If your family has never camped

before, you can build excitement for the trip by holding a backyard try-out.

The whole family can learn how to pitch a tent, layout sleeping bags and

light the camp stove. Not sure you want to invest in camping equipment?

Try renting gear from Geared To Go in Atlanta or other outfitters, or

reserve a small camper through Cruise America or an RV dealer.

Because summer is the busy

season for camping, visitors should make reservations early at Georgia's

state parks. To learn about the 41 state parks with campgrounds, visit

www.gastateparks.org or call 1-800-864-7275.

Here are some camping tips

from Georgia's state parks

Dogs are welcome in campgrounds

as long as they are kept on a leash and accompanied by their owners at

all times.

Old plastic shower curtains

make good ground cloths for your tent. The edges should not stick out

further than the tent because they could trap rainwater.

Invest in a good sleeping

pad, or at the least, put an exercise mat under your sleeping bag.

Block ice lasts longer than

bagged ice. Make your own at home by filling milk jugs or water bottles.

The less you open the cooler, the longer the ice will last.

Never hang lanterns on trees

because the heat can cause serious harm.

Pack a small plastic bucket

for dishwashing and never use the bathhouse sink for this task. Georgia's

state parks provide "gray water pits" for used dishwater.

Hungry critters can be very

clever and destructive. Keep food locked in vehicles or tied up in trees.

Freeze chili, soups and stews

in ziplock bags, then heat them after they thaw. The frozen bags help

keep ice from melting in the cooler. Rice and pasta can also be cooked

ahead of time and reheated on a camp stove.

Pita pockets keep their shape

better than loaf bread.

Disposable water bottles make

great dispensers for salad dressings and sauces.

Laundry lint makes good fire

tender, and smaller fires affect air quality less than raging bonfires.

Completely extinguish the fire before you go to bed or leave the campsite.

Encourage children to keep

a sketch journal filled with drawings of things they find. Journals make

wonderful keepsakes.

Teach children to respect

nature by not picking flowers or leaving trash on trails. "Leave

No Trace."

Don't forget a first aid kit

with tweezers, band-aids, moleskin (for blistered feet) and aspirin.