Know of any good "Family Camping" Information? Let Us Know!

First, the truly important stuff:
Campfire coffee is brewed by grinding the beans very finely, boiling a fresh kettle, pot, bucket, (whatever) of water over the fire and after taking it off the boil, tossing two "handfuls" of ground coffee in the pot and stirring. Let it sit for four or five minutes and add a bit of cold water to settle the grounds...

Reed's Guide Mythology explaining the way to make camp coffee is as rich and varied as primitive fertility rites. The myths are intended to explain a mystery that the poor, ignorant primitive can’t explain otherwise, e.g., why does camp coffee taste so bad?

Java Jive — The Ch'i of Coffee By Tamia Nelson What's the most evocative aroma? The pungent perfume given off by the forest floor after a gentle rain? The spicy mist that swirls around a falls on sultry summer evenings? The sharp tang of a salt flat at low tide? The electric rasp of ozone hanging in the air after a lightning strike? Or is it the fragrance of fresh-brewed coffee, rising from a fireside pot as tendrils of fog drift across the cool waters of a mountain lake at daybreak?

Hot Off the Press Sometimes, after a long day in the saddle and a mediocre night's sleep, it's a little hard to get moving in the morning. What's called for is a good cup of coffee. But average camp coffee is more like industrial sludge—dark, warm, and full of flavors you don't really want.

Camping supply checklist: how to make great coffee

Camp Coffee: what it takes to get a cup in the field Ahhh, that first sip, watching the sun crest the ridgeline, warming your face with photons and the curling steam from your mug. Unfortunately, chances are high you'll just get a mouthful of inedible grounds...

Camp Coffee by Jerry Dennis. Morning simply isn't morning without a cup of coffee, but not just any cup will do. I want mine freshly brewed with clean cold water and served in a ceramic mug of substance -- not a plastic cup and, please, not one of Styrofoam -- and I want it black and strong enough to kick-start me into wakefulness.

BackpackingLight.com Forum: Camp Coffee Not true camp coffee nutcases (like myself), these people are more interested in ease of preparation and light weight gear. Personally, I consider the coffeepot a part of my essential survival gear and have about 400 pounds of vacuum-packed whole bean... but that's another story.

How to Camp Out, by John M. Gould(circa 1877) In these few pages I have tried to prepare something about camping and walking, such as I should have enjoyed reading when I was a boy; and, with this thought in my mind, I some years ago began to collect the subject-matter for a book of this kind, by jotting down all questions about camping, &c., that my young friends asked me. I have also taken pains, when I have been off on a walk, or have been camping, to notice the parties of campers and trampers that I have chanced to meet, and have made a note of their failures or success. The experiences of the pleasant days when, in my teens, I climbed the mountains of Oxford County, or sailed through Casco Bay, have added largely to the stock of notes; and finally the diaries of "the war," and the recollections of "the field," have contributed generously; so that, with quotations, and some help from other sources, a sizable volume is ready...

Site Selection

Camping in 1876 ~ Setting Up Camp, Campfires, Bush Fires. Excerpt from: "At Home In The Wilderness" By John Keast Lord, 1876; Chapter 13

Choosing A Camp Site: 'Ware Single Trees Or Small Groups Of Trees. Safety In Woods Or Forest. Keep Your Eyes Open For Good Camp Sites. Cross Streams While Crossing Is Good. Keep To Windward Of Mosquito Holes. 'Ware Ants' Nests. How To Tell When Wind Blows. Evolution Of The Shack. How To Sweep. How To Make Camp Beds. How To Divide Camp Work. Tent Pegs. How To Pitch A Tent Single-Handed. How To Ditch A Tent. Use Of Shears, Gins And Tripods.

Choosing a Campsite Part 1- By GORP Hiking Expert Karen Berger. Some hikers throw their tent down any old place. Others spend as much time choosing a campsite as a couple of newlyweds spend choosing a house. Your comfort isn't the only issue to consider when choosing a campsite: You also need to follow minimum impact guidelines that will help protect the area for future users. This column will focus on picking a comfortable site; Part 2 will cover minimum impact camping.

Choosing a Campsite An LL Bean article. Whether you are selecting a site in the backcountry or at a campground, it pays to take a few minutes to choose a comfortable spot that also minimizes your impact on the environment.

Choosing a Wild Campsite Finding a suitable campsite is not only important for comfort, but also can affect your safety and well-being. Care should be taken in choosing a campsite, the benefits will be repaid in comfort, freedom from the unexpected and unwanted happenings during the night (or following morning).

Bike Camping - Choosing a Campsite By GORP Expert Mountain Biker Steve Jones. Picking out the right campsite is perhaps your most important decision once you leave the trailhead. If possible, make a scouting trip a few days or weeks prior in order to judge how much time it will take to reach camp. The whole idea (at least my idea) behind bike camping is NOT to pull 50 pounds of gear for five hours along 20 miles of single-track.

Campsite selection goes beyond simply finding a place that is aesthetically pleasing to spend the night or a few days. What you look for in a site affects comfort, safety, the environment, wildlife and other campers.

Choosing a campsite: The process of carefully choosing a campsite is one not to be overlooked. The ease of setting up and breaking down camp. The luxury of waking up in a birch forest, by a quiet stream.

Setting up Camp Tips for selecting a campsite when out with the kids.

Situating the Campsite How to make the best of the situation. You can have the best tent in the world and still have a terrible time camping. The tent is only a small part of the total environment of the campsite. Outside, there are several factors that you may not have much control over. The secret to success in camping, as in life itself, is to attend to the things that you can control and do what you can to minimize the effect of the things you can't control.

Setting up camp While this was written for canoe trips, the site selection criteria applies to all.

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Set Up & Shelter

Selecting a camp site & Setting Camp: Where to camp. Selecting a camp site. What to look for. The best camp to use. Building a lean-to. Shacks. Tepees. Tents. Permanent camps. Canoe camps. Gypsying by auto. VERY often camp life is made miserable and an outing is a failure merely because the spot selected for a campsite is unsuitable. Many people seem to think that one can make camp at any old place, but this is a grave mistake. Excerpt from the: "Book of Camping" By A. Hyatt Verrill, 1917; Chapter Two

Camp Housekeeping: Building fires. Fires without matches. Woods and their properties. Useful plants and trees. Camp cookery. Camp furnishings. Making beds. Handy hints to campers. Excerpt from the: "Book of Camping" By A. Hyatt Verrill, 1917; Chapter Three

Portable Fire Pit An SCA member designed this fairly easy to build sheetmetal contraption that should last most campers pretty much forever. Apparently good enough to use wherever an hibachi is allowed, but designed primarily for wood fires. Neat. Provides a large cooking area when set up, but breaks down to a compact size for hauling. See also: Dragonwing - firepit owner's manual

Fire Hazards by Kevin L. Wright & Gerry Giuliani

Field Expedient Campsite Gear: Hints, tips and instructions culled from some newsgroup long ago. Hints on making chairs, tables, ladders and more.

Advise on Keeping Your Tent Dry Some tips for the novice. Veterans of camping will have learned these and probably have a few ideas of their own. See here also.

The Firebed "I Burned My Buns" : An article from the Backwoodsman Magazine by Ron Hood on how to build a firebed and stay cozy through the long cold night. Excellent info.

Choosing a campsite: The process of carefully choosing a campsite is one not to be overlooked. The ease of setting up and breaking down camp. The luxury of waking up in a birch forest, by a quiet stream.

Setting up Camp Tips for selecting a campsite when out with the kids.

"Hunting Big Game In Alaska": While containing mostly Alaska-based info, this article provides excellent advice on such things as essential supplies (firearms and camp gear), making a clean kill & dressing it out, and setting up a good camp.

Setting Up Camp  I don't usually link to about.com pages. I don't like them. I hate the advertising and the pop-up windows. On the other hand, they occasionally have some articles that are just too good to pass up. Here are some articles that will bypass some(certainly not all) of the pop-ups:
making your bed	more about bedding	sheets, blankets and pillows	campsite shelters	what kind of tent?
staking the tent	setting up camp	now we're camping	dealing with outdoor pests	cozy campfires
leave no trace	kitchen duty	breaking camp	returning home	gear storage

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Camp Hygiene

Wilderness Grooming by Dino Labiste, Bob Gillis, & Susan Witmore. 

Bathing With Little Water 

Never forget! There are some things you should never forget when you take a long fishing or camping trip. Sure, you need all that fishing gear, right down that little sack of rubber bobber stoppers, and every camper needs a sleeping bag and a cooking kit. But you don’t want to be caught without the CHARMIN!

"Doing Your 'Duty' In the Wild (& what to do with it afterwards)" A collection of messages on how to handle waste and waste functions in the wild. CAUTION: strong language & sometimes very irreverent. Some good info, though, on a subject few of us ever think of or care to discuss.

DumpSites Some places to empty out while you're on the road. Here's a hint: the website no longer has pointers to pages for individual states, but if you put in your 2-letter state code in the address bar and hit enter, it will (for now) bring up the proper page. FOR EXAMPLE - our link will take you to the Alaska dump sites page at: http://www.fulltiming-america.com/rvdump/dumpak.html. If you want the page for COLORADO, substitute ...dumpak.html for dumpco.html in the address bar and hit enter - this will take you to http://www.fulltiming-america.com/rvdump/dumpco.html - the Dump Site Page for Colorado.

Camp Hygiene Poor hygiene and unsanitary conditions are a common cause of disease and death. Water-borne and fecal-borne contaminants are a potentially serious health hazard when camping and could ruin your trip. The extent of your preparation will depend upon your circumstances.

Camp Hygiene by Buck Tilton. [WARNING!! Language!!] In the Beginning, or shortly after, millions of years before you arrived, they were here. When you are gone, when we are all gone, they will probably still be here. Everywhere you go, they go too. Everywhere you stop, they are already waiting. They are a part of everything you do. From the stream to the latrine, from the nose to the mouth, from the blister to the boil, from water bottle to the lump of leftover macaroni, they are involved. GERMS!

Camp Hygiene From CAMPFIRE YARN No. 18 - (Updated version of Campfire Yarn No.18 in "Scouting For Boys" by Baden-Powell) RULES FOR GOOD HEALTH

Food Storage And Hygiene At Camp Adapted from unknown source by Stephen Rainsbury for the UK version of the Scouting Notebook.

Camp Safety Booklet This is actually quite a bit more than "just" a camp hygiene booklet, but covers the subject quite nicely. You'll need Adobe Acrobat to view it, tho.

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Activities

Axe And Saw Use: Our Greatest Axeman. Importance Of The Axe. What Kind Of Axe To Use. How To Swing An Axe. How To Remove A Broken Axe Handle. How To Tighten The Handle In The Head. Accidents. The Brains Of An Axe Etiquette Of The Axe. How To Sharpen An Axe. How To "Fall" A Tree. How To Swamp. How To Make A Beetle Or Mall. How To Harden Green Wood. How To Make A Firewood Hod. How To Make A Chopping Block. The Proper Way To Chop. How To Make Sawbucks For Logs. How To Use A Parbuckle. How To Split A Log. How To Use A Sawpit

Know Your Camp An old BSA article collected somewhere. This one deals with activities to engage your kids in...

Campfire Songs Here are some good old Campfire Songs. The Campfire Songs I have tried to include here are ones that are not that easy to find. Some of these bring back memories of Day Camp and camp counselor days, a long, long time ago.

Campfire Stories Here is a collection of tall tales and campfire stories suitable for telling to a group of young people. There must be dozens, perhaps hundreds of Tall Tales out there. Please contribute to this page by sending your favorite stories.

Rainy Day 911Rain doesn't have to mean the end to a day in the great outdoors.

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Tips & Hints

SSRsi's Never-ending Camping FAQ This thing started off as a collection of tips and hints from all over the place and has grown into a (indexed!) monster. Feed the monster. Send us your hints and tips to include!

Outdoors Kinks, Tips and Tricks ~ 3-Hinge Fire Rack; The Natural Pothook; Driving Stakes; Weaving A Temporary Minnow Net; The Palouser; A Camp Knife; A Handy Can-Handle Kink; A Camp Candlestick; Hot Biscuit To Order; A Tin Can Outfit; Hacksaw Fish Scaler And Knife; A Twig Cup Handle; Rapid Fire Fish Cleaning; The Self-Pulled Winding Knot; The Self-Pulled Winding Knot; The Loop Winding Pull; A Camp Refrigerator; A Turtle Trap; Two Old Friends; Needles And Thread; Tin Can Range Phone; The Alder Bait; Lighting Fire With Water; Macaroni For Bait; An Excellent Perch Bait. Excepts from: Kinks; a Book of 250 Hints for Hunters, Anglers & Outers By HARRY N. KATZ 184 pgs 1917

PO 403 Canadian Bushcraft: A Pamphlet on Wilderness Survival in Canadian North - EO 22 Discuss survival psychology and strategy. EO 23 Predict a change in weather. EO 24 Judge a distance. EO 25 Construct an improvised shelter.

A Buckskin Man's Pocket: Fly Dope. Protection Against Black Flies, Mosquitoes, Midgets And No-See-Ums. The Call Of The Wild.

Preventing Tick-borne Illnesses. Good advice from the US Scouting Project with links to more.

Skeeter's Camping Guide- Very funny, but also has some pretty good info. Don’t bother clicking on any links, it’s all on one scrollable page.

The Mining Company's Guide to Camping While they really do (usually) have some good info, the most annoying site in the world with 2/3 page of advertising and a minimum of 2-3 truly obnoxious pop-up windows every time you access the page. 

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What to Bring

COMMON SENSE IN THE WILDERNESS: THERE is more danger that a man take too much than too little into the wilderness. No matter how good his intentions may be, how conscientiously he may follow advice, or how carefully he may examine and re-examine his equipment, he will surely find that he is carrying a great many pounds more than his companions, the professionals at the business.

Camping in 1876: A Hunter's Bedding—Bedding for Tents or Log-houses—Bedstead, how to make—Systems of Packing up Bedding—Tools necessary for a Wanderer—The way to fell your first Tree—How to split a Log—Traps to be avoided—Cooking Utensils—A Frying pan equal to any emergency—Tea and Coffee versus Rum and Water—Canteens more ornamental than useful—The Plan for making your own Camp Baskets—Iron Ovens—Camp Kettles—Flour better than Biscuit—Yeast Powder. How to bake a Loaf—Fixed Ovens—What to wear—Avoid Leather—Woollen Fabrics preferable to all others—Boots—Mocassins—How to manage with Snow-shoes—Hat—Mosquito-bag-—Fishing Gear—A good day's Sport. Excerpt from: "At Home In The Wilderness" By John Keast Lord, 1876; Chapters 7-9

Preparing to Go Camping: What camping really means. Choosing campmates. Camping outfits. Clothing. Provisions. To really camp one should be beyond the reach of motor cars and dance music, beyond sight of fashionable clothes and crowded summer resorts, and far enough from civilisation to make one more or less dependent upon the resources of nature and one's own skill and knowledge of woodcraft. Excerpt from the: "Book of Camping" By A. Hyatt Verrill, 1917; Chapter One

The Camping Checklist covers a wide range of items you may need on your next trip. Updated Regularly.

Our list of CAMPING GEAR (5/98) Open trunk, insert house, go "camping."

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Campgrounds

National Campground Directory Search for a campground with just a click of the mouse.

Campground Listings by campground owner Some of the owners/operators have provided more details on their campgrounds.

The National Park Service and the National Parks Reservation Service.

US National Forest National Recreation Reservation Center National Forest campgrounds.



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Camping With Your...

Camping is Fun with Kids! One of the best ways of getting a child involved with your outdoor activities it to have them involved from the start. When I take a child on their first over night camping trip, we start getting ready days in advance! Let me give you an idea of what I do and perhaps it will work for you. Keep in mind each child is different, so approach them differently. I do know if the child is in the early stages of planning for a trip and stays active in all phases of it, they really have a good time. And, I have been camping with kids for more than thirty years.

Kids in the Wilderness Assemble a Kid's Kit. Take a child with you into the outdoors and what will transpire will be a winning and enjoyable lifetime experience, for you and for the child.

Camping With Your Dog Camping with a dog (or dogs) can be a joyous experience for both owner and dog. Dogs discover interesting features you might otherwise overlook, and a dog is thrilled at the new smells and sites of a camp site. You will see new characteristics in your dog when you are camping with your dogs; my dogs walk a little faster, open their eyes a little wider, and raise their heads a little more high when we're out in the wilds. Unlike hiking, your dog does not have to be in the best physical shape to go camping, and you can take more supplies with you than you can when hiking.

Outdoors With Kids: Ten Camping Commandments to Build Excitement Outdoors. How do you get a girl or boy excited about the outdoors? How do you compete with the television and remote control? How do you prove to a kid that success comes from persistence, spirit and logic, which the outdoors teaches, and not from pushing buttons?

Staying Found Before you head out on your next excursion, learn how to lost-proof the family.

Camping Fears A night in the outdoors shouldn't be a nightmare for parent or child.

10 Tips on Hiking with "little ones" - Good advice for parents before taking those little ones on a hike.

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Camp Etiquette 

Ten steps to being a Totally Obnoxious Camper (Expanded 1/98) While it's true that with each camping trip we learn something new, we've also found that we get the opportunity to relearn something old, such as what it is like to live next door to the Simpson's for a few days.

Camping Etiquette Whether you're an experienced camper or planning your first outing, be sure you mind your manners at the campground! Camping etiquette is, for the most part, common courtesy. Here are a few suggestions on being a courteous Camper

Forum Responds: We are a family that has never been camping. We just bought a tent and sleeping bags for the kids and want to give camping a try. Since we have never been camping before, could somebody list some camping etiquette to follow so we can have a good time while not hampering anyone else's experience?

Family Camping Etiquette Long list from a family campground owner

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Bugs to Bears

West Nile Virus Information for Camps and Outdoor Programs. According to the USGS, the West Nile virus (WNV) was first isolated in 1937, it has been known to cause asymptomatic infection and fevers in humans in Africa, West Asia, and the Middle East. Human and animal infections were not documented in the Western Hemisphere until 1999. In 1999 and 2000, outbreaks of WNV encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) were reported in persons living in the New York City metropolitan area, New Jersey, and Connecticut. In these two years, 83 human cases of West Nile illness were reported; 9 died. In 2001, human infection with WNV occurred in 10 states with 66 cases and 9 deaths. In 2002, WNV activity has spread to most eastern and mid-western states, with 113 cases and 5 deaths as of August 8.

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Snow Camping

Snow Camping Since conditions can differ considerably from summer backpacking, attempt your first outing with someone who is experienced. This could be a friend, organization, or one of many guide services, some of which are listed below.
Many Junior Colleges and Universities also offer classes.

Snowshoes Because of its flat learning curve, snowshoeing is fast becoming a popular sport. "If you can walk, you can snowshoe." No special skills are required. If you enjoy summer hikes, snowshoes will give you winter access to the same trails, making it easy to enjoy nature without lines, and with no additional cost. It is an ideal low impact aerobic exercise, and can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Sunglasses Unless you never venture outdoors in daylight, you need sunglasses to protect your eyes. Even when the sun is not shining brightly, enough UV rays can get to your eyes to cause trouble. So, even on days that are hazy, cloudy or foggy, sunglasses will protect your eyes, and can improve your visual clarity.

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Camp Water

WHY TREAT THE WATER? One sip of contaminated water can spoil your vacation, interrupt your work, or turn your camping trip into a disaster. It may even require emergency medical services. You can get ill from simply brushing your teeth or washing your utensils with bacteriologically contaminated water. Common sense dictates that water from any untreated source must be considered suspect and should be treated before drinking.

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