Camping In Style

Rock Art: Draw a line or spiral with a long stick and collect rocks and pine cones - place on the line in a pattern. Show them a picture of “The spiral Jetty” by Robert Smithson.   Camp Kitchen: Collect cooking gear from the thrift store, see if you can find items on small scale, find a flat rock, log or camp bench and draw in chalk a stove top (two circles with an “X”) Fill a pitcher of water and tell them to go to town making mud pies and cooking them. (keep mud away from where people walk). Rock & Stick Art: Hunt for sticks and rocks then paint with washable tempera   Pine Cone Critters: Glue small rocks, sticks onto pine cones to make different figures. Tacky glue works best.   Hide & Seek an old stand by.   Bug Hunt with a bug jar.   Hopscotch: Use a long sticks to make squares in dirt & small rocks to throw.   Beading: $1 store good for this, I like using a tray or baking sheet to contain every...

“HEY, THERE’S A TREE IN THERE!!” Look at all those acorns just lying around in the road, going to waste! C’mon, join the fun!! It’s all the rage!!! ACORN FLINGING!! How do you do it? By flinging every healthy hearty acorn you see off the road back into the woods! It’s fun AND convenient!! One of your far-flung acorns may grow into a tree someday thereby benefiting future generations or if not, it may make a squirrel, scrub jay or another critter happy! YUM! So Join the Fun!! Send me some photos of you gleefully flinging and I will post them here! Now get out there and get FLINGING!!! Post from Eco Activism

For a great family friendly activity, pack up the kids, the vintage camping trailer and head north of Nevada City, through the picturesque town of Downieville and Sierra City and turn left at the general store of Bassetts and follow the winding road up past the amazing look out to the Sierra Buttes to the Lakes Basin Campground. The campground is centrally located for hikes, fishing and adventures on any one of the neighboring lakes.  We brought along an inflatable kayak and took turns paddling around Gold Lake.  The fish were hoping every which way, so the boys enjoyed the opportunity to practice the sport of fishing. If water sports aren't what you're interested, try one of the many hikes in the area, options for all levels.   For a great morning activity hike out the Grassy Lake Trail up to the Long Lake Trail and reward yourself with a refreshing dip at the end. When you pack your camping goodies, don't forget your local ...

In less than 6 minutes Christopher Deam restyles the Airstream click Here to view Filmed Feb 2002 • Posted Apr 2009 • TED2002

After the Summer guests have gone, the smoke has cleared from local fires and before it gets too cold, our daughter and I set up a tent-less room on our deck to stargaze and sleep in the cool evenings. Extra comfy using our indoor linens A sheet to cover during the day Every morning we take a big sheet to cover our bed during the hot day to protect it from leaves or even the dog should he sneak onto the deck and decide to take a nap. So far so good. Bravo sleeps with his ball   She sleeps with a doll GREAT bonding time Yesterday our daughter woke up at 6am, still dark and said "Mom hurry come out the stars are so pretty" I was awake in the house only to rush out, snuggle and star gaze with her. We saw a shooting star and it felt so awesome to share this moment with her. I highly recommend it! Eco Friendly Inexpensive Fun Easy Memorable Doesn't Require Scheduling  

Urban camping on deck a must every August Add a fan to keep warm nights cooler Kid chair for side table Happy dog wanting the ball thrown

Sometimes Camping In Style is taking in Squaw Valley activities Overview from Cable Car of Squaw Valley Squaw Valley Cable Car High Camp, see other activities here  Eat, swim, hot tub, tennis, hike, drink, picnic, music, take your dog Adults $29 Children $10 ride all day pass Great hiking a top High Camp We also took in a ropes course at Squaw Valley Adventure Center teaching our 7 yr old how to challenge herself. She did great! Our daughter on ladder to hook onto swing   What a great time to be had A few links I would check out if your going to Squaw Valley, CA  Adventure Center High Camp Miniature Golf Bike Rental Events Calendar Village Map Happy Hour / M-F a great way to save $ Plump Jacks also great Sunday Brunch Rocker very kid friendly with GREAT outdoor setting Also Yummy Sushi @ Mamasake  Fireside Pizza   22 Bistro more dinning  

Hermit Thrush As Spring nears I hear more and more birds every morning. It makes me feel hopeful, excited and curious about what birds we have here in the Sierra Nevada Foothills. Then in my research I found two great resources.  Barn Owl at Folsom Zoo * South Yuba River Park Association Birding at Bridgeport by local expert Bill Cortright Bring In The Clowns photo by Mark Schmitt w/ GREAT photos Schedule for South Yuba Bird Watch Red Tailed Hawk at Folsom Zoo And a beautiful resource site through San Francisco State University listing details about the Birds of The Sierra Valley and The Yuba Pass Area click here to see their report. American Dipper taken from Wikipedia SUGGESTED READING Sierra Nevada Natural History, T. I. Storer, R. L. Usinger,D. Lukas; The classic book on all aspects of the natural history of the Range of Light. Order at Amazon A Sierra Club Naturalist's Guide to the Sierra Nevada, S. Whitney. ...

Happy Valentines Day to all my friends that LOVE Camping!  

Would you be interested in writing a post for Camping In Style? If so I would feel privileged to post it. You need not be an experienced writer but if you are that great too. Here are a few ideas. A story with a twist of fate A story where something magical happened Your camping experience What you learned on a camp trip A campsite or campground review A pet story that has to do with the outdoors Hiking story How you Glamp or Camp In Style A story about your family and camping You get the idea. Something related to the Blogger. Email your story and one or more images to chasecreative@yahoo.com. I cannot guarantee your post will be posted. However if it's appropriate it likely it will be. Images need to be of the writer and have permission from any other people within it to be posted.  I look forward to reading your post and thank you so much for sharing your story with me. Ruth

Did you watch the recent episode of Oprah who went camping with her good friend Gayle in Yosemite? Shelton the park ranger in Yosemite National Park wrote to Oprah saying that he wished he saw more African Americans camping and visiting the great outdoors so she did a show on it.   I'm as white as they come by color that is but I must say I have wondered the very same thing. How come when I go camping I see mostly white and then many Latino families but after that the numbers go down especially African Americans.  What are your thoughts ? images from nps.gov Here is the cocktail Oprah made on her trip:    Servings: Serves 1 Ingredients Moscow Mule Recipe 1 ounce vodka 1 tsp. sugar syrup Fresh lime juice 1/2 cup ginger beer 1 sprig fresh mint 1 slice of lime Directions In a copper mug, pour vodka over ice. Add sugar syrup and lime juice. Top with ginger beer and stir. Garnish with mint sprig and lime slice. Yosemite National Park  Oprah...

I was sent this joke by my friend from New Orleans. Our last name is Boudreaux and my husband is from New Orleans where these jokes go back and forth to see who is less intelligent. My feeling is it's Thibodeaux. Sounds Like: Boudreaux: Boo Drow Thibodeaux: Tib E Dow Canvas Tent Shown without Optional Rain Fly by Pinnacle Tents CAMPING JOKE:   Boudreaux and Thibodeaux went camping in the desert.  After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep.  Some hours later, Thibodeaux woke Boudreaux and said, "Ma sha, look towards da sky, what you see?"                  Boudreaux replied, "I see millions of stars."                  "What dat tell you?" asked Thibodeaux.                  Boudreaux pondered for a minu...

My daughter whom is 5 yrs old is enrolled into an Expeditionary Learning School.  Definition: Lots of field trips to make learning fun. Between the two K-1 classes there are about 46 kids 6 and under and all the parents and adults that go with them.  This Thursday were all headed out for our first school camp trip at a local campground to learn about the "Water Shed" is that two words or one? Apparently I love to camp but will this be fun or will it be absolutely too much for the Camping In Style 45 year old Mom who likes her glass of red at the end of the day in peace and quiet.  We shall see wont we.............................. post to fallow with how it all turned out. SEE CAMPING WITH CHILDREN  SEE NATURE LOVING KID STUFF  SEE TEENS AND CAMPING

The car is packed and the cooler ready to load. It's 6 am and I'm up to take care of the last details to make our trip wonderful. House straightened Clean hamster cage Perishable food in fridge is out Plants watered Showered and dressed This will be our longest camp trip yet, it's for five nights. Included in our trip other than the standard camping agenda is site seeing, dinning in local restaurants, shopping, wine tasting and even going to an outdoor concert for my birthday. Just because were camping or " glamping light" doesn't mean we have to rough it all the way. Sure hiking, biking and roasting marshmallows will be done but the beauty of a five day trip is enjoying more than just dirt and burgers. Chow for now, with so much more to share when we come home, Love, Ruth SEE What To Pack When Camping For A Week SEE Camping With Dogs     SEE Reading Room

OK I'm about to turn 45 and am no longer a size 9. But I still love to swim and love camping near water. As earthy as I am I still want to feel my best when I hangin' out half naked. I did grow up at the beach and even though I'm camping or Glamping Light I want to feel stylin'. This is how I do it. Suit by Land's End not a photo of Ruth A solid black one piece from Lands' End  that flatters my figure and FITS right, comon' ladies and gents you know what I mean by waring a suit that is too big or too small. Also NOT ME or my BUM A black cover up also Lands' End to keep the sun off me and well let's be real, cover up my tummy hugging itself when I sit down. Especially in a low beach chair. A pair of black sunglasses, just to add a pinch of Hollywood to the whole enchilada. A pair of cute but comfortable water shoes, something that matches the look. And if I can swing it painted toe nails, that's if I can swing it, but at least they ...