One of the scourges of every camping trip in the history of the world is Poison…Poison Ivy and Oak and how to deal with them.

The best prevention against poisonous plants is to learn to identify these plants then avoid any contact.  Should you touch one of these plants, do not scratch, and wash the area in cold water within 20 minuets.  Should you develop a rash, use a topical solution like calamine lotion to ease the discomfort.

POISON OAK- It can make your best campout or day hike turn into a total nightmare. You really have to know what this plant looks like in all of its seasonal colors and stay away from it.  In spring it is bright green, in late summer it starts to turn red and slightly brownish-orange.  The best advice is to know where you are hiking and hike in pants and long sleeves if you think you may be coming in contact with it on overgrown trails.  Poison oak can be found growing wild all over California under the 5000' elevation.  Once touched, the oil of poison oak can spread from your clothes to your body with indirect contamination.  Never burn the plant (leaves or vines) for any reason.

POISON IVY- is not found on the west coast but is found throughout the woods of New Jersey and other eastern states.  It has leaves in clusters of three (so let them be).  If you come in contact with poison ivy, do not put your hands near your eyes or face, as the irritation spreads easily.

Watch out for this seemingly harmless little vine or shrub in the woods.  It mimics Virginia Creeper which has leaves in cluster of five.  Some variations of poison ivy leaves look like oak leaves (hence the term “oak leaf poison ivy”) but again, there is no poison oak found in New Jersey.

Myths vs. Facts about Poison Ivy
 
Myth
Poison Ivy rash is contagious.

Fact
Rubbing the rashes won't spread poison ivy to other parts of your body (or to another person).  You spread the rash only if urushiol oil — the sticky, resin like substance that causes the rash — has been left on your hands.

Myth
You can catch poison ivy simply by being near the plants.

Fact
Direct contact is needed to release urushiol oil.  Stay away from forest fires, direct burning, or anything else that can cause the oil to become airborne such as a lawnmower, trimmer, etc.

Myth
Do not worry about dead plants.

Fact
Urushiol oil stays active on any surface, including dead plants, for up to 5 years.

Myth
Breaking the blisters releases urushiol oil that can spread.

Fact
Not true.  But your wounds can become infected and you may make the scarring worse. In very extreme cases, excessive fluid may need to be withdrawn by a doctor.

Myth
I've been in poison ivy many times and never broken out therefore I'm immune.

Fact
Not necessarily true.  Upwards of 90% of people are allergic to urushiol oil, it's a matter of time and exposure.  The more times you are exposed to urushiol, the more likely it is that you will break out with an allergic rash.  For the first time sufferer, it generally takes longer for the rash to show up – generally in 7 to 10 days.

Tags: Camping, camping basics, camping with kids

Camping stoves and other cooking accessories have made it possible to cook most things outdoors, but baked goods have generally been out of the question.  Until now, that is. Made of smooth aluminized steel, the Coleman camping oven lets you bake a batch of muffins, biscuits, or rolls right at the campsite.

The oven doesn't require electric or gas power to work.  Instead, campers simply place the oven on top of a Coleman two- or three-burner stove, which provides all the heat you need to bake some of your favorite oven dishes.  The oven also offers baking essentials such as an adjustable steel bake rack and an easy-to-read thermometer.  And when you're finished baking, the oven folds flat for storage.  Made in China, the Coleman camping oven measures 12 by 12 by 12 inches (W x H x D) when standing and weighs 7 pounds. As you can see, camp ovens have smaller interiors than home ovens, hence standard 9 by 13 inch rectangular pans will not fit inside a camp oven.  Since you must use smaller dishes this requires recipes which produce a smaller amount.  I recommend the following baking pans for use in a camp oven:
9 inch square pan
8 inch square pan
9 inch round cake pan
8 by 4 inch bread pan
9 inch pie plate
Round 2 quart casserole

At a cost of about $30, the Coleman oven makes a great addition to your camp kitchen.

Baking with a Coleman Camp Oven
Coleman ovens or other camping ovens fit over the burner of a camp stove or placed on a grate over a fire.  The heat from the flame rises up into the oven and through a diffuser in the bottom of the oven.  There is an adjustable rack inside the oven and a temperature gauge in the center front of the oven door which indicates the oven’s interior temperature.  It will not however, allow you adjust the temperature.  This is done by adjusting the flame below the oven.  It takes a little practice to get the hang of it but it can be done.  I burned the bottoms of several loaves of bread before I learned how to use this type of oven with any skill.  Since the heat emanates from the bottom of the oven, the tops of most foods will not become as brown as they do in your home oven and the bottoms will have a tendency to brown quickly.  You must therefore, keep an eye on them and adjust the temperature downward as necessary.

It is best to use your camp oven in an enclosed area, well protected from wind, as it will be less difficult to maintain a steady temperature.  Exposure to wind can make many baked goods take longer to cook.  Keep this in mind when setting up your oven and if you cook out in the open, then you may want to keep your baking for calmer days.  

Contrary to most recommendations, I don't preheat my camp oven.  I think it wastes fuel, and I haven't found any real difference in the resulting cooking or browning of the foods.  First I prepare the bread, bar cookies, pie, or other treats.  When the preparation is completely finished, I put the pan into the oven.  Then I light the stove eye, and put the oven on top of the flame.  Next, I adjust the flame to high and watch the temperature dial.  When the desired temperature is reached, 350° for example, I turn the flame down very low.  Usually the oven will maintain the temperature for the next 20 minutes or so, often long enough to finish the baking.  When the temperature begins to drop by about 50 degrees, I turn up the flame again, until the temperature inside the oven has reached my desired temperature.  Again, I turn the flame down to low and let the food continue baking if needed.  For hotter temperatures, or for longer baking, I usually have to repeat this process several times.  I have found that using this procedure produces fewer burnt bottoms on my bar cookies and bread loaves.  As you can tell, camp ovens have to be “baby sat” a lot more than home ovens but the results are worth it. 

Get The Coleman Camp Oven Here!

Tags: Camping, camping basics, camping equipment

Ah, summertime!  Getting outdoors and making the most of those long, warm sunny days.  Although most people look forward to the summer, it can be a dangerous prospect if you’re not nice to your body by drinking lots of water and taking frequent breaks.

To beat the heat and have some happy summer memories follow these pointers:

Drink plenty of water.

Sport drinks and fruit juices are OK but you have to drink more of them to get a comparable amount of water into your system.  Beer causes dehydration, and drinks with caffeine remove fluid from your body.  Always take a break in the heat and drink appropriate fluids.  Dizziness, fatigue, flushed skin and a dry mouth are all symptoms of dehydration.

When you lose too much water your skin immediately flushes.  When you're dizzy, weak, or lethargic you've lost about 3% of your body fluid.  At 5% you feel confused.  At 6% your heart races and once you've lost 7% of the water in your body, you'll pass out.  When it's really steamy, you should be consuming a pint of water every 30 minutes.

Don’t forget to Eat

Keep salty and revitalizing snacks such as nuts, dried fruit and energy bars handy in order to replenish what you lose as you sweat.  Give your body a chance to cool down.

Heat Stroke

A person with heat stroke will have a high body temperature which will send their body into shock.  Heat stroke causes delirium and possibly vomiting.  At this point the body won't absorb water fast enough and in fact drinking could lead to more nausea and vomiting.  Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition and one needs to seek immediate medical attention.

Keep babies out of direct sunlight.  A baby outside should be covered with a light blanket and hat.  Fill kids up with plenty of water before they go out in hot weather as children lose water at the same rate as adults and since they have less body mass the effects are more severe and they can become dehydrated very quickly.

Sun Sense

The sun is the main cause of skin cancer which is the most common of all cancers.Thankfully the cure rate is 95%.

YOU'RE AT GREATEST RISK IF you work or play for long periods of time outdoors, you are a natural blond or redhead who burns easily or are fair skinned as fair skinned people don't have enough color pigment to stop the sun's burning rays.  Everyone should try and avoid being in the sun from 10-11 am to 2-3 pm when the UV (ultraviolet) rays are the strongest.

SUNSCREENS
Sunscreens are used as a preventative measure to prevent sunburn.  If you are already burned, drink plenty of liquids and cool the skin with water, gels or creams.  Those sunscreens that contain Aloe are excellent and promote healing.  Aspirin or Tylenol may ease the pain and allow you to sleep. 

To prevent burning, look for a sunscreen with an SPF factor of 15 or high and one that will block both UV-A and UV-B rays.  Apply sunscreen evenly to all exposed areas 20 minutes before you go out.  Reapply every two hours, or after each swim.  SPF (sunscreen protection factor) tells you how much longer you can stay in the sun, before burning, than you can without using a sunscreen.  For example, SPF 15 (the minimum recommended) means that you can stay in the sun 15 times longer than you could without protection, before burning.  SPF 15 will filter out UVB light (the most dangerous) and at least some UVA light (primarily causes premature aging and wrinkles, but with enough exposure can contribute to cancer).  The higher the SPF the greater the protection.

But remember . . . NO sun screen absorbs all the sun's rays.  If you stay in the sun long enough you'll burn.  Sunlight reflected from water or snow can also be dangerous.  The most important factor is to apply sunscreen liberally and reapply often, especially after you swim or sweat.  It also helps to stay out of the sun between 10 am and 2 pm when the rays are the strongest and wear opaque, tightly woven clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Children are particularly susceptible and one or more severe, blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence can double the risk of melanoma (a type of skin cancer) later in life.

Titanium dioxide and zinc oxide deflect light rays, but should be combined with screening ingredients.  There are colorful zinc oxide creams and transparent zinc oxide (Z-Cote) is now found in many moisturizers and foundations.  Paba is an ingredient that some find a skin irritant.  To improve water and sweat repellency of the formulas, some products use oils that repel moisture and others are absorbed into the skin and then "time released".

Certain drugs, such as antihistamines, oral contraceptives, anti-inflammatory drugs, tranquilizers, oral anti-diabetics, diuretics, some antidepressants, and some dandruff shampoos can increase your sensitivity to light, raising the chance of an adverse reaction to the sun.

SUN-PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Another weapon in the war against the cancerous and aging effects of the sun is clothing made from special fabrics that block 95-99% of the UVA and UVB rays.  As a comparison, the average tee shirt blocks 50% of harmful UVB rays when dry (10-20% when wet).  Available for adults and children, there are pants, shirts and jackets on the market.

HOT WEATHER TIPS

• Take a Dive.   If you have the option of jumping into a lake, river or ocean for a quick dip, do it.  Even sticking your feet into the water helps.  Jumping in a lake or river will unclog your pores so you can continue to sweat effectively.  Plus it feels sooooo good.
• Wear a hat.
• Try to avoid taking drugs as some medications, such as cold and allergy pills, can decrease sweat rates and contribute to overheating.
• When you stop for breaks, always rest in the shade.

Until Next Time…

Eric
 

Tags: Camping, camping basics

Camping trips with babies rarely go perfect the first time but you can avoid a lot of serious complications with a bit of practice and planning.  In the long run, camping with babies can be a blast as they are generally adaptable and sleep more than toddlers. 

The Practice Trip
The wise parent will make the first camping trip with a baby a short two night adventure near your home.  This allows your baby the chance to become comfortable with the outdoors without over-doing it.

A longer trip can become disorienting for the baby as the little one has to adapt to the longer car ride.  This takes training and patience and you probably don't want to start off your first camping trip with a screaming baby.  Another word of advice is to pick a spot without extreme temperatures.  Even tiny babies can put up with almost anything you might expose them to, but you will have to work harder to keep them comfortable.

Heat seems to be the extreme to avoid.  You can keep a baby warm on snowy nights but it's hard to cool an unhappy baby in 95 degrees Fahrenheit and infants under 6 months of age should not wear sun screen unless your pediatrician recommends it.  Even a baby kept in the shade can be exposed to a great deal of reflected sunlight.

Remember, babies require a great deal of equipment and supplies.  If you forget something dire or realize that something you left home would really be handy you can always go home and get it if your first camping trip is close to home rather than 200 miles away. 

Camping with a baby is always entertaining, but it may be quite a bit different than the trips you are used to taking.  Give yourself a chance to get used to the changes.  Plan to arrive at your campsite long before dark as even babies need time to acclimate to their new surroundings.  You will also need time in the daylight to set up your tent and get situated.  Even if you have set up your tent 100 times you may find it more difficult with your new addition.  It is wise to have a tent that one person can set up alone if it becomes necessary.  A leisurely evening in your campsite will allow your baby to feel comfortable and secure.

When packing for your practice trip go overboard.  Pack more clothes than you think you will need.  More formula or baby food, more diapers, more wipes, etc.  You can never have too many diapers or wet wipes.  If you haven't already discovered how handy having wipes can be, you'll find out on a camping trip.  Disposable diapers aren't environmentally sound, so PLEASE throw them into a trash can or dumpster WITH a lid.  

This is your chance to see what you'll really need.  Worry about packing space on your next trip.  It is recommended that you pack lots of clothes but not too many items that are really heavy or bulky.  It is better to layer lighter clothing.
Temperatures will fluctuate throughout each day and it is easier to add a layer or remove a layer of clothing when the climate changes than to re-dress your baby five times a day.  Snap-crotch garments for your little one are a real plus here as it is difficult to change the diaper of a camping baby without them and they will stay warmer on cold nights if they don’t need to be stripped down for every diaper change.

When thinking of feeding your baby, think safety first.  Pre made formula is expensive but sterile.  Powders are convenient but can be hard to mix at campground faucets and some campgrounds have questionable water sources.  The biggest concern is keeping prepared formula cold.  If you are in an RV with refrigeration it's no problem, however, tent campers, please be careful!
Keeping bottles clean can present another problem.  I suggest a bottle with a disposable liner.  If you use regular bottles don't forget a bottle brush!

So you have had a successful first camping trip with your baby, taken notes, made adjustments and are now ready for the real thing.  For your first real camping trip away from home it is recommended to choose a campground where you have camped before.  This way you will know what facilities the park offers and there won’t be any surprises.  Plan your trip with plenty of time to spare.   Just getting to your camping spot will usually take a lot longer than you may anticipate.  With a baby diaper changes and an occasional stretch are a requirement.  The best thing about camping with a baby is watching your child's reactions to the elements.  A tree, a cloud or a flower can keep a baby happy for hours and provide great photo opts for mom and dad.  So don't plan a day full of activities and hikes, just relax and enjoy, take lots of pictures, go to sleep early and be prepared to get up at dawn.  No matter how late you put your baby to bed, they will always get up at sunrise when you camp!

Even though you try, you can't always control your baby’s moods and other campers simply don't want to listen to a screaming baby.  Do your best to be a good neighbor and try to figure out what your little one is trying to communicate.  PLEASE DO NOT let your baby cry and cry and cry.  Keep your cool and don’t get frustrated.  Sometimes the baby’s portable bassinet or car seat that they are already used to is a good and secure sleeping place for your baby and both fit nicely in the tent.

Let the little ones age 6 months – 3 years sit in their stroller around the campfire.  This will allow them be a part of the activity and also keeps them safe and in a familiar environment as long as you ensure the sparks and smoke from the fire are not blowing in their direction.  Do not let youngsters get over tired while camping.  To the best of your ability, keep them on their home routine of taking naps, eating regular meals and observing regular bedtimes.  This will help reduce the crankiness that can result in the crying/noise for those around you.

Make the camping experience fun by allowing the baby to get dirty and messy.  It is hard on everyone if everything is off limits and someone is always saying don't touch that, don't get dirty, don't, don't, don't.  Enjoy your kids when they are small, they don't stay that way long.
 

Tags: Camping, camping basics, camping with kids

ISN'T CAMPING DANGEROUS?

The things most people worry about when camping with children are wolves, bears, and the possibility of drowning.  These worries should actually be much less than the higher risk injuries such as sprained ankles on river portages, lacerations playing “Junior Woodsman”, burns caused by the campfire and so on.  The same dangers that can happen doing regular activities at home!  Try to and allay the child’s fears, and yours, with knowledge, and by all means avoid the scary stories.

WHAT ABOUT BUGS?

Yes, there are bugs in the outdoors.  Try and be calm when you explain about biting insects and remember in most cases, although uncomfortable, they won’t kill you.  Always carry bug repellant that you are sure you and your child are not allergic to.  Even if it doesn’t work it makes the child feel better.  Set a good example for your child by dealing with the bugs yourself in an adult manner and your child will probably mirror your behavior and not have a problem.

THE SCAREST THING IN THE OUTDOORS – THE BATHROOM!!

Many children will have questions and issues with where and how to go the bathroom when camping.  Toilets may be quite scary to a child.  A pit toilet may seem like a perfectly normal thing to you, but your toddler may not agree.  These toilets can smell pretty bad and it's easy to see why some children are afraid of falling in.  When you tell your child about camping, be sure to include information about the bathrooms.  Some of the flush toilets can be loud and are not like the potty at home.  If your child will still use a potty chair you may want to bring one along – just in case.  Camping trips can also be a real chance for a breakthrough in the area of potty training as there are no “accidents” on your rug or your furniture and a potty chair can be set up anywhere in your camp site so your child won't feel isolated.  You will have more time with your child when camping, and this can be the most help of all.

From your child’s point of view the toilet paper may seem yucky.  Most camp bathrooms have industrial quality (sand paper) toilet paper.  Your young bath roomer may refuse to use this stuff.  Some camps provide little squares of paper.  A parent may be able to use this stuff but a young child might have some problems.  Additionally, many of the toilet paper dispensers make it quite difficult and sometimes impossible for a small child to get the paper off of the roll.  This is actually intentional.  The harder to obtain the less paper is used.  Many former park employees think this is the silliest thing they have ever seen as the bathrooms always end up with bits of paper all over the floor and people break these irritating dispensers all the time.  Your child may not even be able to get the paper off of these rolls.  The biggest problem of all is an empty dispenser.  You will find this every busy weekend you camp.  The easy solution to the toilet paper problem is to bring your own.   

Bathing and showering can also be scary for children.  Camp showers can be a test of your patience.  The temperature may be hard to adjust (or impossible) and the water may run cold for some time before getting warm.  Most camp showers require quarters to operate – and some campers complain of running out of money in the middle of shampooing their hair.  Children who normally take baths at home will not appreciate a camp shower.  Many camp grounds do not offer bathing facilities at all.  If you plan on camping for any length of time you will have to adapt and teach your children to do the same.  Some ways to adapt are Sun Showers (a large black bag with a shower head) are great for camping.  You can use them at home a few times to allow your children to become used to the idea.  Just set up the sun shower in your back yard and let the kids try it out with bathing suits.  Most kids just think of it as an interesting sprinkler and a sponge bath can work quite well, especially if you are camping in cold weather.

Enjoy camping fun and exciting times with your children and make a life time of memories. 
 

Tags: Camping, camping basics, camping with kids

How do you get a child to be excited about the outdoors when the competition is the television and video games?  How do you prove to a child that the same success that comes from the persistence, spirit and logic put into video games and pushing buttons can also come from the outdoors?  The following tips may be helpful and will go a long way in creating a positive lasting relationship with your child. 

Camping trips with children should be to places where there is a guarantee of action. A good example is camping in a park where large numbers of wildlife can be viewed, such as squirrels, chipmunks, deer and even bears.  Other good choices are fishing, canoeing, swimming, etc.  Children want action, not solitude

Remember that enthusiasm is contagious.  If you aren't excited about an adventure, you can't expect a child to be.  Show a genuine zest for life in the outdoors, and point out everything as if it is the first time you have ever seen it.

Always, always, always be seated when talking to someone small.  Not only does this allow you to see eye to eye with the child it allows you to visually see the world from the child’s prospective.  Fishing in a small boat is a perfect leveling activity for adults and children.  No one likes others to look down at them. 

Children learn behavior patterns and outdoor skills by watching adults, even when the adults are not aware they are being watched.  Therefore, whether it is gathering sticks for a campfire, cleaning a trout or tying a knot be sure you are following a safe and proper procedure.  When possible, never tell, but always show.  A button usually clicks to "off" when a child receives a lecture. 

A good rule is to let kids be kids!  Let the adventure happen, rather than trying to force it within some preconceived plan.  If the child gets sidetracked chasing butterflies or sneaking up on chipmunks, let them be.  Many times a youngster can have more fun turning over rocks and looking at different kinds of bugs than sitting in one spot waiting for a fish to bite.

Expect a child’s attention spans to be short.  Instead of getting frustrated, use it to your advantage.  How?  Try bringing along a bag of candy and snacks.  When there is a lull in the camp activity, out comes the bag.  Don't let them know what goodies await, so each one becomes a surprise.

Make absolutely certain the child's sleeping bag is clean, dry and warm.  Nothing is worse than discomfort when trying to sleep and every parent knows that a refreshing sleep makes for a positive attitude the next day.  In addition, kids can become quite frightened of animals that go bump in the night.  The parent should not wait for any signs of this, but always play the part of the outdoor guardian, the one who will "take care of everything."

Provide each child with a flashlight.  To prevent any arguments, make sure each child one has their own.  Children love to play with the flashlights, and having one also makes them more at ease after dark.  Flashlights are also handy when making trips to the restroom, for making shadow puppets on tent walls, and for reading before bed.  Remember to bring enough batteries.

Kids quickly relate to outdoor ethics and they will develop a sense of pride that goes with it if handled in the proper way.  Bring extra plastic garbage bags and make a game out of picking up litter and building a safe campfire.  Children will long remember when they do something right, especially when it is something somebody else has done wrong.

If you want youngsters hooked on the outdoors for life, take a close-up photograph of them holding up fish they have caught, blowing on the campfire or completing other camp tasks.  Young children can forget how much fun they had, but they never forget if they have a picture of it.

Teach children to be safe in the outdoors.  Teach young children to stay within eyesight, and older children within earshot.  Teach all children to stay where they are if they discover they are lost. With young children this may seem vague so instruct them to find a nearby tree and sit down beside it and stay right there without moving until they are found.

Children over the age of four can carry a simple survival kit, or at least a whistle around their neck to call for help when lost.  The standard distress signal is three blows to indicate "I'm lost" or "I need help."

Remember that most children get cold faster than adults.  The key to comfortable camping with children is to dress them in several layers, which can be peeled off as they get warm and added as they cool off.

Bring along a familiar board game.  Playing it outdoors with a lantern or flashlights will add to the fun.

If you just have one child let them to bring along a playmate.  A child generally enjoys camping when there is more than one of them as two or more children will entertain themselves for longer periods of time. 

The least important word you can ever say to a child is "I."  Keep track of how often you are saying "Thank you" and "What do you think?  "If you don't say them very often, you'll lose out.  Finally, the most important words of all are:  "I am proud of you”.

Tags: Camping, camping basics, camping with kids

There are several different types of fire, some are good for keeping you warm, others are better for cooking, however, they all follow the same design principals.  You always start with the smallest material first, and then build to the larger fuel.

Firestarter

It is good to have a firestarter at the base o f your fire.  This can be anything from balled newspaper to a commercial firestarter found in your local camping store.

Tinder

Tinder is the next smallest material.  This would be small, very dry sticks.  Since evergreens are self pruning trees, their lower branches are often very dead and easy to break off and do not hurt the tree.

Place your tinder in a small pile in the middle of the fireplace over your fire starter. Distribute the kindling neatly over the firestarter being sure to leave enough space for air to circulate.

Fuzz Stick

Sometimes there are not enough small twigs and sticks around to start a fire with. You can always make a 'fuzz stick' which, because of their curls of wood, catch fire more easily than a solid stick.  Something for whittling away those spare moments of 'nothing to do'.

Kindling

Kindling is the next size of wood.  These are usually pieces that are the diameter of fingers and about 6” to 12” long Build the kindling around your tinder,making sure that you do not pack it too tight,as the fire will need oxygen to burn well. Stack loose enough to allow air flow but close so it catches fire.  Some people use a tepee form while others will build a “log cabin” shape.  The neater you place your kindling the better the fire will light.

Now light your firestarter (did you remember to leave a space to reach your match to the firestarter?)  Once lit, you may need to blow or fan the flame gently to encourage it to light.

Always make sure that you have plenty of kindling available, so that you can add more as the fire becomes established. Once the kindling starts to burn, gradually add more until it is burning nicely.

Fuel

Fuel is the largest wood for your fire. Fuel may range is size from arm size pieces to major logs.  Just remember to add smaller fuel first and always leave room for air. Gradually add the fuel into the shape that you want. A tepee shape is great for a bonfire whereas building a “log cabin” shape is great for building a bed of coals for cooking. Don't rush this stage and make sure that the wood you are adding is less than twice the size of that which is already burning. Larger sticks & logs should be added as the fire is going well

Never throw wood onto a fire, always place it carefully Remember do not try to compact your base materials because you must leave them loose to allow for proper air passage. Any fire requires oxygen and by leaving materials loose this allows for oxygen to pass through the materials and ensure a good fire.

Once it's going good add more firewood, 2-3 pieces at a time going up in size and towards hardwood such as oak, ash and maple if you have it. They will burn longer. Aspen, birch and poplar are quite common and they make good fires as they burn hot  but fairly fast. Before you know it you will have a campfire. Once a coal bed has been built add the logs in a crisscross pattern and they will catch and burn nicely.

This is all fine and good if you have primo wood to work with.

Unfortunately if you're are relying on buying your wood at the campground store you may very well end up with fairly green (wet, fresh cut) softwood. The softwood part is OK, you'll just go through more. But what do you do about the green part?Start by taking your camp axe and shaving a piece or two to get a mound of chips or shavings. Then split a piece or two into small sticks. You can substitute local twigs and sticks if they are around. Kid's love rounding up that stuff. Finally split a few pieces into a 1 inch size range.
You may find that there are often folks selling firewood near campgrounds. Sometimes they have great dry wood all split and ready for a reasonable price, keep your eyes open when you're near your destination.

 Using of fluids to start a fire:

The use of gasoline or kerosene can be like poking a Bull Moose in the nose with a sharp stick. It is just not smart and could be deadly.

• Gasoline should NEVER be used under any circumstances.
• Kerosene on the other hand has been used to start fires without any problems. But, extreme care must be used.
• Do not use this method if there are flames or hot coals.
• You may get the same effect as if you tossed a lit match into a keg of gunpowder.
• You may be tempted to use charcoal fluid to start fire in desperation but even that can flare up if hot coals or flames exist.
• Make it a habit never to use fluids to start your fires.
• Be safe and learn how to build fires using firestarters and wood.

Tags: Camping, camping basics

Is it possible to be addicted to camping?

When I get back from a trip I think about all the fun we had, the solitude and quietness I enjoyed while there and write up several trip reports about what we experienced.

I begin getting ready for the next trip weeks before we go, I plan the menu, I plan the activities, I research the campground, I spend time cleaning and preparing my gear and in general just begin "anxiously awaiting" the time when we can leave.

Read More of Camping Addiction?

Tags: Camping, camping in nj, camping new jersey

I constantly get requests for what to cook while on a camping trip and in particularly "easy camping recipes". I try to answer this question as best that I can but I'm not sure that I'm really the best person to talk to about "easy" camping recipes becuase I truly enjoy cooking particularly while camping so I don't worry about how easy or hard a recipe is.

To me it truly is a pleasure to cook over an open fire whether it be would or charcoal.

I can understand why I am asked this question which is why I will do my best to help you all out.

To me there are probably two kinds of really easy camping recipes:

1. Those that include burgers & dogs on a grill with some sort of potato and a veggie.
2. One pot meals that can be cooked in a dutch oven.

Since I'm pretty sure most of you know how to taken a frozen burger, put it on the grill and flip it until its done I'm not going to spend much time talking about that.

What I really want to talk about is dutch oven cooking recipes…why? Because dutch oven cooking is easy, simple, has just about no cleanup and are truly tasty.

Good Dutch ovens are not cheap, 12 to 18 inch cast iron dutch ovens can run you from about $60 to close to $200 but they are worth their weight in gold! If properly cared for and if you are careful with your cooking times the cleanup is miniscule. Clean it out with a little warm water and a piece of steel wool and occasionally season it with some good oil and it will last you multiple generations.

Alot of people think that easy camping recipes for dutch ovens include only chili and beef stew sort of recipes…I am here to tell you that you are really limiting yourself!

Catfish Alay, Lobster Bisque, Chicken & Dumplings, Mountain Man Breakfast, Pot Roast, Roasted Duck, Brisket, meatloaf, Lemon Pepper Sea Bass and so many others I can't even tell you! If you can cook it in a frying pan or an oven you can cook it in a dutch oven!

If you buy only one new piece of camping equipment this year do yourself a favor and make it a dutch oven!

There are a couple of really good books out there that will teach you how to cook in, care for and cleanup your dutch oven…grab one of them and read through it. You will also find hundreds of recipes in them that you will be really surprised at.

One pot meals in a dutch oven are in my opinion the most delicious easy camping recipes you will ever treat yourself and you camping compatriots to!

One last tip for you: when you buy a dutch oven I STRONGLY recommend paying a little bit more and buying one that is made of cast iron. The aluminum ones are cheaper but in my experience they don't cook as evenly and are not quite as easy to cleanup as the cast iron.

Till Next Time…

Eric
 

Tags: Camping, dutch oven, dutch oven cooking

Do you want to camp near one of the many beaches in New Jersey?

So do I!

Luckily, there are many options for exactly that. Whether you want to visit Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Long Beach Island, Atlantic City, Cape May, Seaside, Island Beach State Park or any of the other beaches in the Garden State.

Depending on which beach you want to visit you can get within two or three miles of that beach and stay at some very nice and clean campgrounds. If you want to camp directly on the beach unfortunately the State doesn't allow that anymore. Island Beach State Park used to but for some reason they stopped allowing it, even though you can still drive on the beach with the right kind of permit.

New Jersey beach camping can be lots of fun even though you can't get right on the beach. Some people actually think it's better to stay a couple of miles away because you don't have to worry about paying the sometimes exorbitant prices associated with staying right at the beach.

You can spend the day at the beach enjoying the sand, sun and waves and then head back to your campground, get cleaned up and enjoy a nice homecooked meal and then participate in the local campground activities or just sit around a campfire and enjoy the company of those you travelled with.

My family and I absolutely love the beach but we also like being able to get away from the noise, congestion and overpriced attractions. So this type of "beach camping" is absolutely perfect for us.

Currently our favorite location to call "home" for this kind of trip is the Sea Pirate Campground. It is only minutes away from Long Beach Island. It is a nice, quiet campground that is very well maintained by the polite and very accomodating staff that has lots and lots of activities planned during the summer.

The sites are a good size, moderately priced and all the facilities are in great shape. This campground gives us the ability to spend the day at the beach and then to come back go for a swim, cook up a nice dinner and then decide what we want to do that night. There are also a couple of really good restaurants in the area that we enjoy visiting if we don't want to cook ourselves.

We have also stayed at and really enjoyed the Outdoor World Lake & Shore Campground many times. Great facilities including a cedar lake, big swimming pool and a small outdoor water park make up for the moderately sized sites and slightly higher fees. The proximity to Sea Isle City, Wildwood and Cape May make this campground perfect for our version of beach camping. If you decide to check out this campground you do need an Outdoor World membership.

So for us (and lots of our friends) "New Jersey beach camping" is more about the enjoyment of the beach and then the enjoyment of a clean campground away from the hustle and bustle than about pitching a tent within 20 feet of the waves.

Till Next Time…

Eric

Tags: beach camping, Camping, new jersey camping