The weather is getting cooler and the trees are getting colorful. What a great time to go camping with a child in your life! There's nothing better than gooey s'mores and a warm fire on a cool fall night. The nice thing about camping is that you can go far away to a national park or close to home in your own backyard. Follow our camping tips for a fun and safe camping trip.

Whether you are pitching a tent in your backyard or going camping in the woods, it's important that you and the child you are taking plan and prepare for your trip. The Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. offers a checklist of skills a child could use before going camping. The Boy Scouts of America also offers Scout Tips on their Web site.

It's good to dress in layers when camping in the fall because you never know what kind of weather you may get. It's also good to pack your clothes in big Ziploc bags or garbage bags to keep them dry.

Extra socks (Wool socks are best for warmth) Clean underwear Long underwear (Great for layering) Poncho or rain jacket Wool sweater Comfortable pair of jeans or sweat pants Wool hat for cold weather, baseball hat if not cold (Good for protection against ticks and sun) Leather hiking boots or athletic shoes Sweatshirt Turtlenecks T-shirts Pajamas

Whistle—important for a child to carry in case he or she gets lost or in some sort of trouble. Sleeping bag (Air-out when you return home). Tent (Sweep and air-out when you return home). Dry kindling and matches for campfire (Dip matches into wax, let dry, and put in a sealed container to waterproof them). Flashlight with extra batteries and bulb. Toothbrush, toothpaste, hair brush, soap, and other toiletries in Ziploc bag. First-aid kit, including Band-Aids, antiseptic cream, poison ivy ointment, and insect bite cream. Map and compass. Duct tape (Can fix anything temporarily). Needle and thread. Canteen full of drinking water. Garbage bags. Twine or string to make a clothesline between trees. Can opener, pot holder, and pans for cooking. Dish soap.

If you are camping at a local campground or at a State or national park, camping spots are often marked for people, but it's still important to know how to choose a good spot in case established ones are full. Make sure it's allowed though first. To pick a good spot get a good map and keep these things in mind.

Safety—This is the most important concern. The Boy Scouts of America provides a Guide to Safe Scouting to help adults keep kids safe while camping.

• Avoid camping beneath dead trees, cliffs, or loose rocks.
• In stormy weather, stay away from tall trees to protect yourself from lightning.
• When camping near water, stay above high tide lines and water marks to protect yourself from high tide or flash floods.

• Find a spot that lets you blend in with the natural environment, away from trails and other campsites. You want everyone to be able to enjoy a pretty view that is not blocked by your tent.
• Don't break branches, crush plants, or trample ground cover just to make your campsite better.
• Don't disturb the wildlife. Stay away from holes, game trails, burrows, and hives.

• Pick a soft, level area. Never put your tent down in a depression because it will be uncomfortable and wet if it rains.
• Put a ground cover (piece of plastic) down under your tent. Even if it doesn't rain, the dew in the morning will soak through the bottom of the tent without this.
• Try to pick a spot near a good supply of small, downed timber if you're planning on building a fire.
• Pick a site with an eastern exposure for the warmth of the sun in the morning or a western exposure for a sunset view.

When you're outside enjoying high-energy activities you burn more calories, so it's important that you and your child get proper nourishment. Hiking is a fun way to explore the outdoors and eating GORP is a great way to get an energy boost.

Never keep food in your tent because animals will get to it, even if that means tearing through your tent. If you're away from camp or sleeping put all food in garbage bags and string high into the trees. Or if your car is nearby, keep food in the car with the windows up.

Only you or another adult should operate a gas camping stove or fire in a fire pit. Gas stoves can be very dangerous if not worked properly and open fires can cause forest fires if not carefully watched. If cooking over open fire, wrap aluminum foil on the bottom of the pan to keep it from turning black this helps with clean-up. Never take a piece of wood out of a fire. When you're finished with a fire, be sure to pour water over the coals until it is completely cool.

The Girl Scouts of the U.S.A. suggest several recipes kids can use for great camping food.

• One of the most important rules of camping is to leave everything better than you found it. Clean up and take your litter with you if there are no trash cans around.
• Make sure the child you're with knows not to stray off when hiking. Stay with a group.
• Have fun!

• Boy Scouts of America
• Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.
• GORP - Great Outdoor Recreation Pages
• REI
• The National Park Service
• American Camping Association