Exploring history while camping!

There are so many things in life that challenge us daily. Camping is perceived as a challenge and it's really not.
I am disappointed that more of us don't do it.  Camping is worth it!! 
We're back in the Low Country islands of the Gullah Geechee People (St. Helena S.C).  and this time we are joined by our family. Whom we haven't been camping with for many years. Our first night was a long one! Filled with laughter and joy which lasted into the wee hours of the morning. I am always amazed at the level of relaxation I'm able to achieve while camping. I am generally a bit hyper and tend to keep moving until it's time for me to sleep, but in the woods my body slows down and I find that I can become still and take in all the beauty of my surroundings. 
Here in the South Carolina islands there is much to see and do. First the beauty of palm trees and live oaks with their Spanish moss blowing in the warm tropical breeze. With the ocean warm and inviting.  
The sand dunes are filled with loggerhead turtle nests, and are preparing for there journey to the sea.
Long stretches of soft sand, perfect for romantic walks or morning runs if your so inclined. 
And there is the rich Gullah history here and the basket weavers who still use their talent that was passed down to them from the ancestors.
St. Helena Island is one place everyone of us should visit, and making it a camping excursion is the way to go in my book. So unplug and let your body and soul take in all that these beautiful islands have to offer.
Also make sure that you visit Hunting Island State Park with it's beautiful beach and lighthouse.

No If's ands or Butts

 Photo from Discovery news

Have you ever gone camping and arrived on your site to find it littered with cigarette butts?

The same applies to all plastics, fishing line,and worm containers etc.

This post is not about knocking people who smoke. Some people who smoke are very responsible with the butts. 

We just wanted to bring some facts to those who are not so responsible. 
New studies show that cigarette butts can kill fish.

This is a excerpt from the website Cigarettelitter.org 

 Fact:

"[Cigarette butts] also present a threat to wildlife. Cigarette filters have been found in the stomachs of fish, birds, whales and other marine creatures who mistake them for food ... Composed of cellulose acetate, a form of plastic, cigarette butts can persist in the environment as long as other forms of plastic."
--Clean Virginia Waterways

You can also check out this article in the NY times, Cigarette Butts: Tiny Trash That Piles Up.

Our point is: Please dispose of trash properly!!!

The Camping Consultants

 

Giving Thanks

As we begin the holiday season we give thanks.

We are thankful for our families, thankful for  our bounty and our health. 

But do we acknowledge our world, our precious planet and all it provides?

Do we take the time to look at all the different shapes of leaves and colorful hues, or do we simply rake and discard them?

Do we let ourselves enjoy the bright blue sky on a crisp autumn afternoon, or do we rush through it to the warmth of our dwellings?

When do we give mother earth her thanks for all she provides us. 

Our very existence is based upon her. 

While some of us may experience cold snowy days and others rain filled gray skies, let us not miss out on the beauty of it all.

We are thankful for all the enjoyment and pleasure that nature provides, and we are thankful to all of you who read this blog. 

May you have a blessed and bountiful holiday.

The Camping Consultants

Fall and Winter Camping

We love the cooler weather, and still enjoy camping. All you need is the proper equipment and a little know how.

We came across this article written by Rick Curtis, Outdoor Action Program, Princeton University.

The website is the Outdoor Action guide to winter camping.

Everything you need to know from sleeping bags to survival is covered. You may not need to use all of the info, so just tailor it to your particular type of camping whether it be in a tent, pop up camper, trailer or rv.

The Camping Consultants

Things not to do when camping!

Over the years we have had camping experiences with animals.
Deer have attempted to get into plastic bins storing food.
Squirrels have eaten marshmallows left out overnight, but this was the most amazing.
After a day trip sightseeing we headed back to the campground.
Instead of eating out, we wanted to cook a nice dinner and relax.
We were looking forward to our two inch thick new york strip steaks seared on an open fire, you know the old school kind from the butcher wrapped in paper.
When we arrived at our site there were grapes spilled about and muddy prints on our cooler, which we left out but hinged tightly.
The animal had small hands which opened the latches and stolen not just grapes, but our brats and our beautiful steaks. We were outdone, raccoons  raided our cooler.  The more we looked around the more evidence of the crime we discovered.
Well I guess you could say we learned our lesson, now we put our cooler in the car if it has food inside and suggest you do the same. Unless your in bear country which requires a whole lot more. That's a story for another day.
And the morale of the story is don't leave your cooler alone. What if there was wine in there?   


The Camping Consultants

Barefoot on the beach (part 2) /The curse of the banana

This is part two of Barefoot on the beach. 

Deep sea fishing is a all day affair, so we pack a soft cooler like a picnic.

Some boats sell drinks and snacks,

but we're picky eaters so we always bring our own.

Being that it's Florida in summer we also pack rain ponchos just in case it showers, also sun screen and sunglasses.

Our friends have also packed snacks and lunch for the afternoon.

The day begins early, the boat pulls out to sea at six o'clock. It's warm and it's just beginning to brighten up, into what seems to be a great day. We speed away with the boat jumping the waves.

The captain and his mates welcomed everyone aboard and explained where we would be going, and the types of fish we hopefully will catch. When the captain noticed that our friends had brought bananas aboard. The captain tells him that bananas are bad luck  on a fishing boat, and that he needed to get rid of them. That was the first time that we had heard of that superstition, what the captains says is okay in our book.

Our friend laughs, peels the fruit and begins to eat from the bunch. It takes about an hour to reach the fishing area. Our banana eating friend has heaving over the side of the boat the whole time.

Every one has rods ready, we bait up and drop line anticipating our first catch.

The captain sees fish on radar we wait, but nothing happens. So we go further out to sea.

Again we stop and fish and now half the boat is sea sick. Still no fish!

Then it gets worse!!

 (Clouds rolling in)

Out of nowhere the sky turns black and the sun just disappeared.

The wind begins to pick up causing the waves to rock the boat dramatically, but we still fish.

Now almost everyone is sick, and like something out of a movie rain began to pour down upon us tossing the boat about like a toy. We were scared! Everyone was silent or sick as we waited for the storm to pass. Finally after about an hour which felt like a day, we see glimmers of sun as the rain lets up and we head back to the marina. Not one person caught anything.

We were all disappointed except for our still sick friend who was happy to be back on land.

There was no sympathy from the crew or passengers for our banana eating buddy. 

So Don't Eat Bananas on a Fishing Boat!!

The Camping Consultants

Barefoot on the beach

Each summer as with a lot of families, we have our annual summer vacation.

As you would have guessed, ours is a camping vacation. This time we choose St. Augustine, Florida, and stayed at Anastasia state park.

The sites were very tropical, small but cozy. Once settled in we felt as if we were on a tropical island. The history of St. Augustine is rich in culture as in the picture above, this quarry was worked by Native Americans and enslaved Africans. The coquina stone mined from this quarry was then used to build the Castillo De San Marcos fort.

Another site that's rich in history is Fort Mose (pronounced mo' se) the first settlement for freed Africans in North America.

The town is adorable. We toured around on a rented scooter, which was an adventure on it's own.

We followed the path of the tour buses which lead us to the tour sites. We visited the Ponce De Leon fountain of youth (and looking younger for it!), The Castillo De San Marcos fort, just to name a few.  And what a way to top off a day by visiting a local winery for a tour and a wine tasting, a really good wine tasting!

The beach at Anastasia campground was unbelievable, on this visit our footprints were literally the only ones. The beach is breathtaking, the white sand so soft underfoot.
The entire week as we toured various sites around St. Augustine, we listened to one of our favorite cd's Barefoot on the beach.

Where Micheal Franks talks about the beach and the Fountain of youth.  A couple that we've known for decades was coming down to spend the rest of the week with us.
Being from Boston, whenever we go anywhere near the ocean we try to get in a deep sea fishing trip. So we were excited.
Remember camping can be more than roasting marshmallows, It's a inexpensive way to travel and explore new places.
Never underestimate the power of camping, the possibilities are endless.

Stay tuned for part two, our adventure at sea, and what an adventure it was!


The Camping Consultants

How to scale and clean a panfish

This video shows you just how easy it is to scale and clean a panfish.
Panfish taste great, their light and sweet. Their usually the first fish you or your children may catch.
Just use a small hook and a worm and your ready. check out the link for pictures of different types of panfish. So get the frying pan ready.

The Camping Consultants

Have school rules gone to far? (boy gets suspended for camping utensil)

Has political correctness gone too far?
This is the story of a six year old who loves to camp, and took his camping knife( the kind with a fork and spoon) to school to eat lunch. This little boy loves camping so much he eats meals at home with it.

Now he is suspended and faces reform school.

Nature is so lacking in society today. Are the people who make these types of decisions lacking a understanding of nature? Could he be a future science teacher ?

Teachers and school administrators need the flexibility to judge a situation on it's on merit.

Not just a one size fits all or zero tolerance for this type of infraction. We understand the need for safety in our schools.

Here's a quote from the article on msnbc,

"Zachary was suspended immediately for five school days. At the end of the suspension, he and his mother appeared before the district’s disciplinary action committee, where his principal and others spoke up for his good character. It didn’t matter. The committee’s hands were tied. The rules said he had brought a knife to school and would have to spend 45 days in the reform school."

The national publicity seems to be making inroads. Now the school board says it may rescind that policy. let's hope that they do. 

 

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Here's another example of going to far, from Fox News

A 17-year-old Eagle Scout in upstate New York has been barred from stepping foot on school grounds for 20 days — for keeping a 2-inch pocketknife locked in a survival kit in his car.
Let's try to encourage the love of the outdoors and nature in our children.


The Camping Consultants

How to filet and skin a fish

As the sea of green foliage begins to change into it's autumn colors.
Patrons of the campgrounds slow, which for us, as a party of two begins our time to enjoy romantic weekends.
Swimming season is all but behind us. Replaced by bike rides, bird watching, and brisk walks, others will enjoy a mix of day and evening temperatures. None the less, it's the beauty of the fall colors that await.
With splashing children, and jet skis out of the lake.
Fishing is at the top of the list. Sitting by the waters edge with a rod or two, and a cold beverage is a great way to relax. 
So you've caught a bunch of fish, now what?
Only keep what you will eat!
And watch our video on how to filet and skin a fish.

The Camping Consultants

Lost and Found

While writing the last blog it brought back special memories of a trip taken long ago.

We camped a lot in western Massachusetts, There were never any other African Americans. We never understood that. There was natural beauty and friendly people everywhere. And we still find that to be true when camping today.

Many years ago while camping, we had a most profound experience that we wanted to share with you.

It was the summer that our only child married and moved out of state. 
That was the beginning of our lives as empty nesters. Camping has always been a big part of our lives as a family. Making the transition without her was a new stage for us. 
We remember the trip well. First because of the group that came with us, four siblings, three sister in laws and their children. It was august, the days were warm enough to swim, the nightfall came early and the air cooled quickly. I'll never forget walking the trails that were filled with wild blackberries, which were so delicious.

The evenings by the campfire hold memories of detailed conversations of childhood antics. Boy, did we all learn a lot about our husbands! It was truly a time of bonding for all of us.

The weekend came to it's end and we packed up to head home.  
We were just about to pull off in our caravan of cars, when the sound of a mom frantically calling out for her son stopped us.

Apparently the very young boy had wondered off their site and was missing, We immediately joined the search. Dusk was upon us, and the campground was surrounded by woods. Everyone fanned out to search. All of a sudden, it was as if something came over me...

I began walking into the dense foliage, not knowing where it was heading, the fate of this young boy was driving me.

Walking through scratchy brambles and low hanging branches, a glimpse of movement off in the distance caught my eye. There, in what appeared to be a shallow animal hollow, was the little boy!!!

It was a bit chilly and he was cold and scared. I picked him up and turned to realize that I wasn't absolutely sure of my whereabouts. I began calling out to the group, who's voices helped guide us out the the forest area. The father grabbed his son and held him tightly without saying a word. The mother thanked us.

We returned to our cars to head home. All were still shocked and shaken. No one can explain the events of that day. One can only believe it was divine intervention.

But the most important thing to note is that campers are a family and always stick together.

We have never experienced anything like that day, and hope we never will... We have always felt safe and secure in the environment of campers. Remember Life is precious
and family is priceless. So get out, enjoy nature and go camping in color.

The Camping Consultants

Summers End

The last official holiday of the summer was busy and great fun!

We had two groups camp with us. The first group was a single mom and her son, who brought along a friend. All were first time campers. 

We sent her a Camping in color checklist to help her get organized. And to our delight, she showed up fully prepared. 

It always gives me a charge, watching the reaction of newcomers and seeing their faces light up with surprise and amazement. Watching families sharing true time together is priceless!

We left Friday night even though driving at night isn't as enjoyable as it once was.

But waking up on Saturday morning with the view of the lake and birds singing is always worth it. 

The morning view! 

Leaving on Friday, gave us a few hours alone before our guest arrive at noon. The boys age 13 and 14 showed up with a football and a PlayStation. Our site was large enough for them to throw the football around.

Then it was time to set up their sleeping quarters, We showed them how to pitch a tent and secure it properly. Remember this was their first time camping, they were amazed at how fast and easy setting up could be and it went well.
Then they were off swimming, fishing and boating. The Psp was never used that weekend, We offered a evening movie, which was turned down. Instead they roasted marshmallows and made smores, sat by the fire until late that evening and had to drag themselves to bed. The mom reported that her son wants to camp again, and his friend who wasn't a water person came to appreciate the lake and the outdoors.


The second group arrived shortly after the first group left that Sunday evening. Another mom and her daughter bringing with them two young girls. Fortunately they arrived just before sunset, and the girls immediately began swimming until dusk.


The moon was almost full, and the sky bright, a perfect time for a walk to star gaze.
The girls were nervous at first about walking without flashlights turned on in an unfamiliar setting.
Watching them explore their world by night gives further proof to the power of camping. After returning to our campsite we made smores. The Girls choose to watch a bedtime movie, which ended up watching them sleep. 

A morning swim is a favorite way to start the day, Our girls thought so too!
But they made it an all day affair. We always take along goggles and floats to add to the fun. The mom confessed that she thought three girls would be a great deal of work for her, but as they played in the lake all day (in life jackets). Finding treasures, riding the waves from passing boats. Mom realized just how easy camping can be. She sat near the waters edge under a beach umbrella catching up on some reading and the natural beauty.
Until next time. 
We would love to hear from you, comment on this page or drop us a email.

The Camping Consultants

Camping a positive influence on our youth

First time camping with The Camping Consultants

We just came across this article (City kids leave concrete behind for the outdoors)
and thought it was inspirational, hat's off to Eugene Kane of the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel for bringing this information to light.
Ron Johnson a community resource coordinator, and the group TJ Peace are to be commended as men who recognizes the need for positive male role models. 

They also sees the importance that camping and nature has on ones growth and development.
Another person in the group is Terrence Ray, director of the Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative.

Here's a quote from the article,

"Ray also considered the trip a valuable way to put his group's mission - promoting the role of fathers in their children's lives - into practice. This particularly includes African-American fathers and sons, a group that some people don't naturally equate with being avid campers in this part of the country."
This gives the Camping Consultants hope that a new generation of men will develop into the leaders of the future.
Men that appreciate the natural world and all that it has to offer. Our wish is that camping can become a retreat for the whole family. 

The Camping Consultants

How to start a campfire

This video was made Labor Day weekend. We had two separate groups of camping converts with us.

We're still recuperating from a great time. Stay tuned for more details.
With the cooler evening nights this can be one of the best times for a crackling fire.
So grab some marshmallows and go camping!

Please watch the video and let us know what you think.

leave a comment we would love to hear from you.

The Camping Consultants

Thirty Years and Still Excited !!!

Myrtle Beach  State Park

Still excited about camping and our lives together!

We are looking forward to the final holiday of the summer. 

Excitement is building as we prepare, hence the title of this blog.

We are lucky to have a site. 

Getting a campsite on on a holiday weekend can be very difficult,

unless you book far in advance. So don't procrastinate

  

This time we didn't have a site reserved, and from past experience we knew the only way to get one would be to go there early Wednesday or Thursday, and try to find a walk up site.

Walk up sites can be like what Forrest Gump said "Momma always said life was like a box a chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." 

But we hit the jackpot, a previously booked site became available. Because we didn't give up we kept searching on recreation.gov.

Not only did we get a site, we got a prime waterfront site!

The Camping consultants prefer the Army corp of engineer parks because most are on lakes.

Most sites have electricity and water. That makes them one of our favorite places to camp.

So now we prepare for our trip, after thirty plus years of camping we still use a camping list.

Where there's organization, there's relaxation!

Here's our camping checklist, no list is complete we recommend that you customize a checklist for your needs.
The Camping Consultants

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Camping checklist

Food and related items

food (shop at home first) plan meals ahead and multiply times the # of days camping
seasonings (some things can be seasoned at home
condiments
pots, pans
foil
coffee/tea pot
utensils for cooking
plates, cups and napkins
knives, forks,spoons
dish liquid
can-bottle opener
bin for washing dishes
paper towels
storage containers/storage bags
ice/ice packs (you can make ice blocks in bowls or large storage bags)
trash bags/plastic bags from the grocery store
beverages/drinking water
coolers
camping stove or griddle, hotplate (for sites w/electricity
fuel for stove
extension cord
charcoal and lighter fluid
grill (most campgrounds have grills)
grill brush (or use crumbled alum foil)
coolers (one for meat, the other for beverages)
smore's stuff
marshmallows
snacks (healthy)

Tent and Sleeping
tent (or camper of your own or rented)
sleeping bags or sheets and comforter
pillow?
Air mattress, foam or cot (your choice)
don't forget pump for your air mattress
lantern- fuel and/or batteries
hammer or mallet for staking tent

Camping Gear
lantern (yes it's listed twice) So important!!!
fuel or batteries for lantern
extra lantern mantles
flashlights/extra batteries
long handle lighter
waterproof matches/wooden matches (place in a storage bag)
fire starter sticks/or build your fire from scratch
folding saw (for cutting wood)
folding knife or multi tool
tarp (great if it rains and great under your tent)
rope, or cord (for clothes or hanging tarp)
shovel or folding shovel
whisk broom and dust pan
work gloves
firewood (if camping locally)

Recreation
camera/batteries
swim gear
life jackets
fishing gear
sun screen
insect repellent
first aid kit
sunglasses
rain suit (about 10-12 dollars)

Personal
towels
toiletries
baby wipes can be very useful
medicine