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We went camping and forgot the graham crackers for our smores. So we used iced oatmeal & oatmeal chocolate chip cookies instead and now it has become a tradition when we take the girls camping. They won't eat them any other way now and they are great.
Submitted By: Missy Sweeton-Guillory
Just the name of this game cracks kids up; playing it only intensifies their joy.
WHAT YOU NEED:
Nothing
HOW TO PLAY:
1. Have one player lie down on his back. The next player lies down with his head resting on the first player's belly and the next player lies down with her head on the second player's belly. Arrange all the players until everyone is zigzagged around the lawn or floor, each with his or her head on someone else's belly (if possible, make the line into a loop so that the last player can put her head on the first player's belly).
2. Then, the first player shouts, loud and clear, "Ha!" The second player responds with a vigorous, "Ha, ha!" then the third player chimes in, "Ha, ha, ha!" Continue until all players have shouted out their "Ha's" or (more likely) have dissolved into uncontrollable laughter, with heads bouncing on the bellies of giggling friends, uncles, cousins or grandmothers.
It was when it was really cold out in the morning and I was freezing. I got up and figured out how to turn on the stove to make the coffee. I was shivering and no one else wanted to get up. I gathered the large pieces of wood and small pieces of wood put it in the fire ring. I gathered some leaves, got a lighter and started up the small stuff first then blew on it and then put the bigger pieces of wood on it and in about ten minutes I had fire! The fire kept me warm and so did drinking my coffee. 15 minutes after that, everybody woke up, sat by the fire and sipped on coffee. They thanked me and complimented me on my fire!
Deborah Schutz
Heidelberg, PA
NightStar is the brightest, most rugged, most reliable, no-battery flashlight for all your outdoor adventures. This is the light you include in your tackle box or backpack and forget about until you need it ... it will never let you down! With no batteries to worry about, and completely sealed against water penetration, NightStar gives you peace of mind knowing that you will have light when you need it … guaranteed!
Reviewed By: Evy Cook of Salem, OR
Q: How many times have you used your NightStar Flashlight during the test period?
A: I used the flashlight twice
Q: Do you normally bring a flashlight with you on a camping trip?
A: Yes I always bring one
Q: How convenient was this flashlight? (ie. Easy to pack, store, use, etc)
A: It’s a convenient size for packing and a good size for your pocket.
Q: How long did you have to shake the flashlight before you had enough light?
A: When I first received the flashlight it was discharged completely. It took several minutes of shaking to get it to give off a strong light.
Q: Did the flashlight give off enough light?
A: It gave off enough light for walking.
Q: Additional Comment
A: I liked the design and size of the flashlight. I also like not having to pack extra batteries!
This easy no-bake dish offers the cheesy goodness of a traditional lasagna without the lengthy prep time.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
1 1/4 cups ricotta
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella
1 pound lean ground beef
1 medium zucchini, diced (about 1 cup)
1 (26-ounce) jar pasta sauce
6 oven-ready lasagna noodles
1. In a medium bowl, mix together the ricotta, water, salt, Parmesan, and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella. Set the mixture aside.
2. Brown the beef in a large skillet set over medium-high heat until it's no longer pink, about 5 minutes, breaking up any clumps with a wooden spoon. Drain any fat, if needed. Add the zucchini. Stir in 2 cups of the pasta sauce. Reduce the heat to medium-low.
3. Top the mixture with 2 lasagna noodles, set in the center. Break 2 more noodles into medium-size pieces and fill in the edges. Gently spread the cheese mixture over the noodles. (The noodles may begin to curl in the skillet, but the cheeses will hold them down.) Lay on the 2 remaining noodles. Pour the rest of the sauce into the skillet and spread it evenly, then sprinkle on the remaining cup of mozzarella.
4. Cover the skillet and simmer the lasagna over medium-low heat until the noodles are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the lasagna cool for 5 minutes. Cut the lasagna into squares and serve. Makes 6 servings.
Take plastic milk jugs, quart size works best, and rinse them out. Fill the jugs close to the top, leaving some space for them to thaw while camping. Freeze them, and when ready to leave, pack them in your cooler to keep food cold. They tend to keep longer than bagged ice. Mine lasted for 3 days still frozen solid.
Submitted By: Heather King
However you do it -- with a joke, a well-timed tickle, or just a contagious case of the giggles -- few things feel better than cracking up your kid. Laughing together warms relationships, smooths ruffled feathers, eases frustration, and releases tension. And of course any laughter, from the slightest chuckle to a sidesplitting howl, simply feels good. But did you know that laughter may actually be good for you?
Comic Relief
According to a number of recent studies, laughter may play a role in physical health. Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine found a link between the experience of joy and overall physical well-being, citing a reduction in stress-inducing hormones as the key. The study, which was led by cardiologist Michael Miller, revealed that laughter releases endorphins, those same feel-good chemicals produced during cardiovascular exercise that are believed to cause the phenomenon known as runner's high. Still more research has linked laughter with lowered blood pressure, a boosted immune system, and improved cardiovascular health.
Laugh Tracks
Getting your child to laugh isn't always easy. Sure, most parents quickly learn their baby's tickle spots. A high-pitched "Who's my crazy-legs monkey?" might slay your toddler, and most preschoolers will fall into a fit of the giggles if you so much as mention the word underpants. But older kids may not go for that sophisticated verbal humor. For them, it's often old-fashioned silliness -- such as that provided by the games and goofiness shown at right -- that has the biggest payoff.
It's a sad fact that as kids get older, getting them to laugh becomes more of a challenge. For 'tweens, it's about as cool to share a joke with your mom as it is to wear her bathing suit. "It wasn't always easy to get Molly to laugh," says Paul Statt of Amherst, Massachu-setts, of his now 16-year-old daughter. "But I would say, 'Don't laugh, Molly!' and it actually worked because it was so corny -- an old family joke from her childhood." With Molly, Paul found that it was often easier to share a joke if the humor came from somewhere besides uncool Dad -- a kid-friendly comedy on TV, say, or a funny board game.
Laughter Is Contagious
To be sure, what works for one family may not work for another. But once you start laughing, you never know where it will lead. Indeed, "Laughter Yoga" is an entire movement based on the premise that you can "fake it till you make it," in the words of Sue Herz, a certified Laughter Club leader from Wakefield, Massachusetts. Without jokes or humor, laugh yogis encourage the physical act of laughter with special breathing, sound, and pantomime exercises -- until the brain takes over, and real laughter erupts and takes hold of the group. Laughter Clubs, started in 1995 by Indian doctor Madan Kataria to stimulate good health, now number 5,000 worldwide. Herz says laughter makes her feel physically stronger: "If there's a bug going around, I feel like I'm not going to get it." (See if a Laughter Yoga exercise, right, gets your child giggling.)
Comedy Central
No matter what gets your family chuckling, preserving those funny moments is a great way to perpetuate the laughter. Record your child telling his favorite jokes. Write down the funny things your kids say, starting with baby mistakes like "Pliget" for Piglet. Save photos of your kids (and yourself) during particular fashion periods. Keep a journal to remember your family's hilarious mishaps: the camping trip when Dad got sprayed by a skunk, or the night Mom walked into her surprise birthday party half dressed.
The point is, if your kids are laughing, well, maybe it really is funny. As Sue Herz puts it, "Laughter is one thing that our kids are better at than we are. We might as well let them teach us."
So laugh, and the world -- or at least your family -- will laugh with you.
I would have to say that the best camping trip that we have had was 2 years ago. We went to Rhode Island for a family reunion. My family traveled from Florida, and my brother’s family traveled from Nebraska. My brother arrived one week before us. When we arrived at Hope Valley RI there were a total of 18 kids. I have to admit, they were getting under the adults skin. We got to a point where we were tired of listening to all of them, so my brother and I decided that we would take all 18 kids to Pachuage State Forest for the week. It was the greatest time ever! All of the kids seemed to get along great. There was no fighting. I couldn’t believe it. The older kids took care of the younger kids. We all had a great time. We plan on camping on are next reunion. I’m sure it will be just as memorable.
Submitted By: George Olsen
Tree Huggerz campsite organizer straps around most size trees to provide you a convenient location to place all your personal items and outdoor gear. It has 6 hooks, 2 pockets and 5 slots. You can hang your keys, lotions, pots/pans, fishing poles, flashlights and so much more.
Submitted By: Dan Daniels of Snohomish, WA
Q: How many times have you used your Tree Huggerz Campsite Organizer during the test period?
A: I used it three times
Q: Was your Tree Huggerz Campsite Organizer easy to set up?
A: Yes. I needed a little help because my arms aren’t long enough. But it was simple once I had a bit of help.
Q: What types of items did you hang on your Tree Huggerz Campsite Organizer?
A: I had 2 water bottles, a pair of gloves, small flashlight, cooking pots, fire starter, rope and a small saw.
Q: Did you find that the Organizer helped reduce clutter at your campsite?
A: Yes. We hung everything on it. There was no clutter.
Q: Would you use more than one Organizer while camping? What else would you use it for?
A: Yes. I would only bring one along if I were backpacking. But if I went tent camping, I would bring more than one along.
Q: What was the best feature on the Organizer?
A: I liked the hooks. They are so convenient to hang all your stuff from.
Q: Did you find the Organizer useful?
A: Yes. It minimized us from losing items and kept it all in order.
Q: Would you pay $21.99 for the Tree Huggerz Campsite Organizer?
A: Yes. This is a great price for what you’re getting!
Q: Do you think this is an essential piece of equipment to take with you while camping?
A: Yes! I even plan to purchase a few to give away as gifts..
Q: Would you recommend this product to fellow campers? Why?
A: Yes, because in most camp site I’ve been in there is always something that get misplaced or lost. Generally it’s silverware, spatulas, etc.
Additional Comments
A: The Organizer is great for camping and short one or two overnight backpacking trips.. I used it on a couple of overnight pack trips and found it useful. I just attached it to the outside of my pack.
I would suggest making a larger option for the pack, for families or for an extended camping trip, where you would need to bring along more items.
So what if it's not the real thing: it's done as soon as you realize that you want chili.
RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
One 16-ounce can kidney beans
1 tsp. vegetable oil
1 small onion, diced
1/2 pound ground beef
2 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. cumin
1 cup tomato sauce
Salt
1. Drain the beans. Put the oil in a (preferably nonstick) skillet and saute the onion. Add the ground beef and cook until well browned. Add chili powder and cumin and cook 2 minutes; then add the beans and tomato sauce. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes (though the chili will taste better if you cook it longer.) Season with salt. Makes 4 servings.
We save our "empty" full size tissue boxes. When we go on a trip we just drop all of our receipts and paperwork in the tissue box. At the end of the trip we have our papers organized. We also save the "empty" small square tissue boxes. We use them to store plastic grocery bags; or we use them as small waste baskets in the bathroom and then just throw them away when we leave for home.
Submitted By: Nadine Olthaus
Create a downhill run for a snow tube thrill ride where, with each curve, the tube twists and the riders shriek with glee.
CRAFT MATERIALS:
Shovel
Inner tubes
Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Start with a good sledding hill, then shovel snow into banks to form the sides of your curvy run. Be sure the track is wide enough for a tube.
2. Pack the slide with your feet or the back of a shovel and then get ready to ride. The more the track is used, the slicker the run will get.
Tips:
For the best ride, use a sturdy rubber inner tube. You can rent one from a river-rafting company or buy them from an auto-parts store like Pep Boys (call 800-PEP-BOYS for a location near you, $10 to $12 per tube).
My husband, daughter, son-in-law, grandson and granddaughter spent four days camping at Green Lakes State Park in Fayetteville NY. The Lakes are actually green in color and offer a spectacular view surrounded by hills of green foliage. A swimming beach (w/lifeguards), picnic area, and playground are located at one of the lakes. My husband enjoyed the fishing. We all went out in paddle boats and had a grand time. The scenery is simply breathtaking. We also hiked around the lake - a beautiful hiking trail is available surrounding both lakes. Picnic areas are available in abundance throughout the park. We observed a Deer feeding her fawns and saw many forms of wildlife throughout our stay at Green Lakes. This trip was extra special because our grandchildren ages 13 and 15 joined us and actually said they had a great time. It is refreshing to know that they actually enjoyed being outdoors, hiking, swimming, boating, sleeping outdoors, cooking outdoors and just enjoying mother nature in this fast paced world of computers, television, and expensive entertainment. We stepped away from this "give me world" for a short time and realized that there is so much to enjoy and learn from the "non-material" simple way of life. Camping affords us the opportunity to "simplify" and realign our priorities. Our "camping retreats" are revitalizing in nature and get us powered up to face the real world again. We have been to hotel resorts, on cruises, and recently spent time at the Villages in Florida, all of which were enjoyable. However, we always remember our camping trips with a fondness that no other get-away can offer.
Submitted By: Cindy DeVoldre
NightStar is the brightest, most rugged, most reliable, no-battery flashlight for all your outdoor adventures. This is the light you include in your tackle box or backpack and forget about until you need it ... it will never let you down! With no batteries to worry about, and completely sealed against water penetration, NightStar gives you peace of mind knowing that you will have light when you need it … guaranteed!
By Jenny Church from Orlando, FL
Q: How many times have you used your NightStar Flashlight during the test period?
A: At least a dozen times camping, in the car and in the garage .
Q: Do you normally bring a flashlight with you on a camping trip?
A: I always bring a flashlight while camping
Q: How convenient was this flashlight?
A: It’s the easiest flashlight to use and no batteries required. Even better!
Q: How long did light last in the flashlight?
A: It took about one minute
Q: Did the flashlight give off enough light?
A: It gave off plenty of light
Q: Did you find this flashlight to be a good size?
A: Yes. It fits nice into any space
Q: Do you think this is an essential piece of equipment to take with you on a camping / outdoor trip?
A: No doubt!!!! I recommend it for every trip, the NightStar Flashlight is a great piece of camping gear. It’s easy to use….the kids can’t put it down. For sure it’s a must have!
The best way to cook this is in a Dutch Oven.
Servings: 4-6
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
Bruschetta Mix
2 Large Tomatoes
1 peeled cucumber
1 red onion
2 green onions
4 ounces of feta
4 ounces of mozzarella
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1-2 avocado
2-4 garlic cloves
Basil (to taste)
¼ chopped cilantro
Salt
Pepper
Balsamic vinaigrette
French loaf of bread
Olive Oil
Butter
Cooking Spray
Directions:
1.) Prepare Bruschetta Mix (can be prepared in advance)
2.) Slice bread at an angle, must be big enough to pile on the mix.
3.) Put oil on both sides of the bread
4.) Grill bread on both sides
5.) Heap on the mix and eat!
6.) Great for an appetizer, a light meal or side item.
Save those potato chip cans. When you are packing your camping gear use them to store your sharp knives, serving utensils, hot pads and barrettes, clips and hair bands in it. This keeps everything neat and tidy, so you always know where they are at all times.
Submitted By: Merry J. Penn
Set up a course where players putt across a frosty green and the ever-changing conditions -- ice, slush, blizzards -keep the game exciting.
CRAFT MATERIALS:
Spray bottles
Green food coloring
Various obstacles
Scissors
Felt
Glue
Tape
Wooden dowels
Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Stomp down an area around each hole (hard-packed snow holds color better than fluffy snow does).
2. Mix water and green food coloring in a spray bottle, then spray the mixture on the packed snow. (Note: Unless you want green jeans, don't lie or sit on the sprayed snow.)
3. Once the green is set, add wacky obstacles like these: pool toy rings or a hula hoop sunk halfway in the snow; a toboggan or skateboard upside down; a trash-can lid; a tunnel through the bottom of a snowman. And don't forget to make holes: recycled plastic containers sunk in the snow.
4. To make a flag, cut a triangle from one color of felt and a number from another. Glue them together. Then tape or staple the flag around a dowel or ski pole. If necessary, wrap a rubber band around the dowel under the flag to keep it from slipping.
Tips:
Use a rubber ball and hockey-stick "nine iron" (a broom also works) to sink aces like the pros.
Family Time
We met a group of friends at Tippy Damn, a State of Michigan Forestry Service area. It was just memorable because we all got together and had such a great time...family time! That's what camping is all about, making and sharing memories!!
Submitted By: Michael Tull
Tree Huggerz campsite organizer straps around most size trees to provide you a convenient location to place all your personal items and outdoor gear. It has 6 hooks, 2 pockets and 5 slots. You can hang your keys, lotions, pots/pans, fishing poles, flashlights and so much more.
Q: How many times have you used your Tree Huggerz Campsite Organizer during the test period? Q: Was your Tree Huggerz Campsite Organizer easy to set up? Q: What types of items did you hang on your Tree Huggerz Campsite Organizer? Q: Did you find that the Organizer helped reduce clutter at your campsite? Q: Were you able to hang heavy gear from your Organizer? Did it hold up properly? Q: Would you use more than one Organizer while camping? What else would you use it for? Q: What was the best feature on the Organizer? Q: Did you find the Organizer useful? Q: Would you pay the suggested $21.99 for the Tree Huggerz Campsite Organizer? Q: Do you think this is an essential piece of equipment to take with you while camping? Q: Would you recommend this product to fellow campers? Why? Reviewed By: Matt Chmura
A: Two times, we used it to go dry camping at a campground located on a state beach in RI.
A: Tree Huggerz was easy to use and set up. There was ample strapping to use to hang it anywhere.
A: Flashlight, bug spray, beach clothes, wallet, cell phone and towels.
A: Yes it helped keep the stuff that we tend to leave outdoors better organized.
A: We had no problem with anything that you would normally hang off of it. It is constructed very well and looks like it will survive years of service. It survived a tug of war with one of my dogs that thought that he wanted it more than me!
A: Yes we would use more than one organizer. I would make it so that each member of a camping party could have their own to keep their own belongings together.
A: The long strap is very helpful to be able to put it anywhere, that and the pockets.
A: Yes, it was.
A: At $21.99 I think it is a good value.
A: Depends on the type of camping that you do. I can see this product more valuable for someone who does tent camping. But it can be helpful for everyone.
A: Yes I would. It helps keep the site more organized, and it always seems like you are in need of additional storage/organizing spaces
.
Additional Comments
A: Some other means of hanging would be nice, whether Velcro, a couple of eyelets or hooks. That would make it easier to adapt it for other situations
The best way to cook this is in a Dutch oven. 
Ingredients
One can spam, cut into small squares
One can dried corned beef
3 large Irish potatoes, diced
1 large red onion, diced
1 can slice mushrooms
1 cup of tomatoes, cubed
2 cups of water
1 can of Beer, your choice of brand
1 cup of tomato sauce or ketchup
1table spoon garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Cook in Dutch oven (best way) or cook slowly in your favorite cooking pot over the fire until the Vegetables become soft (this is for people with chewing problems) and eat with corn bread
Submitted By: Bob Miller
Twice-baked potatoes which are prepared prior to your trip, wrapped in foil, and then frozen, will keep your cooler cold; they act as ice packs. When you're ready to eat them, just toss them into the coals of your campfire.
Submitted By: Margie Winn
