The Casual Outdoorist

The Health Benefits of Camping

May 26, 2022May 26, 2022
by The Casual Outdoorist

The essay below was written as the final paper for my Contemporary Issues in Liberal Studies class. The text is © Chris Wrede 2021, reformatted and with photos added for this blog post.

Natural Healing: The Benefit of Camping Experiences on Personal Wellness

Camping is one of the great American pastimes and for many is a rite of passage. It can take many forms, such as unstructured recreational camping, organized group activities, and therapeutic camping for individuals with special needs. Camping accommodations can range from a tent in the wilderness to an RV in a campground to fully equipped cabins and lodges with all the amenities. In this paper, I will define camping as temporary habitation away from urban areas for the purposes of recreation, education, or rejuvenation in a natural area. Though still an influence, the accommodations are less important than the natural setting and the camping experience itself. This experience may also include related activities such as hiking, boating, and other types of outdoor recreation. Whether unstructured, organized, or therapeutic, camping in its many forms brings with it many benefits that contribute to various aspects of personal wellness, including physical, mental, social and spiritual.

Benefits of Unstructured Camping

For many, a family camping trip is their first exposure to living in the outdoors. For me, this began as a child on a cross-country trip sleeping in the back of a VW Vanagon which led to many later trips with our family’s pop-up camper. I remember annual summer vacations and fall trips to the mountains to hike among the changing leaves. As a child, there was of course a “fun” factor to those trips, but it also contributed to our family relationship building through shared experiences in the outdoors and certain traditions like roasting hot dogs over the campfire. Later, my wife and her sister, who was living with us while attending college, would go tent camping in the mountains every year for Memorial Day. Some of my most treasured memories are sitting around the campfire at night talking and laughing about the day’s events. These days, we have a pop-up camper of our own and my wife and our two children make new memories of places we’ve been. However, it is often the little moments that bring the most joy, such as our son’s first s’more or when our three-year-old said “Look Mommy, a mountain!” when visiting them for the first time. As Rosie Morrow, of the School of Human and Health Sciences at the University of Huddersfield and her colleagues noted, “Camping holidays can also be very nostalgic, where even difficult camping experiences can be remembered against a backdrop of fun or self-development … campsites are viewed as special places and related experiences hold strong nostalgic memories” (50). For me personally, camping offers a respite from the stresses of modern life. A few times a year, I will go camping by myself in one of North Carolina’s state parks. These experiences offer both physical and mental recovery. Physical activities such as hiking and kayaking provide exercise. The solitude of camping solo offers a peacefulness and a break from everyday responsibilities and the opportunity to practice one of my hobbies—nature photography—provides mental stimulation. Although not as comfortable as a hotel getaway, I find the outdoor activities to be much more restorative because of the separation from modern conveniences.

Physical Wellness

Typically, recreational camping is fairly unstructured, with few, if any, organized group activities. On their website, the National Park Service summarizes some of the physical and mental benefits of camping: “The physical demands of camping in the backcountry clearly count as exercise. But any kind of camping has health benefits. Some are straightforward, like setting up camp or hiking. Mental health improves outside. Researchers linked outdoor activity to a decrease in depressive thoughts. Sleeping under the stars helps you get in touch with your natural circadian rhythms, a foundation for high quality sleep and health” (2019). There is clearly a link between camping and physical activity. Humorist Bill Bryson, in his book A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail, notes, “Every twenty minutes on the Appalachian Trail, Katz and I walked farther than the average American walks in a week. For 93 percent of all trips outside the home, for whatever distance or whatever purpose, Americans now get in a car” (128). Hiking, fresh air, sunshine, and the increased effort of living without modern conveniences can all contribute to physical wellness.

Mental Health Benefits

The mentally restorative powers of nature can be equally potent as the physical benefits. Rosie Morrow and colleagues conducted a study of the benefits of unstructured camping in a group of young adults. The responses were categorized into three main themes: peace and relaxation, getting away, and nature appreciation. “A tranquil space was discussed as a prerequisite for relaxation. Lydia explained how busy, noisy environments would be counteractive for her desire ‘to relax whilst on holiday’” (Morrow et al. 52). The majority of the responses related to getting away, particularly escaping modern technology and everyday life. Interestingly, this escape also was found to contribute to improvements in relationship dynamics for some of the individuals (53). The natural environment itself contributed significantly to how the trip was perceived. One study member noted, “how uncomplicated nature was, how she could breathe in the scenery and appreciate its beauty: ‘the scenery is beautiful […] it’s just quiet and tranquil and all you can hear are your own footsteps and the river trickling away next to you.’” (53). Morrow and others conclude by noting that unstructured camping, as a way of escaping everyday life and engaging in physical activities in nature promotes wellbeing in a way that is not found in other types of vacations (54) and suggests that outdoor activities could be useful for the promotion of overall health (55).

Benefits of Organized Group Camping

Scouting Programs

While much can be said for the freedom of unstructured camping, there can be benefits to organized group activities as well. For four years, I had the privilege to lead my son’s Cub Scout den as they grew in rank to earn their Arrow of Light. The influence of scouting on young people is incalculable. Although many of the lessons and activities are held at their sponsored meeting place, some of the most memorable occur while on campouts. Within my son’s scout den, there were boys with a variety of challenges, including early childhood neglect, extreme shyness, low family income, and mental and behavioral issues. Camping is a great equalizer, because in the woods they are all learning together. I have witnessed firsthand as young scouts gain confidence in their abilities to set up a shelter, prepare meals, build campfires, and many other useful skills. There is great joy in a child who has just successfully lit his first campfire or learned to use a pocketknife properly and safely. This translates into improved self-confidence and self-esteem in their everyday life, not to mention the social and leadership skills that are gained as well. My son and I have both made lifelong friends and our families have even camped together outside of scouts. Throughout Cub Scouts and into Boy Scouts, young people learn a wide variety of skills, all within a context of safety, which, of course, helps to preserve health and physical wellness. Reverence to God also promotes spiritual wellness, and can be another important part of a campout: “Evenings are also a great time for simple chapel services that allow Scouts to reflect and show reverence toward God, according to their beliefs” (Boy Scout Handbook 261). Of course, even though many of the activities on a scout camping trip are planned, there is also unstructured time set aside for play, relaxation and recreation, which has already been noted to promote mental wellness as well.

Multi-family Camping

In a similar way, a study in the Czech Republic reviewed the social benefits of structured multi-family camping. “By moving outside the routine comfort of an urban environment, the family that camps must come together to assure a safe and successful experience. This process of relating to and depending on one another while camping promotes family interaction” (Jirásek et al. 80). The advantages are not limited to within the family however. With multiple families in the camping group, some of the surveyed adults noted “friendship, relationships among our peers as well the [sic] between generations” (87), while children learned from adults and from each other, stating “I can deal with various situations in better ways” (89). The study concluded that “camping contributes in unique ways to the family, to the community of other campers, to the spiritual dimension of one’s life, and to an appreciation of nature” (91), thus encompassing various aspects of social and spiritual wellness.

Recognition by Academia

While organized group camping is typically associated with extracurricular groups like the Boy Scouts of America and their international counterparts, the benefits of structured camping are also becoming recognized within academic circles as well. In their paper, “Ставови наставника о логоровању као облику ваннаставних активности” (“Teachers’ Attitudes towards Camping as an Extra-Curricular Activity”), Dragan Martinović and others note that nature promotes learning, curiosity, and creativity, which aid in children’s development (2). Their study concluded that 92% of teachers surveyed viewed camping as a benefit for students’ motivation and learning and 88% believed that it improves social skills and cooperation (104), all of which could be considered as contributing to mental and social wellness. Meanwhile, in a study through Ohio University, Janie Welsh and colleagues focused on a different aspect of mental wellness: empowerment. The study analyzed the responses of an all-female group of college students following a two-week canoe camping trip. Historically, outdoor recreation has been represented as typically masculine due to the high level of physicality of outdoor activities (Welsh 76). However, in a single-sex group, one participant discovered that “the absence of men allowed her to become more self-aware about the invisible barriers that she and other women tend to place upon themselves” (80). Another woman noted that “witnessing her technical skill development with canoeing was a powerful and meaningful experience” (80). Many of the participants later described growth and change and an increase in confidence in themselves beyond the trip (82).

Therapeutic Benefits of Camping

Outside of academia, many studies have shown the health benefits of camping, particularly in a therapeutic setting. Childhood disease can cause low self-esteem, poor performance in school, depression, and other negative feelings (Békési et al. 1). Camps for individuals with serious health concerns have been shown to improve self-esteem, social relationships, and feelings of acceptance (Desai 556). “I used to think that I was the only one in the world who had a heart problem and when I found out about heart camp I was thinking, wow maybe I was wrong…I did not feel like I was an outcast anymore…it felt good” (557). The benefits of therapeutic camping are many. Campers create social and support networks with others with their same condition, sharing advice on ways to cope (557). Like in the unstructured camping study mentioned previously, “getting away” is another common benefit of therapeutic camps (558). Participants are also able to learn more about their conditions, both from their peers and through formal teaching (559). Some therapeutic camps also allow siblings to attend as well, in order to learn about their illness as an additional form of support (Kiernan et al. 904). As one camper described his camp, “Bátor Tábor is a place where all the positive energies previously having been taken away by the disease are recharged” (Békési et al. 7).

Encouraging Outdoor Activities

So if camping is such a healthful activity, how do we preserve and promote it? In my blog post, “5 Ways to Instill a Love of the Outdoors in Children,” I suggest ways to involve children in a relationship with nature. Start early and often to engage them with outdoor activities at a level that is appropriate for them and invest in outdoor experiences such as camping, hiking, and zoo or park memberships (Wrede). Scouting organizations are an excellent resource with a full support system of experienced adult leaders. As an adult, you can help conserve our natural spaces to ensure they are there to be enjoyed by future generations. Support legislation that protects and funds our state and national parks and other green spaces. Bill Bryson writes,

Shenandoah National Park is a park with problems. More even than the Smokies, it suffers from a chronic shortage (though a cynic might say a chronic misapplication) of funds. Several miles of side trails have been closed, and others are deteriorating. If it weren’t that volunteers from the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club maintain 80 percent of the park’s trails, including the whole of the AT through the park, the situation would be much worse. (137)

Bryson goes on to mention closings of other specific camping and recreation facilities in the park (137). In order to protect and maintain these green spaces, funding and support must be available from lawmakers and private citizens. Other legislation more directly addresses the health benefits of camping and outdoor activities. A bill by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) was passed and signed into law, requiring the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to investigate the use of outdoor recreation as treatment to help veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Rep. Smith quoted a veteran, “When the depression, anxiety and everything else that comes with PTSD creeps back into my life, I know just what to do: Strap on a pack and get outside” (Baldwin). Support of such legislation also helps to promote the awareness and use of outdoor activities for physical and mental health improvement.

Conclusion

The benefits of camping and outdoor activities have been well-documented over the years. However, it is important to note some considerations before setting out on a trip. While previously mentioned that the camping accommodations are less important than the experience itself, campers should consider how it and other factors would affect their experience. For example, someone who has never camped may not enjoy it if they choose primitive backwoods camping for their first trip. A lack of preparation can lead to a negative experience that may negate some of the wellness benefits received. For first-time campers, consider easing into it with a camping cabin at a campground or sleeping in a tent in your backyard (especially helpful as a “trial run” for small children). Camp with friends or family that already have camping experience. Build in some fun activities such as easy hikes to scenic spots or roasting marshmallows on the campfire for s’mores. Above all, plan ahead and don’t stress. As Morrow and her colleagues noted in a quote from one of their study participants, “if you can’t chill, the negatives about camping will get to you,” implying “a ‘getting used to it’ period” (53). It may take a few trips to truly appreciate the great outdoors. However, for many, the physical, mental, spiritual and social benefits of camping contribute to a holistic sense of personal wellness.

Works Cited

Baldwin, Carly. “Rep. Smith’s Outdoor Therapy for Veterans Bill Signed into Law.” Patch, 9 Dec 2020, patch.com/new-jersey/middletown-nj/rep-smith-s-outdoor-therapy-veterans-bill-signed-law.

Békési, Andrea, et al. “Health-related quality of life changes of children and adolescents with chronic disease after participation in therapeutic recreation camping program.” Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, vol. 9, no. 43, 2011, doi.org/10.1186/1477-7525-9-43.

Boy Scout Handbook. 13th edition. Boy Scouts of America, 2016.

Bryson, Bill. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail. 1st ed., Broadway Books, 1999.

Desai, P. P., et al. “A qualitative study exploring the psychosocial value of weekend camping experiences for children and adolescents with complex heart defects.” Child: Care, Health and Development, vol. 40, no. 4, July 2014, pp. 553-561. Wiley Online Library, onlinelibrary-wiley-com.liblink.uncw.edu/doi/full/10.1111/cch.12056, doi: doi-org.liblink.uncw.edu/10.1111/cch.12056.

Jirásek, Ivo, et al. “The Impact of Families Camping Together: Opportunities for Personal and Social Development.” Leisure Sciences, vol. 39, no. 1, 2017, pp. 79-93, doi.org/10.1080/01490400.2015.1136251.

Kiernan, Gemma, et al. “Outcomes associated with participation in a therapeutic recreation camping programme for children from 15 European countries: Data from the ‘Barretstown Studies’.” Elsevier, vol. 59, no. 5, Sept. 2004, pp. 903-913, doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2003.12.010.

Martinović, Dragan D., et al. “Ставови наставника о логоровању као облику ваннаставних активности [Teachers’ Attitudes towards Camping as an Extra-Curricular Activity].” Inovacije u Nastavi [Teaching Innovations], vol. 32, no. 3, pp. 100-106, 2019, doi.org/10.5937/inovacije1903100M.

Morrow, Rosie, et al. “Back to Basics: Can Unstructured Camping Promote Wellbeing?” Therapeutic Communities, vol. 38, no. 1, 2017, pp. 49-56. ProQuest, www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/back-basics-can-unstructured-camping-promote/docview/2080988069/se-2?accountid=14606, doi: dx.doi.org/10.1108/TC-08-2016-0016.

National Park Service. “Why Camp?” 5 June 2019, www.nps.gov/subjects/camping/why-camp.htm.

Welsh, Janie, et al. “Paddling Toward Empowerment: Exploring the Effects of an All-Female Canoe Camping Expedition on College Students.” Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education and Leadership, vol. 12, no. 1, spring 2020, dx.doi.org.liblink.uncw.edu/10.18666/JOREL-2020-V12-I1-9964.

Wrede, Chris. “5 Ways to Instill a Love of the Outdoors in Children.” The Casual Outdoorist, 8 July 2020, www.casualoutdoorist.com/2020/07/08/5-ways-to-instill-a-love-of-the-outdoors-in-children/.

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Camping

13 Lucky Ways to Spoil Your Camping Trip

February 28, 2021February 28, 2021
by The Casual Outdoorist

We’ve all been there. The camping trip that couldn’t get any worse if you tried. So how do you go about ensuring that your trip is the absolute worst possible? Without further ado, I proudly present 13 Lucky Ways to Spoil Your Camping Trip!

1. Don’t Check the Weather.

Ah yes, of course this would top the list. The two main things you want to be concerned with are precipitation and temperature, both during the day and at night. Our first cub scout camping trip was in October, with a low of 20°F at night, and we were unprepared. Needless to say, we bring more than enough blankets ever since. You also want to bring clothing to dress appropriately for the weather. Layering is very versatile, in that you can adjust throughout the day as the temperature changes.

Warm fire — Prepare for the temperature and weather

Preparing for rain is important, but it can also be helpful to look at what the weather has been during the week before you arrive. If it’s been raining for days, you can expect muddy conditions, even if it’s bright and sunny while you’re there.

2. Food safety? It’s fiiine…

Lets face it, food poisoning is no joke. Nothing can spoil your camping trip faster than becoming intimately reacquainted with last night’s meal. Be sure to keep your cooler stocked with ice to keep your food cold until you’re ready to cook it. On the flip side, you also need to keep hot foods hot, which can be a bigger challenge while camping. A rule of thumb is that bacteria can grow between 40°-140°F. So be sure to minimize leftovers, and any food that is left over, put it back on ice until you’re ready to re-heat it. If not, your trip might not be the only thing to spoil.

3. We’ll learn about the wildlife when we get there!

Okay, this one can go so many different ways. First off, unless you’re camping in the dead of winter, bring bug spray. Especially if you’re camping near water, there will be bugs. Oh dear.

I remember a certain state park website (I won’t say which) had a warning about copperhead snakes in the area. A word of advice, if they feel the need to put this kind of warning on the front page of their site, this is a red flag. However, some sites may mention specific things you may want to be aware of, and that can be very helpful. For example, when camping or hiking in bear country, there are certain precautions you want to take with your food and personal safety.

4. All the gear was fine when we put it away three years ago.

It’s always a good idea to check your camping gear as you pack before you leave, especially if it’s been in storage for a while. Some materials may dry rot (or grow mold or mildew, if you store it in a high-humidity location). Propane cans may not be completely full, leaving you without fuel for part of the trip. And heaven help you if you kept the batteries in your flashlight, lantern, or other electronics when putting it away. You may find that you’ll not only need new batteries, but you’ll need to clean away any corrosion from the old ones, or that your device may not even work anymore.

5. Which way to the restroom?

There IS a restroom at this state park, right? Always check the facilities and amenities when you’re selecting a campground. Believe me, nothing can spoil your trip like your wife asking, “you want me to poop where?” While nearly all commercial campgrounds should include a full bath house, state and national parks can vary in the types of facilities that they provide. (Hint: if you see the words “pit toilet”, it means an outhouse-style bathroom.) Likewise, you should check if you need water and/or electrical hookups at your campsite. For water, it may be provided at your site, at water spigots around the campground, only at the restroom, or you may even have to pack in your own water supply. The same goes for firewood, although most parks (or a nearby store) sell it, to prevent invasive insects.

BONUS TIP: While checking the campground amenities, check the map to see what else is around it. We once camped in a site that was on the other side of the fence from a drag strip, with a drag race scheduled that night.

6. I thought you packed the ____?

When you camp, pack like Santa Claus: make a list, check it twice. (Naughty or nice is up to you – and the park rangers.) Don’t assume that you will remember everything. Nothing can spoil your camping trip like getting miles away from it all, and realizing you forgot something important. If you are camping with friends, be clear about who will be bringing what, if there are things you’ll be sharing. Again, check the levels of fuel and batteries to make sure you’re not stuck without them.

7. What reservation, it’s the woods!

If possible, make a reservation. Many state parks will allow you to not only reserve a spot, but you can choose a specific site, view it on the map, and see pictures of the site itself. (For a hammock camper such as myself, that’s a great way to see whether a site has suitable trees.) Making a reservation also helps you gauge how busy a campground might be at the time you’ll be visiting. Knowing that you have a spot can prevent you from having to go to Plan B (or C, or D…). Yes, some Walmarts do allow people to stay overnight in their parking lots, but unless that’s your plan, it’s better to reserve a spot where you really want to stay. (Plus they might frown upon my hammock.)

8. Roughing it builds character!

Yes, camping with little ones can be a great way to instill a love of the outdoors in your kids. However, you should be aware of their abilities before going too primitive. Nature Girl, 2yo at the time of this writing, loves camping in our pop-up, and it’s an adventure to her. Tent camping might be fun as well, but I would not take her somewhere without facilities. She may be fine with a short hike in the woods, but too long and we would end up carrying her. It’s good to start slow with camping, hiking, and other activities before you find yourself in the middle of the woods with an upset toddler. Likewise, some personalities – children and adults – may not have a pleasant experience with camping. It’s a good idea to take all of these considerations into account when planning your trip.

9. Who knew the trail was this long?

Before you head out on a hiking trail, it’s a good idea to know what to expect. There are many online resources, such as AllTrails.com, with such information as length, elevation change, how strenuous it is, and user comments. (This site is not affiliated with AllTrails.com.) One thing to be aware of is whether a trail is a loop, one-way (there-and-back), or connects to other trails. Also, be sure to know whether the posted distance is one-way or round trip.

For very young children, look for trails that are fairly short, with an easy paved or gravel surface. Handicap accessible trails are ideal. If you can find one with a waterfall or other “wow factor”, you could easily spark a lifelong love for hiking. As children get older, feel free to increase the distance and challenge. Trails marked as “strenuous” or that mention steep inclines, climbs, or rock scrambles should only be attempted by more experienced hikers. Online user reviews are a great resource to find out ahead of time what to expect on a specific trail.

One final consideration, be aware of the distance, your expected travel time, and when the sun goes down. Sure, it might be great to enjoy the sunset at the end of that one-way trail, but it makes for a dark and potentially dangerous hike back to the trailhead. Not knowing your distance, expected travel time, and the trail intensity can definitely spoil your trip.

10. Now, where’s that map?

Okay guys, I’m going to say this once: you wife is right, stop and ask for directions. Whether you’re navigating a campground to find the pool, hiking a trail, or getting to your campsite in the backwoods, you need to know where you’re going. That means having a map or GPS device. After all, nothing can spoil your trip like not even making it to the campsite. (Or worse, going hiking and not making it back to the campsite!)

11. We’ve got so much planned!

Growing up, my mom would always plan our vacations to areas where we had an activity or day-trip every day. It was amazing, and we saw and did so many things. One thing we noticed, though, was that the days we enjoyed most were those where the plans didn’t work out, and we just had a day of fun, with nothing planned. Those were the most relaxing days of each trip. Now, with my family, we still plan trips with something to do in the area, but we also build in at least one day to just stay at the campground. We do look for campgrounds with lots of amenities of things that we could do, but don’t plan anything for that day. Being over-booked might not completely ruin your trip, but it can make you miss out on relaxing times and experiences you wouldn’t otherwise get. It can also raise the stress level of those on the trip with you. Speaking of stress…

12. Sure, honey, your brother can come along.

Okay, first up, I love my in-laws, and I’m not talking about them. In general, consider who you will be camping with, whether family or friends. Are there any individuals that may cause conflict or stress? (At the moment, I’m thinking of Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.) Will you all get along and sing Kumbaya or will you start to wonder how long it would take them to find a body buried in the woods? Keep these things in mind, along with how long you’ll be with them and how close (separate tents, anyone?). A little breathing space can go a long way toward maintaining the peace.

13. You’re THAT family…

So this one might not spoil the camping trip for you, but rather for everyone around you. Don’t be THAT family. The obnoxious ones yelling, blaring their music into the wee hours, leaving trash, and generally making a pain for everyone else. I guarantee, for every one of these that feel like they had a blast on their trip, there are at least a dozen around them who wanted to set their camper on fire. Be respectful of others around you. Follow the campground rules, including quiet time. Pick up after yourself and your pets. A little courtesy and respect go a long way.

Ready to spoil your camping trip?

Okay, so you wouldn’t really try to spoil it, but hopefully I’ve provided some insight into how to plan ahead for the best trip you can have. One last word of advice: expect the unexpected. Things can and will go wrong. Murphy’s Law doesn’t stop at the edge of the woods. Go with the flow, make the best of it, and have the best time you can. Oh, and eat a s’more for me.

Got some spoiled camping trip horror stories? Feel free to share in the comments section below!

13 Lucky Ways to Spoil Your Camping Trip - Pinterest pin

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Outdoor Activities

Hiking the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge

February 3, 2021February 3, 2021
by The Casual Outdoorist

Cox Ferry Recreational Area, Conway, SC

When you think of Myrtle Beach, SC, you think of… HIKING! (No? Okay, maybe just me then.) While Myrtle Beach is known for its shopping, dining, and tourist attractions, there are also some decent trails within a short drive as well. There’s Myrtle Beach State Park and, about 30 minutes further south, Huntington Beach State Park. If you follow Hwy 501 north to Conway, there is an expansive natural area called the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge. This area provides opportunity for activities such as hunting, fishing, boating, and of course hiking! A wide variety of birds and other animal life are present in the Refuge. I had the opportunity to hike in the WNWR in February 2021 at the Cox Ferry Recreational Area. Just a short trip to get away from ~~the kids~~ work for a while.

Getting There

The Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge website provides pretty good directions on how to get to both the visitor’s center in nearby Georgetown, SC (closed at the time due to COVID-19) as well as the Cox Ferry Recreational Area where the trails are located. One thing to note, the sign for the Recreational Area only points one direction on Cox Ferry Circle. If you’re coming from the opposite direction, it can be easy to miss it.

Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge sign — See this sign? I didn’t, the first time.

Note that the area is only open during daylight hours. There is a gate to close off the parking area at night. From the parking area, it’s a short walk to a picnic shelter, a canoe launch, and some informational signage about the Refuge.

Canoe launch into a branch of the Waccamaw River

Information boards — Signage provides information about the Refuge

The Trails

The Cox Ferry Recreational Area includes five hiking trails of various lengths, plus a bike trail. At the Refuge information sign (above), there was a map of the area, showing the trails. Before you go on a hike, it’s a good idea to take a photo to refer back to if needed.

The Blue Trail leads from one parking area to another, with a section of boardwalk leading over a section of marsh.
The Yellow and Orange Trails loop up toward Gray Lake Blvd (misspelled on the map) and are accessible from the Blue Trail. They also provide access to the Bike Trail.
The White and Red Trails loop around part or all of a few small lakes in the area. Near the White Trail is another parking area and canoe launch.

Trailhead sign at the start of the Blue Trail

The trailhead is a short distance from the informational signage kiosk and starts the Blue Trail. All of the trails are gravel and most are wide enough for a vehicle (official use only), so they are easy to follow. Signage is excellent, with colored trail blazes and signposts showing the way.

Blue trail blaze — Guess which trail we’re on?

Trail signage — Clear signposts mark trail intersections.

There are also several interpretive signs along all of the trails, describing local plants and ecology, such as the wetlands habitat and the importance of reestablishing long leaf pine forests.

Blue Trail

The Blue Trail passes through long leaf pine and deciduous forest, and much of it is wetlands. I intended to follow the trail around to the other parking lot, then catch the Yellow and Orange Trails on the way back. However, just before I got to the boardwalk, a section of the trail was flooded out by heavy rains over the past week. I had seen this mentioned on other websites, so apparently it is a common occurrence on this trail.

My hiking boots ~~are~~ claim to be waterproof, but the water appeared to get several inches deep a short ways in, and I didn’t want to chance it. A blue blaze and the start of the boardwalk was only a few hundred feet away.

Yellow and White Trails

So, plan B, I hiked a short way back to pick up the Yellow Trail. This trail passes through much the same type of forest as the Blue Trail, but with less wetland area and less prone to flooding. At an intersection, an unmarked section of trail led to Grey Lake Blvd, where I headed toward the parking area with the canoe launch and the White Trail. This area has several nice views of the lake, and in warmer months would likely be home to abundant birds and other wildlife. I left the White Trail for a short way to get a better view around the lake and captured some photos of a great blue heron. Photographers, bring your long lens, because the birds follow Murphy’s Law, and are frequently on the other side of the lake from wherever you are.

The White Trail also tends to flood after heavy rain, though not as much as the Blue Trail, and I was able to pick my way through it.

Red Trail

From there, I continued down the road to the Red Trail, thinking there may be some more waterfowl in that area. The Red Trail also boasts a fishing pier.

The Red Trail did seem to be a good place for viewing birds, although unfortunately they seemed camera-shy and I wasn’t able to get any good photos. By this time, the sun was getting low, so I decided to head back. Near the parking area at the Red Trail, there is another connector to the Yellow Trail that isn’t marked on the map. I took the Yellow and Orange Trails back to the Blue, and on to the parking lot. Below is a rough map of my approximate path. The entire route was about 4.3 miles, over a leisurely 3 hours.

Wildlife in the Reserve

Being winter and in the mid-40s, I did not expect to see much wildlife on this trip. Along the Blue Trail, I did see a downy woodpecker and Carolina wren, and at a distance, too fast for my camera, what may have been a red cockaded or pileated woodpecker.

There were other numerous birds of the same sparrow or finch size as well. As I mentioned, a great blue heron made an appearance, along with a red headed woodpecker.

The website lists many other animals that call the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge home, including foxes, black bears, and various other birds and reptiles, including a few vulnerable or endangered species. Given the wetlands habitat and the lakes, I could easily imagine the area teeming with wildlife during the warmer months of the year. The trails also featured some amazing trees, some arching into the sky above the path.

Lone tree — Arching over you as you hike

Hiking Review

The trails at the WNWR would be a great area to introduce little ones to the joys of hiking and wildlife viewing, due to the easy path surface, although the full length of the trails might be a bit long for shorter legs. Fortunately, the Red and White Trails have their own parking areas and would be ideal for a quick walk in the woods. If you’re interested in viewing wildlife, I would recommend waiting until spring or summer. All in all, if you want to get away from your getaway in the busy town of Myrtle Beach, the Refuge is a great place to find some peace.

Hiking the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge pin

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Backyard Oasis

Building a Cooler Cart – Part 3

December 17, 2020February 3, 2021
by The Casual Outdoorist

Welcome to Part 3! We’re almost ready to relax in the backyard, enjoying an ice cold beverage. First, I’ll show you how to finish building a cooler cart to keep them at that icy refreshing temperature. In Part 1, I modified the structure of a free grill cart to better fit the (also free) cooler. Part 2 showed how to panel the sides and back and install a drain. Now we’ll complete the paneling, make the lid, and add some interior storage and some finishing touches.

In case you missed it:
Building a Cooler Cart – Part 1
Building a Cooler Cart – Part 2

Step 1 – Finish the front paneling

The front was slightly more complicated because I wanted to add a hatch for some interior storage. The cart is much longer than the cooler and it would be a shame for that extra space to go to waste. First, I added a vertical support in line with the end of the cooler using some of the wood that we removed in part 1.

To frame out the cooler, I added a 2×4 between this vertical support and the rear paneling. This will also give it support for the top panels over the storage compartment. Be sure that the vertical support and this 2×4 are level with the rest of the cart.

Tabletop support — Support for the tabletop

Next I measured and cut the top two panels of the cooler section. I installed the top panel, attaching it with nails using my Ridgid 18V brad nailer. I had seen an idea that I wanted to try, installing strong magnets in the wood below the bottle opener to catch bottlecaps as they fall. In my case, this did not work because the magnets I had on hand were not strong enough. However, if you’d like to try it, you can find some strong neodymium (rare earth) magnets and install them like I did below.

I drilled holes slightly larger than the magnets and glued them in with Gorilla Glue in a grid pattern so I would have a larger area to catch the bottlecaps.

Next, I cut and installed the remaining paneling. Again, like in part 2, I had to rip the width of the bottom board on the table saw to fit flush with the bottom of the legs. I cut two small pieces to cover the frame to the right of the storage compartment door.

Front paneling finished — Front paneling is finished!

Step 2 – Making the top

Next, I cut the boards for the top. I wanted at least a 1″ overhang on all sides. Fortunately, it worked out well that the cooler was about three boards deep, so I didn’t have to rip the width of any boards. Cutting all of the boards oversized by a few inches allowed me to test fit them around the cooler and measure the overhang on the front and back. I cut the sides to match that overhang. I went ahead and nailed down the front board so I could flush the others against it.

Next, I traced the pattern below on the next board, so it would fit closer to the cooler’s outside corner. I used an appropriately-sized roll of tape to trace the curve.

I cut this with the jigsaw and test-fit it against the cooler. In retrospect, this could have been trimmed a little closer to the cooler so there would be less of a gap. To be fair, though, the front of the cooler had a slight curve rather than being straight. I trimmed the other end of the board to give the proper overhang and installed the board.

Cut around the corner — This cut could be closer.

The center board only needed to be cut to length for the overhang. I repeated the process to trim and install the other center boards, and then attached the rear board. The tabletop is now complete!

Step 3 – Storage compartment door

With the top in place, the storage compartment opening could be measured for the door. It was about 8 1/4″ wide and two boards tall. To allow space for the door to open and close, I decided to leave an 1/8″ gap all around.

Measuring the door frame — Measuring the storage door frame.

I cut two scrap boards to 8″ long and cut 1/8″ off the width of each with the table saw. I used a scrap piece of 1×4 to join the two boards to make the door, nailing them together with the brad nailer. We will install the door later, along with the hardware.

Step 4 – The cooler lid

The cooler lid would be a framed box that would be hinged, allowing it to fit flush over the cooler itself. With the lid in place, I measured the height of the lid, plus the thickness of a scrap 1×4. This gives us the height of the sides of the lid box at 2 1/2″.

Measuring height of the lid — Measuring for the height of the side pieces

I cut pieces of 1×4 to the length and width of the cooler lid, then ripped them to 2 1/2″ wide on the table saw. The front and back pieces are longer so they will overlap the side pieces (see the pic below). I also cut two more pieces to fit across the top of the lid, which will provide support to attach the lid to the box. These are lined up with the cup holders in the lid. I test fit all of the pieces before assembling.

Since it would be subject to more movement than the rest of the cart, I glued the boards with water-resistant Gorilla wood glue before nailing them together with brads.

Gluing the framing — Glue reinforces the lid framing

More wood glue reinforced the 1×6 boards that made up the top of the lid box. I continued the boards across to cover the box.

Lid box top paneling — Paneling the top of the box

With the box complete, I turned it over with the lid still inside. Where the cup holders are, inside there was a small dimple, giving me a placement for the screws to attach the lid to the box. I used 3″ screws with a washer to prevent them from pulling through the plastic.

In the picture below, you can see where the screws line up with the frame pieces in the box. The lid box is now complete and ready to be attached.

Step 5 – Hardware and finishing touches

Before installing the hardware, I gave all of the edges a light sanding to take off any splinters or rough spots. I painted all of the hardware with gloss black spray paint.

With the lid in place to ensure it fits snugly on the cooler, I attached the hinges to the rear of the lid box, then to the tabletop.

I found this set of two paper towel holders on Amazon. The rustic black pipe look complements the bare wood of the paneling well. I installed one on each side of the cart.

Pro-tip: These towel holder screw into the flange clockwise (righty-tighty), so install them with the flange to the left. This way, any weight on the towel arm will only tighten it rather than loosen it.

I installed storage door hinges and handle, and mounted it in the door frame. Make sure it doesn’t bind on any edges. I also added a magnetic catch inside to hold the door closed (not shown). The lid box got its own handle, and I attached a bottle opener. If you use the magnet trick to catch the bottlecaps, make sure to place the opener just above them.

Remaining hardware installed — The remaining hardware is installed

Building a cooler cart is a simple and rewarding project!

It provides a useful and stylish way to store those cold drinks on a hot summer day. You can also show off your skills by building a cooler cart. Ours proudly stands near the grill on our deck, ready to serve up icy refreshment!

Cooler cart complete — In its place of honor

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Backyard Oasis

Building a Cooler Cart – Part 2

December 17, 2020February 3, 2021
by The Casual Outdoorist

Picture this: you’re relaxing in your backyard, enjoying some time with family and friends. It’s hot out, and your mouth starts to get a bit dry – parched, even. You reach for an ice cold beverage from your very own cooler cart… <SLURP> Ahhh… refreshing. Your friends are impressed and you tell them all about building a cooler cart.

In part 1 of this project, I showed how to take a broken grill cart and fix it up to give us the structure for our cooler cart. I also showed some design considerations that would come in handy for the later steps. In this post, we’ll look at the built-in cooler drainage and start paneling the sides and back of the cart.

In case you missed it:
Building a Cooler Cart – Part 1

Step 1 – Start paneling

So somehow I missed taking a photo of this step. Using treated 1x6s, I cut them to the length of each side and attached them with a brad nailer. (Side note, I love my Ridgid 18V brad nailer! No more dealing with compressors and air hoses!) I added boards until I was close to the bottom edge. Because of the swivel casters, I would not be able to go past the edge of the legs, so I ripped the last board to the proper width on the table saw. I did the same for both sides, and the first two boards of the back, so there was a small gap between the board and the shelf.

Sides done and the top boards of the back

A gap for the drain pipe — I left a gap for our drain pipe.

Step 2 – Create the drain

Test-fitting some scrap pipes, I found that 1/2″ schedule 40 PVC fit snugly over the cooler drain. I assembled the parts below. A 90° elbow turns the pipe to drain out the back, and the valve allows it to be opened and closed. I didn’t glue the fittings in case anything needs to be replaced later.

I test-fit the drain assembly to ensure it would fit in the space and clear through the gap between the board and shelf.

Step 3 – Notch and continue paneling

With the drain in place, I measured the board above to mark where to notch out the board below. In this case, I could notch out a 1″ square between 13-14″ from the edge of the board.

I cut the next board to length and marked where I would need to notch out, then cut it with the jigsaw.

I temporarily removed the drain so I could attach the next board. The picture below shows the drain reinstalled, to ensure it fits properly. The drain pipe extends about an inch past the back panel.

With the drain notch in the proper place, I again removed the drain to finish paneling the back. Again, I needed to rip the bottom board to the proper width to match both sides.

Step 4 – Securing the drain

I didn’t do this step until much later in the project, but I would advise doing it at this step instead. To secure the drain pipe to prevent any stress when opening or closing the valve, I added a support block underneath and secured it with a pipe strap. I test-fit the block’s position under the pipe, and added the strap so it will be clear of the valve handle. Before installing, I ran some Gorilla Glue around the inside of the drain pipe and fitted it onto the cooler drain, then strapped it down snugly.

Finally with the drain in place and secured, I added a little more Gorilla Glue around the joint between the cooler drain and the pipe. You could also use silicone sealer. This will not be holding a lot of pressure, so it just needs to protect against any major leaks.

With the drain in place, we are ready next time to complete the siding, top, and cooler lid. We’ll look at adding some interior storage and a few nice hardware accessories.

Building a Cooler Cart – Part 3

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Backyard Oasis

Building a Cooler Cart – Part 1

December 17, 2020February 3, 2021
by The Casual Outdoorist

The backyard is a wonderful place to hang out with friends, host parties, and just plain relax. And you’ve gotta stay hydrated, right? What better way to store your tall frosty beverages than in a stylish and functional cooler cart? We’ll be talking about building a cooler cart for your own backyard sanctuary. In addition to hiding the cooler, this design also includes:

a small counter space (for tea pitchers, etc.)
built-in drainage for the cooler
an extra storage compartment
holders for paper towels. Because… kids.

The idea for this project came from two items that I found for free on craigslist. The first was a cooler with broken hinges, which was perfect because we won’t be using them anyway. The second was a broken homemade grill cart. The previous owner said they made it to fit a Big Green Egg or similar grill. It had good bones and could just use some tightening to be structurally sound.

Because I used a pre-existing cart, I won’t be providing exact measurements for this project. Rather, I will be focusing more on the process and considerations that went into its design. If you plan to build the cart yourself, I would suggest reading through these steps in Part 1 before you start to build. The pictures and some of the ideas may save you some headaches later on.

Step 1 – Prep the cart

This part isn’t really necessary if you’re building your cart from scratch, but I removed all of the parts that made up the top of the cart, since we will be replacing that anyway. I set aside some of the larger pieces to be used later.

Unneeded parts removed — The top, front and back boards removed

After removing the front and back skirt boards, I noticed that the side boards stuck out a little past the cart’s legs. I marked where the edges should be, removed the boards, and cut them to size. Safety tip: If you have screws sticking out like the picture below, make sure to remove them before cutting the board!

Side board to trim — The board is marked to cut to the width of the cart sides. Watch out for those screws!

After cutting, before I reinstalled the boards, I drilled a large, shallow hole so the head of the carriage bolts would be inset below the surface of the board. This is so we can install the siding boards over it later.

Trimmed and reinstalled — Much better! Note the inset carriage bolts.

Step 2 – Determine the shelf height

We want the cooler box to sit flush with the top of the cart counter. I placed the cooler – without the lid – on the shelf and a scrap piece of 1-by lumber on top of the side, to represent the thickness of the counter. The cooler was exactly one inch higher than the top edge of the scrap, so the shelf would need to be lowered by that much.

Testing the shelf height — Checking the cooler height

I removed the shelf from the sides and drilled new mounting holes one inch lower (on center), in both sides. Again, I drilled out a shallow hole so the bolts will be slightly inset.

Lowered shelf holes — Side panel with the new holes to lower the shelf

After reattaching the shelf, the cooler was flush with the scrap piece.

Lowered shelf - the cooler is flush — Mission accomplished!

Step 3 – Prep for siding

The siding needs a flat surface to attach to, so I added a couple of 1x6s to pad out the legs to be flush with the horizontal boards. If building your cart from scratch, you will want to take this into account.

Next steps…

That’s it for the structure of the cooler cart! Hopefully this should give you an idea of what you’ll need to start the build. Two main points to keep in mind: install the shelf so the cooler will be flush with the top counter, and make sure the sides are nice and flat to attach the siding. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments!

Join me in the next parts where we’ll finish building a cooler cart by adding the drainage, siding and hardware.

Building a Cooler Cart – Part 2

Building a Cooler Cart – Part 3

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Conservation

Visiting the NC Zoo in a Pandemic

September 3, 2020October 16, 2020
by The Casual Outdoorist

We love the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro! It’s a great place to encourage a love of the outdoors in kids. Unfortunately, like many other places, the Zoo has been closed for the past few months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of June 15, the Zoo reopened to the public during Phase 2 of the NC governor’s Safer at Home plan, with many safety precautions in place. We visited on August 11, and I wanted to share our experience to help others with visiting the NC Zoo in a pandemic.

Planning in a Pandemic

There are a lot of changes to be aware of before you plan your trip. I hope to help you decide if it’s the right time for your family.

You must reserve tickets for a specific date and entry time.

The park is at a limited capacity per day. When you book your tickets online or on the phone, you must choose a specific date and entry time. Also, you must arrive within up to 30 minutes after your time. The staggered entry times help reduce crowds at the front gate. For us, Asheboro is about a 3-hour drive, so plan your arrival time carefully. Tickets are not available for walk-up purchase. Regardless of your entry time, you can stay in the zoo until closing time.

Arctic Fox — Don’t oversleep and miss your entry time!

Yes, face masks are required for all members of your group over age 11.

You are visiting the NC Zoo in a pandemic, after all! However, it’s okay to remove them when outside and you’re able to distance yourself at least six feet from other visitors not in your group. We just pulled them down for some breathing room while there weren’t other visitors around us on the trails between exhibits.

Reciprocal memberships are not currently accepted for admission.

As members of the NC Aquarium, we can usually get into the NC Zoo for free. However, during this initial reopening stage, they are not accepting any admission discount except for the NC Zoo membership. We decided to pay the regular admission price because the education, research and conservation programs that the zoo supports are causes that we believe in.

One thing to note, in the gift shop, I asked about their discount for NC Aquarium members and the cashier honored it. I don’t know if this is policy or if we got a cashier that was especially dedicated to customer service.

Not all exhibits are open at this time.

Some areas are impractical to maintain the limited capacity and social distancing required by law, so these exhibits and activities are temporarily closed. While we understood this ahead of time, it was still disappointing, because it includes some of our favorite areas. Generally, this includes all indoor habitats and dining areas, high-touch outdoor areas such as playgrounds, and most of their separately-ticketed activities. For a complete list, see the NC Zoo’s Visit page.

Bird in aviary — The Aviary is one of the exhibits that is currently closed.

Entry is only at the North American entrance.

The NC Zoo consists of a North American side and an African side, each with their own entrance. In the middle is Junction Plaza, which acts as a transition between the two areas. To control visitor flow, they have temporarily closed the African entrance, and all visitors enter at North America. However, you are still able to view all open exhibits on both sides. The usual tram service is currently limited to only one-way from Junction Plaza to the North American entrance.

Our Experience

So, what was it like, visiting the NC Zoo in a pandemic?

Ticketing and Entry

The online ticket purchasing process was clear and smooth. I selected a date and entry time, entered how many tickets per adult and children, and paid with my card. We received the tickets as a pdf attachment with a receipt via email. Unfortunately, Hurricane Isaias interfered with our scheduled visit. However, I called the zoo ticketing office a few days before and they were very helpful in moving our tickets’ date and time to a week later. The ticket staff member instructed to delete the email with our old tickets and sent a new one with the updated entry date/time.

We arrived shortly after the start of our entry time slot of 9:30am. A (socially distanced) crowd waited for the 10am time slot to open, but we were able to walk right to the front of a separate line, show our tickets, and enter the park.

Zoo Exhibits

Much like in many stores lately, they have defined a specific walking path through the park, with directional arrows to reduce crowding. In the North America section, this path generally follows the usual route through the habitats and leads you to Junction Plaza. From there, the African side makes one big loop. There are a few detours from the usual path, but unless you’ve visited the zoo before, you may not even notice. Once we got back to Junction Plaza, we were able to take the tram back to the North American station.

If you have visited the NC Zoo before, one thing you’ll have noticed is the variety of bronze statues and other nature-related artwork. These usually make for great photo-ops of the kids riding on a bison or hugging a chimpanzee. However, for that very reason, all of the statues have been covered with plastic sheeting or surrounded by plastic fencing. (Even the tiny bronze snake hanging off the guard rail outside the path to the chimp habitat!)

Restaurants and Shops

When stopping for lunch, your only seating option is outside. They have arranged all of the tables to maintain a safe distance from each other. We got pizza from one of the restaurants at Junction Plaza. The ordering line was inside the building, with social distancing markings on the floor. I have to say, the pizza was expensive (about $4/slice) and not very good, but about what I’ve come to expect from restaurants at zoos, theme parks, etc.

When we returned to the North America entrance, the kids wanted to visit the gift shop (big surprise!). A staff member at the door kept track of how many people were in the store at a given time. She allowed more visitors in as others exited. Within the store, there were distancing markings at the check-out lines and plexiglass barriers in front of the cash registers.

Overall Opinion

It was somewhat disappointing that we couldn’t see everything that the NC Zoo normally offers, particularly the indoor exhibits, but I would still say it was worth the trip. The zoo staff have a good system to allow visitors to experience as much as possible while maintaining safe distancing. At some exhibits, there was occasional minor crowding, but generally this was due to other visitors not respecting personal space. Once or twice, I had to move away when others came uncomfortably close. However, at no point did I feel unsafe for myself or my family.

So, should you and your family visit while the pandemic restrictions are in place? You should carefully weigh the following two considerations:

Am I or anyone in my family at high risk for COVID-19 infection? Like any other tourist attraction, the NC Zoo brings in people from all over, and this may increase the chances of exposure.
Is it worth paying the full price of admission if several of the exhibits are currently closed? Also, are you willing to pay the full price if you could otherwise get a discount or free admission using a reciprocal membership, such as the NC Aquariums?

So that’s our experience with visiting the NC Zoo during a pandemic. Have you visited the NC Zoo during this crazy time? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments!

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Outdoor Activities

5 Ways to Instill a Love of the Outdoors in Children

July 8, 2020October 16, 2020
by The Casual Outdoorist

Ah, kids. Who doesn’t enjoy watching them run and play in the park, shout excitedly while pointing at a favorite animal at the zoo, climb that tall tree with the spindly branches in the backyard (wait, don’t do that. Your mom will kill me.). It doesn’t matter whether you’re a parent, the “cool” aunt/uncle, a teacher, or a volunteer with a community organization. The outdoors calls to us, and we love watching the next generation following in our footsteps. We want to instill a love of the outdoors in our children.

So how, in a world of video games and social media, do we teach children the joy of unplugging and getting outside? The draw of these digital dopamine dispensers is extremely powerful, especially for those exposed to them from an early age. Having grown up in the age of Atari, I get it, and I’m not opposed to recreational gaming. (For those not born in the 80’s, this was back when video game controllers had only one joystick and one button.) These days, it’s becoming increasingly important to counter the time spent in front of a screen with time spent in nature, as a way of providing balance in kids’ lives. So how can we instill a love of the outdoors in children? Here are some ideas:

Start Early and Often

As with all things, we learn best when we start from an early age. Babies and toddlers are adorable little sponges who soak up everything that they’re exposed to. Sure, they may not have a full understanding of what they’re looking at, but on some level, connections are being made in their brain that will be reinforced later. Our daughter, Nature Girl, loves to be outside and see all of the animals and plants in our yard, and we make it a priority to point out any new creatures that we find.

One day, following a hard rain, I found a crawfish walking across our driveway, apparently having made its way from a nearby pond. I captured it in a tub with some water so Nature Girl and Soccer Boy could see it. Later, we took it down to the pond and I explained that we were taking the crawfish to its home. As we released it into the water, Nature Girl said “bye shish!” Years from now, she may not remember releasing “shish” into the pond, but this occasion formed the basis for a lifelong relationship with nature.

Another key part of the learning process is repetition. Not every learning experience will be a life-changing event, so it’s important to keep hitting the smaller lessons in a variety of ways. This will build up and reinforce the foundation that we want to create. Some attempts may be hit or miss, so the more ways the lesson can be presented, the better our chance of success.

Engage their Senses

By changing up our approach to teaching our children about the outdoors, we can find which works best for them. This is also a great way to connect with our kids and learn what makes them tick! Some are great book learners, while others are more visual or experiential. Studies have shown that the more senses you can involve in a lesson, the better you will retain it. This is great for us because the outdoors are full of sensory information! In a single teachable moment around a campfire, kids can experience the following:

The orange flickering light from the fire, casting shadows on the bright colors of your tent, against the backdrop of brown, grey and green forest.
The crackling and popping of the firewood, and the sizzle of roasted hot dogs and flaming marshmallows (you might want to blow that one out.)
The smokey smell from the campfire, along with the cooking food.
The cool chill of the night air against your back and the heat of the fire warming your feet and hands.
The taste of campfire-cooked hot dogs and charred marshmallows. (Next time you’ll blow it out sooner. Told you.)

Together, all of these combine into a very vivid, very real experience, much more than could be had from sitting in front of a screen. And this is only a small instant from that camping trip.

Invest in Experiences

This is probably one of the best ways to instill a love of the outdoors in children. The Bible says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21, NIV). It is true that we put our money into the things that are important to us. To encourage our children to love the outdoors, this means investing in outdoor experiences or the gear to go with them. North Carolina has a set of amazing aquariums and we purchased the family membership to the North Carolina Aquarium Society. This membership allows us free admission to any of the NC aquariums and the NC Zoo, along with other discounts and benefits. It’s a win-win, because we are also supporting a cause that we believe in – education and conservation.

Of course, this will depend on what your family is into. Our son loves to play soccer, so the school team and rec league are other things that we make a priority. If you have young children who haven’t yet found their passion, try a few different things, while keeping them focused on the outdoors.

If they’re not settled on a specific activity, you can probably keep the cost low for now. Try a sport for a single season (or just a few games if you can). Rent some kayaks for a few hours. Buy (or borrow!) only some basic camping gear to start with. You can always get more and/or better equipment later, if their interest really takes off. Pro Tip: Memberships, trips, outdoor gear, etc. also make for great gift suggestions to tell the grandparents or other relatives for birthdays or holidays!

Slow it Down

The other day, I was playing in the inflatable pool with Nature Girl, splashing and enjoying the cool water. After a while, she tired of the slide and lay with her arms on the side of the pool, watching the bees buzzing among the clover flowers. “Hey bee!… Hey bee!” she said, greeting each one that she saw. Some might react, “oh, she’s bored. Time to move on to the next toy or activity.” and would have missed out on an important opportunity.

In her own two-year-old way, Nature Girl had become a little scientist, observing the world around her and trying to connect with it. She may not have known the type of bee, but by slowing down, she was able to see it in a level of detail more than just the cartoon pictures in toddler books. She may not have known the name of the flower, but she could observe the bees’ behavior as they visited each flower, crawling over it before flying off to the next one. Observation leads to understanding, and her “hey bee!” was an attempt to connect. The bees may not have reacted to it, but it opens the way for future interactions, such as planting other flowers that they like, or building a bee hotel.

Watching my daughter, I also found myself relaxing and reflecting on what she might be learning and experiencing for the first time. Had I pushed her on to another activity, we both would have missed out on an opportunity to learn and appreciate a small part of creation.

Embrace the “Good,” the “Bad,” and the “Ugly”

Overcome with thirst, the zebra dips down for a drink at the water’s edge, unaware of the danger that lurks below. In an explosive lunge, the crocodile bursts forth, barely missing its prey. Slowly, it sinks back below the surface to wait for another victim.
(Read this in David Attenborough’s voice.)

From an early age, we are conditioned to see some animals as “good” and some as “bad.” We’re usually pretty pro-mammal, and especially the cute and cuddly ones. However, it’s critical to teach that these other creatures also have an important place in the world. Ecology doesn’t see “good” or “bad.” Some snakes, for example, keep the rodent population under control. Vultures (which fall solidly into the “ugly” category) perform an essential clean-up service.

We’re talking about teaching respect for all living things. True, from a safety standpoint, that respect may also include some healthy caution. Some animals are dangerous after all. I wouldn’t want my toddler to pick up a snake, but it would be wonderful for her to observe it from a safe distance. The more complex education will come later, such as identifying the type of snake, venomous or not, etc.

Banded water snake — A banded water snake

To instill a love of the outdoors in children involves their understanding. Education is an important part of preventing this bias against “bad” or “ugly” creatures. Why does the vulture look the way it does? What do snakes to to help our environment? Again, you can include as many senses as you can. Why do flowers smell sweet? Why does that mushroom stink? There is a purpose for all of these things, and learning about them will open a broader world for your child.

Instill a Love of the Outdoors in Children

By using these techniques, we can teach our children a love and respect for the outdoors. Start them out early and often, using a variety of different activities and senses. Invest in memberships, equipment and activities that encourage kids to enjoy their time outside. Every now and then, allow them to slow down and take time to really notice the world around them. And don’t forget, even if a creature isn’t cute and cuddly, it still plays an important role in the environment. These lessons support a lifestyle that loves being outside.