Camping by Fun For Kidz

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oar fan bottle flag balloon shovel light bulb lightning flower pot wheelbarrow magnifying glass

kite book Earth candle whistle

hoe icicle windmill flashlight recycle symbol

Answers on page 30

cup gavel tornado raindrop microphone

sun match trowel 3 hearts dynamite watering can

Activities: 4 Sleeping Under the Stars Puzzles: 2, 12, 13 6 Build a Campfire Campfire Cooking: 14, 16 8 Campfire Visitor Science: 25 9 Visiting the Grand Canyon Riddles & Rhymes: 29 10 Next Time Puzzle Solutions: 30 17 Never Fry Bacon in Bear Country 18 10 Great Facts About the Great Outdoors 20 Staying Dry in the Rain 21 Say Yes to Yellowstone 22 Camping with Everything from A to Z 24 Who Moved the Street Sign? 26 National Park Adventures 28 Max & Gracie

by Marcia Aaby • illustration by Rebecca Spohn

One of the best parts about camping – especially if you live in a big city – is being able to see the night sky. Now is your chance to see a deep velvety-black sky, millions of sparkling stars, a glowing moon, and, sometimes, the surprise of a falling star.

What You Will Need: ♦♦ a clear night

♦♦ a flashlight to walk safely in the dark ♦♦ an adult’s permission ♦♦ a blanket or lawn chair ♦♦ an open space free of buildings, trees, or bright lights

What to Do:

1. Set up your blanket or chair. 2. Lie on your back. 3. Get comfortable. 4. Look up!

When you first look at the stars overhead, they look like sparkly diamonds on a black carpet. If you look longer, you will see the stars appear in shapes and patterns. These are called constellations. Constellations were discovered and named by sky watchers like you a long time ago. They connected the dots and named the constellations after people, animals, and objects from famous stories.

Here are two constellations that are easily seen. THE BIG DIPPER These seven stars are very bright and really do look like a water dipper. Besides being easy to find and fun to look at, it points the way to the northern star, called Polaris. This is the closest star to the North Pole. The two outer stars in the bowl of the Big Dipper always point to Polaris. This constellation is used by seafarers and outdoorsmen to tell them what direction is north. It’s like a compass in the sky!

But while you are lying on your blanket or chair, you can also make up your own constellations. There are millions of stars and hundreds of ways to see them. Here is a sky watcher game to play:

Connect the star dots in the sky to make a person, animal, or object. ♦♦ Name your constellation. ♦♦ Make up a story about your constellation. ♦♦ Trade stories with your fellow stargazers. If the moon is out, take time to look at it too. Did you know what looks like a face is really mountains and valleys on the moon’s surface? The moon glows, but it doesn’t have its own light. The light we see is the sun’s light reflecting off the moon’s surface. Falling stars are meteors, or rocks, falling from space. When they hit Earth’s atmosphere, the friction makes them burn and glow. We see them as white streaks across the sky. Most meteors burn up before they get anywhere near Earth’s surface. Many people make a wish if they see a falling star.

CASSIOPEIA Not very far from the Big Dipper, you will see five bright stars that form a sideways “W.” This is the constellation Cassiopeia. Cassiopeia is named after a queen in Greek myths. Can you see her sitting on her throne, circling the night sky? Learning the constellations is a fun family project. There are many books at your library that explain the mysteries of the night sky.

by Cindy Davis Building a fantastic campfire is simple. There are only two things you need to bring from home. One is a butane lighter, which your parents will probably already be bringing. The other item is newspaper. Bring one sheet for each fire you plan to build. At camp, gather up some dry wood. First, get the smallest, driest twigs you can find. They will make a snapping noise when you break them. Get two or three handfuls. Then, get slightly larger twigs. A couple of handfuls should be enough. Gather slightly larger and larger sticks and pieces of dead wood. You’ll need 6-12 logs for an evening’s fire. A little more is needed if you plan to cook over it too. Get as much wood as you can so that after dark, when the fire starts to die out, you aren’t forced to feel your way through the woods searching for the best wood. Most states don’t allow campers to bring in their own firewood. Treekilling insects and diseases can be present in the wood. To protect the woods and forests, buy larger pieces of firewood at your campsite or from nearby stores.

Dry, split wood catches fire and burns faster.

After You Have Gathered Firewood: 1. Clear the fireplace or ring where you’re going to build your fire, leaving about an inch of old ashes. If there isn’t some there already, you’ll need to collect a large number of rocks and make a large circle. Dig out the center slightly and lay two or three 12” long x 2” pieces of wood about an inch away from each other. (See illustration 1.) This is to provide air circulation underneath.

2. Tear a sheet of newspaper into strips, and lay them across each other fanning out from the center. (See illustration 2.) 3. Across the top of the newspaper, make a tepee of the smallest twigs. (See illustration 3.) 4. Add about 12 slightly larger sticks to the tepee. Then add a few more, slightly larger than the first. (See illustration 4.) 5. Keeping your face away from the tepee of sticks, put the tip of the lighter near a sheet of newspaper close to the back of your fireplace. Pull the trigger and light the paper starting at number 1. Light the paper from the back to the front so you don’t get burned. (See illustration 5.) 6. If the fire has trouble getting going, fan it with your hands or a leafy branch. As the fire burns through the twigs, carefully add larger and larger pieces of wood, laying them across the top. You don’t need to do tepee fashion anymore. Don’t pile the pieces on all at once. Let them begin to burn before you put more on. Make sure air can get in around each one.

3 6 5

7 10 9

Now strip the branches and leaves from a long stick, push a marshmallow or hot dog on the end, and toast away!

NEVER put your face near the fire. Hold only the end of the stick of wood. If it doesn’t stay where you put it, move it around with another piece of wood. Never use your hands. NEVER use lighter fluids of other liquids to start your fire. If it’s been raining a lot before your trip, it can’t hurt to bring dry twigs, sticks, and firewood (but don’t transport firewood a long distance or across state lines.)

by Eric R. Ode illustrated by Shannon Comins

We gather ‘round the fire In the shadows of the trees, The silver moon above us And a softly whispered breeze. My father tells us stories That can set our hair on end, Scary tales that happened To an uncle’s neighbor’s friend. Deeper in the forest, Underneath the silver moon, Atop a low and mossy stump, I spy a young raccoon. His eyes reflect the fire Like a flash of dancing birds, As silently he listens To my father’s solemn words. And later as the fire Slowly settles to a spark, I watch him slip away again, This creature of the dark. Perhaps he will be wide awake At break of morning light, In much the way I’m certain I won’t sleep a wink tonight.

by Shirley Anne Ramaley

Is the Grand Canyon a good place for girls and boys to visit? You bet it is! There are plenty of things to do in this beautiful national park, like going camping and hiking and taking pictures with your camera. Located in the state of Arizona, the Grand Canyon is often called one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is huge! The canyon measures 18 miles wide and 277 miles long. The park includes over one million acres of land. That’s hard to imagine. It is one of the most popular places in the United States. President Theodore Roosevelt declared it a National Monument in 1908, over 100 years ago. It became a National Park in 1919.

There are three main sections: the South Rim, the North Rim, and the Inner Canyon. The South Rim is visited most often because it is open to the public all year long. People can camp there in every season. Even your pets are welcome as long as they are always on a leash and never left alone. The North Rim is more difficult to get to and is closed in winter, but it also is a great place to visit. People camp there during the open season. The Inner Canyon is located below the rim of the Grand Canyon. Hikers often go there, as well as people riding on mules and in river boats. Very few people have seen the entire canyon. It’s just too big. But

when you walk a trail along the top of the canyon and look down, you’ll be amazed at how far you can see. The canyon seems to go on forever. At the campgrounds, the park rangers often give talks. People sit around a circle together, frequently in the evening, and learn about the Grand Canyon as stars cover the skies. The visitor centers are always good to visit. You can learn a lot about the canyon and look at the exhibits. Walking the trails – and many are easy – is lots of fun and very good for taking photos. There’s nothing more fun than staying in one of the Grand Canyon campgrounds with your family.

by John Scanlan • “Ethan, this is soooo cool!” Daniel said. “Yeah, Ethan,” Madison added. “Thanks for inviting us.” Ethan sat up in his sleeping bag and trained a flashlight beam on his two guests, replying, “You’re welcome.” Daniel sat erect in his sleeping bag too. “Ethan,” he began anew, “I had no idea that camping could be so much fun.” “The same goes for me,” Madison added. “I must admit that I was a little scared to try this.” Ethan lowered his flashlight beam, stating, “Well, camping doesn’t have to be painful.” In the semi-darkness, Daniel nodded. “After all,” Ethan continued, “it’s the little things I do that make a stay in the woods comfortable.” Madison asked, “Oh, yeah? Like what?” Ethan swung his flashlight beam outside into the darkness to illuminate the guy lines on his tent. Then he asked, “Do you see the tiny fluorescent cords that I tied to my guy lines?” “Yes,” Madison returned.

illustrated by Rebe

cca Spohn “I do too,” Daniel replied. “Well, that makes the guy lines visible after dark,” Ethan explained. “That way, I don’t trip over them.” “I never would’ve thought of that,” Daniel admitted. Then Ethan moved his flashlight beam to a plastic object on the tent’s floor. “Secondly,” he continued, “I keep a bottle of water next to my sleeping bag in case I get thirsty in the middle of the night.” “Oh, that’s a good call,” Madison said. Lastly, Ethan swung his flashlight beam to a plastic baggie hanging from the tent’s inner wall. “When I’m camping,” he explained, “I keep my body energized with a trail mix that consists of nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate.” Daniel’s eyebrows went up. “After all,” Ethan summarized, “you can’t afford to go hungry out in the wilderness.”

“Wow, Ethan,” Madison said. Ethan returned the flashlight beam to Madison’s face. “I’m impressed,” she stated. “Yeah, Ethan,” Daniel agreed. “I am too.” “Well, this is what camping is all about,” Ethan stated. “It’s becoming one with nature – despite the hardships. It’s overcoming the mosquitoes biting you or the wild animals getting into your food.” Suddenly, the threesome heard a strange noise. Click! Instantly, the tent became flooded with light. Then Madison and Daniel heard their host’s mother ask, “Ethan?” Ethan shut off his flashlight. “Yeah, Mom?” “I popped some corn for you and your friends.” “OK,” Ethan replied. “Thanks, Mom.” “I’ll get it,” Madison offered. She sat erect and unzipped her sleeping bag. Then Madison bicycle-kicked her legs until she was completely

free from the bag’s down confines. As Ethan and Daniel watched, she scooted down to the end of the tent. There, she unzipped the door, raised the flap, and crawled out. Ethan and Daniel heard Madison say, “Thank you for the popcorn, Mrs. Webb.” “Oh, you’re welcome, Maddie.” Madison crawled back into the tent with a steaming hot bowl of popcorn. “OK, Ethan,” she said, “now that we’ve got this camping thing down in your family room, next time, can we at least move out to your backyard?”

START T S W O O O E R N

N G

E S E R D N T A N C E C N T D I L A S T A W T H by Guy Belleranti

Find your way through the maze by connecting letters, in order, to spell the following helpful camping items: TENT, CAMPER, STOVE, SLEEPING BAG, FIREWOOD, LANTERN, ICE CHEST, WATER, FLASHLIGHT, HAT, COMPASS, FOOD, HIKING BOOTS, FIRST AID KIT. You may move forward, backward, up, or down, but no letter can be connected more than once. Write the leftover letters in the blank spaces to spell two more camping favorites.

A C G F O F R E R T S E M I A E S L A T H A O M P E B G S A G H R T C P O R U N H L I N D T S A H S E I C H D O O F S A O T E P K I S F I R S T V M E P I F T O I D E S L R N G B O E K

I I

A T

FINISH

Camping favorites: _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

by Evelyn B. Christensen

Brianna, Craig, Pedro, and Raquel plan to have sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;mores over a campfire. Each person brings a different item to share: chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows, and sticks. Use the clues to find out who brought each item. 1. Craig said the person bringing marshmallows got them at a good price. 2. A girl brought the sticks.

Brianna Craig Pedro Raquel

Graham Crackers

Marshmallows

Sitting around a crackling campfire at night with a bunch of friends, roasting marshmallows, laughing, and telling ghost stories is some of the best camping fun you can have. Fill in the squares so that each row, column, and 8-square section has the letters C-A-M-P-F-I-R-E.

3. Neither Brianna nor Pedro brought crackers or marshmallows.

Chocolate

by Evelyn B. Christensen

R Sticks

P M

C E

C P F

R E P

M C E I

R M

P F

P A

by Gertrude Knabbe Look forward, backward, up, down, and diagonally to find the words below. Cross the words off the list as you go. After all the words are found, the remaining letters will spell something relating to camping. AXE BUNK SITE COTS AREA TRAIL ANTS CHEST DATE TREES TENT STOVE WALK WATER SOAP CAMPER BUGS CAMERA

SNACKS STREAM SKILLET SHELTER EXPLORE WHISTLE SCENERY COOKOUT COMPASS

BACKPACK FIREWOOD

BINOCULARS DUFFLE BAGS FIRST AID KIT

D C E N B R C P

F N H

U A P A G A

A T

F M M C P

T R E N W L

A D K

L R C S B W A T

N O C U L

T S

C A M P

I N G

E R O L D E

E A C U O D S E E R T B

JAY DEER MOUSE RABBIT

SUNGLASSES

MOSQUITO RACCOON OPOSSUM

BATTERIES

E A K A

Many different animals might choose to visit your campsite. Can you fit these 11 forest creatures into the grid? Each word will fit once. ANT BEAR SKINK CHIPMUNK

WILDLIFE

C A R S M T S K S

by Eric R. Ode

A R S

A K D T O E R O L

W A Y

T R

G S G U B K C O M P A S S E S T R E A M O O F N X O R N I

O C H E S T U T

T C U N W H E

S T

V O T S U N G L

E A

E P

F C

A S S E S

Something related to camping:

. 13

by Catherine Ross My oven is small. It is light and travels easily. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all I need to make a delicious meal in the outdoors. You can find my convenient, compact camping oven in your kitchen. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a square of heavy-duty tinfoil! First, you need to build a fire. Choose your site carefully. It is best to build on rock or sand. If you must make your fire on the ground, dig through the layers of leaves and roots down to bare soil. Clear the vegetation around your fire pit. The area above the pit must be clear of branches. A circle of rocks will contain your fire. Gather dry, dead branches from the ground and lower limbs of trees. Make a woodpile away from the fire pit. Small twigs, birch bark from a dead tree, or dry balsam are ideal tinders to start your fire. Build a tepee of small twigs over the tinder. Add larger twigs, leaving space for air to circulate. To burn, a fire needs oxygen as well as fuel. Before lighting your fire, think about how you will put it out. Have a supply of water or sand nearby. Insert your match at the bottom of the fire. As the wood burns, carefully add larger sticks and small logs. When the fire burns down to glowing coals, you are ready to start cooking.

Caramel Apple

Here are some recipes for a delicious campfire meal.

For one serving you will need: • 1 apple • 3 caramel squares

Pizza Pockets

• heavy-duty tinfoil to cover the apple completely

For one serving you will need:

Wash and core the apple.

• 2 slices of bread

Stuff the caramels into the hole.

• 1 tablespoon of butter or margarine

Wrap in tinfoil

• 1/4 cup of spaghetti sauce

Bake, covered in coals. After a few minutes, test the apple with a fork. When it is soft, it is ready.

Directions:

• 2 tablespoons of grated mozzarella cheese • your choice: pepperoni slices, 1 tablespoon of chopped red or green pepper, onion, tomato, or pineapple bits • a square of heavy-duty tinfoil large enough to wrap around your bread

Directions: 1.

Spread the butter on one side of both bread slices.

Place one side of the bread, buttered-side down, in the middle of the tinfoil.

Spread the spaghetti sauce evenly to the edges of the bread.

Sprinkle on the cheese, then the other ingredients.

Top with the second slice of bread, buttered-side up.

Fold over the tinfoil, sealing the contents completely.

Place in the fire and cover with coals using tongs or a long stick.

Bake 2-3 minutes.

Remove with tongs or two long sticks.

10. Allow the foil to cool before removing your delicious pizza.

To put out your fire, spread the coals with a long stick. Sprinkle water or sand over the coals and the rocks. Stir and sprinkle until all the smoke is gone and the fire is completely dead. Take home all your garbage. A good camper leaves the campsite cleaner than he found it.

These recipes can also be cooked in an indoor fireplace, on a barbeque grill, or in an indoor oven. Enjoy!

by Judy Lesgro

S’mores at the Campfire

Ingredients:

• 2 graham crackers • 1 four-square piece of a Hershey bar • 1 large marshmallow Layer the cracker, the chocolate, and a toasted marshmallow. Top with the other cracker.

Pie Iron Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• bread slices • canned pie filling of your choice • butter • sugar Spread one side of each bread slice with butter. Spoon a heaping spoonful of pie filling on the unbuttered side of one slice. Top with the second slice of bread, butter-side out. Place this sandwich on the bottom half of a pie iron, and close the iron. Trim off any crusts which stick out. Toast over the fire or coals until bread is browned. Remove from the iron and sprinkle with sugar. This same procedure can be used to make grilled cheese sandwiches, but omit the sugar.

Dutch Oven Stew

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon cooking oil or shortening • 12 ounces lean stew beef, cut into bite-size pieces • 2 carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces • 1 cup each: parsnips, celery, potatoes (Cut everything into 1-inch pieces.) • 2 medium-size onions • ½ teaspoon dried thyme (optional) • 2 cups beef broth • salt and pepper to taste Place beef and oil in Dutch oven and brown the beef. Add remaining ingredients. Cover Dutch oven and place in coals. Heap more coals on top of the lid. Simmer about three hours or until the beef and veggies are cooked and tender. This recipe can also be used to cook over an open fire, but add an additional cup of water or broth.

Tip: Campfire-blackened pots and pans clean up much easier if the outside and outside bottom of the cookware have been lathered with bar soap. Use a lot of soap and very little water. Do this before placing them over the fire, and most of the blackening will wash off in your dishwater.

by Jacqueline S. Cotton • illustrated by Harvey Hirsch

It’s early morning, and you’re frying bacon at a campsite. Yum! Seven miles away, another bacon lover gets a whiff of that delicious smell. Who or what can smell bacon that far away? People can’t, but bears can! Read on to find out why you should never fry bacon in bear country. What is bear country? It’s wherever bears live, such as a forest or a state or national park. Bears wander throughout bear country searching for food. They use their keen sense of smell to find things to eat. Bears aren’t picky eaters. They eat anything: berries, nuts, plants, animals and carrion. Carrion is the flesh of dead animals. But bears also love the taste of your food! They are attracted to the smell of food that campers bring to their campsite. If a bear gets a whiff of your bacon, don’t be surprised if he shows up for breakfast! Bears will travel a long way for food. They will walk or run on their four huge, flat paws. They can run fast over a short distance. While traveling, a bear sometimes stands on its hind legs and sniffs the air. This helps keep the bear on the right track. If a bear arrives at your campsite searching for food, it may challenge you if it feels threatened. This is one animal that you don’t want to come face-to-face with. Bears have huge, strong bodies with long, sharp claws and teeth and powerful jaws. Besides harming you, a

Good grief! It’s a BEAR!

bear could destroy your campsite looking for food. If it finds some, it’ll probably return later, searching for more. The best way to keep bears from finding your food is to keep all your edibles in ice chests or storage containers. When you’re not using them, keep these closed containers in vehicles. A run-in with a hungry bear can upset your camping trip. That’s why it’s a good idea to leave the bacon at home!

Other Smelly Things That Attract Bears Other smelly things besides bacon attract bears. Here are some to avoid bringing to your campsite!

• scented deodorant, soap, lotion, or toothpaste • peanut butter • salmon, tuna, and other fish • barbecued food • sweet-smelling fruits • candy • fried chicken

by S. Allyn Kelley illustrated by Rebecca Spohn

Setting up your tent properly is important to stay dry when you are camping. Even if there are no clouds in the sky when you set up your tent, it is better to plan for rain. Having a ground cover set up properly is very important. Set up a tarp on the ground under your tent. Once your tent is set up, be sure that none of the tarp from beneath hangs out. If it does, fold it under so that none of the tarp from under your tent is showing. If the tarp stretches out beyond the tent, rain that lands on it will be guided under your tent and could cause puddles inside your tent. Place another tarp over your tent, tying it down and securing it in case of high winds. Taking these two steps should prevent rain coming in from the top or bottom of your tent. If it does rain, zip up the windows. Last, whether it’s raining or not, don’t touch the insides of your tent. Why not? The walls can collect a film of condensation from peoples’ breath and body heat. Touching the walls will cause the drops to fall on you and your gear. That’s not fun when you’re trying to sleep. Even if you are camping in a “waterproof” tent that doesn’t leak, you should still take these precautions. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Happy camping!

by Diane Winebar What’s a three-letter word for Yellowstone National Park? How about Wow? This enormous park is the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined! Yellowstone is located mostly in Wyoming, but some parts spill into Montana and Idaho. This is America’s first national park, and with over 2000 campsites, it’s a great place to go camping. Much of the park sits in an ancient volcanic crater. Yellowstone is full of bubbling mud pots, steaming hot springs, and over 300 geysers. Friendly park rangers can tell you all about these geologic wonders. Have you ever heard of Old Faithful? This famous geyser is Yellowstone’s most popular attraction. Geysers are hot springs that erupt occasionally. Old Faithful’s eruptions are very predictable. That’s how this geyser got its name. Every 45 to 110 minutes, Old Faithful sends up to 8400 gallons of boiling water and steam high into the air. Crowds of people come to cheer at this impressive sight. Yellowstone has more than just the world’s largest group of geysers. There are spectacular waterfalls and towering cliffs. The park even has its own Grand Canyon! You can hike Uncle Tom’s Trail from the top of the canyon down to the base of the Lower Falls waterfall. There are amazing views up and down this stairway trail. It’s well worth climbing 328 stairs to get back up. But if you get tired, there are benches where you can rest. If you’re on the lookout for wildlife, this is the place to go! There’s lots of room for bear, moose, bison, lynx, mountain goats, and many other animals to roam. Bald eagles soar overhead. More wild animals live in Yellowstone than almost anywhere else in the US. Are you saying Wow yet? Visitors can ride in a stagecoach, go horseback riding, or pan for gold in a stream. You can take an exciting whitewater rafting tour down a river. Your guide will get you through the rapids safely. Nearby towns have thrilling events like Indian Powwows and rodeos. This was once the “Wild West,” after all. There’s so much more to do and see in Yellowstone. Does camping here sound like fun? Here’s another three-letter word:

Yes!

by Linda Bozzo illustrated by Joan Waites

“Is it time to go camping?” Austin asks. “Not yet. We haven’t finished packing,” Mom answers. Dad carries the Air mattresses up from the basement. Austin’s brother, Dylan, has trouble carrying his Backpack because it’s so heavy. Austin finds his dad outside. “Is it time to go camping yet?” he asks. “Not yet,” Dad tells him as he loads the Cooler and Chairs. “Don’t forget to leave room for the Dog,” Dylan yells out the front door. Mom is in charge of the food. In the kitchen, she gently packs the Eggs and pancake batter for breakfast. After the Fishing poles are packed, Dad checks the batteries in the Flashlight while Mom gets the Griddle and the Grill. Austin puts on his lucky fishing Hat and new Hiking boots. “Is it time to go camping yet?” he asks. “Almost,” Mom replies, out of breath. Dad throws his hands in the air, “We forgot Ice for the cooler.” He runs to the freezer. Dylan appears with his bug Jar that he uses to catch fireflies. Austin thinks bugs are gross. He’d rather go Kayaking on the lake. “Is it time to go camping yet?” Austin asks. “Pretty soon,” Mom assures him as she packs the Ketchup. “Don’t forget the Lanterns,” she tells Dad.

She turns to Austin and asks, “Do you know where the Marshmallows are?” “I ate them,” Austin says, grinning. Dad interrupts. “Have either of you seen the fishing Net?” They shake their heads no. Mom looks at her watch. “It’s six O’clock already.” “Is it time to go camping yet?” Austin asks. “Not until I find the Peanuts,” Mom says. “Did you eat those too?” “No, Dylan did!” Austin says. “Can I bring my Quilt?” he asks. “You have to be able to fit it in your backpack,” Mom tells him. “And remind your father to pack some Rope for the clothesline.” Outside, Dad is busy tying the Sleeping bags and Tent on the roof of the van. Mom says Dad forgot the tent last time. Dad says Mom forgot it. “Did everyone bring enough Underwear?” Mom asks. “Yes,” everyone replies at once. Dylan hands Mom the Vase for the Wildflowers. “NOW is it time to go camping?” Austin asks. “I think we’re ready now,” Dad says, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Don’t forget the map of the campground,” Mom reminds him. “Our campsite is marked with a big X.” Dad grabs the map while Mom gathers the Yellow rain slickers even though there’s no rain in the forecast. “Get in. Close the doors. We’re going camping!” Dad announces. Everyone cheers as Dad backs the van out of the driveway and Zooms away down the street. “Uh, oh,” Austin says. Mom turns around. “What did you forget?” “To go to the bathroom.”

by Debbie Stein Strolling along with your family in the woods, you and your friend stop to look for a slippery salamander. Then you look around. Your family is nowhere to be seen. Everything is quiet, and the tall trees all look the same. Don’t panic. Help is on the way. • Rule One: THINK You don’t have a clue where you are. Think about this: The more you wander, the more lost you’ll get. • Rule Two: DON’T PANIC Chances are your family already knows you’re missing and will come search for you. • Rule Three: HUG A TREE If you don’t know how to get back to your campsite, stay put unless you’re in danger. Sit down by a tree and hug it. That’s right, hug it. If you’re hugging a tree, you’re not wandering. You can’t be found if you keep moving around. Find a safe spot and stay put. If you and your friend start to get cold, find some tree boughs, dry pine needles, or dry leaves, and cover up with them. If you get scared or lonely, stand up and do some exercises or sing songs to drown out the fear. • Rule Four: STAY PUT That’s right. Rule four is the same as rule three. This shows how important it is to not wander through the woods. • Now What? Know that whistle you brought along and just love to blow? Get it out and give it two or three short blasts, then wait. Eventually, your family will also give the same short blasts with the whistle they are carrying. It’s a good thing you practiced this before you went camping. Sooner or later, your paths will cross. When your parents appear, they will look at you, trying to decide on a lecture or a hug. Then they’ll give you a hug and say, “Great job staying together! You remembered the safety rules. You stayed put, you didn’t panic, and you waited. We’re very proud of you!” Then they’ll smile as they take you back to camp.

People everywhere love to look at stars. Stargazing is especially fun to do when camping because the stars seem so much brighter. On clear nights, just lie on a blanket or settle in a comfortable chair, and get to know the night sky. If you camp in areas away from the lights of towns and cities, the stars are easier to see. Have you ever watched clouds and imagined them as dragons, cats, dogs, people, or other things? You can do the same thing with stars when you are camping. You can find constellations like Ursa Major (great bear), Ursa Minor (little bear), Pegasus (flying horse), Cygnus (swan), Draco (dragon), Cassiopeia (queen), and Cepheus (king), to name a few. There are 88 named constellations in all. Have you met the giant hunter? His name is Orion, and he rules the nighttime sky from late fall to early spring. He is easy to spot because his stars are very bright. He has a belt around his waist, and he is holding a big club. Some of his stars, including Betelgeuse (the star that marks his right shoulder) and Rigel (the star near his left knee), are among the night sky’s brightest stars. A legend says he is hunting Taurus, the bull, whose head and horns are a “V” of stars in front of Orion. Orion has been seen rising in the sky every year for a long, long time, waiting for you to see him! But remember: He is just a lot of stars someone long ago imagined looked like a hunter with a club and sword. On the night you see those stars, you can imagine them to be anything you want. What do you think Orion’s stars look like? Use your imagination, and make up your own constellation name and legend!

Your family has decided to go on a camping trip. That’s great, because you are crazy about camping! There’s nothing like spending time surrounded by nature. But where should you go? Would your family like to climb massive sand dunes? Maybe spending time in the mountains sounds like fun. Have you ever seen giant towering trees, roaring waterfalls, or been inside a deep cavern? How about spending time at the seashore? You can experience all this in America’s national parks.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

There are national parks all across the country where you and your family can have amazing camping adventures. And the best thing is, they belong to each one of us! With plenty of things to do, your camping trip in a national park will be one to remember.

Depending upon which park you visit, you can see animals of all kinds, from the very large to the very small. If it’s furry, feathery, scaly, or wet, it lives in our national parks! Even though some of these animals seem tame, they are still wild. Be sure to look at them from a distance. Even the cutest little deer mouse can give you a sharp nip if you get too close.

TRAVELING ALONG THE TRAILS Grab your hiking stick and pull on your heavy shoes. Our national parks are full of trails just waiting for you to explore. Some are short and easy to walk and others are more challenging, with hills to climb and rocks and roots to jump over. When you hike in woods and forests, leafy canopies will keep you cool on warm days. Think there’s nothing to see but trees? Think again! The woods are alive with animals going about their daily business. If you’d rather hike along water, many of our national parks have trails that run along rivers and streams. If you are in a hilly area, the views can be spectacular. No matter where you hike, be sure to take along your 26 binoculars and camera.

National park areas belonged to the animals that lived there first. That means you can look forward to seeing the animals in their natural setting. Are you wild for wolves? They live in parks in Alaska, Michigan, Minnesota, and a few other states. If you want to see American bison, think about going to parks in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

EVERYBODY IN THE WATER! Camping and fishing just seem to go together. Many national parks allow fishing in rivers and ponds, so don’t forget to pack your fishing gear. Few things taste better than fish cooked over the campfire. If you like splashing in the water rather than fishing in it, many parks have pools, lakes, and swimming holes for you to swim in. During warm weather, creeks are great places for exploring and cooling off. Look for fossils and rocks while observing all the small animals that live in the water. There might be rocks along the river beds that you can climb.

BECOME A JUNIOR RANGER

RELAX AND UNWIND

If you’re a kid between the ages of 5 and 12, you can become a Junior Ranger. Nearly all our national parks have a Junior Ranger program, where you can participate in cool hands-on activities. Every park has something different to offer. In one, you can see blacksmithing demonstrations and experience life on an Appalachian mountain farm. In another, you can hike a trail with a park ranger and learn how to identify wildflowers and hear about their folklore. In yet another park, rangers will take you to see the cliff dwellings where Native Americans lived long ago. You’ll see some of the artifacts they left behind.

After a full day of exploring, it’s time to head back to your campsite and relax around a campfire while you talk about the fun you had. Whether your family likes to sleep in tents or a camper, national parks have great campsites ready for you to set up your home-away-from-home. After supper, watch the stars come out and listen to the sounds of nature all around you. What will tomorrow bring? You can’t wait to find out!

No matter where you go, you’ll learn all about the national park you are visiting. You can even earn a Junior Ranger patch, certificate, or badge for completing activities. What great mementos to take back home!

Kingston, New Hampshire 5:42 PM A cool breeze on a cloudless day Max and Gracie and their owners, Linda, Craig, and their seven-year-old son, Ed, are driving the back roads of America. Perhaps you have seen Max and Gracie with their heads out the window. If not, here is a letter describing their most recent adventure.

State Park, so Ed, Gracie, and I are We’re camping overnight in Kingston ks. ight. Gracie sure loves picking up stic collecting sticks for a big campfire ton t to . She hit me in the chest as she ran pas Right now she has four in her mouth deposit them on the pile. the reason I tugged on Ed’s shirt when Linda said we shouldn’t go too far. It’s I He thought I wanted to play, but all h. pat wn rgro ove an n dow g goin I saw him ets etimes he puts his head down and forg wanted to do was keep him safe. Som where he’s putting his feet. and is stuck between two trees trying uth mo her in nch bra e larg a has cie Gra se er going to get that branch through tho to get it to the campfire. “You’re nev e,” I yell to her. trees. Besides, it’s too big for a campfir few minutes before she tuckers out and r the ano for ggle stru to es tinu con She e climbing a tree. I guess we’re all don lies down to rest. I look over to see Ed collecting sticks. not dog. She pats my head and says, “It’s Linda walks over and gives me a hot for x?” I give her hand a lick to thank her easy camping with these two, is it Ma d it is to keep an eye on Ed and Gracie. the hot dog and for knowing how har

Max

by S. Allyn Kelley

Pole to pole, Hand to hand, Setting up a tent Is easy to understand. Up the hills, Left and right, Switchbacks leading To quite a sight.

Picking berries, Swimming in the lake, After dinner, S’mores we’ll make. Flickering campfire Sending out sparks. Gazing into the stars In our national parks. Camping out Is so much fun For my family And for everyone.

by Kelly Musselman Q: If you are on a hike and find a fork in the road, what do you do? A: You stop for lunch! Q: How do you start a campfire using two pieces of wood? A: Make sure one is a matchstick. Q: Why did the tepees have to go to the doctor? A: They were too tense (two tents). Q: Why don’t grizzlies wear shoes? A: They like to walk around in their bear (bare) feet. Q: What side of a tree does moss grow on? A: the outside Q: To train for a hike, would you rather carry 10 pounds of feathers in your backpack or 10 pounds of sand? A: Sand is better. Although they both weigh 10 pounds, the feathers will need a much larger pack! Q: What can you put in a rowboat to make it lighter but still make it sink? A: a hole Q: If you go to sleep in your tent at your campsite and wake up to see the North Star directly above you, what will you know? A: Someone has stolen your tent! Q: How do you know if a bear has stolen your camp food? A: You can smell the marshmallows on his breath.

by Paula K. Obering

Pitch the tent in a shady spot Beneath the towering pines. Roll out cozy sleeping bags. I know we’ll sleep just fine. Hike down to the clear blue lake With fishing poles and bait. Dad says patience is the key, So we wait and wait and wait. Trek along a mountain trail. Watch for critter tracks. This hoof print says an elk was here. Will he be coming back? Cook our meals by a glowing fire – Hot dogs on a stick. Gooey s’mores for dessert. Now my fingers get a lick! Look up at the clear night sky. The stars are shining bright. Let’s crawl into our sleeping bags. It’s time to say goodnight.

Mystery Picture Puzzle on page 2

OK, Sis, let’s go!

by Jim Browne

A-Maze-ing Camping on page 12 START T E N A

S S T C

W E D G

O R I F

O D L O

O N A F

E T S R

R A T E

N I N G N C E C A W T H R T S E

M P O H O

I E R S T

A B U E E

E G N I P

S S H C K

L A L H I

A G I D S

T H N O F

H R D O I

A T T F R

O C S S S

M P A A T

V M E P I F T O I D E S L R N G B O E K

I I

A T

FINISH

SONGS AND STORIES AROUND THE CAMPFIRE

Campsite Creatures on page 13 D E E R

Camping Word Search on page 13

C A

M T

G A

O F

U N W H

Answer: CAMPING IS A LOT OF FUN.

C A H I O P O M U S N A K

A B E A B M P I N G O T U S S U M E O S K E Q U I J T A C C O O Y

Campfire Sudoku on page 12

C R

F R P M C

R M C

E M F A

C P M A F

A N T

S’more Logic on page 12 Brianna brought sticks, Craig brought graham crackers, Pedro brought chocolate, Raquel brought marshmallows.

F P

R M A C F

R F M C E

E P C

P C R E

R A M

Photo Credits: Shirley Ramaley 9; ©Robert Churchill/123RF.com 14-15; ©Andy Heyward/123RF 16 (dutch oven); Vidyasagar N via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) 20; Diane Renkin/YellowstoneNPS 21 (top); George Marler/YellowstoneNPS 21 (middle); Neal Herbert/ YellowstoneNPS 21 (bottom); Andrew Bowden from London, UK [CC BY SA 2.0], via Commons 22 (boots); Robert Lawton [CC BY SA 2.5] via Wikimedia Commons 22 (grill); Ocdp (Own work) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons 22 (chair); Arches National Park (Camping Under the Stars, Uploaded by AlbertHerring) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 25; Denali National Park and Preserve [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 26 (left); Denali National Park and Preserve (River Walk Uploaded by AlbertHerring) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons 27 (bottom).

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