One of the best parts of camping on a float trip in the spring is snacking on hot food on those cooler nights. While s’mores and marshmallows are the old standby, a far less sticky option is campfire popcorn. You may remember the old-fashioned popcorn poppers your parents used to have on campouts when you were a kid. But if you suspect that old-fashioned popper was sold in a garage sale or tossed in the garbage many moons ago, there’s still hope for campfire popcorn since you can produce a popper of your own with a roll of heavy-duty cooking foil and campfire forks. Just follow these simple steps and remember, you’re not responsible for burning anyone’s popcorn except your own. But if you cook the campfire popcorn just right, you’ll receive rave reviews with demands for an encore before the next float trip!

First, you’ll need to prepare your campfire popcorn cooking packet. Tear off an 18” long piece of heavy-duty cooking foil and place it on the picnic table. Next, pour 2 tsp. of vegetable or olive oil in the center of the foil and then add 4 tsp. of popcorn. Repeat these steps for all campers wishing to pop their own popcorn.

Now you’re ready to create the foil tents. On each packet, carefully bring together the two longest opposite ends of the foil above the popcorn. Fold them over and down at least three times for a good seal, similar to folding the top of a brown paper lunch bag. Then bring the remaining two foil corners to the center above the popcorn to complete your foil tent, rolling all the edges together to seal the popcorn and oil inside while leaving enough space inside for the popcorn to pop.

With your popcorn cooking packets assembled, poke the ends of your campfire fork through the thick folds at the top and then set the pack into the fire’s hot coals until you can hear the cooking oil begin to sizzle and the kernels pop. When you hear the first kernel pop raise the packet slightly and shake it continuously back and forth until the popping slows. Remove the packet from the fire and allow your popcorn to cool for several minutes before adding any salt, shakable butter or any spices you’d like.

When popping campfire popcorn be sure to abide by these safety tips. Never leave a popcorn packet directly in the fire. If kids are involved, it’s a good idea to have the stovetop version of popcorn as a backup just in case someone’s popcorn gets burned. Cooking popcorn is no different than cooking anything else on a campfire and requires constant and careful monitoring. With children around the campfire adults should be present at all times to supervise and help.

If you just happen to still have your parents’ old-fashioned popcorn popper, the procedure for campfire popcorn is similar. Throw in a handful of your favorite popcorn and 2 to 3 tablespoons of oil. Attach the lid and hold the popper over the campfire, shaking the popper continuously and more vigorously when the popping starts. Once the popping slows down, remove the popcorn popper from the campfire, allow it to cool, remove the lid and enjoy.

While it may be tempting to bring your own firewood on your next float trip, transporting firewood could spread harmful tree insects like the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) and emerald ash borer (EAB) into new areas of the country. Both insects have been detected in 13 states and could spread if more of the public aren’t aware of the threat to the Nation’s forests and don’t take the steps necessary to prevent the spread of these harmful insects. There are several ways you and your family can make a difference.

The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has developed some simple steps all families should follow to avoid moving invasive pests in firewood.

Buy firewood when you arrive at the campground. Most recreational areas have firewood for sale but it’s always a good idea to check when you make your reservations. Be sure to ask if the firewood was cut locally. You should always buy locally cut firewood and burn it all at your destination. If you don’t burn it all, leave it at the campground. Bringing it back home could spread the insects to a new area where wood-boring insects could damage the trees in your yard.

Controlling firewood pests is a matter of controlling the firewood itself. Whether you are burning wood at your home or while camping on your next float trip, here are some helpful tips for preventing the spread of Asian longhorned beetles and emerald ash borers:

Store your firewood away from your tent, RV, house or any buildings. When you store wood against your home or any building you’re inviting wood-boring insects to reside within the structure. Store your firewood at least 3 feet away from your home or any building. Keep your firewood stacked off the ground on concrete blocks, bricks or firewood grates. This will maintain airflow beneath the pile, reducing moisture problems that attract wood-boring insects. You should also store firewood away from trees so if you have any insects in your woodpile they don’t crawl over to any live trees and tunnel beneath their bark, causing severe damage.

Always store your firewood outside. Storing firewood in your home, the basement or in your garage brings wood-boring insects inside and closer to the wood structure of your home. Besides these insects, a firewood pile provides an attractive harborage for rodents and other wildlife. If you plan to cut your own firewood from trees on your property, it’s best to do so in late summer to late fall to minimize new wood-boring infestations. Any wood you cut in summer or late summer should be piled in a sunny area and covered to kill any insects boring in the wood.

Store your older logs on top of your wood pile, using the oldest logs first. This keeps pests at a minimum and prevents you from carrying infested firewood into your home though it’s still a good idea to inspect each log, looking them over, shaking them and even knocking them together. Be sure to purchase wood that’s been cut locally for burning in your fireplace at home. If you’re not sure the wood is from a local source, burn this wood as soon as possible to kill any pests in the wood. Be sure to burn firewood immediately, especially if you’ve brought any indoors. Wood-boring insects like the warmth of your home as much as you do.

When you and your family burn firewood that’s been cut locally you’re doing your part to prevent the spread of the Asian longhorned beetles and emerald ash borers.

If you don’t want to purchase (not haul) large amounts of firewood for cook fires on your next float trip, cooking on a gas camp stove is a great option.  Available in white gas or propane-fueled varieties, lighting and cooking methods on Coleman gas stoves are as easy as cooking at home.  Here are some tips and recipes for cooking with a Coleman Stove.

First, be sure to place you stove on a picnic table a safe distance from highly flammable areas or items like your tent or surrounding trees.  One you have secured a safe cooking area, open the stove by pressing the center button.  This will release the locking mechanism and open its cover.  Open the arms of both sides of the stove and attach them to the outside of the stove using the clips.  These arms act as a shield to prevent the wind from blowing out your burners.

Next, attach the fuel reservoir or canister.  If you’re using white gas, slowly fill the tank using a funnel and be sure to safely store the remaining fuel, closing the lid tightly.  With propane gas stoves you’ll attach the fuel arm to the stove, threading the canister to the opposite end of the fuel arm and positioning it on the table or ground next to the stove.  Don’t let the canister hang from the stove as this is a safety hazard.

With the fuel in place you’re ready to light the stove by turning one of the burner knobs to the “on” position.  You should be able to smell gas.  At this point you can light a match, hold it close to the burner and ignite the gas.  Turning the knob to the low position will help you conserve fuel and makes it easier to light the other burners you may need.

Now you’re ready to set your cookware on the stove’s grate.  It’s best to use smaller size pots and pans on a gas camp stove and consider the amount of fuel you have available.  Smaller pots will heat faster.  You can adjust the heat the same way you would on your stove at home.

Once you’ve cooked your meal, turn the burners to the “off” position and allow the stove to cool completely.  Be sure to remove the propane tank and fuel arm or any remaining liquid fuel into the fuel canister before you put your stove away.  You can always clean the stove at home where you’ll have access to better light and cleaning products before you fold it and store it until your next float trip.

Of course knowing how to cook with a gas camp stove is only half the battle.  You also need to know what’s good to cook on a gas camp stove.  When it comes to breakfast, pre-packing your pancake or biscuit mix is best.  Condiments like syrup, butter or spices should be in sturdy containers to avoid a mess.  And if you can’t go without eggs for breakfast, make sure to use durable plastic egg containers.  Cook any of these breakfast favorites like you would at home.

For lunch, many campers settle for trail mix, a quick energy bar or sandwich they made at home.  But if you’re in the mood for something warm, you could have chicken-and-dumplings by mixing a can of chicken, two small pouches of dry soup mix, 1 cup of biscuit mix, 2 cups of water and ½ cup of mixed vegetables in a pot.  Cook this on low heat for 10 minutes and you’ll have a warm meal that will hit the spot.

Wise campers, camp light and know that dinner in the great outdoors doesn’t have to be complicated.  Boil a small box of pasta shells.  Drain all but a small amount of the water and add 1 tsp. of basil, a can of smoked salmon and 1 cup dried corn.

Gas cooking stoves can also satisfy your sweet tooth for dessert.  Bring 3 cups of water and boil them in a pot.  Then add a 3 oz. box of instant chocolate pudding, 1 cup of rice and 1 cup of powdered milk.  Simmer until your rice is soft.  Let the mixture sit for five minutes and you’ll have delicious chocolate rice pudding.

For many mid-westerners there’s something about the fall’s cooler weather that has us hankering for a bowl of chili, and the heartier and meatier the better. Add family, friends and a campfire to the mix and you have the perfect combination for dinner on your next float trip. Maybe we aren’t so different than black bears and other animals that feel the need to eat and sleep more once the cold weather hits. But one thing’s for sure, a hot bowl of chili on your next fall float trip is sure to satisfy hunger and warm the heart.

Sure you could buy a can of chili at the store but it’ll be loaded with sodium and preservatives. And who wants that when you could enjoy the same chili mom makes with your friends or family around the campfire? All it takes is some pre-planning and preparation before you go.

One of the great things about chili is how easy it is to alter the spiciness even after it’s been cooked. Simply bring along a few small bottles of hot sauces or a small spice container of cayenne pepper and you have all the fixings to meet the individual tastes of your fellow campers. Another benefit to serving chili on your next float trip is the variety of ways you can serve it. You can add spaghetti or macaroni noodles for chili mac. For a cheesier version of chili mac, add some cooked Kraft macaroni and cheese to your chili. And for extremely hungry campers, chili dogs hit the spot.

If you do plan to have chili on your next float trip, you’ll want to prepare your chili at home. Store it in an airtight container in a cooler in your car until you’re ready to warm it up on a camping stove or in an iron pot or Dutch oven on the campfire.

While some campers prefer their family’s chili recipe, you may have not yet determined the chili you like best. For those of you open to trying a new chili recipe, the following is sure to satisfy your taste buds and hunger on your next float trip.

In a skillet, melt 1 TBSP butter or margarine. Dice an onion and sauté in the melted butter in your skillet until brown. Next add 1 pound ground beef and cook on medium heat until browned. Spray inside of crock pot and then combine the cooked meat, onion; 32 oz. can chopped tomatoes, 32 oz. can Brook’s Chili Hot Beans, 1 tsp. chili powder, ½ tsp. salt and ½ tsp. pepper. Set crock pot to low and cook several hours. You can increase the spiciness of this recipe by adding more black pepper or hot sauce. If you prefer less spicy chili, use the Brook’s Chili Mild Beans instead and not as much black pepper.

If you like to add condiments like shredded cheese, sour cream, Saltine crackers or soup crackers to your bowl of chili, be sure to pack these items in Ziploc sandwich bags ahead of time. This makes it much easier to add to your chili if you’re sitting around the campfire and creates less mess and clean up later.

Let’s face it, fall float trips call for hot chocolate. And when we say hot chocolate we don’t mean merely boiling some water and pouring the contents from a packet you get at the store. Just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you can’t have a decadent cup of hot chocolate with a twist. In fact, it’s time you prove the sophisticated camper that you are by making the ordinary cup of hot chocolate extraordinary with a bit of preparation before you leave the house. Here are some suggestions for some variations on the typical cup of hot chocolate and great pairing options.

We certainly aren’t here to tell you that using hot chocolate packets while camping is a crime. In fact, it’s smart. But one way to kick your hot chocolate up a notch is to stir in 1 teaspoon of seedless raspberry jam. What could be better than raspberry hot chocolate on a crisp autumn evening with family and friends at the campfire? But perhaps you prefer butterscotch hot chocolate instead. This is easily rendered by adding 1 tablespoon of butterscotch sauce to your hot chocolate. But some among the campfire may like to spice up their hot chocolate. This can be remedied by stirring in 1/8 teaspoon each of ginger and cinnamon. Still there are those who can’t go without coffee, homesick for a taste of Starbucks. No problem, stirring 1 teaspoon of instant coffee into their hot chocolate is just the caffeine boost they needed.

But if you really want to impress your fellow campers, the following two hot chocolate versions will have them raving about your culinary skills long after the float trip ends. In the fall nothing beats a cup of pumpkin spice hot chocolate. In a medium sauce pan, whisk together 2 ½ cups milk and 1/3 cup hot cocoa mix. Next, add ¼ cup canned pumpkin, ½ tsp. vanilla, a pinch of salt and 1 and ½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice. Heat until you reach your desired temperature. Then pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and/or marshmallows and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. This pumpkin spice hot chocolate recipe makes 3 servings. You can also impress your fellow campers with peppermint hot chocolate. In a medium sauce pan combine ½ cup whole milk, ¼ cup heavy cream and 6 crushed peppermint candies. Simmer about 4 minutes before adding 5 ounces coarsely chopped chocolate. Whisk for 2 minutes before serving with marshmallows or whipped cream.

It’s also helpful to know how to pair hot chocolate with food. Salty, sweet and tangy foods are ideal foods to pair with hot chocolate. Some of the best salty food pairings include popcorn; peanut butter on rice cakes or grainy bread; salted soft pretzels; spiced, roasted almonds (or other nuts) and toasted pumpkin seeds. For those with a sweet tooth among you, some ideal sweet pairings are angel food cake drizzled with caramel sauce or crème de menthe liqueur; peppermint flavored mints, chocolate or candy canes; caramel candy or dulce de leche frozen yogurt and tart candied fruits like candied lemons with the peel. Finally, tangy fruits are a great way to play off hot chocolate’s sweetness while cleansing the palate. Some tangy suggestions include any sour citrus fruit, blackberries, apples, green grapes, mangos, raspberries or strawberries.

And don’t forget hot chocolate for breakfast, the perfect accompaniment with breakfast or energy bars, English muffins and bagels. Hot chocolate is a great way to keep the kids warm in the morning, especially when most haven’t developed a taste for coffee.

Any of these hot chocolate versions will impress your fellow campers while warming their hearts on your next float trip.

No One Wants Ordinary Smores

One of the best times to make a bonfire on a Missouri float trip is when the weather cools in late August and early September.  With hints of the autumn to come there’s something about the crisp air that makes s’mores taste even better.  So don’t limit this campfire delicacy to graham crackers, marshmallows and Hershey bars.  Kick ordinary s’mores up a notch with some of these tantalizing variations.

Chocolate S’more Variations

If you’re a chocolate lover, then you must try a Chocolate Chip Cookie S’more.  Adults and children alike love chocolate chip cookies and adding roasted marshmallows and Hershey’s chocolate to the mix is heaven sent.  You can bake your own chocolate chip cookie recipe at home or pick up your favorite store-bought brand.  Either way, this s’mores variation is mouth-watering.

Break out the After Eight or York Peppermint patty cookies and you’ll transform mundane s’mores into a gourmet campfire dessert.  Using After Eight chocolate squares or York Peppermint patty cookies in place of milk chocolate make the Double Chocolate Mint S’more to die for.  Indulge your inner chocoholic by opting for chocolate graham crackers.

And the chocolate doesn’t stop there because there are plenty of other chocolate variations of s’mores.  With Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup S’mores, it’s business as usual but with phenomenal taste.  Use traditional graham crackers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in lieu of milk chocolate squares and marshmallows.  You’ll wonder why you didn’t think of this before.

Add some flavors from the tropics to your next Missouri float trip with the Tropical Coconut S’more.  Instead of graham crackers bring lemon or orange cookies and coconut chocolate Mounds candy bars.  Add a roasted marshmallow and you’ll have a taste of the tropics at your campfire.

Another favorite s’mores variation is the Brownie Sundae S’more.  Bake a fresh batch of brownies at home.  Once your fire is going, roast your marshmallows and sandwich them along with chocolate between your brownie squares.  This version of s’more is quite decadent so small servings work best.

Chocolate Not Your Thing?

But s’mores don’t always have to be about chocolate.  In fact, you can combine two classic summertime desserts with the Strawberry Shortcake S’more.  Using Lorna Doone cookies or your favorite shortbread cookies instead of graham crackers and fresh strawberries topped with a roasted marshmallow you have another fantastic fireside dessert.

If you don’t feel like cutting up a bunch of strawberries, the Breakfast Biscuit S’more is perfect.  Bake canned biscuits at home and use them to sandwich fruit preserves and roasted marshmallows.  It’s easier on the teeth than the crunch of the graham crackers.

Another gourmet style s’more is the Salted Caramello S’more.  Sea-salted chocolates and caramels aren’t just for enjoyment indoors.  Cadbury Caramellos, sea salt and a roasted marshmallow sandwiched between graham crackers are divine.

Or perhaps you yearn for flavors of the orient.  If you’re a ginger enthusiast, then the Crystalized Ginger S’more can bring Asian flavors to your campfire.  Anna’s cookies are a thin, ginger flavored cookie with a delicate crunch.  Top with a roasted marshmallow, chocolate square and candied ginger or crystallized ginger for a wonderful alternative to the traditional s’more.

You can also skip the chocolate with a Fluffernutter S’more.  Combine a roasted marshmallow, peanut butter and a roasted banana sandwiched between two graham crackers for a superb departure from customary s’mores.

Most of us spend our days connected to the Internet in one way or another, whether through our home or office computer, an iPad or other tablet, our cell phone, or other devices.  We have become accustomed to quick communication through email, Facebook or Twitter.  We immediately search for answers to questions that arise or keep up on the latest news.  Internet has become an integral part of our lives.  It is no surprise, then, that even when we “get away” to the out-of-doors when camping we are reluctant to be cut off from Internet access.

In early June 2012 the Missouri Department of Natural Resources announced that they will be adding complimentary Wi-Fi to many of Missouri’s state parks.  The eleven state parks that initially offered free wireless Internet service mostly provide access throughout the park, but in some cases it is only available at designated hotspots.  The department will continue to add Wi-Fi services to more campgrounds throughout the summer.  The parks that had service in June were:

• Bennett Spring State Park near Lebanon
• Montauk State Park near Salem
• Table Rock State Park near Branson
• Meramec  State Park near Sullivan
• Sam A. Baker State Park near Patterson
• Dr. Edmund A. Babler State Park in Wildwood
• Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park near Middlebrook
• Onondaga Cave State Park near Leasburg
• Long Branch State Park near Macon
• Finger Lakes State Park near Columbia

In 2010 the department conducted a survey in which visitors to Missouri campgrounds indicated that having the ability to stay connected was important.  They felt that having Internet access might cause them to camp more often and could lead them to extend their stays at campgrounds.

Bill Bryan, director of Missouri State Parks stated, “State parks are great places to get away from a hectic schedule but our campers also requested the ability to stay connected. We listened to our customers and are adding complimentary WiFi to the many services we already provide in our state park campgrounds.”

Missouri state parks are continually being upgraded to meet the demands of today’s camping families.  The 40 state park campgrounds offer a wide variety of sites and services, everything from primitive, basic sites to sites with modern amenities such as electric, sewers and water.  In fact, over 70 percent of the campsites have electricity available.  Other amenities often found are modern restrooms, hot showers, trailer dumping stations, coin-operated laundry or firewood.  Full information regarding the amenities and services at each campground is available at the Missouri State Parks website.  The Missouri State Parks are part of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

While black bear encounters are rare in Missouri, it’s better to err on the side of caution, taking the necessary steps to keep them away from your campsite. Here are some safety tips.

Keep your campsite clean. Your pots and pans, utensils and any other items that come into contact with food will attract bears if you keep them out in the open. Keep food and any items that come into contact with food in your car.

As soon as everyone is done eating clean all your utensils and cooking items and never pitch cooking grease or any other food residues into the campfire. The smell of cooked foods will only attract bears.
State parks have bear-proof containers or dumpsters that prevent bears from smelling or gaining access to food. Place your garbage in these designated containers or dumpsters. Never burn or bury your garbage either because bears will dig it up.

Avoid eating or cooking in your tent. The last place you want to encounter a bear is in your tent which is why storing food or other attractants in tents or in your sleeping bags is a bad idea. If you’re backpacking, store these items in your backpack, suspending the backpacks from trees.

Bears have an acute sense of smell and though it’s hard to believe, bears are also attracted to non-food items like deodorant, soap and even gum. So treat these items as food when you’re on your next float trip.
If your pet is camping with you, keep your dog on a leash. Store their food in an airtight container in your car, keeping the container sealed after every use. Be sure to clean up any leftovers or scraps of food after your dog has finished eating. This too can attract bears. Your cooler should be kept in your car’s trunk or truck cab, concealed from view since bears associate coolers with food.

When planning your float trip menu prepare meals that will generate as little garbage as possible. The less garbage you have, the fewer smells you’ll create that could attract bears to your campsite.

If you do see any wild animals at or near your campsite, you should avoid contact with them and never attempt to feed them. This will only make them more attracted to this campsite in the future, causing them to bother future guests and even be considered a nuisance to the point that rangers may be forced to euthanize them. So by avoiding contact with them in the first place, you may be saving the animal’s life. And you should never approach black bears. They are extremely dangerous.

If you plan to do some hiking, bears are usually prompted to leave by normal trail noise before humans can actually see them. When you’re in a berry patch, keep a look out for bears as they are likely to venture into these areas. If you see a bear, don’t approach it and only observe it from a distance. Clap, talk, sing or make other noises so the bear is aware of your presence. If you ever encounter a bear at close range, remain calm and stay standing upright. Don’t look the bear directly in the eye. Speak in a calm, assertive and assured voice as you back up slowly to leave the area.

If a bear comes into your campsite, remain calm and make the bear aware of your presence. Some campers have thrown rocks, banged pots and pans, waved their arms and used airhorns to scare bears away. Don’t feed bears and be sure they have an escape route. If the bear swats at the ground, snaps or pops its jaws or utters a series of huffs you are too close and need to slowly back away. Move to a car or building as soon as possible if the bear won’t go away. Notify park rangers and authorities if the bear is aggressive. While black bears rarely attack people, you should be prepared in the event that one does. Black bears are intimidated by counter attacks so fighting the bear aggressively with anything close by like pots and pans or sticks or your fists can help you to get out of a dangerous situation.

Surrounding Missouri’s rivers, ponds and streams are beautiful landscapes and wooded areas, perfect for families to hike and explore.  Unfortunately, heavily wooded areas also attract ticks.  Here are some tips for removing ticks and treating tick bites should they occur on your next float trip.

If your little ones have been playing in wooded areas most of the day, it’s important to inspect for insect bites, especially from ticks before they hop into their sleeping bags for the night.  A complete body scan, yep, head to toe, is essential.  Start by looking in your child’s hair, behind their ears and along the neck, working your way down.  Check clothing too because it’s the perfect place for a stowaway to hide.

If you do find a tick, the first thing you want to do is remove it.  Ticks burrow their heads in their victim’s skin.  The best way to remove a tick is with a tweezers.  Firmly grasp the tick at its head as close to your child’s skin as possible, then pull steadily until it lets go.  Avoid jerking or twisting the tweezers when attempting to pull out the tick or you may leave its head embedded in your child’s skin.  Do not use petroleum jelly or a lighter or lit match to remove a tick.  These methods do not work, are scary to children and only cause the tick to dig deeper into your child’s skin.

Once you’ve removed the tick, place the tick in a Ziploc bag.  Be sure to swab the area of the tick bite with an alcohol-soaked cotton ball or pad.  It’s a good idea to contact your child’s pediatrician about the tick bite.  Many pediatricians will want to make sure your child doesn’t have Lyme disease.  Deer ticks carry Lyme disease, a bacterial disease that’s harmful to children’s health.  Lyme disease causes a red bull’s-eye-shaped rash, appearing within 3-30 days of a deer tick bite.  When your child has been bitten by a deer tick bite you’ll want to keep an eye on the area for several weeks and take your child to the pediatrician right away if a rash occurs.  Lyme disease is easily treated with antibiotics and works best at the first signs of infection.

When it comes to ticks, Benjamin Franklin was right when he said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  One way to protect your children from ticks is to dress them in long-sleeved shirts and long pants before they go hiking in the woods or tall grass where ticks hang out.  If you or your children have been walking or playing in woods or grassy fields, check each other for ticks.  Ticks thrive in moist, humid places like piles of leaves and wooded or grassy areas.  Insect repellents containing 30 percent DEET or 10 percent picaridin also provide good protection against ticks.  Apply the repellent to your child’s clothing and exposed skin except the hands and face.  Ask your child’s doctor to recommend an insect repellent if you have safety concerns.  Most insect repellents protect against mosquito, spider and tick bites.

Protecting your family and pets from ticks on your next float trip takes preparation.  By wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants in wooded and grassy areas, using insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin and conducting full body scans for ticks you’re more likely to avoid tick bites and Lyme disease.

Nothing completes a float trip like a gathering of family and friends roasting marshmallows together around a campfire. Kids and adults enjoy toasting their own marshmallows, whether it’s for s’mores or eating them alone, right off the stick. For safely and effectively roasted marshmallows, be sure to follow these basic tips.

First, choose your roasting stick. Many campers bring store-bought metal skewers from home, while others prefer to use sticks from trees. While metal skewers are more sanitary, sticks are an authentic, rustic alternative. However, for campers who are concerned about germs or have low immune systems metal skewers is the best choice. Tree sticks offer a slight flavor to marshmallows that you won’t get with metal skewers. If you prefer to use a stick, find a hardwood stick rather than an evergreen or resinous one. The last thing you want is sap seeping into your marshmallow.

Next, make sure you choose a stick that’s long enough to keep you a safe distance from the campfire. This should be determined by the person roasting the marshmallow as some campers have a higher tolerance of fire than others. Small children and fire-leery people should have longer sticks or skewers. Adults and braver campers should be fine with medium length sticks that allow them to roast their marshmallows in closer proximity to the fire.

Once you’ve chosen your stick or skewer, you’re ready to load the marshmallow. The marshmallow should be loaded onto the stick or skewer far enough that it doesn’t fall into the fire once it gets hot. This means having a few inches of the stick or skewer exposed at the fire end beyond the marshmallow. Push the marshmallow too far back and it becomes more difficult to remove when it’s done roasting.

Roasting time varies with the individual. If you prefer your marshmallow burnt or blackened, stick the marshmallow near the hot coals at the bottom of the fire or directly into the flames. Once the marshmallow has caught fire, step away from the fire and others so that you can safely blow out the small flame without harming others. If you prefer a lightly brown roasted marshmallow, move your skewered marshmallow briskly over the flames, occasionally checking its progress. Avoid sticking the marshmallow directly into the flames if you only want a lightly browned result.

Once you’ve roasted your marshmallow to your liking, remove it from the fire and allow it to cool for 20-30 seconds. Holding the stick or skewer with one hand, grasp the marshmallow with your other hand and slowly pull the roasted marshmallow off the end of the roasting stick or skewer, pulling the inside of the marshmallow along with the toasted outside. If you’re making s’mores, another camper can remove the marshmallow for you by sandwiching two graham crackers around it, pulling the roasted marshmallow off the stick or skewer.

Roasting marshmallows around a campfire is a great way for family and friends to come together after a long day of rafting on the river. By following these tips you and your family and friends can have a safe and enjoyable experience roasting marshmallows while creating memories to last a lifetime.