Where Did Summer Go?

To say that summer flew by would be an understatement.  With a very wet spring and lots of storms it seemed like summer would never come.  Now all of a sudden school has started and the weather is cooling off.  I'm a dad who loves summertime, fairs, hot nights, swimming and of course camping.  I just can't get enough.

We had a busy but fun summer.  We were able to go camping quite a bit, but we did end up having to cancel one of our big family camping trips because we had too many other fun things happening.  And that's okay.  We did manage to squeeze in a quick overnight camp trip in Grandpa and Grandma's backyard before the weather got too cold.  We had a fire, laid on some cots and looked at the stars.  It was time well spent and we never had to pack anything.  We slept in a camper.  :)

Summer is over but next comes Fall.....and that means Fall camping!

When It Rains It Pours

It's been awhile since I've written in my blog.  I've actually been busy camping.  Between taking a second camping trip with my family and a trip to the deep backwoods with a group of 12 year old boys, summer has been flying by fast!

The last trip I took with my family, we went to a regular campground with tons of fun activities.  We pulled out all the stops.  We brought the camp cupboard, coolers of food, the big tent and all the gear.  We were able to camp comfortably by our vehicles.

The campground that we chose is one that we like to frequent with my wife's family.  It's a Jellystone campground resort with a pool, water slides, giant jump pillow, and a creek to swim in and tube down.  The kids love coming to this campground because there is so much to do.  They also have a camp store with an arcade and an ice cream shop.  What kid wouldn't like that?

Although I enjoy coming here, I always prefer roughing it in the woods with no other people for miles.  But, seclusion in the woods can be boring for some kids.  And honestly, I enjoy watching my kids have fun more than anything.

The great thing about this campground was the swimming activities.  My older son fine-tuned his water slide skills.  The two younger kids spent hours practicing their swimming skills.  It was such a blast! 

*HINT HINT*  Another way to enhance your overall camping experience:  Bring Grandma along who happens to love cooking for all of us while camping.  That made things easy.

Our camping cupboard in action!

We had fun even though we had the challenge of a couple of overnight rain storms.  The rain and the thunder scared the kids a bit, but for the most part we stayed safe and dry.  And the sun came out in the morning!  Fortunately, I had good rain tarps, an extra tent for storing gear (which is a good idea whenever possible) and a waterproof cover for the camp cupboard.

Even though we had a lot of fun and got our fill, the kids are already talking about another camping trip.  We need to take advantage of every fleeting moment of these busy summers.  They fly by way too quick.  The only good thing about the summer going by fast is the fact that fall camping is right around the corner......

The Children Shall Headlight Your Way

Well, we did it.  We squeezed in our first planned camping trip of the year.  I took my three oldest kids to Afton State Park.  This park is cool because they have backpack only campsites.  The campground is about 3/4 of a mile away from where you park your car.  You then have to carry everything you need to the campsite, and the last section of the path to the campsite is up a very steep hill.  It was a big challenge for the kids with their backpacks full and sleeping bags all strapped on their backs.

When we got to the site, the kids each had their assigned duties:  one started the fire while the other two helped set up the tent, sleeping bags and kitchen area.   When were were all done my son sat back, took a deep breath, sighed and said, "Now we're camping - ahhhh."
I was so proud of how they all chipped in to do the jobs we talked about ahead of time.  My daughter got a lesson in lighting the backpack camp stove to cook Ramen and Spaghettios (yes, real healthy, I know).  And of course they all had their headlamps on that lit up the campsite.  I loved it.

Another thing I did was prepare a special pack for each kid to be in charge of.  My son had the survival pack with waterproof matches, dry tinder, small rope, and a knife.  My oldest daughter had the first aid kit with all the important stuff, like sunscreen, band aids and bug spray.  My younger daughter had the treat bag, which was full of candy for everybody.  But she only gave it out as rewards after our long hikes up to the camp site.  Another thing that was very important to bring was thermal mats for all of us to lay on.  They help to keep your body insulated from the ground and they soften it up a little, too.  We had some cold nights and those mats were very nice to have.

All in all, it was a great time and I am so blessed to have been able to to do this trip.  I cant wait to go again!

:::  On a side note, we had a nasty storm blow through here the other night which caused the power to go out for a while.  Immediately, the kids bounced into action and got their headlights out.  They put them on and lit up the house just like they did at the camp site. They knew just what to do!

Survival of the Kiddest

In my anxiousness to be in the wilderness, I had the great idea of teaching and practicing fire starting skills with my kids.  We went out to the small parking lot that is located across the ally from my house - it's one of their main play areas.  Sad, I know.  Why do you think we love camping so much??  Anyway, we went out there and I had them gather some small sticks, tinder and pieces of bark.  We made a good fire bundle that could start easily.  What I was trying to do was teach the kids how to start a fire without a lighter, matches and newspaper.

First, we tried a magnifying glass in the sun.  It smoked a bit on the tinder but we couldn't get it to ignite.  The sun kept going behind the clouds.  For this technique to work you need good direct sunlight.

Second, we tried the old-fashioned way of rubbing two sticks together.  We got the sticks pretty hot but no fire.  The sticks were a bit damp from a previous rain and we could not find any drier ones.  There are not many sticks to chose from in a parking lot.

Lastly I brought out a firesteel.  Firesteels are great because they create hot sparks that will ignite your tinder - I recommend every camp kit have one.  They even work in the rain.
After sparking it on our tinder a few times we successfully got a fire going.  It worked great.
Immediately, the kids got out the marshmallows and had to roast them by our "campfire" in the parking lot.

This was a great time because all the kids got involved.  Even my 3 year old was looking for good tinder.  My 6 year old daughter was able to get the fire steel to spark, too.

After the fire-starting lesson, my son decided it was time to set up camp and hunt for food.  He gathered up some small branches and an old piece of canvas and proceeded to the back of our house to set up a make-shift tent inside one of our window wells.  He was doing a great job using whatever was available to him to make it work.  He even tried to set up a trap to catch some food.

That is what is really about, isn't it?  You may not always have the best gear but if you take what you have and be resourceful you can camp.  I always like to think outside the box by using the stuff I already have and things I can afford in order to create the best camping time for my family.

Keep the Flame a Burnin'

Winter is still here.  It's hard to believe that last year at this time we didn't need to wear coats and snow boots outside.  Although this year IS more like a normal Minnesota winter, I anxiously wait for warmer weather.  In the mean-time, here is something I've done to keep my mind on camping.

My son and I spent some time experimenting with homemade fire-starters for campfires.  I did a little bit of research on the web and found a proven technique.  I also had one of my own ideas.

My idea?  We started with a paper bag, some string and lantern oil.  We cut the paper bag into strips and rolled them up into a tight log shape about 14 inches long.  We wrapped it tightly with the string, making sure to leave it hollow in the middle of the "log".   After folding in on one end, I slowly poured about a cup (or so) of oil in the other end - enough to saturate the whole log.  The lantern oil I used had a citronella scent, so it can double as mosquito repellent.

Then we tested it.

Even though it was windy and rainy, we threw it outside on the wet sidewalk and lit it.  The oil lit right up and allowed the log to burn for about 10 minutes.  It seemed to work really well.  BUT, it was a stinky mess to make.

Time to try the idea I found from my research.

You will need an egg carton, dryer lint and paraffin candle wax (this is a great way to use up the leftover wax from candles that have the wick completely burned up).  Fill each compartment of the egg carton with dryer lint.  Pack it in there good and tight.  Melt the wax and pour over the dryer lint until each compartment is completely submersed with wax.  Let harden overnight.  Once hardened, you can break them apart (sections of four seem to work best).

This one lit very easily and burned about 15 minutes.  I like this fire-starter because it is clean and easy to store.  It tends to burn just a bit hotter, too, which is nice.

Both projects were fun because the kids got involved and were able to help with most of the steps.  After watching them burn, they also chose their favorites.  My son liked the oil-soaked logs because they lit in the rain.  I prefer the egg carton because there wasn't a mess.

I'm sure there are many other ideas out there for homemade fire-starters.  If you know of any good ones, let me know!

The Test Run

One thing that I like to do before the first camping trip is to go on a "Test Run."  My kids and I have done this every year as soon as it's warm enough to go.  All we do is go to Grandpa & Grandma's backyard and set up camp.

I use this opportunity to teach/remind the kids about making a fire ring, clearing the ground under the tent, fire-starting skills, etc and we go through all the gear.  I like to show them everything we have, how it works and the proper ways to use it.  This just makes it a lot more fun for them when they understand how something works and can be in charge of that thing.

It's nice to be able to set up the tent and do a full inspection.  Checking the stakes, looking for rips or tears and getting it swept out.  We don't always sleep overnight in our test run campsite.  It's optional.  But we do sit around the campfire and have s'mores while discussing the future camping trips.

This is also a good time to get out the camping stoves and fire them up.  Believe me, you don't want to start them in the house.  You'll get in trouble with the wife.

I always enjoy these test runs because it's like a refresher course in camping.  It also reminds me of things that I need to get prepared for the upcoming camping season.

If you have any questions about camping gear, feel free to email me or contact me through my Facebook Page at Camping Dad.

Ye Old Camp Cupboard

The other day, my kids and I decided it was a good day to sort through the camping gear.  I try to go through our gear at some point during the winter to make sure everything is ready for Spring.  Every time I take my family camping, we bring this camp cupboard along with another rubbermaid container. 

Between these two containers, we have more than what we need to camp with 6-8 people.  Our camp cupboard has been in service for more than 25 years.  I don't know who made it as it was given to us by some friends.  It's unique design makes it the most efficient camp cupboard I've ever used.  It's large enough to fit utensils, plate settings for my family of 6, pots, pans, and kitchen accessories.  Even after all that is packed in there, it still has enough room for dry food and canned goods.

Last year I neglected to sort through the gear before our first camping trip.  Since I store our cupboard in a shed during the winter, we discovered a little surprise when we first opened the cupboard at our camp site.  I'll let my son, tell you about it in his own words:

We were on our first camping trip and my mom yelled, "Uh oh!" when she opened the camping cupboard.  I went to see what was wrong and I saw a family of mice!  So, we asked mom to set them free.  It was really cool.  Mom even took a picture.

So you see, it's important to go through your gear BEFORE you actually need it.  Also, it's good to go through your gear so that you have a couple months to purchase needed items and replenish used goods.  This prevents that oh-so-familiar mad rush the days before the first camping trip - when you realize you need tons of stuff.  You end up spending more than you wanted to and adding extra stress that you don't need.   This can just cause you to be so frustrated with camping that you never want to go again.

My point in all of this?  Good camping starts with good preparation. 

Dog Days of Winter

When you don't have a healthy amount of snow, winter just seems like a waste of time.  At least here in Minnesota.  I cannot begin to explain how excited I am for warm, spring days and for camping season to begin.  Nothing beats being outside at 8:30 at night and you can STILL see because the sun hasn't set yet.

What do you do in the winter-time when you are ready to be outdoors, in a tent or around a campfire?  Well, what I do is get my kids excited about camping by showing them potential destinations for summer camping trips.  One thing I like to do is go to the Minnesota State Parks website and check out the panoramic virtual tours.  Very cool.  The kids get really excited when they start seeing pictures of the lake, a beach, a campground, etc.  But I'm careful to not start doing this too early in the winter, otherwise it's pure torture for those poor kiddos.  

The other night, I was online with ALL the kids - one on each knee, one on my shoulder and one on my head.  We were dreaming about where we will go camping once it gets warmer outside.  I started by asking them how many times we should go camping this year.  Well, that turned into a bidding frenzy, not unlike an auction.  The higher number of camping trips, the better.  My son got up to about six.  My daughter thought we should just go camping every single weekend.  The final decision ended up being at least five trips.  

So, that's our goal.  Five camping trips.  Next thing you know, we were picking dates and I was mentally committing myself to those dates to make this all happen.  Not every camping trip will need to be six hours away or a 3 night camping bonanza.  Doing an over-nighter at a local state or county park is just as exciting as a long trip far from home.  Making the effort and getting out there and being together.....with the tent, campfire and s'mores is good enough for the kids!  Heck, even Grandma's backyard will work fine.

With all that said, I've made commitments to my kids, I know where we are going to go and when we are going to go.  This keeps them excited and gives them something to look forward to.  It also assures that camping trips won't get swept aside during the busyness of the summer season.

Welcome

Hey!  Welcome to my blog!  My name is Joel. I'm a husband and a father who LOVES to take his family camping.  As I was growing up, camping was a huge part of our family's life.  Some of my greatest memories happened while camping.  I have continued that tradition with my own brood.

My goal with this blog is simple.  I hope to inspire parents to take their kids camping and create some awesome family memories.  Camping doesn't have to be a lot of exhausting work.  It can be easy, fun and relaxing.  How you ask?  Well stay tuned.

I'll be testing gear, sharing tips, posting camping highlights, personal experiences and mistakes.  Keep checking back.  It's sure to be fun!