Ok, we go camping to get away, to unplug, to reconnect with nature, and now I talk about geocaching?

Well, please bear with me. Geocaching is different. While it involved electronics, it's not a couch potato activity and you are unlikely to be reaching into a bag of potato chips while geocaching. Geocache is the latest outdoor craze to hit treasure hunting enthusiasts across the world. It's a natural camping activity because you are out there already.

To enjoy the sport, you need to be familiar with using a global positioning unit (GPS).

You see, in thousands of locations worldwide(!), people have hidden small containers in which they’ve put a logbook or notepad, plus a few trinkets such as small toys, fridge magnets, key rings, bumper stickers etc. The co-ordinates of these locations are then recorded online so that geocachers anywhere on the globe can Continue reading…

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Technorati tags: fly-fishing,fly-fishing rods, fly-fishing reels

Teaching a child to fish may no longer give a man a livelihood, but it will give him a lifetime of memories. Fly-fishing is a great sport to pick up with your child. New to the sport yourself? Learn a few tips from an interview with Pat Micek from British Columbia Flyfishing Resources. Excerpt:

Is fly fishing a sport that children can enjoy?

Yes. Fly fishing is a sport for the entire family. Each year I teach groups of young people the fine art of fly fishing. Usually, as part of outdoor education, a school hires my company to instruct students. Our courses vary from 1 day seminars to 5 day camping and fishing.

How old should a child be before they are taken fly fishing?

My daughter started fly fishing when she was 8. I would suggest matching the sport to the child, that is, if the child is strong enough to handle a light rod and has some basic coordination, then, he's ready. Give it a try.

What would you recommend as a good way to start?

Link a young person up with a fly angler that is competent and capable of connecting. It is very important Continue reading…

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Did you know shadow pictures were the first motion pictures? Some grandmother or maybe a child discovered that her hands’ shadow against the wall looked like a dog’s head and soon creative hands started bringing all sorts of creatures to life.

It's really fun to create a magical motion picture for your kids right in your camping tent with hand shadows. All you need are 1) a flashlight, 2) a tent wall and 3) your hands.

Here are 10 different creatures to bring to life inside your tent. Continue reading…

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If you are stranded on a deserted island and there's one knot you want to know it's the Bowline. When you go camping, the second one you want to know is the Taut Line Hitch. With these 2 knots you can tie a taut clothes string (not a sagging one), hang your food from a tree beyond a bear's reach, set up a tarp cover and impress other fellow campers.

Learn how to tie these two knots from the video demonstration below.

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The "Dangerous Book for Boys" is my final resort to peel my son from the TV, XBox and other Zombie boxes and get him out of the house. Even if it means he's going to read about how to skin a rabbit.

The authors, Hal and Con Iggulden (brothers) researched Continue reading…

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Technorati tags: sandcastles, camping activities, sand castle building
One of our favorite thing to do at a beach campground is to build sand castles. For hours. Anyone can pile a mound of sand, but to build a castle worthy of your dreams, make sure you don’t make these..

5 common sandcastles building mistakes

Mistake #1. Location, location, location

The most desirable stretch of land is Continue reading…

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VideoJug: How To Put On A Bicycle Chain

Gotta have wheels. Exploring the campground, biking to the camp store for last-minute supplies, racing hard against the wind, bicycling along the sweet-smelling creek, those are part of many happy camping memories.

If your bike chain comes off at camp, Continue reading…

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My 10-year old son wants to bring his Razor electric scooter to our next camping trip. Now before you picture a rumbling, roaring motorcycle, let me explain. The Razor E200S Scooter is - like it says - electric, so there’s no gas emissions to pollute the fresh campground air. It runs around 8-10 miles per hour and generates as much noise as a hair-dryer.

I consulted other camping families and opinion is mixed, as you would expect. One parent loves that her kid with electric wheels now happily offers to run errands to the camp mini-mart, asks to go on long nature trails, and actually starts noticing Continue reading…

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Before you go camping, prepare a couple of ghost stories to tell by the campfire. Now, how you tell the story is as important as the story itself. Follow these story-telling tips for a memorable experience, especially for the kids.

Campfire ghost story-telling tips

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Reason #10. You have tried everything else to peel the kids (or the hubby?) away from the TV and Xbox. One thing I learn as a parent, when I yell, "Turn that TV off!" I need to provide an alternative. Kids can't substitute TV for vacuum. Gotta give them something to occupy their active minds like Surviving in the Wilderness.

Reason #9. You can't remember the last time you gazed at the stars. It's time to see the Big Dipper beyond the printed page.

Reason # 8. The only bird chirping you have ever woken up to is the cuckoo clock in the living room.

Reason # 7. Ten years from now, when your kids lament to their therapists that you were absent in their lives, you can show videos and pictures of your family camping experience.

Reason # 6. Food tastes better outdoors. I'll tell you about the Baby Weber Grill at another time.

Reason # 5. Its affordable. You can buy very nice camping gear with the equivalent of a couple nights hotel stay. And you get to keep the gear. (Its like owning your own home instead of renting).

Reason # 4. Enjoy the inheritance that was saved for you. In 1916, your grandparents and mine made a commitment to preserve, protect and share the natural beauty of this land through the National Park Service. When was the last time your eyes feasted on the natural beauty of our [tag/]national parks[/tag]?

Reason # 3. Camping is so easy today. Down-filled sleeping bags, 10-minute-set-up tents, instant fire starters, and yes, that Baby Weber Grill. Today's camping equipment is easy enough for the beginner campers.

Reason # 2. There are many ways to camp, so you can choose what suits you best. There's rustic cabin camping, car camping, luxury camping such as at the Adirondacks, RV camping and backpacking. Start with something you are comfortable with. Chances are, you'll explore other more adventurous camping with time.

Reason # 1. You have never gone camping before. Well, then you absolutely have to go camping this year. Do it before you are set in your ways. Do it before you take yourselves too seriously. Do it before the kids leave the nest. Do it before you can't do it. In other words, just do it.

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