So, you’re heading to the mountains for your very first Elements Music & Arts Festival! First of all, get excited. There’s nothing like the community energy of the Pocono campgrounds. But if there’s one thing to know about this festival, it’s right there in the name. You have to survive the elements.

The Pocono Mountains are notoriously beautiful but incredibly unpredictable. It’s a place where you can experience blistering, humid, 85°F sunshine at 2:00 PM, a sudden afternoon torrential downpour at 5:00 PM, and bone-chilling 50°F mountain winds by 2:00 AM. If you want to spend your weekend dancing instead of shivering in a damp tent, preparation is everything. Here is your ultimate, battle-tested guide to setting up a first-timer camp that keeps you comfortable, dry, and ready for the long haul.

At Elements, your campsite is your space, sanctuary, and recovery zone. To make it bulletproof, you need to structure it like a pro. The key camping ‘element’ is to lay the Groundwork, a heavy-duty tarp. Before you even pitch your tent, lay down a ground tarp. Make sure the tarp is slightly smaller than your tent's footprint, or tuck any excess edges completely underneath. If your tarp sticks out, it will act like a funnel during a rainstorm, pooling water directly underneath your tent floor. Purchase a 10x10 Pop-up Canopy tent if you don’t have one. Never rely solely on your tent; you will bake alive the second the sun rises. Set up a 10x10 pop-up canopy directly adjacent to (or slightly overlapping) your tent entrance. This creates a dry "patio" to step out onto and a shaded communal area to hang out during the heat of the day. Hang tapestries or shower curtains from the sides of your canopy using heavy-duty binder clips. Not only does this look incredibly cozy, but it also blocks the piercing morning sun, keeps chilly night winds at bay, and gives your crew some much-needed privacy from the camp walkways.

Another piece of camping ‘elements’ advice is to bring tools such as heavy-duty metal stakes and a rubber mallet. The wind can whip through the open raceway infield unexpectedly. Ditch the cheap plastic stakes that came with your tent. Buy heavy-duty steel stakes and stake down both your tent and canopy. When preparing for a flash storm, lower your canopy down to its lowest height setting whenever you head into the festival venue for the night. This keeps a sudden gust of wind from turning your shade structure into a flying kite while you’re at the stages. Don’t forget to bring a hammock for personal and comfy viewing and relaxation at your favorite stage. 

The temperature swings in the Poconos will catch unprepared ravers off guard every single year. You must prepare your sleep system for both extremes. The moment the sun hits your tent, it transforms into an oven, waking you up hours before you're rested with the “Tent Greenhouse” effect. Invest in a battery-powered tent fan (or two) to keep air circulating. Also, wear a high-quality eye mask and pack high-fidelity earplugs. Elements features late-night sound camps blasting music until sunrise. If you want to sleep, earplugs are not optional.

Damp mountain air makes the cold feel much colder. Do not sleep directly on the ground; use a cot or a thick air mattress to create an insulating barrier of air between you and the cold earth. A cot is more efficient because you have to blow the airmattress constantly, and what happens when it pops? Something to consider. Keep your sleeping bag, pillows, and sleeping clothes locked inside your car during the day. If you leave them in your tent, they will absorb the daytime humidity and feel damp and freezing when you crawl into bed at night. There is car camping at Elements, a new festival feature at its new home at Long Pond, PA.

5 Quick Packing Hacks You'll Thank Us For Later

To elevate your camp from "surviving" to "thriving," make sure these absolute essentials find a home in your car trunk. Gear Item - A game changer! Industrial Wet Wipes / "Dude Wipes": The ultimate campsite shower. Perfect for a quick refresh before climbing into bed. Heavy-Duty Trash Bags: Essential for keeping a clean camp. Pack a few extras to wrap dirty, muddy shoes in if it rains. Plastic Pool Noodles: Slice them down one side and pop them onto the corner wire frames of your canopy. This stops heavy rain from pooling in the canopy fabric and collapsing the metal frame. Electrolyte Packets: You will be walking miles and dancing for hours. Water is great, but replenishing sodium and potassium prevents the dreaded day-three muscle cramps. Collapsible Wagon: A lifesaver for hauling heavy cases of water, ice, or gear from your car to your camp setup.

Your most valuable campsite asset isn't something you can buy at an outdoor store; it’s your neighbors. Take five minutes to introduce yourself, offer them a cold drink or a spare snack, and help them hold down their canopy if the wind picks up. Looking out for one another is the ultimate "Elements" way, and a friendly neighbor makes the absolute best camp security when you're inside the venue dancing the night away.

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