A Great Time Of Year For Camping!

Camping

 

When I was kid, I used to believe that when I grew and had a family, I would have plenty of time for camping and to just enjoy the great outdoors anytime I wanted.  However, that doesn't typically or whimsically happen in the real world with always being caught up in daily life, i.e., work, school, family needs. For the average full time hard-working person life rarely affords those moments. Time just gets away. Instead, those moments must be deliberated, anticipated (with much joy), and then strategically planned. 

Just before the kids go back to school, many families traditionally take an end of summer vacation.  Ours is no different. Camping trips typically offer a variety in rewarding getaways and can be cost-effective to fit any budget, including a family budget.  Whether you prefer mountains, outdoors or indoors, there are so many ways to enjoy camping.  Moreover, camping provides an opportunity to get away from it all and get in touch with and back to nature.

Luxury Camping

Whether you choose indoor camping or go old-fashioned outdoor camping, it is always best to make sure that your camping gear and equipment is in good condition.  Planning a camping trip can also be a good excuse to replace or invest in some new camping gear and/or hiking gear.

Here is a short sample of the things you'll need to make your camping experience easier and be on your way:  For example, sleeping bags, blankets, tent, tarp, duct tape, rope, fire-starter, a reliable knife, stakes & bolts, first-aid kit, insect repellent, compass, cooking items, games and toys for the kids, and miscellaneous items, just to name a few things.

A good checklist, which will vary depending on the type of camping, activities you're planning, and your destination, can be helpful in planning and gathering equipment

Here's a checklist

Whether you're headed for the Adirondacks, the Appalachian Trail, way out west for a California Adventure, or somewhere in between, the Army Navy Shop can help accommodate your clothing needs as well as gearing you up with all the essentials for a successful camping trip or just a weekend getaway!

Lastly, there are so many great places to go camping and hiking.  Not sure where you want to go camping?  Though not a complete or comprehensive list, we've scoped out a list of 26 best and most popular places for hiking and camping.

Here's a List of 26 Great Places To Camp

Go on and revel in the beauty of nature, the grandiosity of the outdoors, solitude and fun towards achieving the classic camping adventure and making some great memories along the way. Most of all, take time to enjoy your life!

Camping Tools – What I Would Bring

by Chris Vegvary

As you may know from one of my previous blogs (entitled “Is Camping Fun?”), I’m not big on camping. I believe I’ve been camping a total of three or four times in my life, but I’m not really sure. What I am sure of is that I didn’t like it one bit. Turns out I like technology too much to just go off the grid for a couple of days out in the wilderness. Chances are that I won’t be going camping again anytime soon, but if there is ever a possibility that I may have to, I’ve made a list of the things I’d like to bring along with me.

For starters, I have no idea how to start a fire, and I imagine I’d have no luck in making one by rubbing two sticks together, no matter how long I tried. Therefore, I’d probably want to take something like this Swedish Firesteel Scout, which is good for three thousand strikes and works for starting a fire in any weather. Some may consider this more survivalist or somehow “cheating” in some way, but guess what? If I need to start a fire real quick, I’ll have that option, whereas we’ll see how long it takes you to rub two sticks together. Bring it.

You know what I don’t like at all? Insects. Especially the ones that bite and leave itchy red marks, and that is encountered a lot when you’re out camping. Don’t deny it, don’t tell me you love the thrill of nature or anything weird like that. Instead, I would say to you that you need to try some form or brand of insect repellant to keep the hungry little critters from devouring you throughout the day and night. You think it’s not worth it now? Wait until you wake up being carried off by some pretty serious-looking ants the size of club bouncers, then come talk to me about not wanting to keep bugs away. It’s a real eye-opener.

Lastly, but not leastly, I want to know where I’m going at all times. People like myself aren’t going to know where the crap to look for the North Star, or how to use the sun to tell which direction I’m going. Getting lost in the woods is not appealing to me, what with all the…you know, nature and whatnot. Also, I like to know what time it is. However can I combine the two to make something that will tell me the time as well as which direction I’m headed? Oh, how about BOOM: here’s a military field watch with a compass attached to it. Were you expecting THAT? Of course you were, you’re always two steps ahead of me.

So while I don’t foresee any possible future where I’ll be camping anytime in the near future, I realize that it could happen, and if so, I want to be prepared for it. Hopefully, if you’re like me and have no idea what to bring on a camping trip, this article may have helped you to be ready for whatever comes. Just remember to keep the bugs away.

Military Technology and its Awesomeness

by Chris Vegvary

What kind of modern world are we living in, where 3D printers exist that can produce fish scales to improve armor, or hypersonic spy planes exist, or a drone the size of a dragonfly can see what you’re doing without you knowing? It’s all happening so fast, and yet, technology works that way. It moves fast. One year, you have the top-of-the-line computer system, and by the next year, it’s been obsolete for the last decade somehow.

Fish Scale Armor?

Robots carry weapons into battle. How much longer before we have an army of Robocop-type (or Terminator-style) androids to do all the ground work for us? Obviously that technology is nowhere near completion, if it’s being considered at all, but one can dream. Drones may also being considered as pets in the future. What’s up, technology? You keep getting better all the time, but I still have yet to see an actual flying car, or a hover-tank, or how about some of that cloaking technology that makes you invisible to the human eye? That’s ok, I believe that one day, all the good stuff us non-military folk want to see in the way of military technology will be provided to us through patience.

Tiny, tiny drones

Build us an android, guys. We want to see something like Bishop from the movie Aliens, something that can function on its own while seeming indistinguishable from another human being. I know it’s going to take time, but when our technology gets to that level, I can’t wait to see what good surprises are in store for the military. Flamethrower sentry units? If they don’t exist, let’s see it happen. I’m not going to pretend to dictate the course of military technology (although that would be awesome), but I do like to suggest things even if I know they’re not necessarily feasible. Who knows what the future will bring…

This android requires a mechanic

But enough about that. While we’re living in modern times, it might be nice to use all the gear you can in order to get the job (whatever that may be) done. Therefore, under this article there are some links to certain military items that you may need to get by in today’s world. Check them out, you just might find several things you like.

Camping supplies - Knives/Tools - Bags/Packs - Hunting supplies

The army navy store for boy scouts

Below is a note sent to us by one of our customers. Please feel free to write us with your story, and we'll probably publish it here. Thanks for reading our blog.

It's boy scout time and you might be shopping around for camping supplies. I am a mom of a first year cub scout and I am very happy to have found some great items on the Army Navy Shop website. Army Navy Shop has many items to choose from such as insulated cooler bags, lanterns, survival and first aid kits, camping chairs and backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, and more. You can easily find all of your camping and boy scout supplies on the Army Navy Shop. A specific item of interest is the camo trail tent. This tent is made for two people. One of the best features is that it only weighs 3lbs and 8 oz., making it very lightweight for your young camper to carry. The camo trail tent comes with the stakes and rope for set-up. It also has a reinforced polyethylene floor. The large mesh window makes it easy to check on the boys without waking them up. The best part about this tent for me was the price was very reasonable.  I am very excited to use this tent and take my son on his very first camping trip! I hope to blog again and let you know how the trip went and how the tent holds up. So far, I am pleased with the Army Navy Shop website and the wide variety of camping products that I will be able to purchase for my cub scout!

Camo Trail Tent

Camping supplies for first time campers

When people are first time campers, they normally do not come prepared. If they do come prepared, they usually bring way too much! As a first time camper this summer, I think I brought all the necessary supplies. The camping supplies I brought consisted of a propane lantern, tons of bug repellant, instant sting treatment and quite a few other important items.

I have to say that the sting treatment helped immensely! I stepped on a nest of some kind of bees and I saw stars! The sting treatment and ice eased the burn and pain I was dealing with. Benadryl is very vital as well; just in case you are allergic to something you step on or brush up against. At night, even though you are at a campground; the grounds are not equipped with enough lighting. A lantern and flashlights made a world of a difference. Also, citronella candles gave off not only light but protected us from bug bites.

You do not want to over pack clothes! Just make sure you bring something light for the day and something warm for the night, and over course, plenty of underwear! Do not forget to bring towels and water shoes. If you are going to venture into the water and there are rocks, the water shoes will give you grip on slippery spots. Also, always wear a life vest in the water! Even if you are a great swimmer and decide to go tubing; there is always a change of hitting your head. A life vest will save your life! These are just a few tips to help you start a great camping trip!

CAMPING TIPS

When you are camping in wooded areas or in bear country, you have to be extremely careful. There are people that may think it is cute to spot a bear but it is nothing of the sort! Those beautiful animals are very aggressive and a simple camping trip could cost you your life if you are not cautious!

When people go camping, it is extremely important to bring flashlights, batteries and bottled water. Those are three very crucial items that should be the first things you pack. If you are not familiar with camping and sleeping outdoors, you want to pack extremely comfortable sleeping bags and other items to sleep on.

You may want to check the temperature rating of sleeping merchandise that will be appropriate for the climate you will be in. You want to make sure you have padding to put under the air mattress or cot you are sleeping on. That will keep you warm because it will put distance between you and the floor.

Never! I repeat never, keep food in your Tent!! Throw all your food away in the designated trash areas in your campground. If there are no areas, make sure you keep your food in a cooler and keep it far away from your tent, preferably one hundred feet away.

You can purchase bear-resistant canisters and other items that will keep bears away from your tent. Do not forget there are also creepy crawlers that can get into your food, so be vigilant and take all precautions on your outdoor adventure!