end up with the flesh of your hands more cooked than your dinner!

Bon appetite!

Mid-week Camping

Mid-week camping isn't an option for everyone. Most of us are stuck in the Monday-Friday grind. Its too bad that making a living gets in the way of living.  But if you're retired, independently wealthy, or can take some time off during the week now and then, you may be able to enjoy relatively light traffic and short lines for activities. However, you may still need reservations for developed camp grounds and scheduled events. If you can get away during the week you may be pleasantly surprised at how serene your favorite camp site is without the hustle and hassle of the weekend crush.  Beginning a week-end outing mid-week can avoid traffic and sometimes secure you a better camp site.  We often went out on Tuesday before Thanksgiving to reserve our group camping area in a BLM staging area in the Mojave Desert for our annual "Turkey In The Dirt" Thanksgiving ride.  By Thursday the once deserted desert had sprouted enough motorhomes and trailers to look like a small city.  Of course, if you prefer the social atmosphere of being with lots of people, mid-week camping might not be your cup of tea.

Preparation for mid-week camping isn't much different from preparing for any other outing, except you probably don't have to allow extra time for holiday traffic and long check-in lines. Do call ahead to make sure any special attractions you want to see are going to be open. Not all venues are open during the week, especially in their off season. If you enjoy the excitement of crowds, stick to holiday weekends. But if you'd like a little peace and quiet, make a few mid-week trips. You may find camp stores that are only open on weekends or have limited hours during the week so it is a good idea to find out in advance so you don't rely on being able to buy anything you need any time.

You may find limited access to some resources, such as park rangers or law enforcement during weekday outings to remote areas and some concessions might be closed. If you are boondocking, you will really need to be able to count completely on what you bring with you, so make sure you are prepared.  You may find yourself alone at campgrounds, which can be both a blessing and a curse.  If you like solitude, you'll be in good shape but if you're more socially minded you might find it a little lonely.  Some folks feel a little vulnerable when boondocking alone.  If you happen to be in that group you might want to coordinate your outings with some friends or prepare some extra security measures to ensure your comfort level.

You will probably find road traffic lighter going to and from your camp ground, fewer campers when you arrive (giving you a better selection of camp sites), and fewer people on the trails, lakes, and streams.  Local shopping will probably be less crowded.  On rare occasions you may find some campgrounds that are only open weekends, so it is good to call ahead or check the camp ground's web site.  Seasonal closures are quite common and some places may "ease into" the off season with restricted availability.

Enjoy the serenity!

Camping and RVing -- Keep It Interesting

Will you ever get tired of camping, RVing, or OHVing?  Probably not!   Partly just because every outing is different and it is so darn much fun but another contributing factor is the variety of activities and destinations that are available to you.  You might get tired of your outings if you always go to the same camp ground, eat the same meals, participate in the same activities, and ride or hike the same trails.  For more than 30 years we camped and rode our dirt bikes in the Mojave desert without getting bored. We chose a different base camp for each holiday weekend, which automatically varied the scenery and the trails we would be riding.  Although there were a handful of families that made up the core of our "Desert Rat" group, the rest of the group varied at each outing, further adding variety to the event.   Meals were planned uniquely for each outing so dining was never dull.   We got to know the trails around each base camp pretty well, but never tired of riding them.  Sometimes riding or  hiking a familiar trails is just what you need.  And it was always fun to share favorite trails with new comers to the group.  If nothing else it can be entertaining watching them learn to negotiate some of the trickier spots you have mastered over time.

Vary your routine.  There is no good reason to keep doing the same thing over and over until you tire of it.  There are always alternatives.  Try out a different camp ground or base camp.  Check out some new camp cuisine.  Ride or hike some different trails.  Sometimes just riding or hiking the same trails in the opposite direction you usually go makes them more interesting (of course, don't do that on trails designated as one-way trails!).   Leave time in your travels to take some side trips.  It is very likely you pass a number of interesting historical or geological sites on your way to your favorite camp ground or riding area.  The same is true for OHV rides: try out some side trails and alternate routes now and then.  Consider hiking some of the trails you normally ride on your OHV.   Albert Einstein said that insanity is repeating the same actions and expecting different results.  The same might be said of camping -- doing the same thing over and over and expecting things to be different isn't going to work.  But there are plenty of ways of modifying your routine to keep things interesting and fun -- and even educational.

Try out some new toys.   There seems to be a never-ending list of new camping and RV gadgets coming on the market.  A new camp stove can make meals an adventure.  Try your hand at Dutch oven cooking or give a shot at some pioneer meals like ash cakes.  New games are often a great hit with your fellow campers as well as your family.  Horseshoes is popular with many campers, but I suspect few have tired the "bolo" style game where you throw balls tied together at a goal made of PVC pipe.  The winner is the one who gets the most tosses to wrap around the goal.  The game is available at sporting goods stores or you can make your own using golf balls and string and building the goals from common PVC pipe and fittings.   Most any campground lends itself to learning about local flora and fauna.  Desert outings are particularly good for astronomy lessons. An unobstructed view of clear skies and few lights makes star-gazing particularly amazing, giving you a view you will never see from an urban or even suburban environment.

Vary your activities. If your main activity is riding OHVs, plan an afternoon or evening of skeet shooting now and then -- if shooting is allowed where you are camping.  Check out local ranger-led hikes and lectures.  A general store in the area where we rode dirt bikes in Sequoia would borrow classic films from the local library and show them for free in a make-shift amphitheater outside the store every Friday night.  Campers would come from miles around.  I'm sure they sold lots of popcorn, candy, and soda to reward them for their effort, but they also provided free enjoyable entertainment.  Have your own talent show around the camp fire.   An old fashioned hootenanny or singalong is campfire tradition enjoyed by almost everyone.  Organize service projects to maintain and improve the areas you frequent.  Or even try an entirely different activity, like fishing or boating or hiking.  Look for local museums or historic sites to explore.  I found a monument for an X-15 crash site within an easy ride of one of our favorite Mojave Desert OHV base camps.   Sharing it with other riders who didn't know about it was always fun.   Some of them had ridden past the marker but never knew what it was.  I also did some research on old railroad water tower that was a popular landmark in one of our riding areas and discovered it was all that was left of  small town that once supported the famous 20 Mule Team Borax wagon trains and later the railroad that took over the hauling.  Campfires are a good opportunity for singing songs and telling stories.  It is always good to know a few of the old favorites, but adding some new material on each trip helps keep things interesting.  Encourage everyone to participate.  Our Desert Rat group had a few guitarists to start with but an another enterprising member of the group learned to play the harmonica which added a lot to many folk songs.  Almost anyone can play a tambourine.

Learn more about your destinations.  You can almost always find interesting information about the ecology, geology, or history of the area around your camp ground.  What kind of trees are those? How old are those rocks?  What are they made of and how did they get here?  By the way, most rocks fall into one of three categories:  sedimentary, ignious, or metamorphic.  Sedimentary are created in the bottom of lakes as streams as sediment accumulates and becomes compacted.  Ignious are generally the result of cooled magma pushed up from inside the earth.  Metamorphic rocks are created from any of the three types of rock when they are exposed to heat and pressure which causes chemical changes in the composition.  Everyplace has geology and anyplace there has been human habitation has the potential of yielding interesting history.   Sometimes the trash previous inhabitants or users have left behind yields a bit of insight into their involvement with the area.

If you get bored camping, RVing, or OHVing, it is because you choose to let it happen or even make it happen.

Tent Camping Equipment: New vs Used

It would be nice if we could all start out with brand new equipment, but that isn't something most of us can afford and even if it were it might not be cost effective. After all, people who have money didn't get it by squandering it.  You may be able to make judicious use of year end clearances and liquidations to pick up some good deals on new items, but most folks will find it more economical to settle for some good used camping equipment. If it is used, but not abused, it should serve you well for many years at a fraction of the price of new stuff. Check your local classified ads, supermarket bulletin boards, web sites (like ebay and craigslist), thrift stores, and garage sales. Many times people accumulate extra equipment over the years and will dispose of their excess at cents on the dollar. A lot of used stuff is practically, and sometimes literally, brand new. Since camping is usually a part time leisure activity for most people, their camping equipment gets light use. People often purchase or receive as gifts items they never get around to using or only use once or twice.  And keep in mind it is only new until you use it the first time anyway.  I am a bit of a bargain hunter and seldom pay retail for any camping equipment, preferring to take advantage of sales or buy pre-owned gear.

Used tents. Tents are one of the largest expenses for tent camping. Here is where you can probably save the most by buying used equipment. And, since tents are not intimate items, there is relatively little danger of serious or offensive contamination unless they are really badly soiled and/or have a foul odor. Be sure to examine all the poles to make sure they are the right ones for the tent and are complete and in good condition. Count and inspect the stakes. You will need to replace bent, broken, or missing stakes. Check all the stake loops. Torn loops can sometimes be repaired, but make sure you know what you're buying and that you have the skills and tools to make any necessary repairs. For cabin tents, check the grommets where the tent poles connect to the fabric. If these are missing or damaged you may have to reinforce those spots before you can install new grommets. Check the sleeves where the poles go on dome tents to make sure they aren't ripped or the seams coming apart. Check the floor to make sure it isn't ripped or punctured or the seams along the walls coming apart. Check the zippers and screens on all doors and windows. You might be able to patch small tears in screens but zippers are difficult to replace. Sticky zippers might be fixed using a product like EZ-Snap lubricant.  However, if the zippers are damaged, keep looking. Don't forget to check the rain fly if it has -- or should have -- one. Make sure you have some idea of the new price of similar tents so you don't get ripped off. Anything at or below 50% of new retail is probably an acceptable price. I might be willing to pay slightly more if the tent is in nearly new condition and meets my requirements. Some brands will command higher resale prices because of the reputation and quality of the products, so do some price comparisons online or via the classified ads. Unless you urgently need a tent right now, take time to look around to obtain the best price and value. Watch the flyers from sporting goods stores. They often have special promotions that deliver exceptional value on new tents and camping packages, especially at the beginning and end of the camping season. Carefully check what is included in any packages to make sure you aren't paying for a lot of stuff you don't need or want and that the package price really is less than the sum of the cost of the individual items from other sources.  I got used 14' cabin tent for under $40 and a new 7' umbrella tent for $10 at a year end sidewalk sale.  I had to patch a hole in the roof of the cabin tent where the previous owner had installed a chimney for a tent stove and had to fabricate the crossover connection that held the 4 poles together for the umbrella tent, but both were things I could easily handle and I got many years of  use out of both tents.

Used sleeping bags. Since sleeping bags are rather intimate items, some people are reluctant to purchase used ones which can hold down prices. Keep in mind they can be dry cleaned, which will sanitize them, and usually will come out like new, if they haven't been abused. Consider the kind of weather you will be using them in. 10 degree bags won't keep you warm enough in sub-zero weather, but will be too warm for typical summer evenings in most camping areas. Consider the style. Mummy bags are good for keeping individuals warm but they limit movement and some people get claustrophobic in them. Rectangular bags can usually be opened and zipped together to form double sleeping bags for couples, good for added warmth as well as comfort and intimacy.

Used camp stoves. Used camp stoves can save you a bundle. The old fashioned white gas (Coleman fuel) stoves are plentiful and reliable. It is typical to find the pump may not work because the leather washer in it has dried out. Many times all that is needed is a few drops of oil to get it working again. If that doesn't work, the pumps can be easily and inexpensively rebuilt. A second major component is the generator. This is a tube-like structure that converts liquid fuel to vapor for the burners. If the generator is defective, it must be replaced. Again, this is a fairly easy and inexpensive DIY project (under $20). If the fuel tank is leaking, keep looking. Damaged fuel tanks are dangerous and cannot be easily repaired. If the burners are clogged they can usually be cleaned with a wire brush. Used propane powered stoves don't have pumps or built in fuel tanks; they use replaceable pressurized propane canisters. Be sure to keep an eye out for sales on propane canisters to keep your operating costs down. Another option is to get an adapter so you can use a bulk propane tank like the one for your home BBQ. The fuel is a lot less expensive than buying individual 1 # cylinders.  The last time I filled up my motorhome I paid $2.79/gallon -- compared to about $2.88 for two 1-quart portable canisters.  Thrift stores and garage sales are good places to look for used camp stoves.  I've seen 3-burner Coleman stoves for $8.00.  Even it it needs some work, it would probably be well worth that!  Even if  you already have a good camp stove, you might want to pick up another good used one as a backup or in case you host large group or need it in a disaster scenario.

Used lanterns. These days there are many options for camp lanterns. The old Coleman gas lantern is a time-proven staple but there are many battery-powered alternatives available today, including LED lights that minimize battery drain and even lanterns with built in solar chargers. You may luck out and find battery lanterns at garage sales etc, but the venerable Coleman lantern is a more likely find. Just like camp stoves, steer clear of lanterns with damaged fuel tanks. Faulty pumps and generators can be easily and inexpensively replaced. You may even be able to buy a replacement for a missing or cracked glass globe. These are not universal or one size fits all, so do some research into availability before buying a broken lantern.  Now that LED lanterns have been around awhile you'll start seeing them on the used market too.  But even new ones aren't terribly expensive.  I've seen some very nice ones around $10.  LEDs use SO much less power than the old incandescent bulbs!  I left an LED lantern with 17 LEDs on overnight in my barn and it was still bright the next morning and for months afterwards!  A regular incandescent lantern would have killed battery about half way through the night.

Used cookware. Used camp cook ware and mess kits can be a good bargain. Even if they are blackened or dirty, they can usually be cleaned and sterilized and safe to use. Small, individual mess kits are not terribly expensive, even when they are brand new, so be aware of the price and value before you buy up a bunch of used stuff for your kids. You might be able to get new kits for not much more.  In choosing any cook ware, seek sets that are designed for camping. These will usually stack together for storage and will have multi-use components, such as a lid that also doubles as a frying pan. Camp cook sets often include plastic plates, cups, and flatware as well as pots and pans.  These types of kits save space and weight without sacrificing functionality. Cast iron cook ware is heavy to tote around but is practically foolproof and indestructible. It can be used directly in a campfire and even the worse burned on, sticky mess can usually be burned off and scoured and the pan re-seasoned. New or heavily cleaned cast iron cookware does need to be seasoned before using. Seasoning consists of coating the cooking surface with cooking oil and heating it until the oil burns away, leaving a coating on the surface. This applies to cast iron grills and griddles as well as frying pans and dutch ovens. Anytime a piece of cast iron cookware as been scoured or washed with detergent, it should be re-seasoned. To avoid re-seasoning, remove all food residue from the item, then rub it with crumpled newspaper or paper towels until all traces of grease and residue have been removed. Ordinary kitchen pots and pans can be used for camping. Thrift stores are a good place to look. Light weight aluminum pots and pans may melt if used directly in a campfire but they should be fine on a camp stove. Seek cast iron if you plan to cook directly on the fire.  It is heavier to lug around but it will last a very long time and stand up to plenty of hard use.   You won't want it for back packing or hiking in any distance to your  camp site, but it will be nice to have for RVing and car camping.

Used ice chests. There is little that can go wrong with ice chests. Make sure they don't have any holes or cracks in either the liner or the outer skin. Make sure the hinges and latches work. And make sure they don't smell bad! Some plastic liners absorb odors that can be very difficult to remove. You sure don't want your food smelling like dirty socks or like something that died! There have been many improvements in insulation and durability over the years. New ice chests are not too expensive, so you might want to check out your local Walmart before grabbing up older "bargains". For short term use, light weight styrofoam chests are really inexpensive, but they aren't very durable. Plastic ice chests are the next least expensive permanent solutions. Painted steel models used to be common but you don't usually see a lot of new ones these days. I picked up a couple of nice older Coleman steel ice chests on ebay. New stainless steel models are durable and often keep food colder than plastic models but they're somewhat expensive -- plastic chests can be found for $20-$50. Expect to pay around $100 for stainless steel. Size matters! Consider the space you have for transporting your equipment. Huge ice chests can hold lots of food and drinks but they may take up your entire cargo area and are very heavy to carry when fully loaded. Sometimes having a number of smaller chests will be more convenient (and less expensive) and the ice will last longer. Separate chests for drinks and perishable foods is a good idea. You will be getting into the drink chest more frequently and if it should run out of ice, the drinks won't spoil although they won't be as appealing if they are warm. Smaller chests are also easier to carry. Keeping perishable foods separate avoids exposing them to frequent opening of the chest and will protect them longer. Sometimes having a few inexpensive styrofoam chests is a good solution for separating and transporting items. They are also good for keeping your frozen or cold foods cool on the way back from the grocery store. Get the right size chest for you needs. You don't need a huge, $150 marine cooler to keep a six pack cold for an afternoon picnic and it probably wouldn't even do the job without filling it with many bags of ice whereas a small cooler and 1 bag of ice would easily and conveniently handle a six pack.

Camp chairs are not terribly expensive when they are new and to some extent are designed to be disposable.  That being said, you might still pick up some good used camp chairs.  Be sure to inspect them for bent or broken frames or damaged fabric or netting. Like so many other pieces of camping equipment, people tend to accumulate more than they need and you may snag a great deal on some good used ones.  At one time folding aluminum chairs with woven fiberglass straps were the norm.   Today the collapsible "bag" or "quad" chairs seem to dominate the market. 

Used camping tools.   Things like axes, hatchets, mallets, and folding shovels are handy to have when camping and used items in good condition will be just as serviceable as new ones.  You might have to sharpen an axe or clean and paint a shovel, but it will probably save you quite a bit over buying new.  Other candidates in the tools category might include knives and mallets.  Camp chairs and cots are pretty durable and used ones could save you quite a bit of cash you could use on something else.  Folding tables and "camp kitchens" are also nice additions if you come across them.

Save away!

Preparing Meals In Camp

Meal preparation in camp should always be at least easy and convenient.  Ideally it should be downright fun!  You definitely don't want meal preparation to be time consuming or onerous and interfere with your planned activities.  If we do it right, meal preparation can and should be fun.

Preparing meals in camp, whether you're camping in a tent or on a boat or in an RV, will be a little different than your normal routine at home.  When cooking in an RV you usually have a range that is similar to the one at home -- but somewhat smaller.  Cooking on a boat you may have to deal with having your galley rocking.  When tent camping, you'll likely be cooking on a Coleman stove or campfire, unless you opt for one of the newer portable ranges that gives you  stove resources similar to those you would have in in RV.  But even then, or when cooking in an RV, the differences in size and performance will require some adjustments to your normal procedure.  No matter what you're cooking on, it is going to be different than your gas or electric range and oven at home.

Camp cooking should be fun!  After all, we go camping for fun, so cooking should be fun too and usually it is.  One of the things that will make it more fun, especially for the primary cook, is for everyone to participate.  Plan your meals with that in mind so you have appropriate and productive things for everyone to do.  Plan simple meals that don't require a lot of elaborate preparation or cleanup.  Take advantage of outdoor cooking opportunities (BBQ or campfire) to add variety and distribute the labor.  Cooking on a campfire can be fun and quite an adventure and is a good way to involve many family or group members.

Your first step toward successful camp cooking starts even before you leave home.  That is to plan an appropriate menu.  Think "simplicity.  Plan simple meals that will require minimum preparation:  hotdogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, foil dinners, stew, chili, cold cereal, etc.  One of our traditions is to have donuts for breakfast the first day in camp.  Yes, I know, it isn't the most nutritious meal, but we aren't exactly making a habit out of as rarely as we get to go camping and it lets us get going quick!

Setting up your camp kitchen or RV or boat galley properly will have a big effect on the efficiency -- and fun -- of camp cooking.  RV cabinets and counter tops are much smaller than their residential counterparts so you may not be able to have everything at your fingertips like you are used to having at home.  You may have to get things out in advance and have them staged "at the ready" so you don't waste time and energy digging in the backs of cupboards for what you need.  Have your utensils and all ingredients needed for the current meal gathered up and ready to use.   Boat galleys are often even more limited than RVs plus you probably have to deal with the boat rocking while youre cooking.  When tent camping, all your stuff is going to be in a back pack, duffle bag, tub, or chuck box so the same practice applies, perhaps even more so.  Set up your camp kitchen so all ingredients and necessary cooking implements are organized for easy access.   Have a dishpan ready for rinsing or soaking dishes, spoons, etc.  Make sure your campfire is properly formatted for cooking or that your camp stove is fueled and ready to go.  You may need to set up a wind screen around your stove or even around your campfire on windy days.

When preparing meals in an RV or on a boat you will want to be as efficient as possible.  That means more than just minimized use of the stove to conserve fuel.  You need to reduce use of water consumption, generation of trash, and restrict how often and how long you open the refrigerator.   Also, conserve your time.  You need so think carefully about how long it takes to prepare each dish and schedule cooking times to try to get everything ready at the same time.  Avoid messy dishes that make for a lot of cleanup.  All of that comes down to planning.  First, plan your meals in advance, way in advance.  By planning your menu long before you hit the road you can make sure you have all the right provisions and you have a chance to organize them so they'll be handy and easy to use on the road.  You may even want to pre-measure some ingredients and put them in labeled plastic bags so they're ready to use.  Sometimes  you can also pre-mix dry ingredients to reduce preparation time.  You don't want to have to search through cupboards or boxes of supplies to find a bottle of cooking oil after you've already lit the stove.  If you are accustomed to cooking at home, you probably have routines that work for you there but you may have to make adjustments when cooking in an RV.  A smaller stove may mean you can't cook as many things at the same time as you do at home and the smaller burners may mean it will take longer.   Think about what things can be prepared first without becoming unappealing if they sit for a while.  Baked potatoes hold their heat pretty well but mixed veggies cool pretty quickly, so keep things like that in mind when you structure your meal preparation.  Sometimes you can augment your cooking resources by shifting some of it, like steaks and burgers, baked potatoes and corn on the cob, to an outside BBQ or to the campfire.   This also lets you share the work by recruiting a companion to take charge of that part of the meal and outdoor cooking can even be fun.   And always plan ahead. If you're planning on having baked potatoes for dinner, you might want to wrap them in aluminum foil and tuck them in the coals of your campfire an hour or so before dinner time.  A potato baked in the campfire for an hour makes an tasty side dish.  A potato baked in the campfire for 3 hours makes an excellent hockey puck!  Taking advantage of the campfire also helps you conserve propane and creates some opportunities for several people to participate in some old fashioned pioneer type experiences.  You can let everyone cook their own hotdogs but you'll probably need a designated burger flipper to do hamburgers on the grill or campfire.

Mealtime when tent camping is usually quite a bit different than at home.  You may find yourself having to prepare your meals in adverse weather -- rain, wind, even snow.  Never try to cook in your tent.  That is a recipe for disaster!  If you;'re in a campground with canopies or pavilions, try to take advantage of them to protect you and your food from the weather.  If all else fails you might be able to stretch a tarp between some trees or poles or anchor it to the roof of your vehicle to give you a little shelter from the storm.  Just make sure it is high enough that it won't melt or catch on fire when you're cooking.  Depending on how much shelter you have around your camp kitchen, you may have to exercise special care to avoid getting rain in your flour or pancake mix or blowing debris adding unwanted variety to the taste and texture of your creations.  Rain falling into a frying pan filled with hot oil can be especially hazardous.  Water is heavier than oil and will sink to the bottom of the pan where it quickly becomes superheated and can virtually explode, scattering hot, possibly, flaming, oil all over the place.  As with cooking in an RV,  your cooking space is limited and planning is key to success.  You will most likely want to plan different meals than you usually prepare at home, choosing things that are appropriate to the season, are easy to prepare, serve, and clean up.  And, again, take advantage of campfire resources when you can.  As you gain experience cooking in camp you may discover you want to upgrade from a 2-burner stove to a 3-burner stove or perhaps even bring more than one stove.  Extra cooking facilities is especially helpful (and necessary) when you are cooking for larger groups.  How you organize your camp kitchen will have a significant effect on how convenient preparing meals will be.  Plan ahead and have ingredients well organized and close at hand. Some campers find it helpful to build a "chuck box" to organize their kitchens.  This is a tried and true option, one that goes back at least to American pioneer wagon trains and the chuck wagons on cattle drives.   For a modern variation, check out the little kitchens in the back of teardrop trailers. Lacking a chuck box or room to transport one, organize your provisions and utensils logically in plastic tubs.  Use dividers or smaller containers inside large tubs to protect individual items and make it easier to find what you need when you need it.   If everything is simply tossed into one large tub you'll find yourself digging through a foot or two of odds and ends to find a spoon or a spatula. Proper storage of foodstuffs is especially important.   No matter how careful you are, things are likely to get spilled in transit.  Loose ingredients like flour, sugar, and salt, get all over everything if the bag or box breaks . Escaping liquids will seep through and into unprotected packages of dry ingredients and soon you'll have to pretty much throw everything out and start over.   Proper storage can prevent a lot of problems.   Make sure caps are tight on all containers, then store bottles of liquids in their own plastic storage boxes so if they crack or the cap comes off, the contents will be contained and the rest of the bin or cupboard not contaminated.  Keeping dry ingredients in their own sealed plastic containers protects the packages from damage, prevents them from being contaminated by external spills, seals them from environmental moisture so they don't absorb moisture from humid air, and keeps the bugs out.

Campfire cooking is a fun way  to prepare your meals in camp.  But it requires proper preparation, special equipment, and careful procedures.  Get your fire started about an hour before you want to start cooking.  It is best to cook on the coals, not the flames.  You can even cook most meats directly on or over the coals without the need of a grill or pan.  Special equipment might include a grill, "pot dangler", or cast iron skillets and pots.  For a pioneer type experience, cook your meat or bread on a stick like you would hotdogs or marshmallows.  Twist bread is easy.  Start with a stiff dough, roll it into a rope shape, wrap it around a stick, and bake it over your campfire.  Keep an eye on what you're cooking.  Temperatures in a campfire are much different and more likely to change without warning than the temperatures on your stove at home or even your trusty Coleman stove in camp.  Check out these Ten Commandments for Campfire Cooking for more helpful tips.

 No matter what you are cooking or where, clean up as you go instead of setting dirty dishes and utensils aside to be washed later.  Usually cleaning things right away avoids having to deal with scrubbing dried or cooked on residue and will save you a lot of time in the long run.  And, since you probably have limited items, it may make things you need available when you need them again instead of having to stop and clean them before you can use them when you need them.

Tin foil dinners, such as hobo stew, are handy ways to have tasty, nutritious campfire meals.  They can be assembled from basic ingredients (usually meat and vegetables) and cooked right on the coals.  We like to make ours up ahead of time at home, sometimes even pre-cooking the meat in the microwave before wrapping them in foil.  They don't take up a lot of room in the fridge or cooler, they don't spill, they are really easy to cook on the campfire, and they really taste great!  And they don't dirty up a lot of pots and pans.

If you're camping in a developed campground, there may be a roofed area that will at least get you out of the rain or snow but usually these are open-sided so you may still have to deal with the wind.  Sometimes each site has its own canopy; sometimes there are larger shared pavilions.  If your camp site doesn't have one you may want to set up your own portable canopy, maybe a dining fly or an EZ-up.  I've seen campers set up tarps to protect their campsites, stretching them high enough between the trees and leaving a small opening in the middle so they can even have a protected campfire.  That will help keep rain out of the hot grease in they frying pan, but having anything overhead brings its own risks, so be careful!   Tarps will sometimes collect significant pools of water in low spots.  Eventually the weight may cause the tarp to tear or pull loose, dousing everyone and everything beneath with copious amounts of cold rain water.   Monitor water accumulation and periodically dump the pools before they dump themselves in the most unpleasant and untimely way.   Some additional tarps hung along the windward side may help shelter you from the wind.  Exercise special care when cooking under a canopy.  An unexpected flareup could catch your roof or walls on fire!

Meal schedules are likely to be modified when camping.   Hey! One of the reasons we go camping is to get out of the daily 9-5 grind!  The variety of activities and the potential for unforeseen circumstances to impact mealtimes pretty much dictate you have to be flexible.  Most times that isn't a problem, unless you make it into one.  You will find it is best not to try to maintain a fixed meal schedule tied to the clock when camping.  Don't worry about setting an alarm clock.  Have breakfast whenever you finally roll out of bed in the morning.  Although some people don't usually eat breakfast at home,  normally do try to start each day camping with a more or less nutritious breakfast (donuts the first morning are one of the more fun and less nutritious breakfasts).  Lunch works just about anytime you might think of as "mid day", but it doesn't have to be at a specific time.   Wait for a natural break in activities.  And have dinner in the evening after you've finished your day's activities and are ready to settle in for the night.  Having dinner at that time also lets you cook on the campfire, if you like, then just relax around it after dinner.  You meal schedules should be more governed by the sun, your body rhythms, and your activities than by the clock.  However, if you find benefit in keeping a regular schedule, by all means do so!  People with special diets or medical requirements may need to keep to a fixed schedule.

Clean up is far more important in camp than at home.   It is ALWAYS a good idea to clean up as you go, but if you don't keep up with it in camp there can be larger consequences than you normally experience at home.  Dump some water into pots and pans a soon as you're removed the food so they can begin soaking right away before stuff dries and bakes on.   If you're cooking on a campfire, you may want to leave the pots and pans on the fire with water in them for a while to loosen deposits, but don't let them boil dry.  Dispose properly of scraps before they can attract pests.   Even in an RV, you are likely to be surrounded by more potential pests than you have at home and when cooking outside you are smack in the middle of their environment.  Flying and crawling insects are usually among the first to arrive, but larger (and more dangerous) critters like raccoons and bears may also be drawn to unattended (and sometime attended) scraps.  While unwanted creatures are less likely to be a problem in an RV, spills and scraps left around contribute to unsanitary conditions and may produce unpleasant odors that are hard to escape or eliminate in the small space inside an RV.   Cooking fumes and odors can also be a problem in an RV, so try to maintain adequate ventilation.  Open some strategic windows and take advantages of the fan in your range hood (if you have one) to expel odors as quickly as possible.  Roof vents, especially those with fans than can be used to evacuate air from inside the coach, are also helpful in getting rid of odors before they saturate carpet, curtains, and upholstery or cling to walls and windows.   Give cloth upholstery a shot of Fabreze and vacuum them now and then to minimize the accumulation of cooking odors.   Clean interior glass and vinyl surfaces to remove the build up of film from cooking fumes.   Meal preparation in camp should at the very least always be easy and convenient.  Ideally, it should even be fun!

Presentation is often a big part of meals at home.  My wife can whip up some frozen corn dogs and make it look like a gourmet meal.  Options for elaborate presentation in camp are probably going to be much more limited than at home, but you may still want to spiff up some meals.   And remember, just eating off paper plates around the campfire or at your RVor picnic table is perfectly acceptable.  Fancy dinnerware or serving containers are definitely NOT required when camping.  Consider that billionaire William Randolf Hearst served all condiments in their original containers at his "ranch" at San Simeone (better know as Hearst Castle), even when entertaining VIPs like politicians, Hollywood celebrities, and even royalty.   If you do want to add some decoration, sometimes you can put some wild flowers in a plastic cup for a centerpiece at dinner (just be sure picking the flowers isn't against the rules where you're camping!).  A single candle, even a little votive light, can add a touch of ambiance to the table without taking up much room in your cupboards and if its a citronella candle it will help keep insects away.   Even a little LED faux candle looks nice and you can often get them at dollar stores.   And they don't present a fire hazard if used in tents.  I've seen RV advertisements in magazines and displays at trade shows with lavish flower arrangements and even live plants.  That is OK for a trade show or a commercial, but, personally, I don't think it is very practical for real  camping.  I would prefer to give the space and weight consumed by such items to things that add more convenience or functionality.  In most places we go camping, the location itself provides more than enough "eye candy".   You can always do something fun like learn fun and spiffy ways to fold paper napkins or add a little pretty garnish to your meals.  Sometimes you may even be able to find suitable garnish in the wild (one of my favorites is water cress), but be sure you know what you're picking and that picking it isn't prohibited or the food is contaminated.

Now you're cooking!

Camping In Fog

OK, so what is any different about camping in fog? Other than dampening your spirits and perhaps your tent and sleeping bags, camping in fog is not too different than camping in normal conditions. With ONE major exception: visibility.

Fog limits visibility. It makes it harder for you to see where you're going and it makes it harder for others to see you and your camp site. If you're out and about and get caught in fog, you might have to hole up for a time and wait for it to clear if it gets too bad. You can get yourself thoroughly lost if you keep moving when you can't see landmarks that would keep you on track. Driving in fog often means reduced traction as well as inhibited visibility as the fog condenses on the road or trail surface. Turn your headlights on DIM so other driver's can see you better. High beams usually light up the fog in front of you and glare back making it even harder to see where you're going. If you have fog lights, use them. If you don't have fog lights and encounter fog with any regularity, consider adding them. They are not terribly expensive nor difficult to install.  Fog can make it hard to see tents and vehicles in camp.  After nearly running into my own unlit motorhome when returning to camp in the fog one night I added reflective strips down both sides to make it easier to see.   I also placed reflective strips near the front and rear of both sides of my motorcycle trailer. You might put reflective tape on  your tent or hang chemical light sticks at strategic places to protect it.  Solar lights may also add some visibility and you can often pick them up at dollar stores so they don't have to be expensive.

Driving in fog is challenging to say the least and you may often encounter fog between home and your camping destination.  After an hour or so of trying to peer through thick fog my eyes usually feel like burned holes in blanket.  Proper fog lights are helpful.  The amber or yellow lens, low mounting position, and flat beam pattern help illuminate the roadway without reflecting too much glare back at you.  Never use your headlights on bright in fog (or heavy falling or blowing snow).  The glare will make it really hard to see what's ahead of you.  As in other situations of decreased visibility, you need to adjust your speed so you don't run into stopped or slow moving vehicles, but try not to become an obstacle yourself.  The central valley in California gets something they call "toole" fog -- it is thick as pea soup but very shallow.  Sometimes drivers of big semis are high enough to see over it while ordinary cars are swimming through it.  When I encountered this situation I couldn't even see the hood ornament on my car, but I could see blue sky above me!  I waited for a truck to pass me and then locked onto his tail lights and followed him for many miles.  If nothing else, having a big truck to clear the road in front of you should reduce your chances of being hit head on.  Be sure to maintain a safe distance.  You don't want to run into him if he stops.  Even if he stops and you do run into him, the impact will be a lot less than if you'd hit an oncoming vehicle head on.  Using a truck as your "front door" (as CBers say) not only protects you from on coming traffic, most truckers are familiar with the roads and will be aware of potential problems either from experience or from warnings via CB radio from other truckers, long before you do.

I once had some yellow tinted sun glasses that actually made it easier to see in the fog.  Ordinary sun glasses will make it harder.  The yellow tinted lenses are sometimes found at sporting goods stores that cater to hunters and shooters.

In camp, you need to make your tent, RV, and other equipment visible to avoid someone from running into it. Lights or lanterns can help make your tent and your picnic table easier to see in the fog. To protect your RV, reflective tape on all 4 sides will help it show up in the headlights of any approaching vehicle. One of the most visible formats is the alternating white and red reflectors you often see on semi-trailers but that may not be very attractive on the side of a nice motorhome. 3M makes a variety of colors of reflective tape so you may be able to find something that blends with or complements the existing color scheme while giving you high visibility. I chose a 2" wide white strip for one of my motorhomes and installed it over an existing white strip of nearly the same size. It was nearly invisible in daylight, but the high reflectivity showed up brightly in headlights at night or other times of decreased visibility.  Before installing the reflective tape I nearly ran into my own motorhome when returning to camp one foggy evening which is why I decided to install it.

Minimize the chance of someone running into your camp by choosing a safe location in the first place. NEVER set up your camp on a trail or road. Keep your camp a safe distance from trails and roads. Avoid setting up camp next to an outside turn on a road or trail, where someone missing the turn might run into you. Fog, rain, or snow may make it difficult for them to see the turn or slick conditions caused by rain or snow may cause them to loose control and head smack into your campsite. Camping on the inside of a turn is a little less risky. If someone misses the turn they aren't as likely to run into you, but they may still loose control if the road is slick and then they could spin out and go anywhere!

If you encounter fog while out on the trails on an OHV, horse, or just hiking, you will need to take extra precautions to remain safe.  Other travelers may not be able to see you or you may not be able to see them in time to avoid a collision so you need to be ready to take evasive action at a moment's notice.  If the visibility gets too bad you may want to seek a safe place to take a break until it improves.  If your OHV has lights, make sure you turn them on.  They might not help you see any better, but they will make it easier for other travelers to see you.

If the weather turns cold you may encounter freezing fog.   Branches on trees and bushes and power lines will become coated with something called rime, which is a form of frost.  Sometimes freezing fog creates what is knows affectionately as "diamond dust" -- brilliant ice crystals that collect on horizontal surfaces as they fall from the freezing fog.  I've even seen crystals suspended in the fog, glistening like tiny stars when illuminated by street lights or head lights.  While it is incredibly beautiful, it isn't much fun to breath it and it can inhibit visibility, making harder for you so see and be seen!

See and be seen!

Camping Ovens

If you have a self-contained motorhome or travel trailer chances are it has an oven.   Many RVs these days include a microwave or microwave/convection combo oven and many have a range with a gas oven.   If you're tent camping, or your RV doesn't have an oven (some RVs have only "cook tops" with 2 - 4 burners and no oven), you may have to seek other options.  Tear drop trailers usually have just a one-burner portable butane or propane stove to be used in the rear "kitchen" or you just use your own Coleman stove.  The gas oven in an RV will function pretty much like the one at home, but it's smaller size may limit how much food you can prepare at one time.  For example, you may have to bake each layer of a cake by itself, instead of doing 2 or more at a time like you might do at home.  The smaller size may also mean the heat sources are closer to the shelves which may affect baking temperatures and times.  If the bottom burns before the whole thing is cooked you either need to use a higher shelf or turn down the heat and bake longer.

Microwave ovens are wonderful conveniences in RVs or even tent camping if you have power. You'll need shore power from a campground pedestal or an on board or portable generator or an inverter and strong battery bank.  Microwave ovens in RVs are often installed at eye level.  Be careful removing food from the microwave.   It can be VERY hot -- hot enough to create 2nd degree burns if it spills on your skin!   That is one reason microwave instructions on many foods say to let it set for 2 minutes before serving.  The other reason is to let the food continue to cook, so don't be in too big a hurry to pull it out of the oven!  Having a convection microwave may eliminate the need for a conventional gas oven.

But what do you do when your only option is cooking on a Coleman stove or a campfire?  Coleman stoves typically have 2 or 3 burners but no oven.  Campfires are just a big batch of flames or, if you are patient enough, coals.  Sometimes you have have a grill over a campfire to support cooking devices.

The Coleman Camp Oven has been a traditional camping oven solution for camp stove users for years.  It is light weight, folds to 12"x12"x2" for storage and transport, and expands to 12"x12"x12" for use on a 2 or 3 burner gas stove or an RV cook top.  You might even be able to use it on a campfire if you have a grill or grid to set it on.   It is an easy way to bake biscuits, rolls, entrees, and pizza in camp.  You might even be able to do bread, brownies, and cakes once you've gotten the hang of using it. Since it sits on top of your gas stove, it is somewhat affected by wind if you're using it outside.  Using a wind guard around the stove will improve performance on windy days.   Expect to pay $25-50 for a brand new oven or watch garage sales, thrift stores, ebay, etc to get a bargain on a used one.  Unless they have been badly bent or otherwise abused, there isn't much that can go wrong with them.   You might have to give it a good cleaning.

For a more home-like solution, Camp Chef and Coleman both sell a portable outdoor range and oven for about $200 -$300.  I've seen used ones offered on the 'Net for around $160.   This is scaled down version of your kitchen stove at home, with 2 gas burners on top and an oven with 2 racks.   It even looks like a miniature stainless steel kitchen stand alone range.  Here is a link to the Camp Chef Portable Oven.  so you can get an idea of what they are like.  Pretty luxurious.  It comes equipped to run on a standard 1 lb propane bottle but can be adapted to use larger propane cylinders.   This also makes an excellent survival stove for emergencies.   Since the oven is not dependent on an outside heat source, it isn't affected by wind but you may still need a wind guard on the top burners when the breeze picks up.   If it you have the budget for it, this is an excellent way to bring along complete cooking facilities for tent camping or for use in any RV that doesn't have a functional range and oven and as a home emergency stove. You might even find it less expensive and more convenient than replacing an RV range and oven if yours has failed.  Just be sure to provide adequate ventilation anytime you use it in an enclosed space.

Dutch ovens are always a good option when camping.  A Dutch oven is simply a cast iron (or sometimes heavy aluminum) pot with a sturdy lid.   They can be used on your gas stove or in the campfire or heated with charcoal briquettes.  You can cook just about anything in a Dutch oven but you will usually want to seek out special Dutch oven recipes for best results.  They are very adaptable and can cook almost anything from soups and stews, to one-pot main dishes, to breads and desserts.  It is common to combine meat, potatoes, and other veggies together and let them simmer for a few hours for a really easy, tender, tasty, meal.   I think of it as a pioneer crock pot.   A favorite Dutch oven dessert is a kind of "dump cake". Check the Internet for specific recipes but the general idea is to dump a can of your favorite fruit or pie filling into the bottom of the pan, dump a box of cake mix on top of it, and bake. Always line your Dutch ovens with aluminum foil to make cleanup easier, especially when cooking sticky desserts.  Dutch ovens are perfect for cooking foods that benefit from long simmering, like chili, stew, chicken, and pot roast.  Think of them as kind of a pioneer crock pot.  Set up your Dutch oven before you begin your recreational activities for the day and by dinner time you'll have a hot and tasty meal waiting to be ladled up.  You typically need charcoal underneath and on the lid.  Figure on putting one briquette on top for each inch of diameter of the Dutch oven.  A lid lifter is a handy accessory or use a pair of Channel-lok style slip-joint pliers.  The cast in loop on the lid gets very hot.

Not exactly an oven but kind of related are camp toasters.  Typically they consist of steel disk with a wire frame on top that holds 4 slices of bread for toasting.  They are inexpensive (usually under $5) and fold flat for easy transport and storage.  You need to keep a close eye on your toast to make sure it doesn't burn and you'll need to turn the toast to cook both sides, but it makes really good toast on a Coleman stove, an RV range or even a campfire.

An alternate way, with a pioneer flair, to cook breads etc is to make the dough thick and wrap it on a stick and cook it over an open flame (campfire or camp stove) to make campfire twist bread.  A forked stick works best.   Or heat some non-porous flat rocks in your fire until water sizzles when dropped on them and drop the dough right on the rocks.  You might even try making a stone oven of flat rocks and put your dough in there for baking.  Ash cakes can be cooked by dropping dough directly on hot coals.  It is surprising how little the coals stick to the bread but be sure to brush the ashes off the bottom before you eat them!

Solar ovens are a nice eco-friendly way to go.  And using them is easy on your pocketbook although ready-made solar ovens can be a little pricey. However, you can find numerous plans for building your own solar oven on the Internet.   Usually all you need is some cardboard and some aluminum foil.  Your only fuel is sunlight.  Not going to do much baking on rainy days, but solar ovens are an interesting and economical option for fair weather, and, after all, don't we all try to do most of our camping in fair weather?

If you are always camping with full hookups or have a generator, you could consider bringing along microwave or toaster ovens to make meals in camp more convenient even when tent camping. With today's quiet, light weight generators, they're even feasible for tent camping.   Many RVs have built in microwaves.  If yours does not, you can probably add one or just bring along a small model that can sit on the counter (see my post on Replacing or Installing a Microwave Oven for additional details).

Campfire pizza.  You can make campfire pizza in a frying pan.  A cast iron skillet is the best choice for direct use on the campfire, but you could make pizza in a regular frying pan on your camp stove or, if you are careful, even on the campfire.  Dutch ovens are another option for making pizza in camp.  I have seen pizza ovens advertised for campfire use but to me they were way to expensive and way to cumbersome for use in camp.  Might be worth it if you were selling pizza in camp!

Military field cookers might be an option for car camping, but from what I've learned about them, they're large and heavy to haul around and use a LOT of propane -- IF you can find the right regulators to make them work properly and that seems to be a common problem.  I've heard they often have regulators and orifices that aren't compatible with civilian propane systems.  Keep in mind they're literally designed to feed an army.  Individual military equipment is worth looking into for camping, but unit level stuff is mostly designed to be transported in 2 1/2 to 5 ton trucks and feed hundreds of soldiers. Probably too big, too heavy, and too expensive for most of us and way overkill unless you have a really big family or plan to frequently feed the whole campground on a regular basis.

Bake up!

Tent Camping in Campgrounds

Tent camping in campgrounds has several advantages and a few disadvantages.   Campgrounds usually provide level, often grassy spaces, free of debris to set up your tent.   You will usually have designated parking places that are paved or at least graveled, close to where you will set up your tent so you don't have to carry your stuff too far.  Very often there will be community water spigots where you can get water as you need it.  There may be toilets, sometimes even full service bathrooms with hot showers but sometimes just primitive pit toilets.  But that still beats digging your own latrine!   Some campgrounds provide an area with sinks and counter space where you can wash  your dishes.  Campgrounds will usually provide picnic tables and approved fire pits. What is special about an approved fire pit?  Well, it has been constructed according to Forest Service standards and has been inspected and approved for use.  Forest areas often come under fire restrictions during hot, dry summer months when fires are only allowed in approved fire pits.   The fine for having an open fire in a restricted area can be very heavy and the penalties for allowing your unapproved fire to get away from you and start a brush fire or forest fire can run into the millions of dollars in fire fighting costs and property damage which you could be ordered to pay for!

Access to campgrounds is usually via good roads making them within easy reach by family car. Primitive/remote sites may be require more rugged transportation to be reached.  If you are planning to camp "off road" you may need a high-clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle just to get there.

Campgrounds may also give you access to camp stores and local businesses in case you need some supplies and to a ranger or camp host who is knowledgeable about the area and can give excellent advice regarding trails, activities, and even weather.  You will also have fellow campers around you who can be a good source of information and assistance.   Most campgrounds try to have at least some shade, natural or artificial (canopy) for your comfort.

Disadvantages mostly consist of increased proximity to civilization, including fellow campers, that can intrude on your solitude if you are seeking a truly pristine camping experience.   Light from parking lots, streets, and nearby businesses may limit your view of the night sky.   You might experience "noise pollution" from nearby highways, railroads, or large event venues.  Some frequently used camp sites may suffer from abuse.  You may encounter dirty or damaged tables, left behind trash, non-combustibles in the fire pit, and nasty bathrooms..  Of course, if everyone observed proper camping etiquette, you wouldn't run into these problems, but, unfortunately, not everyone is as considerate as they should be.  Sites in some campgrounds may be closer together than you might like.  And, of course, you must pay a fee to use most developed campgrounds, especially if there are amenities for your convenience.

Unless you are in an open camping area you will be in a designated site.  Be careful to keep your stuff within your designated area and not intrude on space allocated to other campers.  It is also a good idea in open or primitive camping areas to keep all your belongings close.   Not only is it more considerate to other campers, it keeps them more convenient for your use and allows you to maintain better security over your things.

Some commercial campgrounds include many resort style amenities.  Some typical examples are badminton, table tennis, shuffle board, swimming pools, bathrooms, showers, camp store, and restaurant.

Some, but not all, campgrounds accommodate both RVs and tent campers.    Many Forest Service Campgrounds do not allow RVs.  Some RV parks do not allow tent camping.  Don't just assume you can set up your tent in an RV space.  You may get an unexpected visit from local law enforcement -- or at least the camp host evicting you!  If you do occupy an RV space expect to pay the standard RV rate unless told otherwise.

Happy camping!

Camp Trash

The "camp trash" I'm talking about is not be be confused with "trailer trash".   Unlike "trailer trash", it isn't people, it is the garbage people sometimes (too many times!)  leave behind when camping.  That being said, people who do leave their trash behind quickly gain a reputation as "trailer trash".  Why would anything as mundane as camp trash deserve its own post?   For one thing, way too many people fail to clean up after themselves when camping.  Too many have the "I'm on vacation" attitude and think someone else should clean up after them.  Or they're just careless and let things blow away.  The old back packers adage "Pack it in; pack it out" definitely applies to all kinds of camping.   I've seen beautiful national forest campgrounds that, after a holiday weekend, looked like the downwind area next to a landfill.  Such behavior is inexcusable.   I was amused and inspired by an innovative park ranger who, after collecting two large bags of identifiable trash from a single camp site at the end of a holiday weekend, sent a letter to the city folks who had left it behind, notifying them they had left some personal belongings behind and he was shipping them to them C.O.D. and to watch for the package.  Then he boxed up their trash and sent it to them -- at their expense! Imagine their surprise when, after paying the C.O.D charges, they opened the box, expecting to find a lost camera, cell phone, sweater or camping equipment and finding instead all the garbage they left behind for someone else to clean up.  As I recall, these particular campers had consistently ignored posted rules and basic guidelines for acceptable behavior in general.  I'm pretty sure they broke every possible rule.  So they pretty much deserved it.   I'm pleased to report that the offenders were NOT OHV riders and that every time I've been camping with OHVers we've left our camp sites and the surrounding area cleaner and in better condition than we found them.  That isn't to say that all OHV riders are so considerate.  However, when our Desert Rat group sponsored a cleanup day at one of our favorite staging areas, we filled a 40-yard dumpster and very little of the trash we collected could be traced to OHV activities.  Most was household and construction debris dumped by residents of surrounding towns.   I've run other service projects and talked to organizers of other similar projects and they've consistently experienced the same thing.  How anyone can think OHVers are hauling sofas and toilets around on their dirt bikes and ATVs and dumping them is beyond me!

For all the conveniences of home of included in modern RVs, trash containers are usually conspicuously absent.   In nearly 40 years of RV ownership I've only had one or two that came with even a small built-in trash can, about the size you normally use in a bathroom, certainly not adequate for a weekend family outing.   Some of the huge, luxury, bus conversions may have trash compactors, but even those seem to be few and far between.  A couple of motorhomes I owned had little a wastebasket built in to the counter top behind the sink.  In all other cases, we've had to "make do" with plastic trash bags or putting a modest sized trash can in a cabinet or even in the shower in some cases.   RV stores have plastic bag holders that can be attached to the inside of a cabinet door that will turn ordinary plastic grocery bags into convenient temporary trash containers.  If you have to resort to putting a wastebasket in the shower, use a bungee cord or other strap to secure it so it doesn't tip over on the road.  The lack of trash receptacles in RVs reminds me of the anecdote about an architect who was designing a new cathedral.  He sent the plans to the Cardinal for review and they came back with just one question "Are they angels?"  After puzzling over the comment for some time, the architect discovered he had not included any restrooms in the design!   I guess RV designers must think their customers are angels and don't generate any trash while camping.  In reality the opposite is true. Camping often generates more trash than at home since we have a tendency to use more convenience foods, which means more packaging to dispose of.   I suppose the lack of a permanent trash container in an RV makes people use plastic bags and take the trash out more often instead of letting it collect and spoil in an enclosed space, but it sure is nice to have a handy trash can, especially when preparing meals.   And tent campers are not exempt!   You'll want to keep a trash receptacle handy when preparing your meals and cleaning up afterwards, even it its just a plastic bag clamped to the edge of your picnic  table or counter top.

Controlling outdoor trash.  Most developed campgrounds will have trash cans and/or dumpsters conveniently located so you can easily dispose of your trash.  They will often even have trash barrels at each camp site.  When boondocking you'll need to provide your own -- and remember: pack it in, pack it out!  Most of us don't have room to carry around a big trash can, but you can use large contractor trash bags, with or without a collapsible holder to corral your outdoor trash so it doesn't end up all over the landscape.   Even the slightest breeze will send loose napkins, paper plates, and paper cups, scattering.  Collapsible trash cans take up little room during transit but function like "real" garbage cans in camp.   Put a large plastic trash bag in one and you have really convenient garbage can.   When it comes time to empty it or head home, just pull out the bag and tie it off for transport to a proper disposal site.   I modified some "quad" camp chairs to hold plastic bags and serve as medium sized trash receptacles.  I removed the fabric seat then removed the back test.  The result is a sturdy square framework that takes up little room during transit but conveniently holds large plastic trash bags in camp.  I've since discovered leaf bag  holders designed to  hold large contractor trash bags for yard work that work the same way.  These collapsible containers are a handy way to handle trash in camp.

Incinerating your trash.  You can often reduce the amount of trash you have to store and bring home by burning combustible stuff in your campfire.   Make sure there are no pressurized containers (like whipped cream, shaving cream, paint, or cleaning supplies) in the trash you put into the campfire.  Otherwise you're going to get a nasty surprise that may cause serious injuries when the cans explode.  Even tightly capped plastic water and soda bottles can explode with surprising force when they heat up, not to mention the toxic fumes from burning the plastic.  While plastic bottles don't generate the kind of lethal shrapnel that metal cans do, the explosions can send out a rain of hot coals and flaming debris.   Don't put batteries in the campfire.   They do not burn well, actually, not at all! However, paper goods (plates, napkins, cups, bowls, and packaging) can be burned.  Some folks prefer to avoid styrofoam or other plastic containers as they think they may emit toxic fumes when they burn, if you burn a lot at one time.    Most of the vapors from burning styrofoam are water and carbon dioxide, but they also emit a small amount of styrene and incomplete burning may result in carbon soot.   Tin and aluminum cans often find their way into fire pits, but someone will just have to fish them out and cart them away sooner or later. Some light-weight aluminum cans may melt and even burn in a very hot fire, but here again, you don't want to be breathing the fumes from burning metal.  Campfire coals can  get surprisingly hot, especially if they are fanned by a light breeze, which effectively acts like a blacksmith's bellows.  Aluminum vapor doesn't make a good lining for your lungs!   Better to crush cans and keep them separate for proper disposal or, better yet, recycling.   Crushing them reduces the space they'll take up and can be made into a game for the young people in camp.  Stomping down aluminum cans is pretty easy.   I've seen guys who think they're macho, smash them against their foreheads, but I certainly don't condone or recommend the practice!   Putting non-combustible materials in your campfire will soon fill the fire pit and make it ineffective and unsafe.   You can probably get away with burning paper plates that still have food on them if no one is sitting around the campfire.   Burning food can sometimes produce offensive odors, so burn such things before people gather around the fire or after they've gone or, at the very least, get their permission before dumping a bunch of smelly garbage into the fire.  Wet kitchen garbage won't burn well and may smolder and give off smoke and offensive odors for a long time.  Some people are allergic to certain foods, and exposing them to the smoke could cause serious reactions.  If you insist on burning your peanut shells, you may need to have an epi-pen handy to counteract the anaphylactic shock that can result from an allergic reaction in someone who is allergic to peanuts.  Be considerate.

Tent campers should follow the advice above for controlling outdoor trash.   You may also find it convenient to hang a grocery bag inside your tent to collect candy wrappers, napkins, tissues, etc.  Another convenient spot for a trash bag is near your "kitchen" area or on the picnic table.  Having a place to collect trash instead of leaving it all over the place keeps your tent and your camp site neat and tidy and will save you a lot of time chasing errant trash and cleaning up at the end of the trip. Leaving trash lying around inside your tent invites pests -- insects and vermin -- that may chew up your gear as well as leave unwelcome, unpleasant, and unsanitary droppings.

Make it convenient.  The secret to keeping trash under control is to make it convenient to put it where it belongs.  Have trash cans or bags close where ever you are opening packages or preparing food.  Clamp one to the end of your picnic table.   Hang one on a door handle of your vehicle or RV. If you have to go all the way to the trash can in the shower in your RV to get rid of a hand full of trash it is likely to end up left out and get blown away.  But if you have trash bag handy, you can keep it all together and make only one trip to the trash can at the end of the activity.  Keep a bag near the entrance to your tent.   You might have a tendency to push it back out of the way, but then it won't get used.   Few RVs have garbage disposals.   Adding more solid waste to holding tanks isn't a very practical thing to do.   So food wastes go into the garbage.   Using small trash cans or bags and emptying to disposing of them frequently helps prevent the accumulation of smelly garbage in your tent or RV.

Collapsible trash cans are a convenient way to corral camp trash.  They are inexpensive and take up little room in transit.  Line them with a plastic bag to avoid permanent stains and odors.  The bags can be deposited in the local dumpster or tied tight and hauled home for proper disposal.   Collapsible trash cans come in a variety of sizes so they can be easily adapted to just about any need -- kitchen, bathroom, or outdoors.  They are especially useful when you have a place to dispose of the bags of trash so you can close them down again for the trip home.   Before the nylon collapsible trash bags became readily available, I cut down some inexpensive camp chairs to make them into trash bag holders.   Essentially I reduced the chairs to their metal frameworks and removed the backrests, leaving a 4-posted collapsible frame to which I could attach trash bags.  Worked like a charm. Another handy tip is to use or re-purpose an old collapsible clothes hamper as a trash bag holder.

At the end of your outing, have everyone make a pass through your campsite and adjacent areas and pick up an errant trash that has managed to escape.  When I was in the army they called it "policing the area" and the drill sergeant who sent us out  about arms length apart barked all he wanted to see was "backsides and elbows".  Of course his exact words were a little more colorful but you get the picture.  That way you leave the site in good condition for the next camper (who could be you again!).  If you leave your trash behind you invite the next person to do the same.  If you clean it up, you're setting a good example and encouraging subsequent users to keep it clean. Involving everyone in your group will also help them appreciate how important is it keep control of their trash through the outing and make the task go faster.

Most developed campgrounds have large trash receptacles (cans or even dumpsters) for your use but when boondocking you'll be responsible for hauling out your own trash.    Never leave your trash bags in camp or along the road.   Be sure to close the lids on any public trash receptacles when you use them.

Make sure any leftover trash you have to take home is well contained.  Tie off plastic trash bags, even those in waste baskets to prevent them getting spilled and to control foul odors.  Double-bag anything that has potential for making a mess -- things with sharp edges and particularly nasty or gooey stuff. I'd rather waste a couple of trash bags than have to scrub crud out of my carpet or have it seep under cabinets!   Ordinary plastic grocery bags make pretty good trash bags.   For larger, stronger choices, purchase kitchen trash bags or even contractor trash bags.

Keep it clean!

Hygiene and Sanitation Options for Tent Camping and Survival

One of the fundamental features of RVs that is so appealing to people is how they emulate many the conveniences of home.  On board systems provide sleeping, cooking, water, climate control, and bathroom services.   But you don't have those same built in facilities when tent camping or in a wilderness survival situation.

Campground facilities can sometimes be used.   Commercial campgrounds often have full service restrooms with flush toilets, sinks, and hot showers.  More primitive places may have only a few central water faucets and some pit toilets -- or just pit toilets, which are usually adequate (though often quite nasty!) for most tent camping needs.  However, if you choose to take advantage of boondocking in "open camping" and other primitive areas such as those offered by the BLM in many locations and by forest services in some areas, you will be dependent on what you bring with you.

Boondocking options are limited to what you can reasonably transport along with your regular camping equipment.   The most basic tools for personal hygiene and washing dishes is a water jug and a small, plastic dishpan.  If you want hot water for dishes, washing, shaving, etc, you can heat it in a pan or teapot on your campfire or camp stove.   For more convenience there are portable sinks, some with built-in water reservoirs and manual pumps that make them pretty easy to use.  In some cases you may be able to dig your own latrine for temporary toilet facilities.  A really simple toilet option that I've seen used in truck campers and very small camping trailers, is a folding toilet.  It consists of a toilet seat with legs that fold up like a camp stool.  Plastic bags are fastened underneath the seat to collect wastes for proper disposal.  It is not the ideal solution, but is far more convenient and familiar than an open latrine.   For a more home-like solution, get a "Port-a-potty".  These are made of plastic and the box-like construction includes a built-in clean water reservoir and pump and a small holding tank.  The lid is usually padded so they can be used as an ordinary seat or footrest when not in actual use as a toilet.   Some other variations, often offered as disaster toilets, are seats that attach to an ordinary plastic 5-gallon bucket.  I've seen some that fasten into the hitch receiver on the back of a tow vehicle.  No doubt these are much sturdier than the folding type if there is any question of sturdiness.   Port-a-pottys require chemicals like those used in RV holding tanks to break down wastes and control odors and must be dumped in toilets or in approved dump stations.  Dumping chemically treated wastes in some pit toilets or septic systems may be prohibited because the chemicals interfere with the normal process in the system.   Holding tank chemicals may be used in plastic bags on folding portable toilets and bucket toilets to reduce odors.  You can buy special waste collection and disposal bags called "wag bags" that  contain a  gel to control odors and reduce spillage.

Disposal of gray water usually isn't a major problem.  Many primitive campgrounds provide sumps where dishpans can be safely dumped.   These are often old perforated 55 gallon drums buried in the ground and partially filled with sand and gravel.  If the campground has any sewer plumbing at all, you may be able to dump dishpans down a sink drain or toilet (check with your camp host first).   Always follow the posted guidelines you will usually find near a common sink in a campground.  When boondocking in remote areas, you may be able to dump lightly contaminated water onto the ground, but check with the land manager prior to exercising this option.   In many places dumping of ANY waste water onto the ground is strictly prohibited.  If it is allowed, make sure you are a safe distance from any spring, stream, lake, or well (usually at least 200 feet) and dump it where it won't flow onto any camp site, trail, or road.

Toilet wastes can only be disposed of in a toilet or an approved dump station.  Even dumping Porta-a-pottys into a pit toilet may cause problems and may be prohibited.  NEVER empty your Porta-a-potty onto or into the ground!   If you happen to be tent camping in a site with full RV hookups, do not attempt to dump your Porta-a-potty into the sewer connection at the site.  These connections do not include a catch basin to prevent ground contamination.  Some portable toilets may have a connection for an RV style dump hose and those might be used successfully in a sewer connection, but take extra care to ensure the hose doesn't slip out of the sewer pipe while you are emptying your toilet.   You won't like cleaning up the mess it makes!

Portable hot water heaters add a level of comfort and convenience seldom found in tent camping until the last few years.   Until they came out, you had to heat your water in pans on your campfire or camp stove.   That worked OK for doing dishes and shaving, but was pretty inconvenient for showers or bathing.  Propane powered portable hot water heaters can be hooked up to provide home-like showers.  You'll probably need a shower enclosure, an inexpensive self-standing 360 degree shower curtain that provides enough privacy to enjoy your hot shower.

Sun showers are a very economical and ecological option.  They consist of a plastic bag, usually about 3 gallons, that is left out to be heated by the sun.  Putting it on the hood of your car is a good place for it to get full sun and be safe.  When you're ready to use it, hang it high enough to use the attached hose and shower head.  You may also want to use a shower enclosure for privacy, depending on just how remote your camp site is.

Food wastes should be incinerated or placed in tightly closed plastic bags.  That includes scraps from meal preparation and any left overs from plates at the end of the meal.  Food wastes can attract unwanted visitors from the local fauna, including large and dangerous animals such as bears as well as pests such as ants and rodents.  Another option is to dispose of food wastes in your campfire so there are no scraps left to attract pests.  I find using paper plates a good way to reduce washing dishes -- and an easy way to dispose of scraps by putting the whole mess into a roaring fire . Just make sure what you're burning will not create obnoxious fumes for your fellow campers around the fire.

Portable sinks can make life in camp more comfortable.  A simple plastic wash basin or dishpan will provide minimum functionality.   You can pick up a sink stand at a military surplus store.  It folds flat, like an old camp stool for transport and storage, but securely holds a large plastic bowl when opened. I have a portable sink I bought years ago.  Glad I did.   I haven't seen any more like it since then and the closest ones I've found on the Internet are pretty pricey.  It is molded into a water jug so it has its own reservoir built in.   It is about the size of a 5-gallon water jug. A  small hand-operated plastic pump pumps water from the reservoir through the faucet for brushing your teeth, shaving, and washing up.  A hose connected to the drain on the bottom of the sink carries away waste water to a bucket under your table.  An quick Internet search revealed a variety of portable sink options, ranging from simple manually pumped ones more or less like mine to large ones with battery operated pumps that give you near residential functionality.  They're not cheap. Even the manual, self contained version runs about $75-80.  Or you can make your own. I've seen people cut on opening in a portable portable plastic picnic table to accommodate a plastic dishpan, then add a faucet and hook it up to a campground faucet using a potable water hose.  If you want hot water, you'll need to heat it in a pan on your camp stove or campfire or break down and buy a portable hot water heater.  A water jug and a simple battery operated pump can add convenience.   Some portable camp kitchens have a sink option, making food preparation and doing dishes a lot easier.

Wet wipes are convenient for quick touch ups between showers.  Sometimes you can buy generic wet wipes or baby wipes at dollar stores, so they don't have to be expensive.   Make sure you dispose of them properly when you've finished using them.  They don't break down well in Porta-Pottys and RV sewer systems.

Cat baths are a good way to clean up when tent camping.  All you need is a small pan or pool of water and a sponge or rag and a towel -- or some wet wipes.  Cat baths won't be very effective in handling large amounts of dirt and grime but can take care of dirt normally accumulated in routine daily activities.

Hand sanitizer is a quick and easy way to make sure your hands aren't contaminated with dangerous germs when eating or preparing food.  You can usually find several different sized containers at your local dollar store, making it cheap and easy to provide individual bottles for each person.

Survival hygiene.  If you find yourself in survival mode, you'll probably have little or no hygiene supplies with you.   Wash up in a stream or lake if you get the chance.  Fine sand or silt might help remove grease or heavy grime.  Lacking sufficient water for any kind of clean up, air or smoke showers will help freshen your body and your clothes.  Both sunlight and smoke can kill offensive and unhealthy bacteria.  To take an air shower remove as much clothing as modesty permits and expose your body to fresh air and sunlight.  Take care not go get sunburned!  For a smoke shower, add punky wood, sage brush, or green leaves or branches to your fire, then let the smoke flow over your body.  The smoke will help kill bacteria that causes odors and disease and burning sage brush or pine boughs will add a pleasant fragrance that can further disquise body odors. You can chew pine or juniper needles to help clean your mouth.  Doesn't taste very good (kind of bitter), but it does kill bacteria and clean your teeth.  Don't swallow.   If you need leaves for toilet paper, be sure to test them on your arm about an hour before using them to avoid some VERY unpleasant itches and rashes in sensitive places!  Crush or fold the leaves and rub some of the juice on bare skin.   If there are no problems within an hour, they should be safe to use.  Far better to deal with skin irritations on your arm where you can treat them than on more sensitive and remote body parts.  You can add ashes from your campfire to greasy pans to create a rudimentary sort of soap to help clean them.  Here is  link for making homemade soap from ashes and animal fat.  Here is a Youtube video that shows how.  Simply using ashes to scrub greasy pans is a kind of short cut and may be useful for quick cleanups in a survival situation.

Clean up!