Great Outdoor Blog

by Amanda McGuire, Charlotte Staff

“As soon as he saw the Big Boots, Pooh knew that an Adventure was going to happen.”

Getting your kids into the Great Outdoors can lead to a lifetime love of nature and a variety of outdoor activities. Hiking is a great way to introduce even small children to the outdoors.

Plan Ahead: Do your research and choose a trail that will offer you and your kids plenty of chances to engage with nature. You might be able to tempt older kids with the promise of a great view or a waterfall at the end of the hike, but younger kids may need more “highlights” along the path, like a lake, stream or boulders at the midway point. Get out a map and making planning a family affair, so that kids can see where they’ll be going and what they’ll be seeing along the way.

Be Prepared: Be sure to bring plenty of snacks and water for everyone, as well as the proper clothes and shoes for conditions. Consider long sleeves and sunscreen for sunny days, bug sprays or permethrin-treated layers for woods and grasslands, and rain gear for way days. Kid-sized packs or Camelbaks will allow them to feel involved by carrying some of their own gear or lunch.

Keep it Fun: A hiking trip is the perfect time for games of all sorts. Trails offer unlimited opportunities for scavenger hunts or spirited rounds of I Spy. It’s also a great chance to indulge imagination by pretending to be explorers or adventurers. If you’ve got a GPS unit, try your hand at geocaching.

Slow Down: Children see and experience the world differently than adults do, so slow down and take it at their pace. Keep in mind that the goal is not to finish the mileage or bag the summit, but to experience nature along the way. Take time for long breaks to explore fallen logs, check out the bugs living in puddles, or have a long talk about what the birds might be saying to the squirrels.

Leave No Trace: Teach kids about the importance of protecting their natural heritage by introducing them to the Leave No Trace and PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) principles.

Start your kids young, and you’ll be giving them the gift of a lifetime in the outdoors, but more importantly, you’ll be sharing a family experience that just can’t be replicated elsewhere. Remember that the journey is the destination, for both you and the kids.

Get in. Get out. Leave behind nothing but…nothing. That’s the philosophy behind LNT—Leave No Trace—backcountry travel. No one wants to bust their chops to get to the back of beyond only to find half-burned candy bar wrappers and whacked off tree branches. Even at popular campsites it’s just as easy to minimize your impact as it is to trash the woods.

But in its original version, LNT was a downer, a bunch of DON’Ts that read like a middle school principal spelling out the rules for the big spring dance. When it comes to camping, though, we’ve all come a long ways from trenching tools and latrines made of lashed poles. Sure, there’s stuff that still ranks a big NOT. Leaving toilet paper on the ground. Cutting standing trees. But we’ve re-tooled a 21st-century version of LNT into a big list of proactive, positive-outcome-calibrated DOs. Now you can be the change. Leave No Trace. Here’s how to vanish from the wilds:

GET IN. Most North Carolina campers can choose from existing campsites, even in fairly remote areas. Better to bed down on a beaten-down tent pad than wreck an undisturbed site—you can always set up the camp kitchen at a scenic vista nearby. Stick to existing fire circles in heavily used areas. If you go off-rail, remember that good campsites are found, not made. Look for a spot just large enough for the tent. The standard LNT mantra is to forgo the fire, but if you go with the burn, prepare a fire site by shovelling out a layer of soil and surface plants and setting aside. Learn to use a map and compass or a GPS. Flagging tape is so yesteryear.

GET OUT. Before you break camp, burn all wood completely. Kids love this job, so give ‘em a stick and make sure they push every little stub into the fire. Saturate the ashes, then scatter them. If you scraped out a fire pit, replace the sod, and toss leaves and twigs over the spot. Scour the camp for tiny bits of micro-trash. This is another great job for kids—offer an ice-cream-cone reward for whoever can find the most micro-trash, stuff like snippets of foil and paper, egg shell fragments, and sippy-cup straw wrappers. Remove all cordage from trees, even if you didn’t place it there. Naturalize the site before you leave. Rake matted grasses and leaves with a branch. Bring in rocks and sticks to hide your tent site. And the same rule applies no matter how near or far to civilization you camp: Pack it in, pack it out. Yes, that means banana peels, apple cores, egg shells, and cigar butts. If it wasn’t there when Columbus landed—or was it Erik the Red?—remove it.

IN THE MOUNTAINS:
Camp just below ridge tops to keep your tent from being so visible by others—you’ll still have a killer view. Burn smaller sticks and burn all wood completely to avoid leaving burned stubs behind. Use a tent with a tub-style floor; you’ll never dig a drainage trench again.

AT THE COAST:
Always build fires below the high tide line. Camp away from the toe of sand dunes. When fishing with live or cut bait, toss shrimp shells and leftover fish in zippered plastic bags and pack out; raccoons and foxes are attracted to such trash, and then prey on sea turtles. Leave any eggs you find on the sand alone; beach-nesting birds rarely build nests.

ON THE WATER:
Carry dirty dish-cleaning water away from the stream and campsite; the next camper doesn’t want to filter water soiled with your leftover spaghetti noodles. Scatter ashes into a strong current and camouflage the fire site with sand.

THE GOODS:
It’s no surprise that Great Outdoor Provision Co. keeps stock on what it takes to get you into the woods. But we also carry what you need to get out of wilds without giving Mother Nature a bad hair day. Check out these easy-on-the-land ideas the next time you’re headed outside.

P-cord and S-biners
Once upon a time, hanging a lantern or pot-holder was as simple as driving a nail into a tree. What were we thinking? String a length of parachute cord around a tree trunk and slip on a few S-biners to hold whatever needs holding.

Cooking stoves
Instead of a fire, cook on one of our high-performance cookstoves. Our stores stock stoves from the one-person MSR Pocket Rocket (don’t forget to pack out the gas canisters!) to the Primus Atle double burner, almost big enough to handle Kate, her 8 kids, and a couple of “Survivor” rejects.

Gourmet freeze-dried foods
This ain’t your daddy’s stroganoff. Kung Pao Chicken. Pad Thai. Check out our aisle of backcountry grub and you’ll find stuff good enough to serve at your next indoor supper club. (MULEteam members SAVE 10% on foods)

Therm-a-rest Trekker Chair
You could drag a fallen tree down the creek bank for a makeshift camp chair. Or you could not.

And here are three items that will you help you forget that you never started a campfire:

• Stare at the stars instead of a fire with the Miller Planisphere. Dial up the direction you’re looking, and the mysteries of the heavens reveal themselves.
• Load up on some of our many camp-friendly games such as locally made PHD Discs and the Ogo Sport Games.
• Bunk in a North Face Dolomite or a Mountain Hardwear Flip, cushioned with a Therm-a-rest sleeping pad. These rectangular sleeping bags can be doubled up for a bag built for two. Make your own fire.

Under the direction of Tom and Becca Valone, Great Outdoor Provision Co. has provided Friends of State Parks with a significant grant designed to establish the Junior Ranger Program here in our State. You can download the Jr. Ranger Activity Guide here. (Great for Labor Day weekend excursions!)

Because of these funds our State Parks have been able to reach hundreds of children to encourage environmental awareness. We hope and expect that, as future citizens, these young people will retain their interest in environmental matters and grow up as outdoor enthusiasts.

For over 35 years the passion for outdoor adventure has driven our business. Scouting’s contribution goes back even farther. As an Eagle Scout and the father of two boys who have been positively touched by Scouting, Tom Valone established Scout Week to celebrate Scouts and their role in our communities.

Join us for Scout Benefit Week – May 1-9

• Register  to WIN a Scout Summer Camp Scholarship
• SAVE on Great Camping Gear
• Scouts DOUBLE their Discount to SAVE 20% on Camping Gear!
• Scout Week Speaker Series in Winston-Salem – May 3-7

Backpacker Magazine, the authority on outdoor adventure, is bringing its widely celebrated Get Out More Tour presented by Woolrich to Wilmington, NC on April 20, 2010. The Tour’s renowned team members, Randy and Sheri Propster, will visit Wilmgington as the tour makes its way to 73 venues in 48 states, inspiring more than 55,000 hikers and backpackers to get out and explore the great outdoors!

What: Backpacker Magazine’s Get Our More Tour
When: Tuesday, April 20 @ 7pm
Where: Great Outdoor Provision Co. – Hanover Center, Wilmington
Who: Randy and Sheri Propster, Get Out More Tour Hosts
Cost: Free!
For more information, go to: www.getoutmore2010.com

The Get Out More team is offering in-depth, 60-minute presentations at retail locations and festivals across the country, inspiring both the expert and beginner with their seasoned advice.

Informative and fun presentations will cover a range of topics including:

• Essentials of backpacking
• The latest in gear and apparel
• Survival Skills
• Trail-tested tips

Giveaways at each retail location will offer participants the chance to win the latest in outdoor gear and apparel, worth hundreds of dollars!

Just in: The perfect toys for nighttime games and the people (and pets) who like to play them.

• Nite Ize Meteorlight K-9 LED Ball
• Nite Ize Flashflight Dog Discuit
• Nite Ize Meteorlight LED Ball
• Nite Ize Flashflight Flying Disc

From Zing Toys, we present the Zyclone Zing Ring Blaster. The Zyclone may look cartoon-like with it’s gaudy colors but don’t let the looks deceive you. This is one seriously cool toy projectile launcher! The Zyclone will launch a spinning Zing Ring with a near flat trajectory over 120 ft. The Zing Ring itself is made of a lightweight foam that is quite safe but recommended for outdoor use – primarily because it flies so far. While the Zyclone is designed for kids ages 6 and up, we think “grown ups” will also have loads of fun with this amazing outdoor toy.

Image courtesy thiswaytonature.com

Celebrate the outdoors with Daniel Ripperton and thiswaytonature.com, a site which encourages parents to get their kids outdoors. Daniel, an Eagle Scout from Chapel Hill, NC created the site as a part of his Eagle Scout Project with Troop 9. The site contains information on local natural areas where parents can take their kids to get outdoors for fun, recreation and education.

One of the most simple yet engaging outdoor toys we’ve seen in a long time. The Mini Sport Disc is a small 12′ diameter disc with a tight and stretchy membrane in the center. This membrane is so springy that you can use it to bounce a small object (such as the included rubber ball) up to 150 feet! The basic idea is a game of catch but the possibilities are only limited by one’s imagination. The Mini Super Sport Disc is addictive and will also get you some exercise while outdoors. We also stock the Ogo Sport Copter Dart Game.

A video of the Discs in action:

by Mike & Amanda, Charlotte Staff 

Tips and Tricks for “gourmet” dining in the backcountry:

• Plan for three meals and 2-3 snacks per day (breakfast, mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, dinner, evening snack)
• No dieting or cutting carbs in the backcountry! You need plenty of carbs and proteins to fuel your body, balanced with sodium and fats.
• Separate food into packets for each meal and clearly label them; re-package items that are too bulky and keep the directions.
• Multiple ingredients can be stored in one bag; just tie off a corner to separate them until use.
• Add some variety to your menu. By the fourth day in, you’ll be sick of the same old thing.
• Condiment packets of hot sauce, ketchup, mayo, relish and margarine will keep well and give you a good serving size.
• Tortillas and pitas make a great alternative to bread.
• Cured meats and hard cheeses travel well in the backcountry.
• Package eggs carefully to avoid breaking. They will keep in moderate temperatures.
• Dried herbs and spices can add punch and variety to any meal.
  • Mexican – chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, oregano, onion powder, coriander, crushed red pepper, garlic powder and black pepper
  • Italian - dried basil, dried marjoram, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, rosemary, crushed red pepper flake
  • Indian – Cumin, ground ginger, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, turmeric, black pepper
  • Creole – chili powder, garlic, parsley, salt, thyme, cayenne pepper
  • Thai – chili pepper, ginger, coriander, red pepper flakes, cumin, cinnamon, star anise, salt, garlic, dried lemon peel, dried shallots

Menu suggestions for great packable, easy-to-use foods:

• Meats – summer sausage, packaged meats (tuna, shrimp, salmon, chicken), beef jerky, salami, pre-cooked bacon
• Dry Goods – Pasta, rice, couscous, lentils, instant potatoes, beans
• Mixes – Soups, sauces, hummus, dips.
• Add-ins – Dried mushrooms and tomatoes, dried fruits, nuts, honey, peanut butter, Nutella, granola
• Breakfast – quick-cook cereals like oatmeal, grits or cream of wheat,
• Breads – bagels, flat bread, tortillas, wraps, pita bread.
• Drinks – Cider, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, drink mixes.

A Typical Daily Menu:

Breakfast: Amanda’s Power Oatmeal

• 1 package instant oatmeal
• 3 tablespoons applesauce OR peanut butter
• Assorted mix-ins (dried fruit, granola, nuts)
• ½ cup water

Heat water to a boil. In serving bowl, mix dry oatmeal mix and dried fruit. Add water and allow to hydrate for approx. 2 minutes. Stir in applesauce or peanut butter. Stir in granola or nuts.

Morning Snack: Granola bar and dried cranberries

Lunch: Wraps with cheese and pepperoni and a Snickers bar

Afternoon Snack: Power Bar

Dinner: Mike’s Couscous “burritos”

• Tortillas or wraps
• 1 pkg. couscous (flavored or plain)
• Cheese
• Meats or dried veggies to add in

Heat water to a boil, then add meat and/or dried veggies. Remove from heat and add couscous and flavorings (packaged or your own blend). The couscous will hydrate in about five minutes. Roll into wraps “Colorado style.”

Dessert: Backpacker’s Pantry Hot Apple Cobbler and Hot Cider Toddies