Cooking in the camp: A Girl Scout’s Experience

Being a Girl Scout is not only about selling cookies and sisterhood. I’ve also learned how to cook camping food!

Michelle cooks chicken [Photograph] by LibraryRachel. 2009.

Camping makes me remember my experience as a Girl Scout. I’ve learned the oath and the hymn, seen ceremonies and learned survival skills. One of the survival skills I’ve learned as a Girl Scout was cooking. The most memorable camping meal I’ve ever cooked was when we prepared our meal using juice packs. The packs were emptied and we used that to stew some pork and steam rice. It was incredible how further you can be resourceful when it comes to cooking camping food.

It was also amazing how you can grill corn on a cob. But would you believe that I’ve cooked egg on a hot grill without a flat surface? Yes! This one amazing camping food trick that you should know - you can grill an egg as long as its shell is on.

What is the most resourceful thing you have ever done on your camping trip?

What foods are cheapest and easiest to prepare for camping?

Figure1. Camp Food [Photograph] by Kozy and Dan Kitchens. 2014.

Sharing a meal together with your family and friends is one of the best things when you are on a camping trip. But when you are camping on a budget, have you ever noticed that food is adding a lot to your costs?

There are many foods that you can easily prepare and are inexpensive. Here are 4 cheap and easy meals to make when you are camping on a budget.

1. Trail Mix - This bag of mixed nuts, dried fruits and sometimes chocolate are nutritious, filling and tasty all at the same time and they come especially cheap if you make them yourself unlike when you buy them prepackaged in stores.

2. One-pot meal - There are many camping foods you can cook with only one pot. You can make a casserole, soup, stew, chili, fries and many more. Your imagination is the limit! You can prepare the ingredients beforehand and pack them in a ziplock bag.

3. Vegetables and fruits - Nothing beats the simplicity of veggies and fruit. Most fruits and vegetables don’t cost over $2 per pound and so you can bring more for less money.

4. Foil packet dinners - Wrap pre-cooked meals in foil packets and warm them up over charcoal fire. It does not only save some money but also time. You can wrap almost about anything you can - cooked rice, potatoes, meat, vegetables and many more.


What camping food do you recommend making?





References:
Kimball, K. (2011, June 21). What to Eat on a Budget While Camping. Retrieved June 29, 2015, from http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2011/06/21/6-ways-to- eat-well-spend-less-while-camping/

Homemade rocket stove for camping

There are plenty of different ways to cook food when camping. Some people bring full sized barbeques while others have miniture single flame stoves the size of a pop can. The camping stores have something for everyone. It all depends on what type of food you plan on cooking. Do you need to cook multiple dishes at once? or can you get away with cooking one at a time?

Figure 9: Rocket stove

If you’re looking for a camping stove that doesn’t break the bank you might want to look at creating your own with a homemade rocket stove. This can be created using a paint can, a pasta can and a soup can. All you’ll need to do it have some tools to out this together. Here is a link to a video of how to create your very own rocket stove. Click here

Did you find this video helpful?

8 Tips on Hiking during your Camping Trip

Wondering how you should prepare for your hike during your camping trip?

Figure1. Hiking In Lost Horse Valley [Photograph] by Robb Hannawacker. 2008.

Hiking is one of the cheapest and most enjoyable camping activities that you can do when you are camping on a budget, as you get to explore and discover the area. Whether it’s a short or a long hike, it’s always better to be prepared.

• Plan your hiking route before you go, organize your things and remember to bring a map and compass together with you.
• Hike with a group. It’s better to have a buddy that you can rely on especially in case of an emergency.
• Stay hydrated and bring some small snacks. Drink plenty of water or electrolyte drinks. Bring snacks such as energy foods such as energy bars or trail mix.
• Put on some suncreen to prevent sunburn and protect your eyes from UV rays with sunglasses or a visor.
• Remember your first aid training. Bring some first aid supplies or emergency kits and if you need medication, bring them as well. Bring some bug spray and bear sprays as well.
• Be prepared for the weather: bring rain gear, and for colder nights, bring gloves and extra jacket.
• Bring tools such as a Swiss Army Knife, whistle, spare batteries and a repair kit with you.
• Bring a photo ID, insurance card and any other identification card when you go on a hike. Have some digital copies/photos of your IDs in case they are stolen or lost.

Where was the last time you went hiking?



References:
Hiking Dude - hiking the long trails. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2015, from http://www.hikingdude.com/hiking-tips.php

What to Bring on a Hike. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2015, from http://www.active.com/outdoors/articles/what-to-bring-on-a-hike

Activities you can do when camping

Figure1. Game of Shinney [Photograph] by Forest Service Northern Region. 2011.

There are a lot of fantastic camping activities you can do during your trip and most of them don’t cost even a penny to do!

 Here are some camping games that any one of any age can enjoy and very simple and easy to set up:

• Throwing Games. This is one of the most common camping games that comes in different styles but essentially has the same “hit the target” objective.
• High Activity Games. These are the games you have played when you were a kid such as hide and seek, tag, and capture the flag. This type of camping activity has a lot of running and moving around and it is very fun when there are a lot of players.
• Sports Oriented Games. There are many sports that you can play during your camping trip. This includes soccer, badminton, and Frisbee.
• Indoor or Rainy Day Games. Board games, Jenga, pass the message and card games are some examples of this.

What games do you enjoy playing on your camping trip?


References
Gray, E. (n.d.). Camping Games: Fun Games For Kids And Their Parents To Play While Camping. Retrieved June 29, 2015, from http://www.thecampingfamily.com/camping-games.html

Camp Games. (n.d.). Retrieved June 29, 2015, from http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/camp-games.html

Do you prefer camping in the backcountry or in a campground?

Depending on your priorities, one may be preferable for someone like you who is camping on a budget.

Figure1. Grand Canyon - Lower Tapeats Campground at the Colorado River [Photograph] by Al_HikesAZ. 2007.

For a real wilderness experience, you may want to prefer backcountry camping so that you can appreciate the beauty of nature. There are a lot of fun camping ideas you can do such as exploring trails and bird watching.

If you are not ready to give up some comforts in life such as readily available water and electricity, you may prefer camping on a designated campground. It doesn’t mean that you it can’t be real camping if you’re not in the wilderness! There is a minimal fee for using a campground. You may want to camp on the grounds owned by provincial parks as they tend to be cheaper.

Which one do you prefer: renting a spot at a designated campgrounds or camping in the backcountry?

How to: $50 Budget Winter Camping (video)

Figure1. Getting Cold [Photograph] by Kitty Terwolbeck. 2006.

Did you know that you can also camp during the winter time? I’m featuring a vlog on “$50 Budget Winter Camping Challenge” by SurvivingOn TheCheap some camping ideas for winter.

  Winter Camping Part 1

Watch Part 2 here

During winter, camping essentials become different mainly due to the cold temperature. These two guys on were camping on a hunting area during turkey hunting season so they’re also giving a warning to make sure you wear bright clothing for protection. Among the camping essentials they recommend are warmer jackets and extra insulation when sleeping. Most of the items they have like the insulation, flashlights, pans, blanket, first aid kit, charcoal and knife are either from a dollar store or bought secondhand. Being resourceful comes in handy when camping on a budget.

Another important thing about camping during the winter time is warmth - and so fire. The tinder in the area may be wet and so it is a smart camping idea to pack a few sticks of fat wood with you to start the fire or you can source them in the woods where they exist naturally.

Have you tried camping during the winter time with little budget? How was your experience?

What kinds of games are light and take up little room for camping?

When you’re going camping you might have some downtime. This is usually a good opportunity to play some camping games. The hard part about bringing games is finding room in either your vehicle or your backpack. So the key to bringing travel games is to make sure they’re small games.

 

So if you’re wondering, what kinds of games are light and take up little room for camping? Here is your solution.

 

A flying disc known mainly by the brand name Frisbee is a light weight game that will take up little space only being 10.5in in diameter and also little weight being only 175g. You can pick one of these up at Mountain Equipment Co-op for $12. This can be a great active game to play with groups or even just 2 people.

Figure 5: MEC Ultimate Disc

Another great product found at Mountain Equipment Co-op is their Outside Inside Roll‑up 5 in 1 Travel Game Set. This roll up board allows for easy storage only being 48x36cm and weighing only 359g. This all in one game includes chess, checkers, backgammon, Ludo and snakes and ladders and will cost you $19.50.

Figure 6: Outside Inside Roll‑up 5 in 1 Travel Game Set

What lightweight games do you bring camping?

Meals for camping that don’t cost a fortune

When you’re thinking about food for camping you don’t want to have to bring your whole kitchen with you so you’re going to have to be thoughtful of simple meals you can prepare. Some of the best memories I have from camping involve eating and they aren’t fancy dinners. Here are some cheap meal ideas you can plan to make that will save you money as well as time.

 

1)      Campfire hotdogs – Pierce with a stick and cook over fire rotating until evenly cooked.

Figure 1: Hot dogs

2)       Corn on the cob – Soak in water with husks still on for 30mins then grill over fire until evenly cooked.

Figure 2: Fire roasted corn

3)       Baked potatoe – Wrap in tin foil and place in fire. Test if cooked with a fork.

Figure 3: Baked potatoes in the campfire

4)       Eggs in a muffin pan – Cook eggs in a muffin pan over a fire.

Figure 4: Quail eggs in "poffertjespan"

 

What inexpensive meals do you eat while camping?

Free Camping – Camping on Crown Land

Summer is here and the weather is perfect. You want to get out of the city and enjoy the great outdoors but, school just wrapped up and you have no money. Where can you go? Are there free camping grounds in Ontario?

Look no further! You can enjoy free camping on Ontario Crown land for up to 21 consecutive days on the same campsite. The price to you is absolutely nothing. Enjoy nature at its root. No washrooms, no pool, no problem. Crown land is government land that is made up of mostly undisturbed wilderness.

It makes up nearly 85% of Ontario

This summer find a nice location and make it your temporary home.

© Moyan Brenn - Flickr.com 2015

Find your next Crown land campgrounds using the Crown Land Use Policy Atlas It's a free interactive tool offered by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

Do you have a favorite campsite on Crown land? 

How to plan your hiking trip

One of the best camping activities is hiking because you get to explore and discover your surrounding wilderness. Here's a short video of how you should prepare for your hiking trip:

Pros and Cons Tents and Hammocks

For years people have been camping using tents. This is still the most common way for camping. This blog post is to see what you the reader thinks are the most practical way for camping and what you prefer to do. Is camping in a hammock something you have tried? Did you like it? Would you do it again? Would you be open to swinging from a tree late at night? What are some of the benefits of being elevated?

 

What Are Your Favorite Free Camping Activities?

Camping activities are a fun way to spend a summer day. However, some activities can be a bit pricey. That’s why I like to keep myself occupied with fun and free camping ideas:

My number one thing to do while camping is hiking. It’s free. It’s great exercise. And it literally leads me to my next favorite activities; ascending to the local lookout for a scenic view and bird-watching. Those hot summer late afternoons are perfect for taking a dip in the lake. In fact, when I was young one of my favorite camping games was to retrieve things that we have just thrown from the bottom of the lake.

These camping activities area fun and for campers on a budget free!

© Robin, Leighton Moss 2009

Share your fun and free

camping ideas and camping games

What are your favorite things to do while camping?

My Best Camping Meals of all time

While camping with my wife at Bon Echo Provincial Park we shared the absolutely most delicious of camping meals. And the funny part is that it was by accident.
 

My wife and I were preparing for our annual Just the two of us trip and were going over our camping checklist. When we got to the meal plan we both agreed that we didn’t feel like having steak on the fire this time around. When it comes to camping food, we enjoy a well put together meal. Especially after a day of hiking, biking, canoeing or just sun bathing. The conversation left off at “let’s just have chicken” and we continued to pack. My wife headed out the next day to complete the food shopping for the trip.

If you haven’t been to Bon Echo, give it a go. Its prominent feature is Mazinaw Rock, a huge cliff with ancient native pictographs that can be seen only by canoe or boat. We had a wonderful time exploring. Even though the weather was miserable we still enjoyed the experience but nothing could have prepared us for the camping meal which we were about to have.

I had the fire going for a while and the red hot embers were giving off serious heat. The picnic table was set and the salads were ready. Then my wife took out the chicken. It wasn’t thighs, or a breast… it was half of a chicken. I look at her in disbelief “What is that?” to which she replied “The chicken”. She had brought half a chicken for the two of us to share. And I was supposed to cook this thing. It was already getting dim out. My first thought was that this was going to be a long night.

© Dawn Huczek 2009

I decided to slap the chicken on the grill over the campfire. Moving it around strategically to avoid burning. A short while later it was near pitch black and we were washing our salads down with some Cabernet-Sauvignon. As the chicken turned golden brown, we could hear the juices sizzle as they dripped into the flames. It was time. We cut off small pieces and tried it. The taste was incredible. The hunger urged us on. We spent the next hour talking and laughing slicing off tender pieces of the most enjoyable of camping meals that I have ever had. The meat seemed to fall off the bone and it paired well with our vino.

The chicken was delicious and we had a memorable camping experience. These are the moments that keep me trekking back out there time after time, rain or shine.

Do you have a favorite story to share?

Tell us what happened. We’d love to hear it.

What Household Items Are Great Camping Gear Substitutes?

You don’t have to spend a fortune on camping supplies. In fact, you can substitute expensive camping gear with household items. This will save you money and ensure you have an enjoyable camping experience.

When venturing out into the great outdoors, people like to be as prepared as possible. Having the right camping equipment can be the difference between a perfect experience and a bad one. I have put together a couple of ideas that will save you money on camping essentials:

© Martin Wroblewski 2015

Mess Kit

Let’s start with the mess kit. A good mess kit will run you upwards of $50. This is a vital item on the camping checklist as it allows you to transport, cook, and eat the third most important thing for survival – food. The first two being shelter and water. A good mess kit will include various sizes of cooking containers, bowls, plates, and covers.

Let’s Substitute!

Grab the oldest pan and a small boiling pot from your cupboard. The pan will be used for frying up some morning eggs and the pickerel you just reeled in. The pot will allow you to boil drinking water but most importantly that delicious cup of coffee as you look out onto the loon-echoed lake. For use as plate/bowl, I recommend plastic Tupperware containers. The various sizes give you versatility and an easy way to transport the food. Clean up is also made easy.

Utensils

Utensils are offered in metal or a more expensive material such as silicon to prevent heat transfer. I have been camping for nearly 30 years and have yet to purchase a set. So what can you use?

Let’s Substitute!

Utensils are on everyone’s camping essentials list. It certainly makes eating a lot easier. Some of us would starve long before whittling a fork out of a branch. If you have disposable cutlery, that may be an option. However, I prefer sturdy cutlery. There’s nothing worse than breaking a fork halfway through a juicy medium rare steak. Every household has a drawer that contains the odd collection of knives, spoons, and forks that don’t seem to belong to the dinner set. No one will miss these. Make sure the knife you take is sharp and strong as this is a good tool to have while camping.

The bottom line is that people have been camping long before camping-specific retailers were around. So be creative when checking off your camping checklist. The opportunities to substitute household items for camping gear are limitless.

What household items have you used

as substitutes on your camping checklist?

We want to know!

Substitute Household Items for Camping Gear - Watch Video

There is no need to buy expensive camping gear!

You may already have the items. This video offers helpful tips on using items from around the house for camping to eliminate unnecessary spending on camping gear.

Watch now!

or

view in YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCnZ_iN-s8A

Best Camping Tent on a Budget – Cheap Tents Review

It is easy to go over your budget when it comes to buying a camping tent. Some tents cost hundreds of dollars while others are rather inexpensive. It can be a daunting task searching for the best tent for your needs that also falls in line with your budget.

When I bought my first tent, I decided to go with one in the cheap tents section. Essentially, all I needed was a place to rest my head. Everything seemed okay at first but, then came the rains. I spent the entire night in a tiny slightly elevated corner of the tent floor. That tent turned out to be a sponge!

There are as it turns out reasons why some tents are better than others. It comes down to a few key factors. I have done some research on tents for sale and was impressed with one that satisfied all performance characteristics as well as my budget.

© Backcountry.com 2015

Eureka! Taron 2
Material – Fly	68D 190T Polyester Ripstop 1800mm
Material – Wall	75D 190T Polyester Taffeta
Material – Floor	70D 190T Nylon Taffeta 3000mm
Material – Mesh	40D Polyester no-see-um Mesh
Capacity	2
Seasons	3
Pole Material	7000 Series Alum. 8.5mm
Ventilation	Hooded Fly Vent
Gear Loft	13.2 sq. ft.
Dimensions	7’4”L x 4’2”W x 3’5”H
Weight	4 lbs. 14 oz.
Price	$179.90

The Taron 2 made by Eureka! Is a fantastic camping tent. Priced at under $200, you are getting an intermediate level performance tent for the price of an entry level one. The tent is manufactured from good materials but, what stood out for me was the floor. It is strong and durable to prevent damage as well as 3000mm water protection. This is much higher than the 1800mm floor being offered by models in the same price range. The tent offers lots of ventilation with the hooded fly vent and no-see-um mesh. This helps prevent overheating as well as condensation in the tent. Condensation inside the tent is a problem as it leads to damp clothes and cold and not-so-happy campers. The aluminum poles are a step up from the cheap fiber glass and are lighter as well. The entire tent is nice and light for those backpacking or canoeing trips.

The Taron 2 is in my opinion the best tent in the cheap tent category. Also available are the solo and three person tents from Eureka! Get out there and have fun.

Do you already own this camping tent?

Tell us how you like the Taron 2