One of the hardest things for many families who want to try camping is figuring out what to eat and what they need to bring to cook good meals in the great outdoors. What exactly do you need to take with you so you can have a good cup of coffee and meals that do not include prepackaged junk. How will you keep things cold and how will you wash your dishes? Camping is lot so fun when you iron out these details and all it takes it some planning and perhaps some special gear so you can set up the perfect camp kitchen. Once you get into it, you may just find that your inner pioneer loves the challenge!

The first thing you will likely need is a cooler. If you already have one… great! Use that one. If not, check into a steel belted cooler from Coleman. They are super durable. You may even be able to find a used or vintage one at a yard sale or estate auction. Try packing it several different ways to find the most efficient way to pack it all up.

Marinate meats ahead of time and freeze them into blocks so that they can serve as ice packs until they thaw out. Flat Nalgene bottles can also be used as ice packs. Pre-cut  and pre-wash fruit and veggies so that you are only packing in usable and ready to eat foods. Package foods in stackable, glass storage containers.

For coffee, invest in a good stainless steel Percolator. They are light and they make great coffee on a camp stove. I do not normally drink coffee but a good warm cup of coffee on a chilly camp day sounds like heaven to me.

And of course you will need a camp stove unless you like to do all your cooking over top of the camp fire. We like to do 50/50. For campfire dinners your best bet is a cast iron skillet and a dutch oven. You can even bake fresh sourdough bread in these babies! Before you go Google some of your favorite recipes and put the word campfire in front of it. You will be surprised how easy it is to cook over a campfire. Many campers get a kick out of making “gourmet” camp food. For nourishing options check out this blogger ebook: Kitchen Stewardship in the Big Woods: A Family Camping Handbook with Real Food Options.

So what do you eat off of? Camping just ins’t camping unless you eat and drink from those stainless steel plates and cups that have the speckled enamel finish. They come in dark blue traditionally but I love this green set from GSI Outdoors. Each piece is built from heavy-gauge steel with a speckled enamel finish. Twice kiln-hardened to 1,000 degrees F to prevent scratches and chips.

These stainless steel bowls can be used to pack in nuts, dried fruit, trail mix, pretzels, and other snacks. Then they can be used to as mixing bowls or food bowls when emptied. Part of camping is making things do double duty.

Washing dishes IMO requires a galvanized wash tub. It serves as a washing tub and a place to store your gear when not in use. Make sure to use a planet friendly soap like Dr. Bronners.

And don’t forget cutlery, measuring cups and spoons, spices, cook utensils, a cutting board, matches, and scrub brush. Once you have the gear and some recipes in your arsenal it will be cinch to pack it up and take the family camping at a moment’s notice.

What is your favorite tip or product for an efficient camp kitchen?

Summertime may be winding down but most of us have a few weeks to go. Now is the time that parents run rampant trying to think of things to do as a family while you still have sunshine and an open schedule. There are many great things to do with the kids; they just take consideration, cooperation and planning and all the summer activity thus far might have left you with a little brain fry. One great thing to do with the kids that also involves getting away and into nature… is camping. This can be a wonderful outdoor adventure; keeping in mind your children’s ages, with a little planning that can be hugely successful. We are hoping to take a little camping adventure in the next several weeks… but we actually want to wait for the cooler weather of Fall.

Naturally a large part of the camping experience happens before you leave. Make sure you have all the appropriate clothing, especially for the cooler nights, swimming, and sleeping. Then you are on your way. Let the children help. Its camping, so things do not need to be perfect by any means. Let them help with the tent, food, getting wood all of it. By helping they will keep busy and feel included. You can also spend your pre-trip days getting gear from thrift stores, yard sales, friends, or Freecycle. My son bought a 6 person tent last week at a yard sale for $2.00. This is actually the second nice yard sale tent he has bought.

Planning activities while at the camp site is important too. One of the neat things to do is a nature walk. We all know kids love that stuff. Make it a long one its great exercise and it will help with sleeping later in the night. Let them touch and explore, they can gather stuff to make craft projects as well. Bring a shovel with you and let them dig. Bring a pail as well and you will have hours of contentment. Ask then to build something by the campsite and they will be occupied for a long time.

It’s a great idea to bring some outdoor toys as well. Balls, Frisbee etc are great ideas. Chances are kids won’t get bored of all the nature stuff, but if they do you are prepared. Make sure you also pack a rainy day bag. Paper, crayons and such if the weather turns bad. A couple good children’s books are also nice. Hopefully you won’t have to use it but if you do it will be much appreciated. Another tip is to keep the food simple. You can still have nutritious food just simplify it. Lots of finger foods are best and again something the kids can help with is better.

Certainly one huge thing as well is to check the campsite out before you go. You need to do this to make sure it has everything that you will need. Everyone’s idea of camping is different. Some may want to completely rough it and others will not do without certain things. So take the time to check a few places out. You will find some have activities as well for the children or hay rides at night, that would be a great extra.

The most important thing is to remember to have fun. If it’s your first time with the kids there might be a bit of stress. Just relax and remember it’s camping and just about anything goes. Let the kids have fun and explore and be creative. For the most part let the rules relax and the kids will look after themselves. Try to find the fine line between being organized to provide structure, yet not be too regimented. All in all it will be a wonderful experience and one I am sure you will do again.

Are you interested in a real-time global treasure hunt? Then you may want to consider Geocaching.

What is Geocaching?

You may recall that my family tried geocaching for the first time last week. We had a blast and are now pretty much addicted. And can being addicted to family time, frugal fun, and adventure be a bad thing? I think not. Geocaching is a real-world outdoor treasure hunting game that gets you off the computer and out into the great unknown where you locate hidden containers (called geocaches) using nothing more than a GPS-enabled device and a lot of enthusiasm. Once you find the geocache, the objects in it are yours to keep (if you want) but you are expected to replace the items you take with other items of equal or greater worth for the next seeker and then record your experiences in the online geocaching journal so that others can take part and learn from your experience.

How does Geocaching Work?

The concept behind geocaching is actually quite simple. Someone places some objects in a container and then hides the container in a place that (usually) has some sort of meaning for the one who chose to hide the object there. The objects hidden are known as a “geocache.” They then note the precise location of the geocache (using their GPS device) and record the location on the website so that those interested can go looking for it themselves. The only prerequisites to play are a working GPS device (a big fave is the Garmin eTrex Venture HC GPS Receiver), and a membership to the official geocaching website, geocaching.com. For a small annual fee you have access to their system as a premium member and many apps for smart phones require this membership for the best experience. It is well worth the fee IMO!

Up until a few months ago I had one of those “dumb phones” that didn’t do anything but allow me to do anything but talk. I was actually anti-smart phone after a crackberry experience. BUT I knew I wanted to take up geocaching and would need a GPS device, plus I wanted a GPS navigation system for the car. I ended up deciding that select smart phones could do both of these things and got a mid range Android phone that I researched first for its geocaching abilities. I am super happy with its abilities. Not only can I see geocaches in real time as I drive by them the accuracy takes me to within 2-3 feet of the cache. The free c:geo app for Androids rocks!

What Kinds of Things are Hidden in a Geostash?

There are actually several different cache types you may find in your adventures and they are clearly labeled so you know what you are going after. A traditional cache usually just has a log for you to sign and claim your find. This type of cache was what we first found. A multi-cache is a sytem of clues that eventually lead you to the physical cache. The first spot will give you a clue that leads you to the second spot, which leads you to the third, etc. An earth cache is a cache with educational notes that teaches you about the geology or geography of the area you are searching. Perfect for homeschoolers!!! A virtual cache has no physical item to find but you need to find the location in order to answer a question, perform a task, or take a photo. There are also event caches like the Planet of the Apes (A.P.E) ones out there now to celebrate the movie release or Trash Out events where geocachers are asked to pick up garbage while they searching (perfect for treehuggers). There is something for everyone.

Some caches require climbing and other dare devil feats but this can be determined by reading the comments of previous seekers. If you see comments talking about how steep a climb it was or that they ripped their pants… use caution or skip that cache. This is what I had to do when I found a cache location next to the James Cancer Center in Columbus that required scaling up a steep overpass bridge. No way I was going to go climbing in flip-flops. And remember that geocaching is supposed to be kept secret from “muggles”. This is what geocachers call non geocachers. They don’t want their stashes to be abducted so they need to fly under the radar and some caches are labeled as requiring “stealth”.

There really are no limitations placed on what should or should not be placed in a geocache. Keep in mind, however, that local laws will apply to a geocache in any particular area. In addition, keep in mind that people of all ages take part in hiding and seeking geocaches so, as a general rule of thumb, explosives, ammunition, knives, drugs or alcohol should not be placed in a cache. Also, one other thing to remember is that food or highly scented items can attract animals, and some geocaches have been dug up and torn open by animals that didn’t need a GPS to locate them, so think about what you are placing in the container.

Other than the cautions above, you are limited to what you put into a geocache only by your imagination. Creativity is key. Some caches have proven to have items of significant value placed in them, while some contain trinkets, toys and “joke” objects, and still others have proven to have culturally significant items or journals, letters and the like. It is up to the player as to what they will put into the cache for another player to find. A cache next to our home was filled with little alien toys for instance.

How Did Geocaching Start?

The story of Geocaching’s origins is actually quite an interesting one. On May 3, 2000, a gentleman by the name of Dave Ulmer (a computer consultant and GPS enthusiast) decided to test the accuracy of the government’s claim that the newly upgraded GPS system would be able to “precisely pinpoint their location (of an object) or the location of items left behind for later recovery.” In order to test this he decided to hide a navigational target in the woods. He then posted the items coordinates in an internet GPS users’ group and see if someone else could find it. He called it the “Great American GPS Stash Hunt” and that quickly an entire sub-culture was born.

As you can see, geocaching can be great fun; an opportunity to get off the couch and out into the great unknown. It is also a fantastic chance to meet others through a shared activity and some very good friendships have developed between fellow geochachers. So don’t hesitate, take a chance and see what geocaching has to offer you.

Recommended Reading: The Geocaching Handbook (Falcon Guide) or The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Geocaching

My family and I recently went and explored an area we have been wanting to go to since we moved to Central Ohio five years ago… the Hocking Hills area. This includes Hocking Hills State Park, Hocking Hill State Forest, and specific highlights like Old Man’s Cave and Cedar Falls. The Hocking Hills is a deeply dissected area of the Allegheny Plateau that features cliffs, gorges, rock shelters, and waterfalls. It is quite lovely there and it has been on my to-do list for awhile. It is very near to where the Buckeye Trail, The North Country Trail, and the American Discovery Trail pass through… three long distance hikes I would be over the moon to do someday!!

Family vacation and adventures is a specialty of Austin-Lehman Family Adventures and they had a hand in our adventure. Rated # 1 tour operator in the world by Travel & Leisure Magazine, ALA specializes in small-group adult and family multi-sport, hiking, biking and culture tours around the world. You choose the location… Pacific Coast, Rocky Mountains, Southwest, Europe, etc and find an adventure tour for the family. The trips are organized like a cruise itinerary… Day 1 rafting, day 2 hiking, Day 3 kayaking, and so on. They are perfect for families who want to have real live adventures or active vacations. What I like about this option is that instead of just deciding you want to vacation in Alaska and hoping you can piece meal different activities and get them all in you can book an ALA tour and have them do all that logistical work for you.

Austin Lehman Adventure Travel reached out to us this month invited us to take the Austin-Lehman Active Family Challenge. The challenge is to find multi-sport, active and unique adventures to do around your own city and explore with your family. For our adventure we decided to hike and geocache.

And what a fun hike it was! There were lots of caves to duck into and explore. My oldest son had a blast going inside them and wondering what it would be like to live in these like Indians possibly did. He is a history buff who leans toward outdoor history… caves, caverns, battlefields, etc.

The walls of the cliffs and caves were covered in luscious green moss which is so unlike our area of Ohio but according to books about the area the temperature and moisture in this area makes it hospital to rare trees and plants like Canadian yew and bigleaf magnolia.

The hike to see Old Man’s Cave was relatively easy. Lots of hiking but also lots of big boulders and caves to stop in/on and rest. We had two kids in flip-flops so it can’t be all that bad. I was barefoot hiking in my Vibram Five Fingers!

Still there were a few places were the rocks were wet and muddy so we had to tread carefully and hold on to the cliff walls to make sure we didn’t slip and fall. There are also MANY areas where unsupervised kids or drunk weekenders could go falling off a deep cliff or gorge. It is definitely not a place to let your kids run wild so perhaps that is why we didn’t actually see to many kids. One particular place bugged me out… a high step bridge we had to cross that had no railing of any kind.

After seeing Old Man’s Cave and my cell service faded out so we could not find the geocache in the area… we were rewarded after a short hike to the Upper Falls. We stayed here a bit and played in the water.

Then we hiked back out and went to the next spot on the trail… Cedar Falls. It was quite a hike getting in and out of here but wow was it gorgeous!

And no you don’t have to scale these gorges to get in or out.. there are steps for hikers… lots and lots of steps. At the bottom you come to Cedar Falls. I would love to see this in early spring when the water would be much higher and the falls would be much larger.

After we hiked out and cell service returned we went looking for our first geocache.. and didn’t find it. I was using my Android phone and the free c:geo app. It took us to a light pole and there was no cache there. Boo! I was also kinda grumpy because I was drenched in sweat from our hike. So we tried another one a few miles away and this time we found it!

It was hidden better than this but I pulled it out to grab a cell phone pic. It is a film roll with a paper log inside for me to date and sign.

Uh... this is the treasure you told me about?

We are learning that there are many types of caches to be found. This one just had a log to sign and no little token to remove and replace with your own as you can with some.. which is what my daughter was hoping for. Still we had great fun and we felt like treasure hunters when we found our cache. It was soooooo thrilling! Silly to think about getting so excited finding a film roll in a tree but I can’t explain it, you just have to try it. We recently became premium members at geocaching.com so we were equally thrilled to log our first geocaching find in our account. I think this adventure may have just spawned some hard core cachers. Can’t wait to find our next cache!

Many thanks to Austin-Lehman Adventures and their wonderful adventure vacations who sent us a Visa gift card to help cover the cost of our adventure. A great time was had by all!

Sometimes I forget how much I love to get out and take pictures. This past weekend I was reminded of that love when we went to visit Kingwood Center in Mansfield, Ohio. We missed the spring flowers but the summer flowers were out in abundance. I have already decided that I MUST plant ornamental onions next year… those purple flower balls are just too lovely!

What flowers are you seeing in your area?