Lifestyle

Essential Items to Bring to Enjoy Your Camping Experience

Published

3 years ago

November 10, 2022

There is something for everyone to enjoy about camping. However, a successful camping trip requires planning and preparation. Before setting out, make sure gear is ready, plan ahead, and be prepared for whatever may occur.

Here are five items you should always bring before heading outdoors.

A Camping Kit

The best way to keep essentials organized, clean, and accessible while on the go is to keep them in a camping kit. A camping kit can provide all the small equipment needed to go camping. First-aid kits, emergency food and water, a portable toilet, fire-starting kits, utensils, and a pocket knife are items that may be included in this kit.

As opposed to searching around the house in search of an item, or forgetting something altogether, a camping kit will already be in place when you decide to go camping.

Essentials (Checklist)

Camping essentials are items that everyone must have. A sleeping bag, sleeping mat, pillow, flashlight, hand sanitizer, toilet paper, a tent, and a camp chair are all essentials. If you forget any of these things, sleeping and being comfortable will be nearly impossible.

It’s a common mistake for campers to forget to double-check that all of the essentials are packed. It’s almost too obvious to forget, so naturally, they are often forgotten. Create a checklist with all of the essentials to help ensure that nothing is missing.

Drinking Water

While camping, there probably won’t be access to running water, and even if there is, it should never be assumed there will be. Always bring water or find other ways to hydrate. You can bring water bottles or a water treatment kit and use it to filter or treat water.

It may be tempting to use a “survival” method of getting water for fun, such as boiling lake water, but it’s important to remember that these methods are for emergencies. Boiling water kills most impurities, but it isn’t 100% effective, so it should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

Propane Heat

Campfires are a wonderful part of camping. However, they aren’t as easy to make as they seem. And let’s face it, they leave an unpleasant odor afterward. Having propane products, such as a heater or stove, can save a lot of work, energy, and provide peace of mind of knowing that there will be a heat source. Propane products are portable, don’t require an electric line, and unlike a campfire, don’t give off that smoky odor.

If for no other reason, a propane heater can serve as insurance. Wet wood, a malfunctioning lighter, or temporary fire bans are some of the reasons a fire may not be possible. Without a propane heater or stove, suddenly the options for staying warm and cooking drop drastically.

Entertainment

Many assume that camping will be a ton of fun if they go into the wilderness, set up a tent, and sit around. For a few hours, this may be true. Following that, you might feel like doing something else.

Entertainment can make the difference between a good camping trip and a memorable one. Bring a deck of cards, board games, a book to read, or even just a pocket knife to carve wood – there are many ways to have fun. Those feeling adventurous can also enjoy cycling, canoeing, and hammocking.

Tips for your camping trip

In addition to items that should be brought when camping, here are some other tips to keep in mind.

Check the weather forecast before leaving for the trip. Check to see if there are any thunderstorms or rain. Not only does the rain make things miserable, but it can also be very dangerous.
Ensure gear is clean and in order so nobody gets sick.
Make sure the vehicle is in good condition and can handle rough roads.
Keep the campfire small and check it often so it doesn’t get out of control.
If with children, make sure they are supervised while playing around the campfire.
Remember why you are camping. Don’t get stressed or overwhelmed.

By following these tips and ensuring that these items are brought along, you will set yourself up for the perfect camping experience.

Lifestyle

When Seasons Shift: Dr. Leeshe Grimes on Grief, Loneliness, and Finding Light Again

Published

9 hours ago

February 22, 2026

Michelle Langton

Some emotional storms arrive without warning. A sudden change in weather, a holiday approaching, or even a bright sunny day can stir feelings that don’t match the world outside. For many people, the hardest seasons are not defined by temperature; they are defined by what’s happening inside, where grief and loneliness often move quietly.

This is the emotional terrain where Dr. Leeshe Grimes has spent her career doing some of her most meaningful work. As a psychotherapist, registered play therapist, retired U.S. Army combat veteran, and founder of Elevated Minds in the DMV area, she understands how deeply seasonal shifts and unresolved grief can affect people. Her upcoming books explore this very space, guiding readers through the emotional weight that can appear during different times of the year.

What sets Dr. Grimes apart is her ability to see clearly what many people overlook. Seasonal depression, for example, is usually tied to winter months. But she often sees it appear during warm, bright seasons, the times when the world seems happiest. For someone already grieving or feeling disconnected, watching others travel, celebrate, or gather can create its own kind of heaviness. Sunshine doesn’t always lift the mood; sometimes it highlights what feels missing.

The same misunderstanding surrounds grief. Society often treats it as a short-term experience with predictable phases and a clean ending. But in her practice, Dr. Grimes sees how grief keeps evolving. It doesn’t disappear on a timeline. It weaves itself into routines, memories, and milestones. People learn to carry it differently, but they rarely leave it behind completely. And that’s not failure, it’s human.

Her approach to mental health centers on truth rather than pressure. She encourages clients to acknowledge the emotions they try to hide: sadness that lingers longer than expected, moments of joy that feel out of place, and the waves of loneliness that return even when life seems stable. Instead of pushing for quick recovery, she focuses on helping people understand how emotions shift and how to care for themselves through those changes.

Much of her insight comes from her military years, where she witnessed the emotional toll of loss, transition, and constant survival. She saw how people continued functioning while carrying pain that had nowhere to go. That experience shaped her belief that healing requires space, space to feel, to speak, and to move through emotions without judgment.

In her clinical work today at Elevated Minds, she encourages people to build small, steady habits that anchor them during difficult seasons. Journaling helps them recognize patterns and name what feels heavy. Community support breaks the cycle of isolation. Therapy creates a place where emotions don’t have to be minimized or explained away. And intentional routines, daily sunlight, mindful breaks, and calm evenings help rebuild emotional balance.

Her upcoming books expand on these ideas, offering practical guidance for navigating both grief and seasonal depression. She focuses on helping readers understand that healing is not about escaping pain. It’s about learning how to live with it in a healthier way, honoring memories, acknowledging loneliness, and still allowing room for moments of light.

What makes Dr. Leeshe Grimes a compelling voice in mental health is her ability to bring language to experiences that many struggle to explain. She reminds people that emotional seasons don’t always match the weather and that there is no single path through grief. But within those shifts, she believes there is always a way forward.

The seasons will continue to change. And with the right tools, compassion, and support, people can change with them, finding steadiness, softness, and light again, one step at a time.