The Camping Club

We Locked Ourselves Out!

Well. My husband, mother-in-law and I set up camp at Jedediah Smith State Park amongst the beautiful redwood trees. We heard there was a campfire with a Ranger telling stories of Jedediah Smith. We were all set up and started walking to the campfire when I told my husband I wanted to put my purse in the car, he gave me his keys and back I went.  I put my purse in the car and came back. Then my mom-in-law wanted to put hers in. I looked at my husband felt my pockets and discovered I locked both sets of keys in the car. We told the Ranger. He said after the campfire he'd come and get them out. He came in his truck. The truck had been in an accident and when you shut the door the latch falls and locks the door. Guess what??  He left the truck running, slammed the door and ... you guessed it...he locked his keys in the truck with it running! His buddies (other Rangers) were coming up and he said "shhh please don’t tell my buddies" but... too late they figured it out... It was a good laugh amongst the stress!  We still laugh about this every time we go camping.

Submitted By: Kathy Fields

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MountainSmith Modular Hauler

The Hauler includes open topped duffle and 3 color-coded cubes. Its main compartment is open-topped with reinforced, padded haul handles, D-ring attachment points for a shoulder strap, front flat pocket, 3 compression straps and tie down loops to secure the hauler in your vehicle.

1. Were you familiar with MountainSmith products prior to using the Hauler? I wasn’t too familiar with the products they made. 

2. How many times have you used your Modular Hauler 3 Storage System during the test period? I have used this product all the time. I leave it in the back of my Jeep.

3. Did the Hauler help keep everything organized? Did the color coded cubes help? Absolutely.  I use the cubes to transport things from the house to the Jeep and camper. This is an amazing piece of equipment and ideal for any camping trip if you pack a lot, but want to keep everything organized.

4. Do you believe this would be a useful item to have on a camping trip? Yes I do. The Hauler is ideal for camping because there are 3 cubes that allow you to keep everything organized. (ie. You can use one cube for clothes, one cube for cookware, and one for laundry.) If you are packing light in each cube, you can put them all in the large Hauler and take all 3 cubes with you at the same time. Talk about convenient! 

5. What was the Hauler’s best feature? Portability. Like I mentioned, you can take 1 cube with you or all 3 with you at the same time. This is amazing for a camping trip and doesn’t take up much space at all.

6. Would you recommend it to your fellow campers? Absolutely. This product is great because you aren’t limited to use it for camping only. If you’re going somewhere for the day or just need to move things from one location to another, you should use the Hauler. 

7. Additional Comments This is an overall great piece of equipment and probably one of the most useful items I have ever used for camping. It really is a must have! 

Submitted By: Ronald Holmes

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Mexican Chicken

Use a large aluminum foil and salsa to top it off!

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
Shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Hot sauce

Salsa Ingredients
Make your salsa up to 12 hours ahead of time
4 cups of diced tomatoes (drained if using canned tomatoes)
½ red onion diced
½ green pepper diced
1 large garlic clove minced
1 jalapeno minced (leave the seeds if you want spicy)
1 tsp of lime juice
2 tsp of salt
1 ½ tablespoon of dried cilantro

Combine and refrigerate overnight.

Directions:
1. Use a large aluminum foil and place the chicken breast in the middle with about ½ cup of salsa mixture on top.
2. Cook over campfire or on grill for 30-45 minutes (or until cooked through)
3. Add shredded cheese on top and close the foil back up to melt cheese

Submitted By: Heather King

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Store your Clothes

I use stackable vegetable containers (with the front cutouts) for our clothes. Each person gets a container. They stack in the corner of the tent for easy retrieval of clothes. It comes with a top so you can use it as a night stand also.

Submitted By: Sharon Lusk

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Leafy T-Shirts

MATERIALS
Newspaper
Pressed leaves
Fabric paints (three or four colors will do: greens/browns for camouflage; reds/golds/oranges for autumn; lavenders/pinks/blues for fantasy)
Paper plate or piece of cardboard for a "palette"
Paintbrushes
Container of water
Prewashed white or light-colored T-shirt
Small craft sponges (not kitchen sponges)
Damp washcloths or rags (one per child)

Marie Killian, curator of education at the North Museum of Natural History and Science in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, devised this T-shirt project for her Tremendous Trees program. A blissful follow-up activity for a day in the woods, it grabs kids' imaginations and comes out looking great. I tried this with a group of girls and boys, and loved listening to their conversations as they worked. They went from dreaming up a game of hide-and-seek to strategizing a girls-against-boys game of war to imagining themselves disguised as chameleons and stick insects.

COLLECTING LEAVES
On your forest foray, collect an assortment of leaves of different sizes and shapes. Fresh green leaves work best for this project, but for the sake of the forest, be sure not to pick too many from any one tree. You also might supplement a few forest finds with leaves from your own backyard. At home, lay the leaves out, flat and not overlapping, between layers of newspaper. Set the stack where it won't be disturbed and place a pile of books on top of it. Let it sit for about a week, until the leaves are pressed flat.

SETTING UP
Cover your work area with newspaper, and set out the leaves, paints, palette, brushes, water, sponges and T-shirt. Fold newspaper inside the body and sleeves of the shirt to keep paint from seeping through to the back. Lay the shirt down on the table and smooth out any wrinkles.

MAKING TEST PRINTS
Before printing onto the T-shirt, try some test prints on a piece of newspaper. Choose a leaf and find its veined side. Wet a paintbrush and squeeze most of the water out of it. Pick a color and paint the sponge with it. The sponge should be coated with paint but should not be gloppy. Put the brush back in the container of water.

Dab the painted sponge on the veined side of the leaf, including the stem. Do not rub back and forth with the sponge, but press down repeatedly on the leaf until it is fully painted. Turn the leaf over, painted side down, onto the newspaper and gently press down with your fingers, taking care to get as clear a print of the stem as possible. Advise the kids to try to keep their fingers paint-free, and, when printing the stem, to keep fingers on the stem only. Pick the leaf up by the stem and check your print. For the next print, add more paint if needed, or go lighter. If the print isn't clear, press down more firmly or take care not to move the leaf while printing.

PRINTING YOUR T-SHIRT
Once you like the way the practice prints are coming out, go ahead with your T-shirt. Arrange your prints in a pattern or cover the shirt, overlapping prints in contrasting colors if you like. As you work, be careful to keep your hands wiped clean to avoid fingerprints. You can use the same leaf several times, so long as you keep printing with the same color. To keep colors from getting muddy, use only one color per sponge and rinse brushes before using them to apply a new color.

If you want to print both the back and front of your shirt, wait to let the painted side dry completely before flipping it over. When you are done, leave the newspaper inside the shirt until the paint is dry. Clean brushes and sponges in warm, soapy water. These T-shirts can be machine washed, but only after the paint has been heat set according to the manufacturer's directions.

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Stew Night!

For 19 years, the Bucketts (Bill, Heidi, Rob, Andy, & Emily) have camped with the Haugens (Mark, Anne, Justin, Kari, & Kristen).  The kids have grown up camping together.  Each year, we have "Stew Night".  Everyone gathers around the campfire as our stew cooks and garlic bread heats up.  Attached is a picture of a few of the gang standing guard.

Submitted By: Heidi Buckett

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The Grill Blower

You only need to crank the handle and watch your glowing coals blaze. No batteries are required. It is specially designed to blow air on glowing coals for ease in growing a blaze. Air Grill’s direct stream of air provides a fast, safe and dust free way to stoke the embers of any BBQ, campfire or fireplace

Q: Were you familiar with Air Grill products prior to using the Grill Blower? A: No, I wasn’t familiar with the Air Grill brand before I tested the Grill Blower

Q: How many times have you used your Grill Blower during the test period?
A: I used the Grill Blower 3 times during the test period and I plan on using it again.

Q: Did the Blower help you when you were starting a fire?
A: Yes, it was helpful when starting the fire. It did exactly what was advertised on the packaging. I started the fire and then used the blower over the grill. It worked!

Q: Was the Grill Blower easy to use?
A: Absolutely! All I had to do was turn the crank repeatedly and point it towards the fire.  There was no assembly needed. I only had to take it out of the package and it was ready to be used.

Q: Do you believe this would be a useful item to have on a camping trip?
A: Yes. Using the Grill Blower is a lot better than fanning the fire. It’s not so hard on your arms. It’s a tiny piece of equipment that is easy to pack and should be taken on any camping trip if you plan on having a campfire or firing up the grill.

Q: Would you recommend it to your fellow campers? 
A: Yes. Like I said, this is a great little tool to have on your camping trip. And if you’re a first time camper, than it will really help you in starting your first campfire. Just point it to the fire and start turning the crank. You’ll have a fire in no time.

Q: Additional Comments
A: It’s a helpful tool and easy to use. It’s a little noisy, so if you’re going to use this tool, you may want to use it before it gets dark. You don’t want to disturb anyone while they’re sleeping.

Submitted By: Mark Carpiani

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Texas Burritos

This can be eaten with a hand or a fork!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 and up

Ingredients:
I can of Texas Ranch Style Beans
1 package Flour tortillas
1 Pound of ground beef
1 red onion
1 package of burrito mix (dry mix)
1 container of sour cream
Guacamole (optional)
Shredded lettuce
Tomatoes chopped (optional)
Sharp cheddar cheese-shredded
Hot sauce to taste

Directions:
Cook onions in skillet until transparent.
Add the ground beef and cook until done.
Add the can of beans and 1/2 can of H20 (increase water to one can if cooking all day)
Add the dry burrito mix and stir well.
Cover and simmer 15 minutes to all day. (add water as necessary to keep from drying out.)
When ready to eat, remove cover and cook until mixture is slightly wet.
Heat 2 to 4 tortillas in a towel and cover with foil and cook over camp fire or in the oven.
Cover the middle 1/3 from top to bottom with burrito mixture.
Top with sour cream shredded cheese, hot sauce, lettuce, tomato, and/or guacamole to individual taste.
Fold the bottom 1/3 up and then both sides over.

This recipe can be expanded by adding

Submitted By: Debbie Coffman

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Rake Around

We always rake (in a circle) around the fire pit/camp fire area as the very last thing we do before departure. It leaves a nice manicured look. We have had several camp hosts complement us on how good the site looks.

Submitted By: Bill Carl

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Forest Glossary

SOIL LAYER
The soil layer is the foundation of the forest, supporting and providing moisture and nutrients to plant and tree roots. It consists of decomposed plant matter and inorganic material, such as rocks, minerals and clay.

LITTER LAYER
The litter layer is the floor of the forest, where decaying plant matter and fungi undergo the transformation into soil. Bacteria, insects and worms in the litter help break down the plant matter.

FIELD LAYER
The field layer is the first layer of growth on the forest floor--a soft carpet of mosses, ferns, wildflowers, grasses and other low plants. It is a habitat for many insects, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

UNDERSTORY
The understory is made up of bushes, shrubs, woody plants and young trees reaching up to the forest canopy; it provides a habitat for birds and insects.

CANOPY
The canopy is the highest layer of the forest--the intertwined branches of mature trees that shade and protect lower forest layers and provide a habitat for insects, birds and small mammals.

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Making the Bow & Arrow

My wife and I took our twin girls Mia & Miranda (6), and son Soren (8) camping at Wekiva Springs in Apopka, Fl. We spent the weekend "unplugged" and went fishing, hiking, biking, swimming in the springs and plain old relaxing. We also saw all kinds of wildlife including a doe with her very young baby. After having soo much fun together, I asked my son what his favorite part of the camping trip was, he said "Making the bow and arrow". I asked why since we did so much. Soren responded with "Because I got to spend time with you Dad!" Needless to say, that really touched my heart, and will be something we will both remember for the rest of our lives.

Submitted By: David LaFaver

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Coleman Hot Water on Demand

If you can wait a mere five seconds, Coleman can deliver hot water.
That's right . . . five seconds. Not minutes.
Five seconds is about all it takes for Coleman's new Hot Water on Demand Portable Water Heater to convert cold water to 100 - degree water for washing hands, cleaning utensils, taking a shower or performing other campsite chores.
Hot water anytime, anywhere. That's its job.
Besides being fast, it is convenient and simple - thanks to a compact, self - contained unit that weighs just 22 pounds.
If you want 160 - degree hot water for making cocoa, or a cup of soup or instant coffee, then you'll only need to wait another handful of seconds. That's it. Just hold the knob on the hottest setting and steaming hot water will flow from the built - in, full - size faucet.

Operation is a snap. Simply connect the integrated hose and pump to a 5 - gallon water carrier, select the desired temperature with the control knob, and the unit dispenses hot water in a matter of seconds. The unit comes with a 5 - gallon collapsible water carrier but can be hooked to a garden hose with an optional adapter. It is fueled by a standard, 16.4 - ounce disposable propane cylinder, which will heat 40 gallons of water, more than enough for an average weekend family camping trip.

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Zucchini Sausage

This is a great meal to prepare on your last night of camping!

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4-6

Ingredients:

4 zucchini
1 large onion
1 pkg sausage (hot or regular)
1 pkg pre-sliced mushrooms
2 potatoes
I tablespoon of oil
Salt and pepper
Garlic clove
Salsa

Directions:

1. Quarter and dice zucchini.
2. Chop onion.
3. Mince garlic clove.
4. Dice potatoes.
5. Crumble sausage in no stick fry pan, drain and set aside.
6. Add 1 tablespoon of oil to pan
7. Add zucchini, onion, garlic, and mushrooms and potatoes
8. Saute for 10-15 minutes until potatoes are fork tender.
9. Add salt and pepper.
10. Add sausage.
11. Stir and serve.
12. You can garnish with salsa

Submitted By: Maggie Allen

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Write a Short Note

This one is easy.  All you need is a pen and a piece of paper. When your trip is over and you are packed and ready to go, take a moment and pen a short note to the next camper. I have received a few of these and left a few myself. You can tell the new camper about a few things of interest you discovered while there and you can wish them a great time all in just a few short lines.

Submitted By: Rena Walls

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Adopt a Tree

Kids love blindfold games, and this one is no exception. In an area of the woods with a fair number of trees and not too much underbrush, blindfold your child and spin her around.

Taking a circuitous route, walk her to a tree and place her in front of it. Encourage her to feel the texture and irregularities of its bark and to rub her cheek against it. Invite her to smell the tree and to walk slowly around it, feeling with an outstretched hand for trees or plants growing close by.

If there are special features of the tree that she is missing, guide her toward them. Be sure she wraps her arms as far around the trunk as she can to get an idea of its size. When she is done exploring, lead her away from the tree by a roundabout path and remove the blindfold.

Then, challenge her to find "her" tree. After a few false starts, my daughters each zeroed in on their trees and repeated all the touching, smelling and hugging as they verified that they had found their arboreal friends.

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A Cold Night

We camped at the Kohler-Andre State Park earlier this summer.  When we left our hometown of Platteville, WI it was a balmy 75 degrees.  My husband and I and three girls arrived 4 hours later and noticed that the temperature had dropped 20 degrees.  Never having camped along Lake Michigan before, we had packed mostly summer clothing.  Little did we know it would get down to 39 degrees that night with blustery winds.  Not to fear though, we spent our night sleeping in our minivan alternating the heater every 20 minutes.  The kids didn't mind at all and slept well...my youngest daughter awoke that morning and was quoted as saying, "This is the best camping trip ever!"  The campground was delightful, but next year...we're coming in August!

Submitted By: Jen Kasper

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LOWA Footwear

LOWA footwear invites campers to check out two best - sellers for Spring 2005 includes the Lady Scarab model and the Men's Baleno GTX Mid hiking boot.

LOWA's are renowned for lightweight performance and out - of - the - box comfort and these models will not disappoint. They are modern and hip in style and appearance, and ageless in quality, durability, and construction. They're geared for on - trail use or hiking short distances while carrying light day - or hydration packs. The supportive yet flexible uppers are easy to break in and can comfortably go from campground to trail… and dinner afterwards.

Both models are a special breed the Lady Scarab trail runner blends the line between running shoes and trail boot for an entirely new experience and is the essential combination of lightness, design, and high - performance, delivering a fast - paced ride that's like no other. From the silky micro - fiber uppers to the to the cool, climate - controlled insole, to the new CXT trail - running outsole unit, the 'Scarab' is all about modern technology harnessed to provide you with more fun.

The Baleno GTX Mid is a new lightweight hiking boot for rough conditions. For 2005, the new Baleno GTX Mid are available in both men and ladies styles. The upper is made of split leather and Cordura. GORE - TEX® inserts give feet waterproof protection but allow moisture vapor to escape for outstanding climate control comfort. Wicking synthetic lining absorbs excess sweat to keep feet dry and comfortable. The Vibram® outsoles are made of rubber - polyurethane combination. The rigid outer studs and high - contact tread design aids in the walking alignment and offers traction and long lasting durability.

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Banana S'mores

We went on our annual camp trip last summer with some friends of ours. I started to prepare my regular s’mores for the kids and a friend suggested we use bananas.

Ingredients:
Banana
Pieces of chocolate
Miniature Marshmallow

Directions:

1. Take the banana – peel it and then cut a wedge

2. Save the cut out piece for later
3. Cut a piece of foil and place your banana on the foil
4. Stuff the banana with the chocolate piece & marshmallow
5. Place the cut piece back on the banana, then wrap it in the foil and place on an open fire/grill to melt the chocolate & marshmallows together (about 3-8 or until melted).
6. Once they are done allow to cool a few minutes, then you bite into this warm chocolatey banana pie

It is the best!  Your whole family will love it. The leftovers are great with coffee in the morning for a quick breakfast. Just reheat and serve. :)

Submitted By: Michelle Mendoza Greely

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Keeping Critters out

To keep pesky woodland critters out of your campsite kitchen, store your gear, pots, utensils, packaged foods and anything else in large plastic storage boxes and secure them to a picnic table or other sturdy structure with a heavy duty bungee cord. Not only does this keep out the raccoons and their assorted colleagues, but it also keeps the contents of the boxes dry from the morning dew or rain and provides a handy way to transport goods from the car to camp and back.

Submitted By: Susan Moor

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Garbage Pick Up

I hand out grocery (trash) bags (or even just have them collect the trash in their hands) to all the kids in the group & make a game of picking up any trash (generally not ours, but actually there when we arrived) around the campsite before we leave. I might offer a prize (like a candy bar) to the first one to bring me 10 pieces of trash. The kids happily run around picking up all the little pieces of trash (it's truly a great way to get all the bottle caps, little scraps, etc picked up). The kids don't even realize they are "cleaning up" since it's so much like a game! I remember learning as a Girl Scout... "leave the place cleaner than you found it".

Submitted By: Karin Burgess

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Annual Family Camping Trip

My favorite camping trip was our first annual family trip to Big Sur California. My parents had 5 kids. We are all married with children so when we get together there were 24 of us. We all love camping so we decided to plan a family camping trip to Big Sur. We had a wonderful time swimming in the creek, playing cards, hiking, riding bikes, roasting marshmallows and enjoying each others company. We all took a hike up to a beautiful waterfall not far from the campground, you can see some of us in the picture attached and hiked down the coast to explore tide pools and caves. This is a perfect family vacation spot. We enjoyed it so much we made it an annual event and are going on our 4th year.

Submitted By: Alica Goeckner

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Coleman Roadtrip Grill

For authentic grilling outdoors, try the new Coleman® RoadTrip Grill with twice the power of the leading competitor! This portable and versatile camping grill is extremely efficient containing 20,000 BTU's for hotter, faster cooking even in cold weather!

The Coleman® RoadTrip Grill contains removable "Mix & Match" surfaces for a grill, griddle or stove. Has a convenient quick and easy assembly and can be used on its stand or table top. It has matchless lighting with an easy to use push button ignition with two fully adjustable, independently controlled burners.

For traveling purposes the lid locks securely during transportation. It also contains two detachable side tables and has convenient hooks for cooking utensils and a removable grease drip pan. The cooking surface is 285 square inches and the lid detaches to accommodate larger pots and pans.

The Coleman® RoadTrip Grill operates on a 16.4 oz. propane cylinder (not included) or adaptable to a 20lb propane tank (purchase required). Includes Clever Cleaver Brothers® tailgating recipes and for your convenience Coleman also has additional accessories for purchase!

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Wild Fruit Tart

This delicious recipe is great for kids!

Prep Time: 10-15 minutes
Servings: as many as you like

Ingredients:
Freshly picked berries (or store bought)
1 Loaf of bread
Maple syrup
Campfire "hamburger" or a rounded press

Directions:

1. Place the bread in the palm of your hand and add the berries and a little bit of the maple syrup (don't put too much or it will get soggy
2. Add small amount of sugar for sweetness.
3. Gently form the bread into a ball so that the berries are enclosed and sealed.
4. Place the berry ball in the hamburger press and apply just enough pressure to hold the ball firmly (be careful not too squeeze)
5. Hold over campfire and rotate so bread gets toasted all around.
6. Place in dish and pour maple syrup or ice cream on them.
7. I like them rolled in sugar while there still hot.
8. Let them cool a little bit before digging in.

Submitted By: Robert Roy

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