This looks like a good spot!

When it comes to camping there is no substitute for experience, and the best way to gain knowledge is to get out there and make some mistakes. Fortunately, there is a lot of good, common sense, information out there, like learning to setup your tent before you go camping and using checklists to reduce your chances of forgetting something important. I thought I’d share some of the mistakes that are permanently engraved in my memory, so that you can hopefully spare your family from a frustrating camping experience.

Continue reading →

It happens to the best of us. Homework, sports and the weather – you probably didn’t mean to give up on camping after Labor Day, but now it’s the middle of October and you can’t even remember where you stored the camp stove (but you’re pretty sure you forgot to clean it, first!).   Luckily, there are a lot of other people who have given up on camping until next spring, which makes this a great time to visit some of those favorite sites that are always too crowded during the summer. For a bit of motivation, here is a list of the top fall excuses for not camping:

Continue reading →

A tarp provides much-needed dry space on an otherwise soggy campsite (Photo by Steven Burke)

One reality of fall camping is that you are likely to run into at least a few hours of rain. Camping in the rain can be a really enjoyable experience, provided you take the proper steps to ensure that you and your family are prepared. Here are some tips for planning to camp in the rain.

Tarps

Unless you have a really big tent, a secondary rain shelter is very convenient for changing clothes, cooking and playing games. Even if you do have a big tent, it’s a lot more enjoyable to get outside. A well-positioned tarp will let you enjoy the outdoors while still keeping dry.

Continue reading →

Labor Day marks the traditional end of the camping season for most people. Tents, sleeping bags and stoves go into garage-hibernation as kids head back to school and fall sports become the focus for many families. For those who can brave some cooler weather or a rain shower, though, fall camping can be even more enjoyable than camping in the summer.

Continue reading →

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: State program teaches environmentally sound camping

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette® ran a fun and poignant article today, by Don Hopey, about a Pennsylvania state program to educate campers about some of the common mistakes that have a negative impact on the environment. It’s a timely reminder, given that visits to our parks are up this year and we have a lot of new and inexperienced campers who may not realize that it’s not okay to cut limbs off a tree for firewood or roasting sticks and foil doesn’t burn in the campfire.

Continue reading →