4. Purify your own water
If you know you'll have access to a river, invest in a water purifier, which will pay for itself within the first 10 camping trips you take—or sooner depending on how much water you bring. Not to mention, you'll never run out of water, as long as there is a source of water nearby and you're eliminating extra weight and waste.
More: 4 Secrets for Ultralight Backpacking
5. Catch your meals
I don't mean throw around a beef dog in a baseball glove—go out there and try to catch a meal. Test your outdoor skills by fishing for a trout or two. If you're vegan or vegetarian, study edible plants and bring an identification book with you.
6. Get lost in your map
Take it up a notch: grab a forest map and hike to your campground. Nothing makes you feel more at home in the woods than finding a spot and saying, "Yep, this is it." Developed campground camping and backpacking are two completely different types of camping that you can equally love. So if you're roughing it, try the latter.
7. Sleep under the stars
If the weather is right, local wildlife is friendly, and you're feeling up to the challenge, ditch your tent and fall asleep under the most beautiful scenery in the world—the stars.
Take the "Roughing It" challenge and test your skills the next time you go camping.
More: Stargazing: Where and How to View the Night Sky
Find a Campground at ReserveAmerica.com.
