BackwoodsCampingSupplies BLOG

My Favorite Season for Camping

2007-09-21T18:48:00.000-05:00

Well, here it is the end of another summer. This brings to mind many things…kids are returning to school, the pools have closed, the scorching summer heat is gone until next year, and it is a great time to go camping! In fact, it’s my favorite time of the year to camp!

There are many reasons why I love to camp in the fall. The weather is as perfect as it gets in the Midwest. The temperature is very comfortable, the humidity is gone, the afternoons are warm, and the evenings are cool and you can actually get a good night's sleep. The mosquitoes are pretty much gone until next summer, and the wildlife has been rejuvenated with the cooler temperatures. Don’t get me wrong, I will camp just about anytime and thoroughly enjoy it, but fall is just my preferred season for camping. Here in Missouri I look forward to the fall camping season because you can actually walk around and not sweat your backside off, plus the bugs aren’t quite as bad.

The scenery is fantastic in the fall. When the leaves start changing colors, and the sun shines on them with a clear blue sky as a background, there is hardly a more beautiful sight. Even as it starts to get cooler, and the leaves begin to fall from the trees, it is beautiful. The sound of leaves rustling while you are hiking just makes being in the outdoors seems so much more rustic. It doesn’t get any better than that. I love to get up early and go for a hike to check out the wildlife in the area, we see deer, turkey, coyotes, bobcats and lots of birds.

When camping, you always need a campfire, but you really appreciate it on a cool fall evening and on a cool fall morning. When you throw a coffee pot on the fire and you can smell the coffee brewing, it warms your inners just knowing that the coffee will be ready in a few minutes. There’s nothing like cooking breakfeast on a camping stove or better yet an open fire, it makes me think about how life use to be before all the moderen conveniences came along and how hard it was to survive.

The smell of the campfire when it is cool outside just seems to smell better than when the temperatures are in the 80’s and 90’s and sitting around the campfire is another one of my favorite things to do, we shoot our sling shots into the river, we tell stories, we make s'mores, sometimes we just sit there and do nothing. That’s what so nice about camping it gives you a chance to slow down and appreciate life. It just doesn’t get any better than that. I love to camp.

My camping gear changes a little bit when I switch from summer camping to fall camping. I usually bring a little heavier sleeping bag, some long pants, long sleeve t-shirts, a good camping tent with a good rain fly and maybe a Coleman heater for the cool mornings, that’s about it really.

If you haven’t been camping in the fall, you have to try it. If you like camping in the summer, you’ll like camping in the fall. Send me your thoughts about your favorite time of the year for camping, or just any camping thoughts or ideas you would like to share, and I will post them on the website. Send your camping stories and pictures to stories@backwoodscampingsupplies.com. Thanks for visiting our blog!

For The Kids: Fun Stuff To Do On Your Next Camping Trip

2007-06-02T19:46:00.000-05:00

Flash Light Tag - It's just like tag, but you play it at night, with flashlights. Make sure you have an open area to play, so you don't get hurt. Remember, watch where you run, so you don't fall down!

Sling Shot Challenge - Set up a shooting gallery made of old cans, or wood, and shoot them with small rocks. See who is the best shot.

Bug Collecting - If you like bugs, then you will have a lot of fun collecting them. Get a small net to catch the bugs, and put them in a container or in containers with small holes for air to get in. See how many different bugs you can find, but be careful so you don't hurt the bugs or get bitten. When you are finished, be sure to let your bugs go.

Wildlife Scavenger Hunt - Before you leave for your camping trip, find out what kind of wildlife lives in the area in which you will be camping. Make a list of all of the different animals that you might find, or trees you might see, and be sure to pack it with your camping stuff. Keep an eye out while you are camping, and circle everything you see that is on your list. You will be surprised at how much you will see! You can add to the bottom of your list as you come across other animals or trees that are not on your list.

Campfire Story Telling - This is something the whole family can do. The stories will depend on you. Do you like scary stories, or fun stories? Maybe you would like to tell true stories about things that happened to you, or even stories about your last camping trip. You could tell different types of stories each night - one night could be scary stories, the next night could be joke night.

Catch - This is an old favorite. Pack some baseball gloves and baseballs, and have fun!

Cards - There are so many different card games to play, and just about as many different decks of playing cards. Of course there is the standard 52 playing card deck that you use to play Rummy, Solitaire, or Hearts. There are also the different card games such as Uno, Old Maid, and Crazy Eights. You can pass the time away on a rainy day or at night in your tent.

Washers - This game is like horseshoes, but is played with washers. There are fancy washer sets that you can buy, or you can make your own set. You can easily set up your own washers game with two cans, some rope, and eight washers. Set the cans up with some throwing distance between them. Make two scoring rings around the cans out of the rope. You will score 5 points for throwing a washer in the can, 2 points for the ring outside of the can, and 1 point for the outer ring.

Battleship - This is a great way to spend some lazy time after a hard day of enjoying the great outdoors. Two people can play, but you can set up competitions if there are more than two players. Be sure to pack your Battleship game!

Whiffle Ball - This is fun, but you will need at least four people to play. If you are camping at a campground, you will probably be able to find other kids that would like to play a good, friendly game of whiffle ball. Have fun!

Skipping Stones - You will need to be camping near a stream, lake, or river. Find a flat rock a little bit larger than a quarter. Throw the rock sideways across the water, and try to make it skip accross the water. It takes lots of practice, but it is really cool once you get the hang of it.

Reconnect With Your Kids - Take Them Camping

2007-06-02T19:36:00.000-05:00

For those of us camping enthusiasts that have the opportunity to experience all four seasons, spring is an especially wonderful time of the year. After the cold and sometimes dreary days of winter, many families look forward to the warm fresh spring air, and the beauty that accompanies the warming temperatures. The kids are itching to get outside to play in the warmth of the spring sun almost as much as adults are ready to be over winter’s last round of cabin fever. What better way is there to reconnect with your kids than to spend some quality time with them camping? After spending the winter months glued to the television, or becoming zombies from playing video games, a fun-filled family camping trip is the perfect way to experience nature and create lasting family memories.

Your number one priority of course, is the safety of your family, so to ensure that your family camping trip is a success, you must be prepared! Take time to plan your trip according to your family’s interests and camping skills, and you are sure to have a great time! What kind of camping facilities would be the best choice for your family? For the less experienced camper, utilizing State and National forests are a great way to introduce your kids to the joy of camping. The internet offers endless information on many privately owned campgrounds that offer great accommodations for the novice camper.

Take an inventory of your camping equipment well in advance of your camping trip. This will ensure that you will be well prepared and will allow you to enjoy the family trek to the great outdoors without the added stress of trying to “make do without”. Your camping equipment needs will vary based on the type of camping you will be doing. The following is a general list of camping gear that you should have for any trip to the wilderness with your family:

o First Aid Kit – well stocked and replenished
o Tent with a Quality Rain Fly and Floor Saver
o Sleeping Bags with appropriate rating for temperature
o QuickBeds, Camp Pads, or a Cot
o Rain Gear
o Flashlights
o Extra Batteries
o Camping Stove and Fuel
o Camping Lantern and Fuel
o Camping Cook Set & Untensils
o Water Carriers
o Waterproof Containers
o Camping Chairs
o Bug Repellant
o Camping Cooler

My family’s annual spring camping trip is just around the corner, and we are all “chompin’ at the bit” to go! We set up camp on the banks of the Meramec River in Missouri. Although the temperature in mid-March is still a bit cool in the morning and evening, we have found that as long as we are prepared, it doesn’t matter. We will be sure to pack our camping heater, some extra sweats and marshmallows, and then build a nice big nightly campfire, and we are good to go!