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British Columbia offers a little bit of everything for its visitors and residents. Whether you’re more of a snow-seeker or sun-worshipper, every season offers a multitude of options for exploration and adventure. 

 

We tip our caps to those brave enough to pitch their tents or live that RV life in the cold, wintery months, but I think we can all agree that summer is the optimal time to enjoy the beautiful, super, natural BC outdoors. 

 

Whether you’re a seasoned vet or a first-time camper, planning ahead is key to getting the most out of your experience!

So with summer planning in mind, we have put together a list of what we are calling The Ultimate Planning Guide To Camping in BC so you can be as prepared as possible when you book your stay with Pathfinder Camp Resorts—or anywhere!

 

1. Make Your Reservations

british columbia camping pathfinder camp resorts parksville agassiz harrison fort langley

 

There’s no question our BC campgrounds are going to be busier than ever this year as more people opt to explore their own backyards rather than travel across provincial and international borders. So making a reservation in advance is critical to ensure you get the campsite of your dreams. The last thing you want is to get your vehicle all loaded up, travel in excitement to your destination—only to be turned away because all the sites are full. Booking your stay is easy with Pathfinder Camp Resorts—whether you want to experience our Agassiz-Harrison, Fort Langley, or Parksville locations!

2. Make A Checklist 


The human mind is more complex than the most powerful computers—yet when it comes to remembering those essential items for your camping trip, you might want to rely on something other than your memory. Instead of trying to remember EVERYTHING for your trip, make a checklist. Whether you’re RVing, pitching a tent, or glampin’ in a cabin—we’ve found some incredible checklists for you to use!

3. Test Your Gear

 

Is there anything more stressful than arriving on site and not being able to figure out how to setup your new tent—or discovering your camp stove doesn’t work anymore? Before you embark on your adventure… 
  • test out all your NEW gear so you know how it works
  • test out your OLD gear to make sure it still works

4. Don’t Skip the First Aid Kit & Repair

 
Nobody wants to think about getting hurt on their adventure. But there’s good reason “be prepared” has been the Scouts motto for over a century: accidents happen. A basic first aid kit will ensure you’re prepared for cuts, scrapes, burns and injuries. A repair kit will help you prepare for dead batteries, inclement weather, and rips and tears. Here’s a basic list to consider when preparing your First Aid & Repair Kit
  • Bandaids
  • Guaze & Medical Tape
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Polysporin
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Anti-inflammatory medicine (Tylenol, Advil, etc)
  • Tweezers
  • Scissors
  • Safety pins
  • Knife
  • Rope and/or twine
  • Spare batteries
  • Duct tape

5. Don’t Trust the Weather Forecast

Weather forecasts are helpful, but shouldn’t be relied on. Things can change (especially in BC!) and you don’t want to be caught in the rain ill-prepared. So even if your forecast shows days upon days of sunshine, you’ll grateful you packed that tarp and gum boots when the sun turns to a downpour. It doesn’t hurt to pack a couple of sweaters or jackets just in case, too. 

6. Plan for Fire Bans

Fire bans in BC are pretty standard these days. Make sure you’re up to date with the latest fire bans and be sure to plan accordingly—even if fires are permitted at your time of departure, the ban could be imposed while you’re in the middle of your adventure. Be prepared! And if you’re allowed campfires, do so carefully. Always use the designated fire pits, and NEVER leave a campfire unattended.

7. Prep Your Meals

Chopping your vegetables and preparing your pancake batter in the comfort of your home kitchen will make your camping adventure a LOT less stressful and that much more enjoyable. Wash and cut up your veggies and other meal ingredients before you leave and pack them in containers. Pre-scramble your eggs and store them in water bottles or plastic mason jars. Freeze soups, stews, meats and other items you can thaw while you’re on your adventure.

8. Plan for Hand Hygiene

 

Clean hands have always been important for general hygiene, but with COVID-19 you need to be more mindful than ever before. Easily set up a simple handwashing station at your campsite by bringing along a large water cooler with a faucet or spout and eco-friendly hand soap. And be sure to have a few extra hand sanitizer dispensers around your RV and campsite. You can’t be too careful.  

9. Sleep In Comfort

 
Nothing is worse than being too cold to sleep, or waking up in the middle of the night with frozen toes. Or… just being cold in general. Check out this handy list of ways to avoid the night time shivers via the outdoor experts at MEC.

10. Respect Nature

 
We are so blessed to be able to explore and create our own adventures in such a beautiful area. And in doing so, it’s important to respect nature and leave no trace that we were ever there. MEC has created a simple list of 7 ways you can respect nature when camping and exploring. 
 

Wrapping Up

Being prepared with a little planning can go a long way, whether it’s to help keep us warm, prevent injuries, or save us from cooking stress—these tips should help make your next adventure a safe, exciting and enjoyable one! 

Consider Pathfinder Camp Resorts for your next adventure into BC’s backyard. We would be so happy and honoured to host you! 

BOOK AGASSIZ
BOOK LANGLEY
BOOK PARKSVILLE
Header Photo by Tegan Mierle on Unsplash