by Clint Tustison "This is camping?" I thought to myself, lying in my tent, shivering, trying to get dry from the downpour happening just outside. I had been a member of the local community Boy Scout troop for a few months when I finally had the chance to go on a real campout. I was ecstatic. This is what Boy Scouts lived for, right? Heading to the outdoors, building a … [Read more...]
First-time camping tips from a reluctant camper
by Heather Mundt - Some first time campers just instinctively know the best tips and tricks for family car camping. Some beginner campers make camping organization look like they've been doing it all their lives. And then there are the money-saving camping hacks that flow effortlessly from those who haven't ever even set foot in a campground. I was not any of those … [Read more...]
Vermicomposting: How I Learned to Love My Worms
By Elizabeth Small ?Mama! Come see what Daddy got us!? My 4-year-old daughter tugged at my pant leg, wide-eyed and pulsing, head darting about like a prairie dog, the way little kids do when they are at peak excitement. Clasped in my husband?s hands was a tab-top, brown bag, the kind that is certain to contain coffee or fancy chocolates. My mouth salivated as I walked … [Read more...]
Adventure Film Producer Bryan Smith: “Dad-to-be, me”
by Erin Kirkland Award-winning adventure film producer Bryan Smith has probably logged more travel hours than most - exploring on, over, under, and within the planet Earth. He?s hung suspended above sheer rock cliffs, crawled across slippery logs, and faced wild weather situations. It wasn?t until his wife was expecting their first child, however, that Smith came … [Read more...]
Exploring Belize and Guatemala with three generations
By Suzanne Solsona When you are married to a man who has seemingly been everywhere and done everything, traveling to a place that renders him speechless is quite a feat. Caye (pronounced "key") Caulker, Belize and the ruins of Tikal in Guatemala managed exactly that, enthralling three generations of our family in just two short weeks. In March 2011 my husband, Javier, our … [Read more...]
Outdoor pizza parties with teens
by Trisa Katsikapes What teens don't like pizza? With the always-busy schedule of young people these days, it seems all we eat is pizza! Fortunately, the teens who end up at my house don't seem to mind, especially pepperoni pizza, especially when it's made in our outdoor wood-fired oven that sits in the backyard. When my husband and I built our wood-fired pizza … [Read more...]
Seattle Day Trips: Big Four Ice Caves
By Brittany Schultz It's that time of year again when the Beatles song "Dear Prudence" comes to mind: The sun is out, the sky is blue...And you know what that means: It's summertime, the season to get out of the house and embrace the warm weather. A good start? Day trips are the perfect way to get outside and entertain the whole family. In the Pacific Northwest, we're … [Read more...]
Bike Camping with Kids Means Fun On Two Wheels
by David Pulsipher "Don't worry honey; we'll be back tomorrow afternoon!" I was attempting to assure my wife that the bike camping adventure my two sons and I were about to undertake was no different than a typical trip to the park. In some ways I was also trying to reassure my own nerves that I hadn't bitten off more than I could chew. My wife was eight months … [Read more...]
