Camping is a good time for any season, especially during the winter if you are prepared. There would be some that would disagree :-) But for those who are willing to venture out and enjoy the great outdoors there are several attractions to enjoy while camping in the winter such as the Bald Eagle Watch at Starved Rock Campground in Utica, Illinois. Here is a couple helpful winter camping tips to maximize your experience:
1) Pack accordingly with the necessities such as warm clothing, fire starting material and dry firewood to provide warmth while outside of your shelter and a place to prepare your hot drink and meals.
2) A good 3 season or 4 season tent when used for shelter provides protection from the elements, a tent is made with non-insulating fabric which creates a barrier, but does not provide the warmth like what you are used to at your home, so in order to maintain warmth you will need a good sleeping bag, preferably a good down or synthetic bag to insulate your body and a lightweight sleeping pad under your sleeping bag creates a barrier from the cold ground. When looking to camp in the snow or below 30 degree temps you might consider using a 4 season tent which provides additional protection with a total rainfly which covers the entire tent and pegs down at the ground and has limited to partial roof mesh for adequete ventilation. Following the same ideas mentioned When temps are above 40 degrees, as with the 3 season OzTent all the screen mesh windows can be totally closed off or kept open slightly by simply zippering the panels to provide controlled ventilation, therefore reducing condensation from forming inside, especially when temps outside are colder than the inside of tent, most cases it is the use of heating devices inside the tent that creates conditions favorable for condensation.