Staying in an RV is much cheaper and more comfortable than staying at a motel or resort. Even with the current costs of gas figured in, it is still much cheaper to spend the week in your own RV than it is to pay for a week in a hotel or vacation condo and paying for the costs of eating out and other expenses.

Yes, towing an RV is more costly in terms of gas, but think about the fact that a large hotel or vacation resort leaves a much larger carbon footprint than a small RV does. Living in small spaces conserves energy, so the gas tank is just one drawback, but there are considerably more pluses.

To offset the guilt someone may be feeling about the large expense of filling an RV up with gasoline, be as green and earth friendly as possible when traveling. Use only non-toxic cleaning products and think about the wastes you generate and water you put into the ground. Bring bicycles with you when you travel and shop at local farmers markets and have some solar panels installed on the RV to minimize your impact on the environment.

RV camping in Missouri offers a family the chance to get away from it all and for a small rental fee; it is possible to rent a nice campground location which comes complete with everything you need. RV camping offers you the chance to get back to nature, but still being able to do it in comfort. RV’s are becoming lighter-weight, more energy efficient and increasingly innovative in terms of being environmentally friendly.

Camping in an RV allows a family to get closer to nature, but not hide from it in a stuffy, padded hotel room. RV”s can be comfortable, private and in some cases even luxurious, but they also allow the camper to have the beauty of being in natural surroundings. The joy of sitting around the campfire telling stories and hearing the leaves rustling in the trees and the nighttime twinkling stars are the highlights of any camping trip and for those using an RV, these things are still possible.

RV’s are comfortable, offer security and can allow a family to enjoy all the benefits of the outdoors while still being protected in the comfort of a camper. Try saving money, being environmentally friendly and expanding your horizons and try RV camping in Missouri, it is an experience everyone in the family is sure to enjoy and remember.

If your sleeping bags have been rolled up and in storage all year, now is the perfect time to get them out and fluff them up. Sleeping bags may have a musty smell from being stored in the basement or garage, so take a look at the manufacture’s tag, following the washing instructions and hang outside to get a clean, fresh smelling bag.

Some people find camping in the springtime brings with it the chance of rain, so make sure to have your gear ready so you can sit back, relax and stay dry if you are the victim of an unexpected rain shower. The morning is the most difficult part of camping after rain; the cool, damp air can make climbing out of a warm sleeping bag very unpleasant. Comfortable camping in the rain means packing a waterproof tarp to keep the ground around your tent nice and dry, which means you won’t have to cook in pebbles of cold, muddy water.

Another reality of camping when it’s raining is keeping your food, clothing and shoes dry, because these are vital supplies you can’t do without. A secondary shelter like a canopy or tarp can keep clothes dry and your food and other belonging protected. If your tent does not have a dry area for gear, another good idea is to pack a plastic storage container, which can substitute as an area for both food and garments.

Springtime is a great time of the year to get out and enjoy camping on the river and with a bit of preplanning and thought, you can have a great time. If last year’s gear in good shape and you are prepared for the elements beforehand, there is no reason why you and your family should be cooped up indoors, get out there and enjoy and make it a great time for everyone.

Treasure hunts are a great way to be creative and have a lot of fun with a variety of people and age groups. You can treasure hunt for just about anything from snickers bars to real money. This will not only keep the interest of the people involved but also fill a lot of the time slot for the trip. This game can be played out throughout many hours to even a day or two depending on how big of an event you want it to be. You may want to draw up maps for each group to make it easier for them to navigate around the area, especially if this area is new to most the people participating.

You can take this time to learn and study one of the books in the Bible. For example you can take a little time each day to go through a chapter and discuss what it is trying to say. You can break down each verse and try to help everyone understand why this verse is so important. Everyone has a different way to explain what they are reading so each person can learn from the next. Your group may also want to find some good Christian based movies to enjoy on your retreat.

Taking the opportunity to visit a campground or park that gives everyone the chance to enjoy some canoeing and floating can make for a very exciting trip. Most people never get the chance to go floating so this will be a unique chance for them to try something new. There are many places in Missouri were your entire group can float along some of the best and beautiful areas in the state. Be sure to bring all the items you will need, such as life jackets, coolers and first aid kit, to name a few. This retreat can mean the beginning of new friendships for everyone involved. The most important thing to remember, as with any trip, is to be sure you plan everything ahead and bring all the things you think you will need. Be prepared for anything so that your whole group can enjoy a fun and memorable trip.

To light the Coleman stove first you will need to open the burner valves and turn the ignite knob a few times until you see the burner lights for the electric ignition stoves. Next light a match and hold it near the burner if you are using a standard ignition stove. Then simply adjust the flames using the burner valves to desired flame. The best thing to do is to start out with a smaller flame until you know your food will not burn easy. Some meats may require a higher flame so be sure to keep a close eye on your stove if you have small children around. When you have a Coleman stove griddle you can cook most anything right on top of the grill, from eggs to meat. When you do not have a griddle you will need to bring some pots along with you to cook on. Cast iron pans seem to be a popular choice for outdoor cooking but most any kind will work. Refer to your manual for suggestions on which type is best for your type of Coleman stove. You can shut off the burners by turning the valves the opposite way you did when turning it on. Be sure to turn the knobs all the way off firmly to be sure they are all the way off.

When you are done cooking a ready to clean up, start by lifting the grate off the top of the cook top. You will need to take a clean soft cloth and put a little mild cleaner on it, then wipe the grate clean. Next take a damp clean cloth with mild dish detergent on it and wipe the cook top clean as well. Be sure that when you are done using your Coleman grill you remove the propane cylinder and replace the plastic cap. Take the regulator off and put it back under the grate where it is stored. Lastly fold baffles together and close the lid. Also remember each Coleman stove may be different to put together so be sure to keep instruction manual. Be sure to store your stove in some kind of plastic bag or covering, so that it is protected from dust. When your Coleman stove is stored properly, this will ensure many years of use.

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Easy Camp out Breakfast Ideas

Wool, pile or fleece fabrics, polypropylene or hydrophobic fabrics, polar guard, hollofil, quallofil, down are some of the types of fabrics that are helpful in keeping warm in the winter time. A different way to create these layers would be by creating a vapor barrier system or radiant barriers. Be sure to layer each part of your body accordingly, starting with your feet. If you do not layer your clothing properly, frostbite can be the outcome. This can be avoided by trying out each kind of fabric and finding the right one for you, and the one that will keep you the warmest throughout your trip. This also means the sleeping bag you use should be rated for temperatures below what the weather outside will be at night. This will allow you to be more comfortable and allow for better rest. You may also want to have a foam pad underneath you to keep you insulated from the snow under you, if there is any. And always pack a compass.

You will most likely want to take a stove and fuel with you for cooking. Most campgrounds will be mostly vacant, so finding wood for a campfire shouldn’t be difficult. Meals should be very simple and not complicated. Simple things like oats, fresh fruit, trail mix for snacks. Dinner should consist of something hot, like soup or some kind of stew. This will allow for the body to warm up a little before resting.

Remember the first tip, stay warm and you can never have too many layers, this will ensure you will have a great winter campout.

Bell Mountain Wilderness is about nine thousand acres and is located in St. Francois Mountains. The highest point on this mountain stands at seventeen hundred and two feet. The Ozark Trail is a a part of the Bell Mountain Trail system, in total about one mile. This area contains twelve miles of trails, and campers must be sure to set up at least one hundred miles from these trails. From Potosi, Missouri you will find the closest route, which will be about a twenty mile drive.

Devil’s Backbone wilderness area is located in south central Missouri near West Plains and is about a fifteen minute drive. This wilderness area is just under seven thousand acres in total. These trails are open to horse back riders and are about thirteen miles long. This wilderness area gets it’s name for the central ridge where most of these trails are located, and at it’s highest point this ridge is one thousand twenty feet in elevation. In the Northern fork there is a recreation area for campers and an area for hiking as well.

The Hercules Glad Wilderness Area is a very beautiful area located in the deep southern reaches of Missouri. What some say could be the most gorgeous area in Missouri, this wilderness is over twelve thousand acres, and has over thirty miles of well taken care of trails. If you want to take a little shorter trail, you can find these on the smaller branches of this trail system. There are many trails with streams not equipped with bridges and they range in difficulty to travel from mild trails to very rough and difficult to handle.

The Irish Wilderness seems to have a lot going on, including that is has a rich history behind it. This area has great trails as well as many water activities to enjoy.White Trail head is one of the major trail heads located here and you can only find your way here but taking a float on the Eleven Point River. The Camp Five Pond is about a thirty five mile drive and is accessed leaving out of Doniphan, Missouri. Quite a ways past the Camp Five Pond trail head you will find the third trail head known as the Brawley Pond trail.

The Mingo Wilderness is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and is a little less than eight thousand acres in size. The Mingo Wildlife Refuge is a refuge to many migratory waterfowl and is covers the larger part of this wilderness. This area has a wide range of marsh areas and is located in Missouri’s “boot heel” region.

The Paddy Creek Wilderness is located in the Big Piney River area and is about seven acres in size. This area has a trail system that is about seventeen miles long. This wilderness area can be hard to navigate so a map and compass are recommended.

The Piney Creek Wilderness is located thirty five miles from Branson and is about eight thousand acres total. The watershed from Piney Creek is in this area and feeds the famous Missouri lake Table Rock.

The Rockpile Wilderness is only around four thousand acres and is the smallest in Missouri. Most of this area is considered to be privately owned. The ponds built here are designed to trap spring water and also to provide water holes for wildlife in this area.

The first thing a person needs to do is pick a dry, flat spot for pitching a tent.  You should avoid putting up a tent in wet, grassy, muddy areas because these will be rife with mosquitoes, so stay away.  Not only is the area you pick important, but you should also check for ant mounds, bee hives, and any other types of evidence that shows the area might be infested with bugs, these will be off limits.

A person going on a camping trip should never use scented products on the body, because it is an invitation for bugs to come and have a field day.  Biting bugs happen to be attracted to strongly scented perfumes and soaps, so avoid anything with a very strong smell.  It is also a good idea to wear lightly colored clothing with long sleeves to keep insects away especially in the evening hours around the camp.

For those that are camping in an RV, bugs do not really pose that much of a problem, but for those individuals that prefer roughing it in a traditional tent, insects can present a real issue.  Bugs are attracted to sweaty people and though physical activity is a part of camping, do your best to stay cool the less you sweat, the less the bugs are going to want to snack on you.  To stay cool, rinse off with clean, cool water, sit in the shade and use a fan to circulate air on your body, and enjoy an ice cold bottle of water to help cool the body naturally.

It is a good idea to buy some citronella candles and torches to use around your campsite, because it will keep mosquitoes at bay.  Citronella is an essential oil which is used to make candles, insect repellents and other products.  Because citronella is all natural and repels insects it can be used safely around animals and small children.

Another good way to keep the bugs away is by the use of netting around the tent and campsite.  A person can wear netting around their face and legs which will help prevent mosquito bites.  Netting around the tent prevents bugs from entering into the tent while a person is sleeping and protects against being bitten by ticks, mosquitoes, spiders and many other pesky bugs.

Using skin creams and insect repellentsformulated with coconut and citrus oils, eating garlic and lots of vitamin B are other natural ways of repelling bugs when you’re camping.  It does not matter whether you are camping or at home, bugs are a part of everyday life and there are things a person can do to keep them at a safe distance.  By incorporating some of the tips mentioned in this article, it is possible to have an enjoyable camping trip and eliminate bugs from the campsite as well.

Kindling will be the next thing to worry about. You will want to try and pick up a couple bags of dry kindling on your way to your campground. If you find that you can not find any on your way you can always gather some small twigs and branches that have fallen already to the ground, these work well. Cedar, Pine and Fir are excellent fuel for fires if they are dry. You will want to start on the outside of the paper and start stacking the kindling with two pieces on either side and then two more on top and below the paper. Once you have the kindling stacks at the same height as the paper start stacking more of this kindling at the top of the paper criss-cross to make a sort of roof type structure. Another tip is that if you find yourself caught with damp wood for your fire you can keep handy a small container of lighter fluid handy. Using a little of this will go a long way on a chilly night. Always be sure to just use what you need and not to go overboard, just enough to get your fire started will work.

Once you have your fire started you can add larger sticks to burn the kindling. You will not want to put too many on at once and arrange them again in the same way you built it so that the fire does not seem to grow and spread. You will want to be sure to have plenty of water on hand just in case your fire would get out of hand.

A magnifying glass can provide lots of entertainment for the youngest of explorers. If you can provide the children all with their own plastic magnifying glass and send them off to check out the details around the campsite. They will want to look at different soil types, the structure of plants, rocks, sticks, and other natural treasures. If you have a wood picnic table at your site you can have them check out the grain in the wood and find out how knotholes are different from the rest of the wood. If your children love nature they will spend lots of time doing this activity. This will also leave you a little time for yourself, if nothing else to sit down and watch them.

Nature Bingo can be a fun and easy game to play with all ages. Make sure before you leave to go on your trip you make or find bingo cards that have items that you would find in nature on them. This means in order to win they need to find all the object in the row in order to have bingo. Make each card different so that it stays fun for them and they can play more than once. With this idea you could also create a sort of scavenger hunt for them. Just create a list of items you would find in nature. You can make a check list for them or even let them take pictures of each item as they play.

Make an edible campfire for a snack. This is a delicious and fun way to teach everyone fire building and safety. You will need a paper plate, spoon, fork, and a cup of water for each person. In order to build this great snack you will need enough of the following for everyone: Raisins, red hot candies, shredded coconut, pretzel sticks, and licorice. The plate will be the fire site, the fork is a rake, the spoon is the bucket and the cup is the bucket of water. You will start building the fire ring with raisins and lay the coconut for tinder. The pretzel sticks are the kindling and the licorice represents the fuel. The red hot candies can be sprinkled on to pretend they are coals after the fire is going. Now enjoy and eat.

These are just a couple ideas, when planning activities just be creative.

1. Eggs on a Raft- This recipe requires bread, butter, salt, pepper, eggs, and a frying pan. You will take a slice of bread and cut a circle about two inches in diameter. Toast the bread slowly and lightly on both sides, using a fork or a stick shaped like a fork if needed. In your frying pan, melt a hunk of butter and put the toast in the pan and wait until it sizzles. Now you will want to break and egg and place it in the hole you cut out in the center of the bread so the yolk stays put. Heat this slowly and evenly. Sprinkle salt and pepper to desired taste and cover. This will be done when the top of the egg is white. If you do not have a cover for your pan you can turn the toast over when the underside of the egg is cooked. This will allow the other side to cook as well. This makes a fast and easy breakfast that starts the day off right.




2. Black Swamp Breakfast- This recipe calls for one to two pounds of bacon, depending on how many people you have, five to six large potatoes, and a dozen eggs. You will need two large frying pans, two wooden spoon or spatulas and a heat source. Start out cooking the bacon and when it is half way done start adding slices of potatoes. When the potatoes are cooked start adding the eggs and keep stirring. When the eggs are done you are ready to eat.
3. Breakfast Burritos- You will need Tortillas, eggs, grated cheese, salsa(if you want it) and potatoes. You will need a frying pan, stove or campfire and a spatula. Take you eggs and go ahead and cook them up, then fry your potatoes. Once you have cooked everything you can heat the tortillas in the pan if you want and let everyone add the stuff they want to their tortilla and eat up.
4. Omelet in a Bag- You will need per bag, water, three eggs, two sausage links, and shredded cheese. You can also add salsa to the list if you like it. To cook this you will need a ziplock bag, a pot and a plate. Boil the water first of all. While you are waiting for it to boil, crack the three eggs, the cheese and the sausage into the ziplock bag. You will want to mush all the ingredients together. Once your water is boiled put your ziplock bag in the water and wait fifteen minutes. The last step is to pour the ingredients, once you are sure that they are cooked, on a plate and enjoy.
5. Pancakes- This is about the easiest recipe for camping you can find. If you do not insist on home made recipes you can just buy the shake and mix container for easy pancakes. These come in a variety of brands and mixes. You could add any fresh fruit or flavoring you like. You will need a frying pan or non stick pan to cook them in with a little butter if desired. Top them off with a little syrup and you are in for a great and easy breakfast.

These are a few ideas that are fast and easy so you can get back to nature.