Camping Information

When conversing with people who don't camp, or haven't camped since he or she was a kid, the subject of feeling dirty after a day of being outside is often mentioned. When I inform the curious that freshening up is an easy thing to do while camping, I receive doubting looks.

Camping along the riverbanks makes for a great summer floating experience. If you're concerned about packing all the gear you'll need to do this in your canoe, leave the tent at home.

Shirt pulled up to expose his belly and plant in hand, 10-year-old Curt used a circular motion to rub the plant over the surface of his skin.

His little cousin followed suit.

The little boy was my genius cousin who was scientifically, in his mind, testing his theory that he was not allergic to poison ivy. The copy cat was me.

I have family coming in from out of state this summer so I’ll be showing off the neat things to see and do in the Ozarks.  Lucky for us and just in time for their summer vacations and my personal getaways, some great new outdoor adventures are ready for my family and friends to enjoy.

Even though the weatherman may be right more often than not, weather patterns can be unpredictable.

Many camping trips are planned around water activities — most of which are fairly tame in the wild adventure category. But whitewater rafting turns up the adventure needle up a couple notches for most campers, if they are willing to give it a try.

Camping on the bank of a river or stream is an activity many river rats enjoy during the warm summer months. Almost all will agree that there is no better way to enjoy a river than to spend a night or two under the stars, listening to the sounds of night and gurgle of water as it flows past camp.  

Sitting around the fireplace this past winter, the family and I were reviewing photos taken during the previous camping season. Shots of campfires and camp setups, wildlife exploring the campground, and campers in action. Each photo told a story. The stories told in our photos revealed sights, sounds and other senses. It was enjoyable to relive, as we passed them around in front of the hearth.

The tent shook almost as badly as we were. My brother, cousin and I could hear the creature circling the tent, stalking its prey. Eventually the beast approached the tent door.