If there is one thing that I really love doing, it is embarking upon adventurous camping hiking trips abroad, where the sky is literally the limit. I have found that such camping hiking trips are not only invigorating, but they allow for me to easily escape the confines and the clutter, and the pollution as well as the traffic of the city in which I live—and really get away and enjoy all of the wonders of Mother Nature for a few splendid days. The one staple that has always been tried and true to the numerous camping hiking trips that I have gone on in the past has been fishing. This year, towards the end of this month, I will be heading out on what is most certain to be a great camping hiking trip to the White Mountains, where I plan on doing some really awesome trout fishing while I am up there enjoying the picturesque views and the amazing scenery that can only be found in the white capped mountains of serene Northern Arizona!

There are so many ways that you can save money in this crazy day and age of the internet, my dear readers. If you are as big a fan of outdoor camping as I am, allow me to share with you my most recent online shopping experience, because I netted myself quite the bargain on some really great and name brand outdoor camping gear that I found online on a huge clearance sale. I was looking for a new outdoor camping gear stove because my old one was a bit aged, about four years old to be exact, and really could have used to have been replaced. I started my shopping off by harnessing the power of the major search engines and really taking my time and looking around for different outdoor camping gear stores that had deals to offer, when I found one that had the same stove I would have paid nearly double for at a retail store, on sale for half the price. This begs to ask the question: how and why are people still wasting money at retail stores when online shopping offers far superior selection and bargains?

Spring break is just around the corner this month for many school-age kids and college kids. I am hearing some friends are taking a few days off while there kids are on spring break to do some outdoor camping near by in the Phoenix area or in the Tucson area.  Outdoor camping is a great time and very cost effective too. This time of year, our campgrounds have many snow birds who mostly RV camp. Many snowbirds “camp” here for several months, missing there winter time weather and leaving here before the heat starts rising.  Many also set their tents near camping hiking trails to really enjoy the beauty of the near spring season. I don’t know why, but food also just tastes better on a camping stove.  Outdoor camping will really get into full swing in the next couple of weeks. There are certain spots the college crowd will go to, so families steer clear of those areas.  I love the outdoor camping season and living in the southwest you can enjoy it almost year around.

It is very cozy here in the southwest this past week. We have been hit with a lot of rain and the winds are picking up. We need the rain desperately, but it is coming in one big storm. This weather reminds me of rainy, windy storms when I lived in the northwest. These gusty storms happened a couple of times a year, and it would knock out the power for a period of time. I remember the power being out for a couple of days where we were. I had to take out our camping stove and put it out on the deck so we could heat water, coffee and soups. I also took out our Coleman cooler to put our perishable foods in and tried to save as much food as I could for the day. If the power was going to be out longer than a day, I went to my neighbors, who many had generators and put my food in their frig. It was sort of outdoor camping in a way. My outdoor camping equipment was very useful through-out the year up there. Down here in the southwest, maybe I will just have to use the camping lantern, if the power does go out in this storm.

Full Hook-ups

  Outdoor camping spots billed as having full hook-ups are designed for RVs and provide electricity, water and a sewer connection. In addition, a full hookup site will be advertised as having 30 or 50 amps of power. A 50-amp circuit is usually required for larger RVs with multiple air conditioning units.

Other amenities, such as picnic tables, fire pits, a concrete parking pad and cable TV connections are sometimes included. Even in large national chains such as KOA, though, these extra amenities are completely random and should be confirmed prior to making reservations.

Electricity and Water

   Much like a full hook-up site, an outdoor camping spot with electricity and water is for RVs and may include 20, 30 or 50 amps of power and other amenities, like a picnic table, fire pit and concrete pad. Almost unheard of in the West, electricity and water camping spots are common in state parks throughout the Midwest and South. There are a few state parks in the West with electrical and water camping spots, however, like Oregon’s Joseph Stewart State Park.

Electrical Only

Also rare in the West, tent sites with electrical power are not uncommon in the muggy South, where fans and even small air conditioners make tent camping palatable for some. These sites are not specifically made for RVs, so they are usually smaller, 20-amp circuits.

Primitive

  Primitive outdoor camping spots, as you might have guessed, have no water or electricity. Depending on the campground, however, they usually include a picnic table and a fire ring. Primitive sites are my favorite places to camp, because I don’t have to worry so much about noisy RV generators, idling engines, or radios and TVs in the middle of the night.

Dispersed

Outdoor camping spots come in all shapes and sizes and they aren’t limited to just organized campgrounds. You can make your own camping spot on most federal public land and some state lands. There are often restrictions on how close your camping spot can be to a road or a water source and regulations on campfires vary greatly, so it’s important to check with the federal or state management agency for specific regulations pertaining to the area.

Outdoor camping is a great way to “get away from it all,” but that can mean a lot of different things to different people. Fortunately, there are a lot of different types of camping spots to choose from, so there is sure to be one that will suit your style of camping.

The no sided canopy tent makes a great cook station or a great camp table cover, where you can eat or cook out of the rain in comfort and this makes it a great outdoor camping addition. Canopy tents are free standing and can be set up where ever you want at your campsite easily.

The canopy tent is not restricted to just outdoor camping. They are great for the back yard or even taking to the park. Wherever you need shelter, the canopy tent can provide the shelter you need for any event you are hosting.

The canopy tent with sides, also known as a screen tent, is a must have if your outdoor camping adventure takes you to those places where bug infestation is out-of-control. Those pesky bugs can wipe-out any sanity you have making your outdoor camping adventure less enjoyable.

Screen tents are made in 2 styles, one that has a floor just like your tent and the other just has screened walls with no floor. Both are adequate for protecting you from those pesky bugs. Its just personal preference for the one you choose.

Screen tents also make an adequate store area for all your outdoor camping gear. Leaving more room for you to relax or sleep in the main tent. They come in ten by ten or the twelve by twelve sizes. Giving an addition of 100/144 square feet of sheltered area.

The screen tent and canopy tent are both, portable, lightweight and very simple to set-up. Depending on the style and shape you buy, it will require only one or two people to set-up. Set-up can be done in as little as 5 minutes.

In whatever way you enjoy your activities outdoors, it can be enhanced by adding a screen tent or a canopy tent to your outdoor camping equipment. These tents offer great protection from the elements and little critters, making your relaxation and enjoyment of your trip much more. You may even find the outdoors more inviting than ever before and even enjoy more outdoor time.

The answer is that camping is the great American interest for all the family. Youngsters are raised going on camping trips with their whole family, numerous families hold family reunions camping. A camping excursion is an excellent time for fathers to bond with their sons. As we grow up we look back on the memories of our early years and it always seems that the memories of camping stick out the most.

The busy days all seem to blend together, but the days spent out camping in nature are separate and it is easy to recall your first outdoor camping excursion. We have memories of looking up into the night sky for the first time, unpolluted by the city lights. Camping out eliminates the distractions of daily living and allows families to focus on their relationships with each other.

Night campfires bring out the storyteller and the thinker in adults. Here mothers and fathers will tell tales from their past or talk about their views of the nature and the world. It is natural that when outdoor camping plays such a strong role in one generation’s lives that they share it with next, hence the tradition of outdoor camping gets passed down through the years. It is the normal order of things for us to treat our kids to the same experiences we had as youngsters, such as camping. As life progresses, new sciences come, new fashions and movements emerge that keep kids enthralled, the one thing that stays constant is nature. A outdoor camping excursion puts family members on an equal footing. In this away-from-home surround, family members can interact with each other in fresh new ways.

Another reason why people love outdoor camping so much is because there is a part of the human spirit that pines to get back to nature. This is something in our souls that only nature can fulfill, no matter how successful we are in the workaday world. Camping out is a way to relate with a part of ourselves that gets lost in the busy city. There is a certain sense of belonging in nature that is special to outdoor camping. Here is a chance to treasure the sacrifices that went before us and made our lives possible.

It is easy to blank out in the city that the natural environment is out there. Everyone faces challenging times when they are stressed and trying to pay the bills while also trying to attain greater success in life. Outdoor camping makes life wonderful when everything seems to work in harmony with nature.

A family custom can be made of an annual outdoor camping trip as memories are made. Even people that don’t of necessity enjoy outdoor camping can’t argue with the fact that there is something awing about it. Regardless how much the world changes, camping trips can always be enjoyed.

Woods camping list:

• Map of the area- Give a map to every camper, this helps them to find the area and sources that help them if they are lost in the woods. Pick some important place on the map, such as the camping area, near by lake, river or water source, police control room etc.
• Compass-This helps the camper if he gets lost in the woods and wants to find an area out of the lost place.
• Communication devices- It can be any device used for communication. If you are using the cell phone, check for the signal in the woods. Hand held radios, and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are very useful communication devices in the forest.
• Whistle- Give a whistle to each camper and set a code to whistle if they are in danger. The head of the camp will understand the code and recognize someone is in danger and have to help them right.
• Extra food and water- Get adequate amount of food and water and pack them properly, if you are camping in deep woods, these foods will help you. Carry sufficient amount of food supplies to cook the food in the woods.

How to be safe in the woods?

Always set boundaries in the outdoor camping grounds: Camping with kids is challenging and outdoor camping is very challenging. So, when camping with kids, set some boundaries or make some barricades so that the child cannot pass. Often camping with children make them wild and out of control.

To make the camp site safe and free of danger for children, barricades are very important. Prepare the children with the conditions in the forest and train them properly to make sure that they do not cross the barricades.

Get familiar with surroundings: The first things to remember before setting a camp site in the woods is get familiar with location. Let every camper know about the location you set up your camp and make sure you mark the locations on the maps.

Let everyone know the nearby hospital or communication source in case of any emergency. Make some weird markings near by the campsite which helps them to recognize the campsite, in case they get lost.

Safety from wild animals: When camping in wild animal’s habitat, you should be very careful. They may sometimes visit your camps also. So, if the outdoor camping zone is too dangerous, barricades help to control them. Some more precautions are very important such as:

• Don’t cook too oily and greasy foods; this will attract the animals towards the food.
• Pack your food and its supplies properly and make sure you do not spell out the food in improper way. Always use trash bags to expose of the extra food.
• If your camping zone supports hunting, pack your hunting stuff properly and make sure the wild animals will not be able to recognize the food. Always hang your food to a tree branch away from the campsite.
• Never try to disturb any animal and try to feed them.
•  

Outdoor camping is interesting and enjoyable if proper measures are taken. So, take proper measure to have an enjoyable outdoor camping. Never compromise the safety in woods and always be cautious.

This summer my son is going outdoor camping for the first time. It is part of his summer camp day program. The entire day camp is going real outdoor camping for a week. Five days of living in tents and having a wonderful time. I have two weeks to get together all the gear he is going to need. It is a good thing they gave me a list of what he is going to need.

 I went to the local sportsman warehouse and they tried to sell me a bunch of stuff my son does not need. They were sold out of what I needed and tried to sell me stuff I did not want.  and found out the basics on outdoor camping gear my son is going for a week of fun camping, not survival training. I was so frustrated that I left. All my son needs is a light weight tent for one, a proper backpack to carry it and his clothing and some basic gear. Everything else the camp is supplying. I am not going back to the local store. They don’t have what I need in stock.  Instead I am going to order everything online. I did some research online and found out the basics on outdoor camping gear. I found a light weight coleman tent for a lot less then what the local store was selling theirs for. I also found a great camping stove and some other things that he and I made need since I plan on taking him outdoor camping in the future if he enjoys this trip as much as I think he will.

With the end of the outdoor camping season upon us it is very important that you clean all of your camping gear before putting it away. Some of the things that you need to pay the most attention to is your tent and sleeping gear, your coolers and any food preparation gear.

Lets start with your tent:

One of the most common problems that I see with tents is that some people will not properly dry their tent out after a camping trip where it has rained. Even when it doesn't rain, moisture can seep up through the ground leaving the bottom of your tent damp. Storing a tent that is damp or wet will cause mold to set in and eat away at your tents fabric.

This is specially true for canvas tents where large sections can rot away in as little as a few weeks. So make sure that you dry your tent out very good before packing it away for the winter.

While mold won’t eat away at your coleman cooler it is always a good idea to clean them out and dry them before putting them away. This will keep you from having scrub them out at the last minute when you go to use them next time.

The same goes for all of your food preparation gear including your camping stove. It only takes a few minutes to clean out the bottom of the stove and this will help prevent rust from setting in and ruining your camping stove after just a few years.

So take a little extra time this year and make sure that your outdoor camping gear is clean and dry before putting it away. You will be glad you did.

There’s a lot of preparation and planning involved when you’re outdoor camping hiking with kids and you need a lot of patience too. Kids are a lot of fun to bring along outdoor camping if you made the right preparation and planned well.

Considering the kid’s needs should be the top priority and you may have to make some sacrifices. Now while it sounds bad, I can assure you that it’s well worth it and the kids will love you for it.

Hiking, playing and exploring the great outdoors is simply rewarding as spend quality time with them. If you love your kids so much, you woudn’t mind putting in all the extra effort involved.

But just to help you get by before they drive you crazy and you want to pull your hair out, here are some helpful tips for camping with kids:

- Get the kids involved with the planning and preparation. Ask for their suggestions and ideas regarding camping activities and places to visit. Allow them to pack their own stuff but make sure you supervise them.

Children are more likely to act responsible if you show them that you trust them and value their opinion.

- If you do backyard outdoor camping beforehand you’ll discover anything that you missed during planning and preparation so you can adjust accordingly.

- Elicit their help in setting up the campsite. Teach them how to pitch their own coleman tent and ask them to help Mom with the cooking. No, they don’t need to chop and slice or boil water over the camping stove. They should only be involved with kid-friendly chores.

- To prevent unwanted incidents, set up some safety rules like not wandering too far away from camp and not eating wild berries.

- Do some campfire singing and story-telling.

- Take the kids on day hikes and show them the wonders of nature.

- Don’t forget to teach them how to keep themselves safe at the camp. No playing with fire and no swimming in the lake alone are just some of the many rules they have to be familiar about.

- Creating games out of camping chores will get the kids interested in doing them

- Kids love to play with binoculars so take them birdwatching.

- Remember to take the insect repellent and sunscreen.

- Give your kid a flashlight or glow stick so that they feel more secured at night.

- Do some star-gazing.

- Remember the first aid kit.

- Have some night snacks. Not inside the coleman tent of course. Before you go to sleep, a few chats and chips will surely be a great finale to a great day.

- Take some camping games for the kids.

- Be sure that you have a camera to capture the unforgetable experience.

Family outdoor camping trips are a fun way to spend quality time with your children. Although it takes double the effort, just seeing the delight on their faces or hearing their squeals of laughter all make the trip worthwhile.

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to go outdoor camping. My dad always took us as kids and my husband and I have continued the tradition with our own children who seem to love it as much as we do.

This past spring, my husband told me our outdoor camping equipment needed to be replaced as it was getting old and he is concerned about safety issues. He went to his favorite store downtown and to a couple of his favorite online shopping sites to compare prices. After he figured up how much all the outdoor camping equipment would be, he ordered it and the kids excitedly waited (as did he) for the equipment to arrive.

The following weekend he surprised me with a date night for just the two of us. It seems he was able to save enough money ordering our outdoor camping equipment online that he had enough money set aside for dinner and a movie and a babysitter for the kids.

We have enjoyed our new outdoor camping equipment this summer and have one more big trip planned for the Labor Day weekend holiday. If anyone wonders about what would make a great family trip, trust me, camping and getting away from every day life is a wonderful bonding adventure that makes memories for years to come.