Staying in Touch

Keep in touch even when camping out
How should you do just that when you are outdoors and away from all the amenities and convenience of civilization? Easy, there are various ways and means as well as gear that is available to cater to a camper’s every need. The following are tips and advice to make keeping in touch during camping as easy as a-b-c. Set boundaries and follow them Camping, especially if there are kids around, could be quite a complicated activity. To make it less complex and safe, try to set some boundaries in and around the campsite. Advise campers, especially kid campers, what are the things they should do and not do with or without an adult. Usually, an effective method is requiring kids to always be with a buddy. This could be an assigned partner where one could check in on each other on where the other’s location is, or update the rest of the group of any location changes. Familiarize yourself with the surroundings Once you arrive in the camp, make sure that you and the campers immediately familiarize yourself with the surroundings. Try to take note of any noticeable landmarks that are around. A large tree perhaps, yet make sure these landmarks are locatable in relation to the campsite. Whistle, whistle, whistle Equip each camper, especially children, with their very own whistle. Establish a code for specific situations that everyone could easily follow and heed. For example, a whistle blown two times could be established to mean “help.” Whistles that are blown three times could mean “I am here.” Color your world Or at least, have campers carry trash bags that are colored brightly. Once lost, these bags could be used as a device to signal to the others your location. Also, the bags could be used during an emergency like when it is cold outside and they need temporary shelter. Simply cut a slit at the bag’s top and have it pull through the head. Believe it or not, this plastic bag could serve as an effective albeit temporary protection that could keep a kid camper alive through the night. Choose a camp that provides high-tech communication Believe it or not, there are camp sites that provide campers the same amenities one would usually find in civilization. Email facilities, fax as well as phone equipment are available in a New Zealand camp site called Old Macdonalds. That is if you prefer to surf the internet while enjoying the comfort and glory of the natural outdoors. This type of camp is perfect for those who might want to be in touch with their business or personal affairs while at the camping grounds. This type of camp strikes a balance between the rugged outdoors and the comfort and convenience of modern technology. Make use of high-tech communication gear If you really want to stay connected, utilize modern technology through the following gear: Hand-held radios. This equipment is very handy now-a-days and so could be easily transportable anywhere and anytime campers need to communicate with each other. Currently though, such an equipment is also used not just in camping but also by families that are out shopping or attending a large sports event. Laser Range finders are now just as handy as radios. Though they were once large and difficult to actually use, today’s finders are light, user-friendly and extremely accurate. Believe it or not, these laser range finders are also used in golfing. Global positioning system. Currently, units that have gps are used by the military and units involved in search and rescue operations. Though these equipments have features that are high-tech, they are still easy to operate and very user friendly. Night vision goggles. The movies are not the only place this equipment could be seen and used. These devices are now readily available. Though these are sophisticated, they are very easy to use, light weight and are compact and handy. All in all, staying in touch while camping out may be a bit difficult if you have no idea how to go about it. To be able to avoid this, prepare the equipment, rules and stuff you need to go through beforehand. Camping should be fun. Ample preparation adds to enjoyment and lessens the stress. Getting There Can Be Fun - Keeping Kids Happy Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Helpful ways to make them stop with the annoyance! Road trips are fun, during the first hour perhaps. After that everything goes downhill. So how can road trips be fun beginning when the journey starts up until the destination? The following are tips and advice to help make road trips especially if it involves kids – fun and happy.

Pack and prepare

As always, prevention is always better than cure. Packing and preparing prior to a long road trip must also include planning the activities the kids could do during the ride. Face it eight-hour drives are difficult for kids. It will not be much of a help if the stops you make are only at gas stations or during meal times. Keep  your kids pre-occupied and entertained at least. They are your responsibility and it is you who are taking them for the ride. Do not forget to pack in some snacks, hopefully some healthy ones, so kids have something to nibble on during the long ride. Research, research and research Get to know the road that you are to take prior to you going on the journey. This helps you make the necessary stops and recreational activities that kids may need to pack with them. Stopping at a park or a kids attraction is a good distraction for the long trip ahead.
Another helpful thing is that families must make sure to stay clear from the same old restaurant chains. Food must be special also and it would help if traditional hamburger joints are avoided in favor of specialized and decent road diners. Depart really late or depart really early A very looong road trip requires that departure time be in the late evening or early morning. Both options help avoid heavy traffic. Also, the kids are given the time to have some additional sleep, thus keeping them quiet along the road. Stop in the name of love According to a study, it is highly recommended that stops be made at least every hour or two. This allows your kids to have the necessary breaks. This also allows them to avoid carsickness. Carsickness could best be avoided by walking around. Kids need to do this to keep their blood circulating during the long trip. Avoid giving motion sickness drugs to kids as it could keep them unnecessarily sedated. Pack some handy board games Games that are magnetized and could be easily transported anywhere could provide hours of fun. Also, books that have activities in them are good options also. Believe it or not, there is a company that manufactures products and books that are focused on travel. Some of the activities found in these books are crossword puzzles. This is also a good way to make friends on a long journey. Collect stuff and make them into a scrapbook Try to encourage children to keep and collect little trinkets found during the journey. Stubs from tickets, brochures and postcards may be kept and be later put into a scrapbook. Bring books and DVDs Thankfully, DVDs have the uncanny ability to keep everyone occupied, at peace and in harmony with each other especially on long trips. Audio books are also a great way to keep kids listening and therefore quiet. Chill out, sit back and relax The saying, the journey is better than the destination has never rung so true. The memories of a road trip that is filled with activities and good memories are better than thinking of the stress of actually getting there. In the end, it is better to look back with fondness than with frustration. Involve kids in your travel plans The trip will actually be best enjoyed by kids more than adults. So as much as possible, get kids to be involved in the planning. Allow them to look at the maps, show them the guidebooks. They would better appreciate the journey if you let them in on what they are getting themselves into. Who knows, they may even suggest helpful tips to make the journey more enjoyable. Never underestimate their wisdom. All in all, a trip is best enjoyed if there is less control and if you just let go and allow thing to positively flow.