Surviving the Aftermath

First thing's first: I wish I'd built my campsite a bit further from the front gate. Not too far back, but a a few camp lengths back. The side would probably have been better, too. The campsite will serve no useful purpose except for initial storage. Use the space in front for tents that you will eventually tear down, and then replace those tents with cooking facilities once you upgrade to tenements and then two-story housing. Also put a guard tower near the front to cover the gate in the (very) rare event that bandits break through your gate. (This happened to me only once.)

This will be your first achievement (unless you do photo mode first). When you get to camp, fire the flare and call them in.

I didn't see any reason to wait once you build your campsite. You need the labor to collect resources and build shelter.