Want to avoid a bee-sting? Easy, don’t try to be a flower. What does that mean?
Avoid fragrances. That includes hair spray, scented soaps or lotions.
Don’t wear brightly colored clothing, especially floral patterns or you’ll look like a flower patch.
Are you too sweet for your own good? Opened soda cans, kids juice boxes, something as small as a forgotten raspberry jam stain on a sweater can make you attractive to bees.
Technorati tags: camping , camping videos , family camping
If you gave yourself 1,001 excuses for not going camping this summer, watch this video to remind yourself what winter's like. The ending will surprise you so don't quit halfway, it's only 45 seconds long.
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.Read more
Packing for camp can be stressful if you don't have packing strategies and list. Then, driving to the campground for long distances can get stressful too - and not always because of the kids. Read what happened to this couple (Excerpt from Dave Barry's article "Honk, if you are married", Miami Herald, 7/31/94 ( www.miamiherald.com/283/ story/68145.html):
For an excellent example of a married couple coping with anger, we turn now to an incident that occurred several years ago involving my brother, Sam, and his wife, Pat, when they were on a long car trip. After many hours on the road, Read more
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.
By Corrine Asturias - Reprinted from Los Gatos Weekly-Times Aug. 5, 1992*
While it's true that with each camping trip we learn something new, we've also found that we get the opportunity to relearn something old, such as what it's like to live next door to the Simpsons for a few days.
Instead of the ingredients for s'mores, this family has brought a small liquor store. They have a boom box and a large, untrained dog named something like "Thunder-turd." There is an axe and a whittling knife for each family member, all stuck into a tree for safekeeping. There are two layers of rip-stop nylon between you and them.
During the years, I have philosophically concluded that every such campground should have such a group, if for no other reason than to make everything else look good. And the truth is, being a truly obnoxious camper is a delicate art, relying on careful planning and orchestration. The rules are as follows:
1. Make your entrance to the campground fashionably late, preferably after 10:00 pm., when there is no available light and everyone else is asleep. Read more
I like Simon Eller's approach to figuring out what first-aid items to bring for camping safety. He simply asks himself, what are the most common camping mishaps that can happen, let me prepare for that.
By the way, when Simon Eller says 'plaster', that's band-aid. And if you've never heard of steri-strips, they are made by 3M (yes, the folks that make our sticky post-it notes) and they are similar to butterfly-strips.
Simon also stressed that camping safety is not just about getting the biggest, most complete first-aid kit out there. More importantly, Read more
If even seasoned boy scouts do dumb things like that video, do beginner campers have a chance?
Every campground has their share of first time campers. And it’s hard not to feel sympathy for them. Here are 10 common beginner camping mistakes:
1. They arrive near sunset after hours of driving. They fumble around to put up their camping tent in the dark and can’t find the parts.
2. They arrive in broad daylight and argue and fight for all the neighbors to see ‘cos they can’t agree which tent pole slips where since they didn’t practice at home.
3. They believe the occupancy number ratinggiven by tent manufacturers and don’t realize they were counting sardines, not humans.
4. They do not bring a stove and count on the campfire to cook all their food. “Is it ready, Dad?”, “Is it ready, Dad?”, “Is it ready, Dad?”
5. They plan elaborate menus instead of assembling Read more
Click the Play button below to watch a UFO, a resourceful dinner guest and more ways not to camp.
If you go into an REI store, you'll see stand-alone camping tents that don't need to be staked to the ground. It's actually positioned as a feature because you can easily move your propped-up tent to different locations. Get a different angle of the Big Dipper every night, you get the idea? I mean, which 5-star luxury Ritz Hotel lets you change your view of the galaxy one night from the next?
Now that you are nodding your heads, chuck that romantic notion out of the window and pack your tent stakes and mallet in your tent bag right now. Many of my friends even buy extra tent stakes just in case one breaks.
Step 1. Determine your camping style
Most families begin with tent camping, also called car camping because you bring all your gear in your car. Then they venture to other types of camping: pop-up camper, bicycle camping, canoe camping or the adventurous backpacking. On the other extreme is camping in a cabin in the woods or in an recreational vehicle (RV). Click here to determine your camping style.
Step 3. Pack your gear
Don't get overwhelmed. We show you tips and ideas on how to pack your camping gear without getting a migraine. Click here for a video on packing essentials.
Step 4. Set up Camp.
Once you and your gear get on the campsite of your dreams, how do you set it up? Where to pitch the tent? How about the camp kitchen? Watch this fun video on how to set up your campsite.
Step 5. Cooking outdoor
Cooking in the wild can be a lot of fun. With all the 21st century gear available, food has never tasted so good outdoors. Click here for a primer on camp cooking.
Great camping begins with great preparation. Have fun outdoors!
For an excellent example of a married couple coping with anger, we turn now to an incident that occurred several years ago involving my brother, Sam, and his wife, Pat, when they were on a long car trip. After many hours on the road, 
By Corrine Asturias - Reprinted from Los Gatos Weekly-Times Aug. 5, 1992*
