1. To clean your leather gloves try pouring dry oatmeal or cornmeal on them and then rubbing them together. The oatmeal absorbs grease and dirt and leaves the gloves, soft and clean. Unlike soap and water which leaves them stiff and uncomfortible.

2. Always keep a couple rubber fishing worms with you when camping.. Not only for use as artificial bait for fishing but they can be used for an emergeny fix... If you notice a small tear or hole in your tent, just melt the rubber worm and apply to the hole...

3. Empty pill bottles, or those empty 35mm film containers can be used to keep some very important camping supplies organized and dry...

• Tape a small piece of very fine grit sand paper to the side of the pill bottle and fill the bottle with wooden stick matches.
• You can keep a few cotton balls in a 35mm film container.. they work great for removing those little hitch-hiker burrs from your clothing, as a source for kindling, or just to plug your ears if the wind is bothering them.
• You can also use one of the larger pill bottles to carry some of the lint that you remove from your dryer... This is a great kindling source to start your campfires with.
• You can fill them with all sorts of small items such as safety pins, needles, sewing thread etc. etc.

4. Empty olive jars make an excellent egg storage case...  While at home just remove the eggs from their shell and pour them into the jar.. At breakfast just open the jar and pour out as many of the eggs as you require.

5. A can of soda pop can be used to wash your hands if you don't have access to soap and water. Just pour a little pop on your hands and rub them together just as you would with soap.

6. To remove itching caused by an insect bite try placing a piece of ice on the bite. Or make a mixture of meat tenderizer and water, to make a thin paste to smear on the inflicted area. I have also heard that this works for poison ivy also.

7. Always carry a good supply of those little plastic cable ties in your camping gear. They can be used for all types of camping uses. They make great hangers to hang your lanter

8. Put a good coat of Armor All on your rubber camping and wading equipment. It will more than double the life of the rubber if applied frequently.

9. Don't Throw away your old holey socks until you cut off the elastic tops!!  These are great for wrist bands. A great deal of body heat is lost in that very small area between your loose fitting gloves and your jacket sleeves.

10. To remove blood stains from your clothing, make a thin paste solution with water and meat tenderizer. Smear it on the stained area and let set for one hour before washing. The tenderizer is an enzyme that breaks down the protein bond in the blood.

11. For an inexpensive cleaning utensil for your cooking grill just crinkle up a handful of aluminum foil in a ball, apply a little pressure to the cooking grate.

12. You don't have to buy expensive honing oil to sharpen your knives.. Just make a mixture of 50% kerosene and 50% light motor oil, it works just as well.

13. To stay warmer while sleeping in cold camping conditions... Sleep in the nude... Just roll up your clothing and put them in the bottom of your sleeping bag and when you awake they will be warm when you put them on.. The biggest reason you get cold while you sleep is because the clothing you are wearing gets damp, from sweat. The majority of body heat loss during sleep is through the head and feet. Wearing just socks and a hat will reduce this heat loss.

14. To keep your binoculars or camera from swinging wildly around as you walk, shorten the strap so that it just barely fits over your head, and then keep it tucked inside your shirt or jacket. It will also keep unwanted reflections from the sun being seen if you are trying to get a bit closer to wildlife.

15. Take a photo of all your camping gear... and make a list of all serial numbers.. This will make it much easier to get reimbursed from your insurance agency in case of theft.

16. Don't throw away those empty oatmeal box's... They are just the right size to carry your bread in. When you go camping just put the bread inside the box and tape the lid back on the box. It will help keep your bread from getting mashed.

17. SOME OF THE MORE OBVIOUS SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA: Violent shivering, awkward movement, drowsiness, a lapse in memory, slow or slurred speach. The victim will appear that he is intoxicated. He should not be given any alcoholic beverages, and should be warmed as soon as possible. Hypothermia can result in death if proper actions are not taken immediately! (Be sure to check the link for Hypothermia on the Survival Kits Tip Sheet)

18. DO NOT USE THE OLD SHELVES from stoves or refrigerators as cooking grates!! Some of the shelves are cadmium plated and the food that comes into direct contact with the grate can cause you serious stomach problems. They can however be used to set your coffee pot or skillet on as long as the food doesn't come into direct contact with the grate.