National Parks and Families
Granny apple doll makingPeaks of Otter, Virginia My family has enjoyed visiting National Parks in the United States and Canada for years…and years. Each National Park offers ranger-led programs for …
Night Prowls
The next night of our rustic camping at a state park in Virginia, the older children and I went on a night prowl with a park ranger. My husband stayed …
Gotta Have-a Campfire
It isn’t camping without a campfire according to my children. All campgrounds, even primitive ones [without electricity or water hookups], have fire pits or rings, usually old truck tire rims, …
Nippy Nights in Newfoundland
It did take me three nights to realize that it didn’t really go down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit in Newfoundland, but rather 15 degrees Celsius/59 degrees Fahrenheit. It was nippy …
Learning the Metric System
A difference in measurement, that’s all. Kilometers instead of miles. Celsius instead of Fahrenheit. Canadians and Newfoundlanders use the metric system in their traffic signs, national park hiking maps, and …
Newfoundland Hospitality
Another way to pick up scrapbook material and photos as well as local maps and be able to get a feel of where things are in a new area is …
Weather-wise
“Rain, rain, go away; come again some other day…” the children would chant when home, but at camp? We found it didn’t matter…too much. Rain usually blessed our trip, both …
The Laundress Gets No Rest
We didn’t notice it at first. The longer camping trips brought it to our attention. At first it only ran around the trailer, like the children, scurrying under blankets, burrowing …
The Snake Encounter, Part 2
As I stood before the snake, trembling like a baby about to take her first step, I couldn’t help but wonder why my family wasn’t coming to my aid. The …
Disturb Nature: Camp with the Family
As the children became more accustomed to hiking in nature,through forests and deserts, in mountains, along craggy coastlines, and over bogs, their chatter increased. Suddenly, the silence of nature was …