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.