| A little forethought and organization will payoff in a | | | | lanterns get extremely hot and can give you a serious |
| great memorable adventure for that next outdoors | | | | burn. |
| excursion you may have planned. | | | | They offer camp sites, cabins, or day use facilities in |
| All campers will need some type of lantern gas, | | | | 43 states. The online system allows you to search by |
| battery, or candle. Each one has there pros and cons. | | | | state or campground, lake, or forest name. Cross |
| To find out which will work for you here are a few | | | | country skiing is another popular way for the entire |
| tips. Then you have the glorious Sunset and after that | | | | family to visit and see beautiful winter landscapes. |
| why not get together with your neighboring campers | | | | Many parks have several excellent trails available for |
| for a story telling session and singsong round the | | | | cross country skiing. Several National Parks will offer |
| campfire. If you thought a Camping Vacation would be | | | | novice, intermediate and advanced trails for skiing. |
| 'roughing it' and 'hard work' then think again, yes it will | | | | Get used to cooking over a wood fire and sharing |
| take some planning but that's half the fun and it won't | | | | your space with wildlife, before you venture too far |
| be that much work. | | | | away from the comforts of home. More on Camping |
| Most campsite have a fire pit with a steel grill to set | | | | Outdoor. |
| the pots on. If there is a campfire ban in place you can | | | | Don't be too adventurous and go near a river without |
| use a portable barbecue. Take the utensils from the | | | | any swimming skills. Whitewater river skills are a must |
| kitchen if you have bbq tools take them. In the | | | | if you want to be able to keep yourself a lot safer |
| Southern states, peak tornado season is March | | | | when boating or river tripping. Even with a PFD, you'll |
| through May. Northern states are more likely to be hit | | | | never know what a river can do to you if you can't |
| with tornadoes during the summer. People know that | | | | swim. |
| during a tornado warning they should move to an | | | | 4. Review the map of the river. |
| interior room with no windows, or in a basement. When | | | | Aside from swimming skills and the proper gear, the |
| camping, that's not a viable option. | | | | river map will make it less rigorous for you to go on a |
| Whitewater rafting is one of the most unique and | | | | river trip. Make sure to update yourself on where the |
| invigorating ways to visit a parks backcountry. Some | | | | float trip will go, where to get out and where to go in |
| of the most incredible National Parks may have river | | | | case of emergency. |
| rafting excursions that travel through the park, the river | | | | 5. Check your equipment and boat's condition. |
| rafting is usually offered by various companies and | | | | Before going boating, check whether your boat is in |
| outfitters. | | | | mint condition. Many mishaps are caused by defective |
| Camping is usually done at an official campsite, where | | | | boats and equipment. Never overload it and learn how |
| the campers usually pay a small fee to use grounds | | | | to steady it before loading. |
| that are preserved especially. | | | | 6. Learn how to deal with river currents. |
| Where to go is the big decision. Some are lucky | | | | River currents, like weather, are unpredictable. When |
| enough to live near national se are national parks | | | | a river current carries you, roll over onto your back |
| because they are very special areas. Are your kids | | | | and with feet first do go downstream. When you feel |
| begging you to take them camping, but you just can't | | | | that you are out of the damgerous part of the river |
| find the time to take them on a camping trip? Or would | | | | current, quickly swim toward the shore for safety. |
| you like to introduce your kids to the fun of camping | | | | Other safety tips like how to paddle and when not to |
| for the first time, but aren't sure if they will enjoy it, or | | | | paddle should be learned, too. And one more thing, |
| might get scared? Either way, camping out in your | | | | please respect nature so it to respect you, too. Just |
| backyard will be a fun way to spend the evening and | | | | like your old scoutmaster used to say, "Always be |
| night with your kids. | | | | prepared". Make a list and check it three times before |
| River Safety Tips | | | | you leave on your camping trip. |
| River trips are one of the most enjoyed vacation | | | | Apart from being submerged in wilderness, an |
| activities of Americans. The rustling of water and the | | | | important component of camping is the interaction with |
| presence of riverside flora and fauna makes it all the | | | | the localities, villagers and natives. These native guides |
| more interesting and fun-filled. However, accidents can | | | | know the unexplored places, the less traveled paths, |
| happen in the wink of an eye. How do you avoid any | | | | the unknown facts, myths and stories about the |
| unexpected incidents? Learn about these simple and | | | | locations. |
| yet sensible river safety tips: | | | | Hiking is a wonderful way to view nature at its finest, |
| 1. Never go near a river alone. | | | | as the parks really are preserving special pieces of our |
| Always be with someone who knows the river well | | | | wilderness. Depending on what park you will be hiking, |
| and can perform emergency procedures. Also, before | | | | the trails will offer different ranges of difficulty levels. |
| you leave home inform people where you're going and | | | | Many trails will lead to scenic vistas as easy hikes, |
| what time or day they should expect you to come | | | | while other hikes may be significantly more challenging |
| back to ensure that if anything goes wrong someone | | | | and too steep for some. |
| will try to help you get out of that situation. | | | | Many of the activities you might be interested in will |
| 2. Prepare your PFD. | | | | be available in the towns near the parks. Various |
| No, that's not a misspelling of PDF. PFD is your | | | | outfitters and companies outside some of the popular |
| personal floating device. If you are going on a river trip | | | | National Parks will offer excursions that go into the |
| that is supported by your school or company, usually, | | | | parks. Go high tech. Prices on freeze dried and |
| PFD's are provided. If not, ensure that you don't go | | | | packaged camping food are becoming very |
| anywhere near river without it. It should be checked for | | | | reasonable. For less than what you would pay for it in |
| its fit and to accertain if its fasteners or buckles are | | | | a restaurant, you can have you're favorite dishes - and |
| functioning well. Also, gear yourself up properly with | | | | I doubt the restaurant can compete with the view you'll |
| the proper footwear and clothing. | | | | have when you're camping or hiking. It may be a little |
| 3. Swimming and boating skills required. | | | | more expensive than doing it on your own, but what |
| There are many websites that cater to campers with | | | | prepackaged camping foods save you in time, energy, |
| information on where to find the most affordable | | | | and taste more than makes up for the money. |
| camp gear as well as the most popular items to buy | | | | The preparation you do may mean the difference |
| and use when camping. | | | | from really enjoying your trip to actually roughing it and |
| Activities such as hiking, fishing, cycling, horseback | | | | trying to survive. One of the primary things you should |
| riding, white water rafting and kayaking, skiing, rock | | | | do is scout out the area you want to camp in. Look at |
| climbing and mountaineering are just a few of the | | | | the demands of the environment and available natural |
| sports you might want to include on your camping | | | | resources. The area you go to will determine what |
| adventure. In the recent years, a lot of camping clothes | | | | supplies and gear you will need to take with you. |
| are available in the market to make you comfortable | | | | True to its name, the local quarries provided some of |
| and protect you when you go camping. Nevertheless, | | | | the highest quality stone for monuments in Washington. |
| with the excess supply of camping clothes you may | | | | More on Camping Outdoors Tips at Camping in a van |
| get confused as to what kind of clothes are right for | | | | can be cold at times, as it was for us in the deserts of |
| you. | | | | Arizona last winter. We started the van and cranked |
| A roll of tin foil will be needed the thicker the better. | | | | up the heater once in a while, but only for brief periods. |
| works very well for cooking in .Bring a plastic pail to | | | | |
| carry water in. A plastic basin will work to do dishes | | | | Instead of going up to other campers and saying, "Hi, |
| and wash up little dirty faces and hands. | | | | I'm Kerry and I'm here by myself" ask questions like |
| The thought of camping alone can be very intimidating, | | | | "How can I contact you if I experience a problem" or |
| especially if you're a woman. Ideally, it is not something | | | | "is this campground regularly patrolled?"Don't advertise |
| recommended to women new to camping. | | | | you are by yourself by finding campsites away from |
| Be aware that the glass globe of all gas and propane | | | | walking trails |