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Archive for Blog – Page 4

Camping Activities to Keep the Family Entertained

Posted by My Camp Kitchen //
 January 31, 2014
Relaxing on the Water While Camping

The whole family is packed and ready for a week of camping fun. But what are you actually going to do once you arrive at the campground? Be prepared come rain or shine with these fun camping activities in your back pocket.

Active

  • Hiking: A long hike is the perfect opportunity to bond with friends or family while enjoying lush natural landscapes.
  • Swimming: When the sun is shining and the weather is hot, cool down by spending a few hours swimming in the lake.
  • Capture the Flag, Ultimate Frisbee, or Sand Volleyball: Any game that gets you moving will work, but these are popular choices for camping.

Leisure

  • Fishing: Even if you don’t catch a single fish, going fishing is a great way to relish peace and quiet.
  • Floating: Tired of swimming? Grab a tube and enjoy the water without the work.
  • Lying on the beach: On the beach, you can read a book or just sit and relax. Just don’t forget to wear sunscreen!

Rainy days

  • Card games: Cards offer variety, so when you get sick of playing one game, simply switch to another.
  • Reading: Use a rainy day as an opportunity to finally start that book you’ve been meaning to read.
  • Crafting: Do you like to draw or knit? Bring your supplies with you in case of bad weather.

Nighttime

  • Storytelling: While everyone is sitting around the campfire and roasting marshmallows, have people share a scary ghost story.
  • Catching fireflies: Are you fast enough to catch a firefly? Wait until the sun goes down and then find out!
  • Late-night swim: Night swimming offers a totally different experience from a daytime swim. Take the necessary precautions and always bring a buddy.

A camping trip should never be boring. Keep a few activities in mind for every occasion and make your camping trip a success!

For more information on how to camp, check out our other posts:

Camping Checklist: What to Pack on Your Next Camping Trip

Posted by My Camp Kitchen //
 January 31, 2014
Packing a Suitcase for a Camping Trip

When it comes to camping, preparation is a necessity. To help you pack for your big trip, we’ve compiled a camping checklist full of must-have items you won’t want to forget. Bear in mind these items will differ depending on factors like the season or number of people going, so make adjustments accordingly.

Clothing

When packing clothes, keep comfort and protection in mind. While you may enjoy wearing flip-flops at the beach, you will definitely want a pair of tennis shoes for hikes or long walks.

Essential clothing items include:
  • Tennis shoes/hiking boots
  • Sandals
  • Jeans
  • Shorts
  • T-shirts
  • Socks (bring extra)
  • Sun hat
  • Sweatshirt/jacket
  • Rain jacket
  • Underwear (bring extra)
  • Swimsuit
  • Towels

Cooking

Instead of just packing a bunch of food and hoping for the best, plan out your meals beforehand. That way, you will know exactly which ingredients and supplies to pack.

Cooking items you will want to bring include:
  • Water
  • Ingredients and food to make all of the meals you planned
  • Cooking supplies you will need to make your meals (stove, pots, etc.)
  • Portable countertop/storage cabinets (My Camp Kitchen offers portable kitchens to keep your cooking supplies organized)
  • Plates, utensils, cups, and napkins
  • Firewood
  • Charcoal
  • Marshmallow sticks
  • Coolers and ice
  • Garbage bags

Personal Items

While you might not get to enjoy the luxuries of everyday life, you still want to bring the basic necessities to make your trip a pleasant one.

Personal items you might want to consider packing include:
  • Sunscreen
  • First-aid kit
  • Insect repellent
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Toiletries
  • Camera
  • Personal medications
  • Phone
  • Flashlight/lantern
  • Activity items (fishing poles, games, etc.)
  • Tools

Bedding

Are you sleeping in a camper, or do you plan to stay in a tent? Make sure you’re adequately prepared to sleep comfortably no matter what type of shelter you’re planning to camp in.

Items you could bring include:
  • Sleeping bag
  • Sheets
  • Blankets/comforters
  • Pillows
  • Air mattress and air pump

Navigation

It’s easy to get lost when you’re camping in unfamiliar territory.

Make sure to include these items when you pack:
  • GPS
  • Compass
  • Map

Be prepared for anything on your next camping trip. Packing the necessities will ensure a much smoother and more enjoyable time for everyone!

For more information on how to camp, check out our other posts:

How to Camp: Top 5 Tips for Camping

Posted by My Camp Kitchen //
 January 22, 2014
Happy Family Roasting Marshmallow over Campfire

Swimming in the lake, roasting marshmallows, playing games—what’s not to love about camping? Camping can be ridiculously fun and is a great way to spend quality time with friends and family. To enjoy your trip as much as possible, you should carefully prepare beforehand. If you’re new to camping and aren’t sure how to plan for your camping trip, here are five basic how-to-camp tips that will help make your adventure stress-free.

1. Bring a first-aid kit

Whether you’re out in the middle of nowhere or spending time in a nice, familiar campground, you will want to bring a first-aid kit. Some of the items you should include are prescriptions, Band-Aids, aspirin, antiseptic creams, ointments, sterile wipes, rinse solutions, tweezers, and scissors.

2. Plan activities

More than likely, you’ll have plenty of free time on your camping trip. Fill up those hours where you have nothing planned with a fun game or group activity! Cards are perfect because they don’t take up a lot of space and you can use them to play a variety of different games. Other activities you might consider include swimming, hiking, and canoeing.

3. Pack lightly

People tend to overpack, thinking they are playing it safe. They regret that decision once their camper feels way too crowded. Pack only the essentials, but make sure you are prepared for both warm days and cold nights.

4. Plan out each meal

Planning meals ahead of time will prevent you from running out of food or packing too much. Take into account that some people on your trip may want seconds or even thirds.

5. Always pack bug spray and sunscreen

Out of all the miscellaneous items you pack for your camping trip, you’ll be most grateful for your bug spray and sunscreen. Find a bug spray that contains 20 percent or more DEET and be sure your sunscreen has at least 30 SPF.

Being prepared is an essential part of camping. Follow these five camping tips and make your trip an experience you’ll cherish forever!

For more information on how to camp, check out our other posts:

Daily Bread

Posted by My Camp Kitchen //
 August 28, 2013
Pogaca Bread

We just started partnering with Daily Bread, a company committed to promoting sustainable living and emergency preparedness. Below are some quick tips from them.

5 easy ways to start your food storage

by Dirk Puckett

Building up your family food storage is a wonderful idea—but if you haven’t started yet, it’s likely that you feel overwhelmed about where to start and how much to spend. Getting started with food storage can be easy and inexpensive if you use common sense and plan ahead. When you break the process down into manageable steps, you’ll soon be on your way to having a versatile, long-lasting emergency family food supply to sustain you during hard times.

Here are 5 easy ways to start your family food storage:

1. Make a list

Forget freeze-dried gourmet dinners and focus on simple, practical food items you can find at the supermarket that are high in nutrients and store well. Focus on versatile, tasty foods like pasta, rice, dried beans, canned meat, pancake mix, peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, nuts, and powdered drink mixes. The food items on your list also need to be things your family will actually eat. Don’t make plans to store canned lima beans if you know your children will never eat them. Then, consolidate your list to just 12 to 15 items. Once you’ve built up a basic food storage supply, you can expand on it.

2. Set a budget

Look carefully at your grocery budget and see how much you can divert to building up your food storage. Even with as little as $10 per month, you can get started. Over time, you’ll build up enough to help you and your family out in a crisis. Another good idea is to save up all your spare change during the month and put it toward your food storage budget. Even a little bit of change can generally cover an extra can of tuna fish or a bag of hard candy every month.

3. Buy a little at a time

Once you have a list and a budget, you can begin to purchase a few food items every time you go to the grocery store. Whenever you shop, add some of the food storage items to your cart. Don’t forget to take advantage of the sales on your food storage items, such as two-for-one sales or loss leaders.

4. Set up a purchase schedule

If your food storage items are not on sale, keep organized by setting up a purchasing schedule for your list of items. For example, if you have $15 to spend each month, start by buying a 5-lb. bag of rice, a 5-lb. bag of beans, and three cans of tuna fish. The next month, choose three more things on your list to buy. Keep purchasing until you’ve gotten some of everything on your list, then start over. This way, you’ll have a variety of foods in your storage, rather than too much of one item.

5. Designate storage space

It doesn’t take long for even a basic food storage supply to grow bigger than you thought. Get creative when it comes to storing your food and look beyond the obvious. If you aren’t lucky enough to have empty shelves in the garage or basement, make room elsewhere. Try adding a bookshelf in the closet of the spare room, stacking totes under the stairs, or getting long, flat containers that fit under your bed.

Dirk Puckett writes about food storage, emergency preparedness, and self-sustainable living for Daily Bread.

From Our Friends at Date Night Doins

Posted by My Camp Kitchen //
 July 19, 2013
Kebabs

Tailgating Kabobs

If you are in the mood for some kabobs for your next campout or tailgating party, take a look at this collection of tailgating kabobs recipes from Date Night Doins.

Enjoy!

So You Think Outdoor Cooking and Culinarians Don’t Mix … Read On

Posted by Sky //
 July 15, 2013
Cooking with My Camp Kitchen Summit

I love to cook, and I love being outdoors. With My Camp Kitchen products, you will feel like you have a kitchen outside (literally everything but the kitchen sink). Imagine how easy standing upright at a countertop with ample workspace would make outdoor cooking. Now picture a closable cabinet behind this workspace that literally holds everything you would need to cook and serve a great meal. That’s right—pots and pans, Coleman stove, utensils, spices, oils, dishes, cutting board, paper towels, cups, wine glasses … and so much more. Now imagine this next to your grill. No more hot dogs! What are you going to cook?

C&NN Releases Updated Edition of “Together in Nature: Pathways to a Stronger, Closer Family” Tool Kit

Posted by Sky //
 July 15, 2013
Parent and Child Together in Nature

I follow Richard Louv and his work on getting kids and families back to nature. He is the man who termed the phrase “nature deficit disorder.” As a psychotherapist, I see this all the time. Anyway, here is link to a recent post by them well-worth reading:

Children and Nature Network (C&NN) Releases Updated Edition of “Together in Nature: Pathways to a Stronger, Closer Family” Tool Kit

30 Blogs That Help Parents Develop and Maintain a Family Routine

Posted by Sky //
 January 16, 2013
Family Toothbrushes

I wanted to share with you Carol’s blog. She has many posts on developing healthy family relationships through routines. Please click here to find great information on how routines can help your family!

Kids and Nature … What a Beautiful Thing

Posted by Sky //
 December 13, 2012
Child Embracing Nature at Sunset

I was reading through my emails this morning and found my C&NN newsletter. Opening it up, I read two beautiful pieces that I want to share with you.

Tierra y libertad

The first is written by a young man after camping with his family for the first time: TIERRA Y LIBERTAD: A Camping Trip Illustrates Nature’s Place in Family and Heritage.

Peace in nature

And the second, which I actually read first, was written by a young girl contemplating a beehive: PEACE IN NATURE: Aylee Tudek, 16, Shares Her Sense of Wonder.

Both are beautiful and so well-written. I could not say it better. Thanks, Juan and Aylee.

Memories of Camping: Create Yours This Summer

Posted by My Camp Kitchen //
 December 12, 2011
Family on Beach at Sunset

My earliest memories are of waking up at 2:00 am and getting in the car (which my dad had already packed for our annual two weeks of camping at Sheep Creek, Kings Canyon, California) and then singing or counting animals or seeing how many state license plates my brother and I could find (with mom’s help). That time spent in the car together was just the beginning. We spent the days swimming, horseback riding, hiking, fishing, and playing hide and seek in the dark forest, sleeping under the stars and never being afraid. My brother, cousins, and I are now (65+ years later) the best of friends. I think these experiences together of total freedom are so important. Take your kids camping so you can start creating their wonderful childhood memories!

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“My Camp Kitchen was the central spot for all the food and drink as everyone found it to be a great camping asset. It was at a comfortable height for preparation, and all the tools I needed were right there in easy reach. My Camp Kitchen is a wonderful product that I will continue to enjoy and tell everyone about.”

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—Brian Jasper, Scoutmaster, Marysville, OH

“I want to tell you how delighted I am with the camp kitchen. We went camping this past weekend and found cooking to be easy and storing the gear convenient. Thank you also for the towels, coffee filters, and wine glasses. We used these as well. I will recommend this unit to everyone I know who camps.”

—Teresa Theesfeld, Happy Camper

“You make an awesome product! … Arrived home today to My Camp Kitchen waiting on my porch. Couldn’t wait to open it up and see the new improvements. I could not be happier!! The new legs are fantastic!! And having the extensions be able to stay with the box and not have to tote separate is just the ticket. We just placed our three kids’ names in a hat and drew the lucky winner of our old unit. Our oldest daughter won and promised to share with the other two and keep it in the family always. Thanks again for making a great quality product that we can be proud to pass on.”

—Scott Hall, Happy Camper, Grand Rapids, MI

“Just finished putting together your kit, and I really enjoyed the project.”

—Ed Watson, Happy Camper

“We love our Camp Kitchens! Our old patrol boxes were built from plans. They were very heavy, and the legs were hard to assemble. Our Camp Kitchens were easy and fun for a group of Scouts to put together. The instructions were easy to follow, and the parts were well-organized. Everything fit together perfectly. The Camp Kitchens are well-designed and much easier for our Scouts to carry. All of our necessities fit neatly inside. In addition, set-up is easy when we arrive at camp. Thanks, My Camp Kitchen!”

—Scott Dory, Scoutmaster

“Wow! I just received the camp kitchen, and I have to say, the pictures don’t do it justice! Amazingly designed and built! Great product! I’ll send you some pics from the campsite! Thanks again, Richard!”

—David Esarey, Henderson, NV

“I just received my Mini Chef last Friday, and it’s terrific. And it was like Christmas finding the extras inside! A really nice touch. Thank you.”

—Alison Richards, Senior Editor of Science & Food, NPR, Washington, DC

“Everything worked just great. You can see how much I have stored in the box—literally everything I need for cooking/preparation of food. The couple I went camping with were really taken with the unit—thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread!”

—Dave Weed, Happy Camper

“I love cooking with My Camp Kitchen. I have all that I need right there. Cooking outdoors is much more enjoyable than in our trailer.”

—Richard, Colorado

“We are enjoying our [custom tailgater] bar—getting so many compliments and looks! It is great.… Thank you!!”

—Anna Dulcich, Happy Camper

“Nothing competes with camping. There is no remote-control camping. So when you get a kid out there making a fire, prepping foil dinners, roasting marshmallows, playing silly campfire games, and walking around in the dark with a flashlight, he is thrilled in a way that cannot be duplicated by technology. Go, Dad!!!!”

—Analisa Macias, Avid Camper and Daughter of the Snogrens

“We are so pleased with the custom table [designed to fit in our Teardrop trailer]! When my husband opened it and put it together, he said he wanted to use it as a standing desk in his office!! I am just so pleased to have such a beautifully designed and high-quality camp kitchen! I value these qualities in my NON-camping life … so it was wonderful to find that you were making something like this as most of the camping stuff out there is just awful!!! It has also been a great pleasure to work with you all. Thank you for all that you do!”

—Alison Richards, Senior Editor of Science & Food, NPR, Washington, DC

“First of all, let me say I LOVE what I see and hear from your products. We are a Scouter family with two boys 13 and 11 active in our LDS Scout troop and a secondary traditional troop here in the San Francisco Bay Area.”

—Raoul Casares, Scout Father, Pleasanton, CA

“The Camp Kitchen is just absolutely perfect and fits exactly how we wanted it to in our four-wheel pop-up camper. It is really well-thought-out, and I’m SO glad I didn’t try to build a DIY as I was previously planning. You have put a lot of camping experience into every little detail. And it is built for an air drop! It’s funny how excited my wife and I are about The Outdoorsman kitchen box, considering we have tens of thousands of dollars tied up in all sorts of technical outdoor gear. Your camp kitchen is truly worth every penny. Congrats on a classic.”

—Brooks Montgomery, Owner of Hart-Montgomery Outdoor Sales, Bozeman, MT