Determine which campground will be used and map out the location. Daggett Lake Campground is a very popular camping site located by Lake George in the Adirondack Mountains. It features 400 pristine acres of land with lakes and rivers. This spot is strictly enforced by park rangers, making it safe and secure for family outings. Another great campsite is the Neversink River Campground, located at exit 110 off NY Route 17. Connected with the Wolf Brook multiple use area, this site features grasslands, woodlands, rivers and lakes. It's for more adventurous campers because limited parking, security and amenities are available.
Pack the essential gear for any camping excursion into a durable backpack. Bring a water bottle, canned food, first aid kit, compass, knife and flint as the minimum requirements to camp in New York. The water bottle can be refilled from spring water spouts or other water sources. Canned food will not go bad in case of an emergency or if nothing else, such as fish, are caught. A first aid kit will help relieve any injuries that might occur. A compass can assist with directions when hiking off the marked trails. A knife and flint can be used to help cut things and spark a fire.
Put the backpack and other items that will be needed for the camping trip into your vehicle. Pack a change of clothes, which should include warm clothing for cooler nights and shorts for during the day. Bring boots for hiking. Pack a tent, rubber mallet, sleeping bag, bug spray and matches. Other desired items should also be brought on the trip, such as sunglasses, pots and pans.
Drive to the nearest service station. Fill up your gas tank and check the air pressure in the tires, adding air if it's low. Clean the windshield using water and a squeegee. New York State campgrounds may be a healthy drive away and are often accessed via gravel roads. Safely getting to the campground must happen before your camping adventure begins.
Sign in to the campgrounds with the gatekeeper or fill out the sign-in book with your name, number and address. Park rangers look at these books as evidence that someone was at the site in case of an emergency.
Apply bug spray to your skin. This will protect you while setting up the campsite. Remove the gear from the vehicle. Set up the tent in an open space, where there's ample room to work around.
Open up the tent until it's laid out across the area in which it will be built. Build the tent using the hardware that came with it. Hammer the corner spikes of the tent into the ground using the rubber mallet; this will prevent it from falling over during inclement weather and windy nights.
Make a fire if the campsite allows this. Most campsites allow small fire pits, but some sites restrict this. The rules board at the entrance will display the rules of the campsite. Gather small to medium-sized rocks; place them next to each other to create a circle with a circumference of about three feet. The rocks will prevent the fire from spreading outside the pit. Place dry, thin firewood in the center of the fire pit. Place larger wooden sticks above the thin wood. Light the thin wood at the center with the matches. Keep a bottle of water next to the fire to extinguish it before going to bed. A fire will keep the bugs away and keep you warm on cool nights.
Make dinner by cooking the canned food over the fire if needed. Keep the food in the cans while heating. Pots and pans are optional cooking accessories while camping. They can be used to cook other types of food brought from home.
Clean up the campsite before leaving. New York State has a carry in, carry out policy that means all items brought to the campsite should be taken back with the camper. Dispose all garbage in the nearest receptacle.
