You love the great outdoors, but you're not always sure the great outdoors loves you.

Get tips on gear, outdoor activities, camp cooking, and more

Just what you need to plan an outstanding outdoor adventure If you think camping sounds fun but aren't sure about what's involved, then this friendly guide is for you. From selecting a backpack to pitching a tent to reading a map, it shows you the ropes and explains how to have fun, whether you're looking for an easy-going family vacation or a rugged backcountry trek.

Discover how to: Plan an adventure, from hiking to canoeing Buy the right gear without overspending Set up a campsite Handle bad weather and emergencies Find the best camping in North America

The Dummies Way™ Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear-out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun

Get smart! www.dummies.com Register to win cool prizes Browse exclusive articles and excerpts Get a free Dummies Daily™ e-mail newsletter Chat with authors and preview other books Talk to us, ask questions, get answers

Your straightforward guide for succesfully enjoying the great outdoors

You love the great outdoors, but you’re not always sure the great outdoors loves you. You can pitch a tent, start a campfire, build furniture by lashing tree branches together – in theory anyway! But while you may not have gotten your Girl Scout Gold Award, or your Eagle Scout with cluster, you can still enjoy a night out under the stars with those near and dear to you, or even work towards becoming a more serious outdoorsman, right?

Sure as a bear lives in the woods, Camping for Dummies shows you how to get out there and enjoy the best Mother Nature has to offer. With the helpful advice this common sense guide provides, you’ll be prepared when it comes to:

• Destination
• Gear
• Shelter
• Clothing
• Food
• Weather
• Safety

Written by journalist Michael Hodgson, veteran of Utah’s Eco-Challenge and numerous other outdoor adventures, Camping for Dummies cuts out gear-head jargon and antiquated methods to give you, plain and simple, what you need to know to make the smart choices that lead to great adventures. You’ll find out:

• How to tie a bear bag
• The delicious caveman style for cooking fresh fish
• The limitations of GPS
• How to predict the weather by observing birds, frogs, and insects
• Ten survival essentials
• How to go canoe, kayak, or bicycle camping
• What features make a good backpack, boot, and other equipment
• When and how to bring along children

Whether the dictionary definition of “tenderfoot” has your picture next to it or you already consider wilderness your home away from home, you’ll appreciate this handy, concise reference. Full of illustrations, diagrams, and directions for finding additional camping resources, Camping for Dummies is your complete ticket to America’s great outdoors.