I just heard of “Campsgiving” in the last week before Thanksgiving. Some people actually go camping over Thanksgiving and cook their entire meal outside. Other people try to incorporate something camping related into the their meal, prepare part of the meal outside, eat their meal outside, cook food that was harvested or gathered by them, etc. The idea is to do something to incorporate nature, nature skills, and an appreciation of your food and outdoors into the Thanksgiving meal. Continue reading “Campsgiving”
Hunting Back to Nature
I went deer hunting this weekend. For the first time in nearly ten years, I shot a deer. While that is a long time, I took about five years off from hunting in the middle of that, starting back up last year. For me, there is a strong connection between hunting and family. When my brother moved away and we had two babies at home, it just seemed like the right time to take a break. Continue reading “Hunting Back to Nature”
Getting Back to Nature with Adventure Racing
I did an adventure race this past weekend. For anyone not familiar with adventure racing, it is typically an event over the course of a few or many hours, usually with a team, that combines the skill of navigation with other disciplines. In my case, it was an 8-hour event that included navigation, road and off-road bicycling, and canoeing. Continue reading “Getting Back to Nature with Adventure Racing”
Orienteering Basics with The Wilderness Route Finder by Calvin Rustrum
I wanted to spend some time refreshing my knowledge of a compass and learning further about orienteering. I did so recently in the context of reading The Wilderness Route Finder by Calvin Rustrum. Published in 1967, Rustrum explains in detail numerous ways of determining one’s position in the wilderness at a time before the use of GPS. While the book also details navigation by sextant, radio signals, and others, I was most interested in the portions of the book related to use of the compass and general way finding. Continue reading “Orienteering Basics with The Wilderness Route Finder by Calvin Rustrum”
My First Wilderness Canoe Trip
In the summer of 1994 at the age of 13, I took my first trip to the Boundary Waters (and Quetico) with my father, younger brother, and the aforementioned Uncle Bruce. Uncle Bruce, who is actually my mom’s uncle, was an experienced canoe tripper and my father had gone with him on a trip to the Quetico once in the 80’s. The three of us relied very much on him to help us plan the trip. While my brother and I had been canoeing with our father since as long as we could remember, this was the first time that we had ever combined it with camping and over the course of multiple days.
Take your kids Camping
Take your kids camping. It brings them out of their familiar surroundings and perceived safety of home and gives them a chance to grow. I learn from my kids that they are stronger, smarter, and more resilient than I sometimes give them credit for. By taking them out of their rooms and outside, it helps them to realize for themselves that they have those qualities too. By facing the natural apprehension of the dark, night time can become not about monsters in the closet, but about hikes by moonlight and stargazing. By feeling cold and wet, the warmth of a fire and hot chocolate can be appreciated. Continue reading “Take your kids Camping”
Getting Back to the Outdoors with Backyard Firestarting
Fire is an elemental part of the outdoor experience. Whether it is enjoyed with friends in the summer, keeping you warm on a brisk evening, comforting you after being out in the snow, or trying to keep one lit during a rainstorm. Depending upon the outdoor experience, the fire provides you with sustenance through cooked meals. Continue reading “Getting Back to the Outdoors with Backyard Firestarting”
Tiger Den Year Plan
As I mentioned last week, I am the den leader for my oldest son’s Tiger Den. The Cub Scout Tiger Program is for first grade boys. In our pack, for the most part, we take the summer off, so the Rank Program for the year is typically completed from the months of October through May. The boys receive their completed rank in June at our Pack Blue and Gold Dinner. Continue reading “Tiger Den Year Plan”
Scouting Back to the Outdoors
I was a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout. While in scouting, I made every rank except for Eagle Scout. After that I moved on to other things, so all told, I was out of scouting for about 25 years. That was until last year when I started again with my oldest boy in the Lion Den of the local Cub Scout Pack. Continue reading “Scouting Back to the Outdoors”
About I of the North
I spent my youth outdoors. It was an essential part of who I was. Somewhere between then and now, that part of me fell aside. School, job, wife, kids, suburban trappings all took more and more of my time, until it had been years since I had been camping. I let those things take such a priority that something previously essential had become only a memory.
I’m working to take it back now. I’m raising two boys (with my lovely wife), and I want them to love the outdoors as I did and do. They’ll make their own mistakes, but I want them to learn from this mistake of mine and stay true to themselves.
I started I OF THE NORTH for some external accountability and to share some of my thoughts. I’ll share some of the things that I’m doing to get back to the outdoors. If anyone else is in a similar situation, then maybe something in here helps. Maybe we can learn from each other.
Ben