Those of us who aren’t at all outdoorsy imagine camping as a horrible experience: sitting freezing in a dingy tent, eating disgusting non-perishables as rain water gradually gets in and soaks all your stuff. But can you believe that it doesn’t need to be a stressful, miserable or expensive experience for you and the whole family? In fact, camping should actually be a lot of fun. With these 25 camping survival hacks, you’ll be able to cut down on costs and maximize your gear, equipment, and food so that you have a great camping trip.

1. Know How to Make a Campfire

This is surely camping 101.