Camping Activity of the Month:
Leaf Rubbing

Leaf Rubbings are a fun, inexpensive, and very attractive craft that the kids can do in the woods or at home. By getting a variety of leaves, some crayons, and some blank paper, this camping activity can keep the scouts occupied while educating them on the many types of trees in the woods.

You can do this craft at home, in the woods, or at a community event. It’s fun easy and has little clean-up or supervision needed for the younger campers. Check out the leaf-rubbing page for more details on this fun camping activity.

Camping Tip of the Month:
Watch the weather!

Most of us have enough scheduling challenges when planning our camping outings that it’s hard to plan around the forecast. And with summer storms occurring so often this time of year, it’s worth taking a few minutes of preparation. Here are some things that you can do:

• Locate your tent on the high grounds: We all like the water, but a gentle stream can turn into a raging river during a rain storm and quickly cause panic if your tent is in a drainage area. Look to the higher ground when choosing your tent site and stay away from streams and dry river beds.

• Tune into the weather: If you see skies clouding up with cumulus-type clouds…look at options for safe cover…just in case. If you are going into a really remote area, consider packing an emergency radio. These can be inexpensive and often times come with added bells & whistles like a charging crank, flashlight, cell-phone charger, etc… You can find a list of weather radio stations on the NOAA website. It’s a nice item for your emergency kit…and peace of mind!

• Seek Cover: Most good tents can weather a passing storm and depending on your situation, might just be your best cover. If you find yourself on a hike or away from camp, look for the evergreens or dense shrubs. I’ve sat out a few storms under the hospitality of an evergreen and was surprised how dry it helped me stay. Have a foul weather plan for the campers…and if you must ride out the storm in the woods, make sure your shelter is up to the task!

Happy Camping!
- Mike