Hiking Opal Creek (Oregon)Last weekend, my family and I had the opportunity to hike in the Opal Creek Scenic Area and Wilderness. It is located east of Salem, in the Willamette National Forest. Opal Creek runs through thousands of acres of protected old growth forest, crisscrossed with over 30 miles of hiking trails.
Beech Mountain Ski CamI'm enjoying watching people ski down the mountain at Beech Mountain NC. It was so warm this week, just about all the snow melted but it's cold again and it has also snowed plus they are making snow for the slopes.
Beware of CocklebursWhile picking up litter, during my weekly walk on the roadside, I got into some cocklebur bushes and didn't know it. Later, as I was turning around and heading back home, I felt something sticking in me and discovered the back of my jacket was knotted up and filled with cockleburs. I was a sight to be seen.
Keep Your Valuables Safe at the BeachInstead of leaving your valuables out in the open, you can use household recyclables or items to create a little safe for your essentials . I used a cylinder container with a tin cap as my safe. This works perfectly because it could fit my essentials and there is only one opening.
Bee Diverter for PicnicsI always put a saucer full of something sweet far away from our picnic site, especially up on Roan Mountain, TN. Roan Mountain State Park is just so lovely, we can't resist going there with a nice picnic.
Use Pill Minder for Camping SpicesWhile keeping the other 6 days closed, spoon in the spice of your choice. Once filled, making sure they are snapped closed, turn it over and mark your spice with a felt tip marker.
Store Small Valuables in Recycled ContainerHeaded to the beach? Clean out an old chapstick, sunscreen bottle, or other container! Then you can store valuables in it like phones, money, without making it obvious that there is a valuable in it! Bam!
Start a Fire with WaterHere is a fun Campers or Survival project. Collect some kindling and leaves, dried tiny branches and fire starting materials. Take a round empty bottle like Pom Drinks, you can use it as a magnifying glass to pinpoint a ray of sunlight onto your collected leaves and other fire starting materials to start a flame.
Helpful Picnic TipsUse two small coolers -- one for fruit and beverages, which will be opened frequently, and one for such perishables as meats, poultry, salads, sandwiches, and cheese.
Emergency Aerobed InflationWe use our Aerobed inflatble mattress when we go camping. One time, we forgot to bring the wall socket car adaptor that allows us to plug in the mattress for it to inflate. We jury rigged a pump with a soda bottle and a camping air mattress pump. It worked well enough to allow us a good night's sleep.
Camping Cooler TipsWe have done a lot of camping and usually go for a week at a time. It was getting costly buying bags of ice all the time for the cooler. Then my husband came up with some solutions.
Tips for Making Fire StartersI liked the many suggestions for using paper towel and toilet paper rolls. My problem was that I didn't have a good way to stuff the rolls and pour/dip them in wax. Then I remembered my camp craft class where we made paper baskets (this was a looong time ago!).
Plastic Bag to Keep Your Bicycle Seat DryHere in Washington you have to endure rain for a significant part of the year. That means that outdoor activities tend to require tricks for keeping things at least a little bit dry. If you have to leave your bicycle parked outside, a grocery bag is a great way to keep the seat dry.
Dryer Lint for FirestartersWe always have to buy those expensive fire starter logs for camping. I had the idea to save our dryer lint and stuff it inside our empty toilet paper rolls. It's free and you never run out of it. It is very easy to catch on fire.
Chip Clips for Paper Plates and NapkinsUse chip clips to hold your napkins and paper plates so they don't fly away on you outside. It holds them tight and it's easy to push open to grab one when you need it.
Camp Cooking with TealightsToday I cooked scrambled egg on toast and coffee, using two "burners", and had it all piping hot and delicious at the same time. I used the top of my kettle to keep the buttered toast hot whilst I was cooking the scrambled egg.
No-Blow Picnic TableclothWhen I was a kid, we picnicked a LOT in the summer. My mom got tired of the table cloth blowing up and tipping everything, so she began packing a twin-sized fitted sheet in the basket. It fit the public tables perfectly, and no more blowing tablecloths.
Easy Camping FirestartersMy son used to be in Boy Scouts and they loved to make a fire at night during the summer. For fire starters, we took the cardboard from toilet paper and taped one end shut. Then he filled the tube up with dryer lint and taped the end shut.
Easier Cleaning of S'mores SkewersIf you invested in the metal skewers for your s'mores, or just for roasting marshmallows, here's an idea for you:
Use Ironing Board As Fish Cleaning StationIf you have an old ironing board that is made from metal and is not usable for ironing, turn it into a fish cleaning station by fastening a fish board onto the wide part.
Use Dried Fern as FirestarterWe are camping in Oregon and, as usual, it is drizzling. We found that last year's sword fern fronds make a good firestarter. They stay relatively dry under the new green fronds and are easy to pull out by the handful.
Dryer Sheets To Deter MosquitoesTake a box of dryer sheets along with you camping. Tear the sheet neatly in half and hang within 10 feet of your sitting area. If you use four or five half sheets surrounding your area, you will be mosquito free!
Solar Shower from Milk JugWhen you are camping where there are no shower facilities, try this. Spray paint gallon milk jugs flat black. Set it in the sun and, wah lah, shower water.
Decorah Eagle CamIf you would like to see and follow an eagle family raising their young, the Decorah eagle has laid an egg.
Using Empty Lighters for Starting FireYour old lighters can be used to strike up a fire. Hold the lighter upside down atop your bed of starter material. Roll the flint several times, without sparking it. Magnesium will flake off the mechanism.
Tips on English RidingWhen you first start to ride make sure you are wearing the correct equipment and make sure the horse is the right size for you. When you learn to mount a horse, make sure you put your left foot in the stirrup first and then 3..2..1 and on you get.
A Guide to the Common LoonThe Common Loon, Gavia immer, makes its home primarily in North America, but can also be found in Greenland and Iceland, and occasionally in Europe and Asia
Tips for Steering A CanoeCanoes have a natural tendency to drift to one side rather than move forward in a straight line. This can be incredibly frustrating to new paddlers who have never been given any basic instruction.
Disposable Duster for Sand RemovalWhen leaving the beach, it's great to have a disposable duster in your vehicle or beach bag. Before entering your vehicle, have it handy to use on your feet for fast and easy removal of sand.
Campground Shower MatI save cereal boxes and use them to stand on after showering to get dry and dressed. Shower stalls are usually full of dirt off people shoes so I open boxes up where they are glued and keep a stack of them in the camper.
Using a Grill SheetIf you decide to grill while camping or at a local park, you may find that the grills are pretty gross. One way to avoid contaminating your food is to use a grill sheet.
Packing Eggs for CampingCrack eggs into a jar or container and store in fridge or cooler. You don't have to worry about broken shells and will save on space because you have no cardboard container. They will come out individual as you need them.
Dryer Lint For Fire StartingSave the lint from the dryer in a plastic container. In the winter months when the wood for the fire gets a little damp, use the lint under the kindling to get it started. Works great!
Use Golf Bag for Fishing PolesPut your fishing poles in your golf bag so you don't have to carry them. It's easy to pull bag around on bag cart.
Corn Chips Make Great Campfire StartersPut that stale bag of Fritos to good use. Start a campfire with them.
Use Leftover Candle Wax for FirestartersI save our empty toilet and paper towel tubes, stuff them with waste paper and junk mail or even pine cones. Then I melt my small, leftover candle pieces in a old candle warmer just until it melts.
Washing Clothes While CampingIf your going camping bring a 5 gallon bucket that has a lid, a new plunger, and some rope for hanging clothes. This works good for washing clothes.
Camping Tip for Storing Toilet PaperIf your planning a camping trip, use an empty, clean coffee container to store your toilet paper in. Be sure it has a lid, that way if it rains it won't get wet.
Single Use Salve Packs for CampingIf you are camping and going to be hiking or even just traveling, these will come in handy. Place a straw over the opening of the ointment and squeeze a small amount of it, about one quarter of an inch.
Easier S'moresWhy try to make s'mores from graham crackers and chocolate? Why not buy striped shortbread chocolate cookies instead? I use 2 cookies and 1 large marshmallow to make my s'mores. Yummy!
Solar Lights for CampingI discovered this by chance last year while packing for camping. I took my 2 outdoor solar lights to use in my tent. These have a flat bottom because they hang from small shepard hooks. I put them outside the tent door in sunlight to recharge during the day and brought them inside at night. Worked great and were fireproof.
Tips For Forgotten Camping ItemsIf you forgot the filters for your coffee pot, tear off a piece of paper towel or use a paper napkin in the bottom of the basket. Add the grounds, and water and go ahead with your normal coffee routine.
Tips For Lighting A CampfireMy husband is the king of campfires! He makes a successful campfire by starting the fire with kindling and lighter fluid under wood pieces piled in a teepee fashion allowing air to get to the fire and ignite.
Ideas For Fire StartersUse cardboard egg cartons with stubs of birthday candles in the pockets. Tear off a few pockets, put a few candle stubs in the pockets, and build your fire OVER the egg carton pieces.
Starting a Campfire or Charcoal in a BBQ GrillI have found that if you roll a cotton ball or two in Vaseline or other petroleum jelly, you can set it on fire right away.
Duct Tape as Medical Tape ReplacementLast weekend we were camping and at around 11pm, the camper next to us broke his finger. I set it using a tongue depressor and then wrapped it gauze.
Keeping Track of Sleeping BagsWith two kids and myself, we have probably a dozen sleeping bags among us; light weight for summer, medium weight for most of the year, heavy weight for winter, some are down filled, some are poly filled, one is good for backpacking.
Storing TentsWhen you get home from a trip, set up your tent or hang it on the clothesline until it is completely dry and clean. Then, roll it up and put it back in the bag it came from.
Buying A Used CamperMy husband and I have bought 3 used campers and 1 used motorhome, so we have some small experience in what to look for and questions to ask before you sink money into a used camper.
Using Drink Carrier for Cutlery and CondimentsUse an empty drink carrier when picnicking or in your back yard. Put forks, spoons, napkins, ketchup and mustard in each slot. It's easy to carry and keeps stuff organized.
Use Wet Wipes Instead Of Toilet Paper When CampingWe go camping in our travel trailer almost every weekend during the summer at a place where it is parked in a remote area with no water hook-ups.
Washing Dishes at the CampgroundWe love to camp and cooking over a campfire is the most fun. It's always a challenge each trip to see what wonderful meals we can come up with to cook over an open flame. But at the end of those delicious meals comes time to do the dishes.
Heat Water For Camp Dishes While You EatHave water heating while eating. Put on rubber gloves and add bleach to dish water and rinse water.
Tips For Cleaning Camping DishesScrape your dishes well with a rubber spatula (scrape into a ziplock baggie or empty can), then wipe with a used paper napkin or paper towel. This gets the worst of the "ick" off before you wash.
Cleaning Golf Shoe SpikesWhile wandering through the automotive area of a "budget" department store, I came across an unusual round brush. It was smaller than a tea saucer with a curved, sturdy plastic handle attached underneath.
Rope Lights for Campsite LightingI've seen campers use solar lights to light their site after dark, but if you have one with trees, they may not recharge properly. My husband and I use rope lights.
Take a Solar Yard Light CampingIf you are a camper, you have probably at one time or another experienced having a very dark campsite. I have a simple and inexpensive solution for you. Pack one of the solar yard lights to take with you camping.
Use Raft as Air MattressUse a blow up air raft, the kind used to float in a pool, as a bed when camping. The air raft carries flat and, when folded, it makes a small package. It is lightweight and it can be used as a float near the campsite if you are camping near water.
Cleaning Fisherman's HandsFishing trips can be messy. How does one eat lunch or snacks after baiting hooks and taking fish off the hook that can leave your hands dirty and smelly? Using scented soap is a No-No, because the fish smell the scent of soap on the bait and won't bite.
Make a Master Supply List for CampingOnce you have developed a "standard" camping equipment list, put it on your computer in either a Word file or an Excel file. I put several columns in front of each item - How many? Have it? Find it? Buy it? and print it out for each trip.
How to Make a Fire PitWhen builiding a fire pit, you need to make it safe first. I dug down 3 feet, to make sure that I would not have any plant material, roots, etc. below my fire pit. I then filled it in with gravel and sand.
Premeasure Pancake Mix For CampingWhenever we head to our camper, I always make a couple batches of homemade, dry pancake mix in a ziplock. I never use mix from a box and already having the dry ingredients waiting for me saves me time in the morning when I have to feed my hungry crew.
Solar Lights For Night FishingDuring our July 4th holiday weekend, I wanted to go night fishing with the boyfriend. His protest - no money in the budget for a lantern. My answer - use the 99 cents LED solar pathway lights I had purchased on sale.
Camping In a Travel TrailerFor 3-4 years our whole family camped in a travel trailer exclusively. It was fun to prepare an entire meal of home-made lasagne perhaps, complete with china and silverware, and watch the other campers enviously eat hot dogs over campfires.
Easy S'moresWe love making s'mores when camping or cooking out at home, but adjusted the "recipe" for a lighter s'more. Instead of using the regular ingredients of graham crackers, chocolate bars, and marshmallows, we use fudge striped cookies and marshmallows.
Bring Eye Wash CampingBring lots of eye wash when going camping! If you get something in your eyes, there really isn't anyway to rinse out the debris in the middle of nowhere.
Attach Corks to KeysHere is a tip for all the fishermen when they go boating. Tie a few corks to your key ring. If the keys end up in the water, having them float on the top of the water is so much easier than trying to find them at the bottom.
Blowing Up Pool ToysThis may have been an obvious thing to do for others, but when I saw a man at the gas station today with a swim toy using the air pump to fill it up, I was so happy to know my blowing up inflatable toy days are over!
Tips from Years of Tent CampingCamping tips I've learned from years of camping in a tent at the race track!
Store Fish Hooks in CorkWhen transporting fishing poles to fishing spot, you can keep the fishing hooks and lures from catching into something you don't want them too. Get a bottle cork and cut it in half or thirds. Now you can stick the hooks or fishing lures into the cork.
Growing Fishing WormsFill the worm box with pieces of corrugated cardboard, wet the chunks of scrap down good, let them stand for a couple of days, then put the worms in on top. The worms will burrow right down into the moist corrugations and live on the glue that's on the material.
Lighting Matches In Breezy AreasSay you're lighting a smoke or something in a breezy area. If you light one match or two and it blows out, combine the spent matches with the new one.
Keep Bait on Fish HookIn Alaska, we fish an awful lot during Salmon Season! Try this tip to keep your bait on the hook: cut tiny pouches from an old pair of pantyhose, place bait inside, and place securely on fishing hook. Works like a charm.
Make Hammock from Plastic Soda RingsAt our favorite camping spot, we've constructed a makeshift hammock out of plastic six-pack soda rings! It takes a little while to collect enough of these, but once you do, you can simply tie them together with thin fishing line.
Cobwebs as First Aid DisinfectantCobwebs contain many disinfectants, including penicillin. If you're in the wilderness and someone (or yourself) has been cut badly, wrap clean cobwebs around the wound and cover with a clean cloth.
Print Topographical Maps as Alternative to GPSIf you like to hike, camp, or do outdoorsy things, but don't want to spend a lot of money on an expensive GPS system, you might want to try printing out a free topographic map online. AnyplaceAmerica.com has maps of the US that you can sort by city, county, or by feature.
Mouthwash As Insect RepellentTo get rid of flies or mosquitoes go to Walmart and buy the brown Equate bottle of mouthwash. Put in a sprayer and spray around the house, both on the ground and as high as you can get. Works well the next day, no flies or mosquitoes.
Keeping Ants Off Your Picnic TableTo keep ants off your camping table or picnic table, clean out four tuna or cat food cans. Next fill the cans about 1/2 full with water and put them under the table legs.
Two Ingredients S'moresSuper easy and cheap. You don't have to buy the candy bars. So good!
Fire Starters For ChristmasMake Christmas gifts by recycling egg cartons and dryer lint! Using a cardboard one-dozen egg carton, fill each hole generously with dryer lint. Using melted scented candles purchased at a yard sale, pour hot wax into each hole, filling 2/3-3/4 full.
Rent a Cabin for Summer VacationThis summer, with the price of gas so high, we are taking several mini-vacations in areas close to home. We live about 45 minutes from Blackwater Falls so we will be staying in a cabin in the state park.
Use Aluminum Foil as Pot ScrubberWhen camping, use aluminum foil as a pot scrubber. Simply wad it up into a ball.
Use Film Canisters for SpicesWhen camping, place spices in empty film canisters. Once you get the campsite set up, poke holes in the lids for shaker tops if desired. Film canisters are also good for storing fish hooks, etc.
Keep Your Cell Phone Safe While on the WaterIf you are out on the water, particularly in smaller vessels such as jet skis, canoes, kayaks, etc., take note of the following tip. Place your cell phone inside a drink cozy and then place inside a plastic zip top bag.
Leave Camper Refrigerator Open When EmptyIf you have a camper, you know about the refrigerator odor that can occur after a camping trip. I have found that after emptying the refrigerator, if I leave the door open, all of the condensation will evaporate from the unit.
Make Own Ice Block for CampingFor ice when camping, grocery shopping, etc. Use as many jugs as necessary for your time frame. If you need ice for a long time, freeze 1 gallon water/juice/cleaned milk jugs filled with potable water.
Camping HamburgersPlace a tablespoon of catchup on a piece of foil large enough to make into a bundle. Place a hamburger patty on top of catchup, then a slice of onion, some diced carrots and diced potato, salt and pepper.
Join a Local Bird Watching GroupI recently signed up online with a group called BirdYak through the Audubon society. They get together and go on outings to various areas around here to watch and identify the many species of birds that live here year round and those who migrate through the area too.
Prevent Backpack From Slipping When PackingTo help your Scout (Boy Scout or Girl Scout) keep his/her external frame backpack from sliding all over the floor while packing it, get a set of rubber chair-leg covers or crutch covers to put on the bottom of the "legs" of the pack.
Use Duct Tape on BlisterWhen one of our scouts or kids starts getting a hot spot ready to turn into a blister, especially when breaking in new shoes or boots or when hiking, we take a small piece of tape and cover the affected area. They are as good as new.
Starting and Keeping a Worm BinWe like to go fishing, but worms have become very expensive. We have built our own worm bed outside, and it saved us from running to the store. We can dig our worms any time we want. We took wood and made a bottomless box that sets on the ground.
Dryer Lint for Starting FiresSave the lint from your dryer screen; it can be used as kindling to start fires in your fireplace.
Prevent Eye Glasses and Goggles from Fogging UpI wear glasses while studying 7th standard. My lens power is -3.5 on both eyes. Currently, I need to remove my spectacles in order to have clear vision. Any tips for me will be appreciated.
Use a Covered Bucket as a Camping ToiletToilet for camping or emergencies. If you have need of a toilet when there isn't one around or there is no running water, you can improvise one by using a covered plastic bucket and urinating into the bucket.
Fishing Tip: A Trick To Catching FishOnce you have hooked the fish, keep it's head up! If the fish has a chance to head for the bottom, your odds of losing the fish are greater. If you keep the fish head up, the odds are you will catch them every time.
Backyard CampfiresAll you need are some sticks and a backyard and all of a sudden you have a party everyone wants to attend. Who doesn't remember roasting marshmallows on an open fire?
Use Hunting Gloves for Cold Weather BicyclingBicycling glove tip for cold weather: If you bicycle in cold weather, instead of buying the warm bicycling gloves at around $50 per pair, I bought a pair of hunting gloves instead.
Find Worms for FishingDo you fish with worms but don't want to dig up the yard looking for them, and don't want to purchase them? Then get out your pitchfork, bury the tongs all the way in the ground by standing on the pitchfork.
Make Bag Salads for CampingCamping is a great family time but you always don't have lots of room for cooking and storage. I make what we call a bag salad. You cook all your favorite ingredients (pasta or potato salad) and put in a ziplock bag.
Zoo MembershipsIf you have a zoo near buy, consider buying a zoo membership to save money and have fun. While admission tickets seem quite expensive if you are going for the day, family memberships are usually very reasonable.
Campfire Roast ChickenBefore a camping trip, prepare a chicken by buttering and adding your favorite seasoning, inside and out. Then wrap it in three or four layers of aluminum foil. Put the whole thing in a gallon zipper bag, and refreeze.
Recycled Camping LanternsOur Cub Scout Pack is involved in Fall Camping. We made lanterns out of recycled plastic peanut butter jars. We used modge podge and affixed the Scout Promise to the outside. We used glow sticks to light their way. Loads of fun in the tent or outside after dark.
