Children Fishing Safety Tips

Wednesday, January 4th, 2012

Fishing with your children is a very relaxing and fun experience, but it could become a horrifying one if you’re not properly prepared for the worst. Being safe should be one of your prime concerns while out on a fishing boat, especially if you’re taking the trip with small children. This article will outline a few tips and precautions that you should take before going on your boating trip.

Basic Rules

It’s important that before you go out onto the water that you let any children know the basic rules that they need to abide by on a boat. These rules include no running, looking around you before you cast, and making sure that you keep your floatation device on. You should especially explain why each of these is important, as kids might not instantly realize that they could hurt someone else if they hit them with their cast. If they refuse to abide by the rules, find some way to lightly punish them that will make them realize the importance of the rules.

Buddy System

During a fishing trip it’s important that you stress the dangers of the water to everyone. It’s not a bad idea to establish a buddy system in which two people are with each other at all times. If you don’t feel comfortable with two children being the buddies in the buddy system simple pair one child with one adult. This will ensure that each child is properly watched by a respective adult.

Supplies

It’s important that you bring any sort of supplies that you feel you may need while on a boat. It will be hard to get back to shore and to the car if there was a medical emergency so make sure that you bring a first aid kit and any medication that you may need. It’s also a good idea to bring more personal items such as sunscreen or insect repellent. The last thing you want to remember about your fishing trip is how you were sunburned and got bitten by mosquitoes the entire time. If the weather is hot it’s important that you bring a sufficient supply of water or other cold drinks so that your family and friends don’t get dehydrated.

Take some time and read over the supplies listed in this article and consider any additional supplies you may need. Bringing children on a fishing trip can be a hassle, but if you develop a few basic rules and remember to bring any supplies you need then you will be sure to have a safe and fun fishing trip.

Photo Credits: XcBiker

Things to Remember When Going Camping

Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

Ever gotten all the way out to your campsite, only to forget that one essential item?  Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Whether you’re going out for a week long hike or just overnight, the last thing you want to do is get to the camp site and discover that you’re missing that one vital element. This guide will give you a basic list of the items you’ll need to remember in order to make your trip a success.

* Bring the right shelter. Regardless of what kind of camping you’re planning on doing, a proper shelter is will make the difference between a good trip and bad one. Shelters can vary from a simple tarp and rope affair to sophisticated high tech tents. You must pick a tent based on your needs for the trip. Choose one that’s both large enough and sturdy enough.

* Navigational aides. Who wants to get lost when you’re out there to enjoy yourself? There are all sorts of fun technological gadgets to help you find your way on the trip; however, make sure such a device will work where you’ll be traveling. While these gadgets may be useful, if you’re going to be hiking, you may want to have a backup map, compass, and someone familiar with their use.

* Provisions. Rations come in all shapes and sizes, but make sure you keep a couple things in mind when packing them. First, confirm that you’re carrying enough water for the duration of your trip. Second, if you must carry everything in backpacks, make sure not to weigh yourself down with unnecessary luxuries. If, however, you’re just out for a fun time overnight then by all means pack those coolers full.

While camping can be both fun and arduous, this guide will help you make sure your trip is enjoyable. Make sure to keep in mind the kind of weather you’ll encounter, how long your excursion will be, and how you’ll go about navigating. Hopefully, with the help of this basic list, you will make your trip one to remember, not one to forget.

Photo credits: El Dav

The Tent-less Outdoor Sleeping Guide

Saturday, December 10th, 2011

For some people, the definition of “rustic” means simply heading out into the woods – even if you bring a camper with a bathroom, a sink, and a microwave. For others, “rustic” means an experience that at least has some amenities like tents to keep your dry and covered from rain. But for the die-hard campers, there’s only one definition of rustic: tent-less camping, including true under-the-stars sleeping. If you’ve always wanted to do this, here’s your guide.

What to bring: Even if you’re not bringing a tent, you’ll need to bring something in order to keep you warm and separate your back from the hard, rocky ground. Many people bring a simple sleeping bag and sleeping pad, and possibly a camping cot, in order to sleep outdoors.

The good thing about sleeping without a tent is that you can stay warm near – but not too near – a fire. Even so, you’ll want to stay warm for the entire night, including after the fire dies down on its own. Make sure you bring enough to keep you warm and relatively comfortable when you sleep on the ground.

Watch the weather: When you’re thinking about camping in a tent, knowing it’s going to rain is less important knowledge than when you’re sleeping outdoors. You’ll want to be sure that a high-pressure system is moving through the area you intend on sleeping in; these systems keep things clear – and usually provide for better views of the stars anyway. If there’s going to be rain, you probably won’t be able to have a good night’s sleep, so you might want to consider throwing in the towel and simply sleeping under a tarp or simply a tent.

All in all, sleeping outdoors can be a pleasant experience, but it’s not without its risks. You’ll want to be aware of local insects and wildlife before you sleeping without shelter. When in doubt, simply sleep in your tent so that you can stay dry and not worry about everything that comes from sleeping outdoors. You might just be glad you did.

Photo Credits: anoldent

Hiking at the Grand Canyon

Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011

The Grand Canyon, to many, is the grand-daddy of all the possible sights to see in the world, the most intriguing visual challenge to conquer. To locals in Arizona, it may more simply be a great place to hike, but the Grand Canyon continues to be one of the top-rated spots to backpack and adventure, even for beginning hikers. Here is a brief guide to hiking at one of the world’s most famous hiking spots.

1. You are responsible for your safety.

The Grand Canyon, though national park land, doesn’t exactly have lifeguards posted at every turn to make sure that hikers have a good time and stay safe. Rather, hiking is an “at your own risk” type of situation, which is what experienced hikers should be used to – but something that all hikers should prepare for.

2. Choose your hike wisely.

There’s no single “one” Grand Canyon hike, there are many to choose from, and if you’re a beginning hiker you’ll want to choose the easier ones. The views are the same whether you’re a beginning or experienced hiker, so don’t feel bad if you don’t get to explore more on your own the first time; just try to choose a hike that is appropriate to your skill level. It’s possible to challenge yourself without putting yourself out of your element, and if you’re going to be responsible for your safety, it falls on you to choose the right hike.

3. Don’t carry so much.

It’s tempting to take your whole car with you on a hike, packing up your backpack full of plenty of convenient – and heavy – items. Don’t do this, as a heavy backpack is one of the quickest ways to spoil a hike; you don’t want to be crawling to the finish line. Instead, pack as light as possible, including necessary elements like water, and spare what you can afford to spare.

All in all, you’ll find it easy to enjoy the Grand Canyon; hiking it is more a matter of understanding your limits and not trying too hard to challenge yourself. You’ll find that once you’re actually there, the magic of the Grand Canyon will take over and you’ll feel you’ve been hiking all your life.

Photo Credits: The Javelina

Sprucing Up Your Night Hike

Friday, October 14th, 2011

For the casual hiker, even the title of this article alone might have raised a few flags. “A night hike? How on Earth would you do something like that?” If you’ve been one of those hikers who looks to make their way back to a car before the sun totally sets, you’re missing out on half of the day. In this article, we’ll take a look at a few ways to spruce up a night hike – and make it a lot less scary.

-Bring someone with you.

Night hiking can be a bit creepy – after all, you’re out there in the wilderness with nothing but silver moonlight and the sound of a million bugs you can’t even see. But if you bring someone with you – such as a family member or a close friend – the entire dynamic changes completely. Instead of looking to avoid the environment, you’ll start asking yourself how you can make it more interesting.

-Bring entertainment.

A way to get your mind off of the, for lack of a better term, “nightness” is simply to bring something that can entertain you along the journey. Yes, you’re traveling, and yes, there’s no light out, so you’ll have to get a little creative. A glow-in-the-dark frisbee, for example, will give you something to do with every step that you take. If you’re out in the night alone, you can use this frisbee as a way to inspire yourself forward: throw your frisbee to one spot on the trail, and work towards getting to that spot. Before you know it, you’ll be home free.

-GPS.

While GPS isn’t exactly fun (unless you’re a true navigation nerd like myself), it will brighten your spirits up to know exactly where you are at any given time. It takes away the worry typically associated with navigating by night, helping to put your mind at ease even when it’s tough to find visual landmarks to navigate yourself back home. A GPS watch can be worn around the wrist, and an LCD display will make it easy to read. You’ll also be able to stay ahead of the weather with an advanced GPS watch, keeping an eye on the barometer to see if rain is going to fall soon. That’s something that you typically can’t get with the naked eye at night.

-Practice.

Night hiking can be a bit creepy the first couple of times you try it, but with experience, it becomes the norm. If you’ve ever done any type of exercise at night, you know what kind of eerie focus the lack of stimulation can give you. It’s simply not the same as the day. But if you’re consistent, you’ll eventually be as comfortable hiking at night – even by yourself – as you are in the daylight.

Photo Credits: grabadonut

Choosing Your Campsite

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

So you’ve just decided to going camping with your family, but wait, where is the best spot to set up camp? A properly picked campsite can make your family outing much more enjoyable and perhaps you will find a great spot that will become a traditional spot where your family camps every year. So how do you find that camp spot? This article will provide you with a few tips to find that elusive campsite.

1) Ask.

This is such simple advice that it’s often overlooked, but a good recommendation from other longtime campers could be the easiest way to find a great spot. If you’re camping in a park make sure you ask any professional questions like “What spot do you think would be good for my family?” or “What places have you recommended to other families before?” It’s also worth noting that internet forums and books are great tools for researching and making a decision.

2) Remember Your Needs.

This tip may not directly help you choose a new campsite, but it will help to narrow down your list. It’s very important that you consider any needs that your family has and choose your campsite accordingly. If it’s important that you can look up and see the constellations, try to choose a spot where there aren’t as many trees or obstructions in your way. Essentially you’re a choosing a campsite based on the interests of your family or group. This will make locating and traversing to your daily activities much easier. Also consider any medical needs, you may want to camp closer to outside assistance of any friend/family has a serious medical condition.

3) Watch The Forecast.

The weather may not always be a factor, but you should also pay attention to the forecast when choosing your campsite. If it’s going to rain, a campsite under the shelter of trees would be preferred to a wide open field. It’s also important to note that during the winter seasons the weather can pose dangerous to you and your family. If the forecast predicts large amounts of snow, it’s important that you and your family remain close to outside assistance in case of an emergency.

Choosing your campsite can prove to be a daunting task, but it becomes much easy when you’re able to eliminate a few of your options. Just remember when choosing to pay special attention to the needs of the people you’re camping with, and extraneous factors such as the weather and park conditions.

Photo Credits: species_snob

Three Things the Rookie Camper Needs to Know

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

For some people, camping is a way of life. Having warm clothes for cool summer nights, knowing how to build a fire, and cooking out in the open air comes easily to them because they’ve been around it for so long. But for the rookie camper, what seems like what could be an ideal vacation is often marred by their lack of experience and the little details that make things different in real life. So how can the rookie camper get off to a good start? By keeping in mind these three things:

1. There’s a good chance you’ll over-pack. When you’re out camping for the first time, the temptation is to bring so many gadgets and so many supplies that you’ll have plenty of options for eating, sleeping, and dressing. But while this may feel fun as you pack, it often just makes things more difficult, getting in the way of utility and taking up precious packing space. You can eat simple foods, you can dress in simple clothes, and you don’t need to bring a laptop with you if you aren’t going to be working on it. Resist the temptation to over-pack on what you don’t need, because you’ll have more space for things you’ll actually use.

3. Don’t underestimate the power of the weather. Even in summer, it’s easy for the temperature to drop during the night, and nothing ruins a night of sleep quite like cold air. Don’t be afraid to over-do it with the warm gear. Pack an extra outer layer and make sure that you’ll be well-insulated against the cold at night. Also, be ready for rain and use tents and tarps to protect what needs to remain dry.

Photo Credits: papalars