Almost any kind of wood will burn when it is dry, but it takes experience to know the kinds of trees that will burn when they are green.  If there is no dry wood in the neighbourhood, and we are obliged to cut a tree down to get our supply, it is very important to pitch our camp somewhere near the right kind of a tree and not be obliged to carry our firewood a long distance.  The best “green wood” for the campers’ fire is hickory, although birch is excellent.  Hickory is also the best dry wood.  Other trees that will burn well when green are cedar, white ash, locust or white oak.  There are comparatively few places, however, where dry wood is not available and of course it is always best to avoid such a place.

3.  The camp site should be in a fairly open spot.  Thick woods and underbrush are either hot or “damp” cool.  If you can find a site that is shaded during the heat of the day so much the better.  It is unwise to pitch the tent under a tree that stands alone on account of possible danger from lightning.  If your tent is shaded by a tree be sure there are no dead limbs to blow off and wreck it during a storm.

Be sure that the drainage is good, so that in case of heavy rains, the water will run off and not flood the camp.  It is very important if your camp is along some river or stream to be high enough to avoid the danger of sudden floods.  This can usually be determined by talking to some one who knows the country.  You can also tell it by studying the previous high water marks in the trees.  In case of floods there are always some wisps of straw, pieces of brush, etc., caught and held by the limbs of trees after the water settles back to its former level.  It is a good chance to practise your woodcraft by trying to find them.

Damp locations are very bad.  The higher we can get, the drier it will be.  We avoid both fogs and mosquitoes.  Usually there is some prominent place that will give us a good outlook and where the breezes can reach us.

There are both good and bad points in pitching our tent on the site of a former camp.  As long as the former campers have not scoured the surrounding neighbourhood for firewood nor have left a place littered up with all sorts of rubbish and garbage to draw flies and vermin, they may have fixed up things around the camp site to save us work and to add to our comfort and pleasure.  Each case will have to be decided on its own merits.

[Illustration:  A wall tent]

The three important things then are the water supply, the firewood supply, and good drainage.

Next in importance to the camp site is the outfit, and the most important thing is the tent.  For a party of four boys on their first camping trip, the best kind will be a wall tent.  A tent, 11 x 14 feet will be large enough to provide sleeping quarters and to have every one comfortable.  A simple shelter of canvas outside can be provided as a dining-room but this is more of a luxury than a real necessity.