I remember when I went camping for the first time. It was around the time I was in the 5th grade and my best friend had invited me to go with her. It was a blast! We had a tent and in order to use the restroom, we had to go to the porta-potty. We weren't real campers yet, but it was a start. The one image that remains clear in my mind was when a swarm of bees flew around our campsite and would not leave us alone. It was a great time.

I have since been camping, no porta-potties this time, near Lake Tahoe in Northern California. A lot of experience has made me want to share what not to do when you camp, just to save all you outdoor enthusiasts trouble and pain.

I would like to start by saying that if you know you will be sleeping outside at night, prepare like the next ice age is coming because it gets cold. Perhaps I camped during the colder months, but still, bring a lot of blankets that you can sleep on top of and cover yourself with. The ground can be hard.

Next, if there is a creek nearby, always wear sandals or shoes you can walk in a creek with. I always prefer jelly sandals. Flip-flops can work, but they may be easier to lose in the water. People always enjoy creeks and walking through them, but what always lies at the bottom? That's right. Rocks! Rocks that require stepping on to get through the creek. This is where sandals come in handy so that you do not have to walk barefoot possibly causing an accident, if you happened to slip.

When it is dark outside and all that you can see are the stars in the sky, do not be alarmed if you also happen to see a pair or pairs of eyes peeking out through the brush. Eyes really can glow when it's dark out, so be aware if you see any nearby. Do not make the mistake of thinking what actually are deer happen to be mountain lions. Put up your guard, but is it really necessary to run around shrieking like a mad person? Calmly go into your tent, zip it up and patiently wait until the coast is clear.

There really is nothing like sitting around a warm campfire and listening to the crackling of the fire. Roasting marshmellows is the best, but refrain from letting them catch on fire. You do not need the fire department to join this camping excursion. So if you keep all of this in consideration, I think you will have an overall great camping experience. I know there are many other parts to camping that I did not cover, but these are obstacles that I experienced. Happy camping!