Wanda Whiteside recommends camping for everyone

“It’s all about new experiences. Everything that you do in life – whether it’s listening to a story, camping out, makes you different than what you were before you did that. Just think if everyone camped out, we would some very hearty people – people with heart,” she says.

She views every experience as an opportunity to add layers to her character. This community activist from Atlanta, Georgia, wants young people to feel connected with their home. She sees camping as just one more way to do that.

Just talking with Wanda makes you want to try new things. Why don’t you try camping this year with the Great American Backyard Campout?

Being the Brave One

Wanda brought three generations of people to her very first campout. She wanted everyone to have a good time.

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“Well, I had to be the brave one, because everyone else was thinking like “oh, spiders, and what’s that sound.” So I had to pretend “oh, that’s nothing.” But yet I had my own trepidations about how the night would go. And it was very peaceful. The sounds were soothing – although, once I again, I mention my age, and I had to adjust lying on the floor. That was about it. The night went very peacefully and when morning came, I could almost hear the roosters – although there were no roosters – but it was like the earth was saying, it’s a new day.”

Campout was Only the Beginning

Wanda attended her first Great American Backyard Campout in June 2011 at the Outdoor Activity Center in Atlanta. National Wildlife Federation, in partnership with REI, organized the event where they supplied all the camping gear, food and expertise. Many participants had never camped before, but they got help from volunteers and other participants on how to set up their tents. For Wanda, this campout was the beginning of a new interest in outdoor activities.

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“I went on another campout! I really did! I went kayaking and rock climbing. So I had discovered something new. I had managed to go beyond my comfort zone, push the envelope and have new experiences – get wet and get dirty and at the end of the day be tired and have that memory.”

Get Inspired by Wanda

People of all ages and interests have found that a night of camping gives them a new perspective on life. Wanda gives her advice to new campers:

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“If you want to find out more about your capabilities, your potential, what the wind feels like against your skin, how you are different in terms of being in your workplace, being in your home. What does it feel like to be you outdoors? I can say that there is a newfound freedom to explore, to relax.”

Donate today to help connect more kids with environmental education, and inspire Americans to protect wildlife.

For inspiration and a few tent erecting tips, here are three tent-building animals:

Eastern Tent-Making Caterpillar

These fuzzy little moths-to-be are the “social butterflies” of the caterpillar world, preferring to live in groups rather than alone. Every spring, after emerging from their eggs, these caterpillars make their way up the tree and begin constructing silk tents that will serve as their communal home during their entire larval lives (6-8 weeks).

Tent-making caterpillars hanging around their silken tent. Flickr photo by Thure Johnson

Tip you can use: Unless you want to create a sauna, avoid pitching your tent in direct sunlight if possible.

Weaver Birds

Just as some humans prefer sleeping in tent hammocks while camping, weaver birds also prefer hanging structures for comfort. These creative chirpers, known as Ploceidae birds, are found throughout Africa and Asia and are famous for creating elaborate hanging nests.

Veaver birds use leaf fibers, grass and twigs to construct their nests, which vary in shape and size. Another social species, these birds will usually build their nests close together, often several to one branch.  Some species even build the nest equivalent of an apartment complex; with 100-300 bird pairs living together, each with their own chamber.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Sounds like a lot of work, but the best nests attract the best partners. Even though male weaver birds tend to be brightly colored, it is not enough to attract a mate. Only the most elaborate, well constructed nests will lure in prospective females.

Tip you can use: Unlike weaver birds, you don’t want to put up your tent too close to another tent if camping with family and friends. A tent’s thin “walls” will let every sound, word and snore be heard. So do yourself a favor and give yourself some space.

Tent-Making Bat

These tent-making bats are keeping dry under their homemade leaf tent. Wikimedia photo by Charlesjsharp

Despite being made from a single leaf, a bat tent can last up to 60 days! Considering that it can take these tiny bats several nights to chew throw a one leaf, it’s good to know they only have to do it once every few months.

Tip you can use: If you expect bad weather while camping, be sure to attach a rainfly to your tent. The rainfly is a special tarp that is spread over the top of the tent to make it waterproof.

Register Your Backyard Campout

Register your backyard campout (it’s FREE!) and get great camping tips, recipes and games >>

On June 22, National Wildlife Federation is encouraging people to try camping as part of the Great American Backyard Campout. The idea is to keep things simple – to set up your tent just in the backyard and try sleeping under the stars – even if it is your first time.

We spoke to two moms who participated in previous Great American Backyard Campouts. They noticed that camping brought their families together.

Carlyce Burns and Ivy Simmons are both from Atlanta, Georgia. They both camped with two children under the age of six. Both moms had camped frequently when they were kids and were eager to share the experience with their children.

Carlyce’s Camping Experience

Carlyce’s family camped in the family’s yard. They made s’mores using a patio fireplace and caught fireflies:

Click here to view the embedded video.

“The best part was probably that we were all in one place, and it was like a quiet place – no TV, no music, no video games or nothing. We were all sort of in one place and supposed to be relaxing. It was nice. We were supposed to be going to sleep but we would be talking about something or telling a story about something, or talking about the day. It was just a nice way to – like, you know – wind down together, which we never do, hardly.”

Ivy’s Camping Experience

Ivy’s family chose to participate in the Great American Backyard Campout event at the Outdoor Activity Center in Atlanta. Volunteers from National Wildlife Federation and REI were on hand to teach new campers how to set up their tents and make s’mores.

Ivy has noticed over the years that time outside is a great parenting technique:

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“It’s so much control inside. You’re worried about something’s going to break, your inside voice, your outside voice, don’t climb on that. There’s a certain level of freedom. And a relaxing – you are more relaxed. You have to worry about maybe them going too far and being safe, but other than that? So it takes a lot stress out of parenting when you are outdoors and you are in a comfortable space that you know is safe. Then everyone is free to roam and to be and to shout and to lay down where they want to.”

Please share your camping stories!

Did your family find a peaceful moment while camping?

Or sometimes the stories that get passed on year after year the ones where something unexpected happened.

Inspire others to camp by sharing your stories in the comments below.

We hope you will take the opportunity to camp this June 22 at the Great American Backyard Campout.

Dyan Szall from Georgia decided to spend it enjoying nature. She invited friends to go camping in her backyard.

She asked for donations to help wildlife as a birthday gift. She registered her campout as part of the Great American Backyard Campout at http://www.backyardcampout.org.

“My mom, she was like looking around – she trying to get ideas that I didn’t necessarily like, like bowling and everything, and then she came across the National Wildlife Federation for the Great Backyard Campout thing – and so because it was just the day after my birthday, it was really easy for us to be “Oh, that’s perfect.” It’s right after my birthday. It was not hard to set up and everything. All my friends were really open to donating because I had gotten them into it and everything.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

For most of Dyan’s friends, it was their first camping experience. Dyan camps often with her family, so she wanted to share the fun with her friends right in her own backyard. One thing that her family does on their camping trips is to look for campsites near horse stables, and to combine the excitement of horseback riding with a campout.

Why don’t you celebrate the outdoors this June 22 with the National Wildlife Federation at the Great American Backyard Campout!

Ranger Rick’s Tree House App Takes Home the Gold

June 7-National Wildlife Federation is pleased to announce that its Ranger Rick’s Tree House app for the iPad has won the award for best Mobile/Wireless Learning Tool and the Gold Award for the Best Educational Innovation of the Year from the Association of Educational Publishers (AEP).

“National Wildlife Federation has a proud history of entertaining and educating children about the wonders of animals and nature,” said Mary Dalheim, Editorial Director of Children’s Publications for National Wildlife Federation. “From our beloved children’s magazines like Ranger Rick to our new apps, our products make reading and learning about wildlife fun for kids of all ages. We are thrilled to be recognized by AEP for our achievements in educational publishing.”

To learn more visit nwf.org/treehouse.

Gray Wolves Not Ready to Come Off Endangered Species Act List

June 7-The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today proposed to remove all gray wolves outside of New Mexico and Arizona from the list of threatened and endangered species. The National Wildlife Federation opposes the proposed rule.

John Kostyack, vice president for wildlife conservation, had this to say:

“NWF has long supported Endangered Species Act de-listings when supported by the science, and we believe that the recovery of two gray wolf populations in the Western Great Lakes and Northern Rockies are historic ESA success stories,” said John Kostyack, Vice President Wildlife Conservation. “However, the job of wolf recovery in the U.S. is not yet complete.”

Learn more about Gray Wolves.

Turn the Family Cookout into a Campout for this Year’s Great American Backyard Campout

For more information on the Great American Backyard Campout, check out the website www.backyardcampout.org

Crop Insurance Accountability Act Closes Loophole in House Farm Bill

June 5-The National Wildlife Federation commends Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) for their leadership in introducing The Crop Insurance Accountability Act today in the House of Representatives.

This important legislation would ensure the continuation of a “conservation compact” between taxpayers and farmers that has been in place for decades, whereby producers protect wetlands and reduce soil erosion on their land in exchange for taxpayer subsidies. The bill mirrors a provision in the Senate Agriculture Committee’s version of the Farm Bill, which makes producers ineligible for crop insurance premium subsidies if they drain wetlands or fail to use a conservation plan on vulnerable land. This commonsense measure is supported by the major conservation, commodity, and crop insurance groups. Unfortunately, the House Agriculture Committee failed to include this important link between wetland and soil conservation and crop insurance subsidies in their version of the bill, despite overwhelming support.

 “Taxpayer dollars should not be used to underwrite the risk of draining wetlands or foregoing good conservation practices” said Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “We are at risk of repeating the mistakes leading to the Dust Bowl, if we do not close the loophole that would allow farmers to receive crop insurance premium subsidies without being held accountable for practicing good stewardship on the land.”

For more information visit our Farm Bill webpage.

Great Lakes Coalition Names Todd Ambs as Director

June 3-The Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition today named Todd Ambs as its new director. Ambs previously served as president of the national conservation group River Network, a job he assumed after serving as chief of the water division for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

“Todd Ambs is a champion of the Great Lakes and will help keep restoration efforts on track,” said Lynn McClure, Midwest Regional Director at the National Parks Conservation Association and co-chair of the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “The Coalition will be in good hands under his leadership.”

And now here are highlights from NWF in the news:

Photo courtesy of Curtis Fisher

As a parent, one of the things I want most for my children (and all children) is the freedom of spirit that includes one’s heart and mind: To explore who they are — their strengths, what they love, their work styles, and what values they want to have. To test their abilities, try new things, and take risks. To connect and share freely with others, contributing to a community and being part of something bigger than themselves.

There is no better setting for this sense of spirit than the great outdoors, and there is no better way to achieve it than through a camp experience. Nature experiences have been a cornerstone of organized camp experiences since their beginning over 150 years ago. And they are still important today: According to the American Camp Association’s (ACA) most recent Sites, Facilities, and Programs report, over two-thirds of ACA-accredited camps indicate they intentionally target programs or initiatives to connect children with nature.

Research clearly shows that time spent in the outdoors has critical benefits for our children. A study from the University of Essex has shown that time spent in nature improves cognitive functioning, reduces stress, and allows for opportunities of self-discovery. But with kids spending seven hours plugged into a screen each day, sedentary, structured free time is the norm. Our wireless connections create invisible wires — wires that tie up our children’s minds, imaginations, physical activity levels, and time to build authentic connections with others and themselves.

But the outdoors and the camp experience combine to cut those invisible wires while fostering positive, powerful, and lifelong habits, skills, and mindsets. At camp, kids get outdoors; get moving (most exceed the recommended sixty minutes of physical activity per day!); learn how to live together in a caring, supportive community; and find the time to reflect on and explore their interests.

I’m thrilled by the recent partnership of ACA and NWF to reach more kids and parents with the positive impacts of outdoor experiences. We want nature to be a part of kids’ and families’ everyday lives. I encourage you learn how you can make the most of summer with a camp experience by visiting www.CampParents.org, where you will find expert resources, planning tips, and ACA’s Find a Camp database. Also, your family can join in NWF’s Great American Backyard Campout, which encourages families to gather outdoors and camp on June 22. As you participate in the Campout with your family, you will be doing so alongside many participating campers and staff at ACA-accredited camps.

Have a great summer!

With four decades of experience as a change agent in youth development and transformation, Peg L. Smith is the chief executive officer of the American Camp Association® (ACA). ACA is the champion of better tomorrows — providing resources, research, and support for developmentally appropriate camp experiences. Learn more at www.CampParents.org or www.ACAcamps.org.

About ACA

The American Camp Association® (ACA) works to preserve, promote, and enhance the camp experience for children and adults. ACA-Accredited® camp programs ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally challenging learning opportunities. There are over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps that meet up to 290 health and safety standards. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org.

Like us on Facebook for more year-round activities to get you and your family outdoors.

National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) Be Out There is a national movement to give back to American children what they don’t know they’ve lost- their connection to the natural world. With a wealth of activities, events, and resources, Be Out There reconnects families with the great outdoors to raise happy, healthy children with a life-long love of nature.

Return to our page on May 15th to donate to National Wildlife Federation through GiveBIG!

Here are three reasons why we hope you will choose to support us through GiveBIG on May 15^th:

Photo: USFWS

* Exciting Great American Backyard Campout events this summer, including events serving people with limited resources and veterans.

* Our work with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to increase public awareness and support of our state park system, which is being impacted by severe budget shortfalls that are leaving wildlife in jeopardy and impairing our ability to enjoy the outdoors.

* Outreach to new communities and training programs for volunteers through our Certified Wildlife Habitat® program, which helps maintain and build biodiversity in the Pacific Northwest.

2. The more you give, the more National Wildlife Federation receives! All donations made through The Seattle Foundation’s website on May 15^th will receive a percentage of the matching funds (or “stretch”) pool from GiveBIG sponsors.

3. You could be randomly selected for a “Golden Ticket” that gives NWF an extra $1,000 from The Seattle Foundation and other sponsors. You’ll also be eligible to win airline tickets, gift cards, and more!

Stay tuned for details and like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for GiveBIG reminders and updates!

Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights
Photo by Flickr member chaines9

See more of chaines9′s photos on Flickr >>

Plans this weekend?

Saturday, June 23rd is the Great American Backyard Campout – an annual event hosted by the National Wildlife Federation that encourages family and friends to enjoy the great outdoors by sleeping under the stars for a night. Learn more and register your campout today!

The author, on the trail at five. Taking kids camping is a great way to encourage them to explore the outdoors and connect with nature. (Photo: Mary Burnette)

When I was young, my parents took me and my two older sisters for three weeks of backpacking in the high country of Yosemite every summer. Yosemite was my Dad’s Mecca. My father rented two burros from the stables in Yosemite Valley to carry our gear and off we went.

I think I was about 4 when I joined this family tradition and was allowed to let the burro carry me when my legs got tired of hiking (my sisters were always jealous).

When my own children were young, every Columbus Day weekend we would head off  to Assateague Island National Seashore to join the wild ponies at a great campout on the beach. Assateague is an island on the coast of Virginia. My kids still remember the year we woke up early one morning to the sound of ponies munching away on a bag of apples I had put in the screened section of our tent. The ponies used their hooves to tear the screen so they could gain access to a tasty breakfast.

Then there is my husband’s family camping tradition, affectionately called “Mud, Blood and Beer.” I’ve now been part of this tradition for 27 years. My husband grew up on a cattle farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.  There is a river that runs through the bottom land of the farm.

Every summer the family gathers for a long-weekend camping adventure on the banks of the river.  It started with my husband and his siblings over 50 years ago. Over the years wives, children and a bunch of friends and their families have joined the festivities. I think last year we counted 40 people and about 15 tents in all. Grandkids can’t be far behind. The favorite activity is riding the rapids down the river on a float when the dam up river from the campsite lets out water about every 2 hours.

Singing Around the Campfire

As I think about these camping traditions, I’m reminded that music was always an important part of the experience. My father played the harmonica and I can still hear its jaunty sound when Dad would play as we gathered to watch the sun set over the majestic Sierra Mountains. At Assateague, there always seemed to be a neighboring campfire where someone played the guitar and all were welcome to join in to sing the old children’s classic campfire songs like “She’ll be Comin’ Round the Mountain,” “Do Your Ears Hang Low,” “Down by the Bay” and “Frogie Went A Court’n.”

Music at Mud, Blood and Beer is always a treat. My brother-in-law is a talented musician and some of the friends he brings camping are equally musically inclined. There are always several guitars, a banjo, a mandolin and a fiddle. One year Henry even brought his giant base along. The music plays on through the night, depending on how much “libation” we have all enjoyed. Sometimes I conk out earlier than the others and there is nothing better than snuggling down in a sleeping bag and dozing off to the sounds of great campfire music being played in the background.

Another group of talented musicians and story tellers was recently brought to my attention. “The Okeedokee Brothers” and their CD “Can You Canoe” would make the perfect accompaniment to any camping trip when live music isn’t an option. Songs like “Campin Tent” and “Thousand Star Hotel” capture the magic that sleeping under the stars is all about.

Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing spent summers at their neighborhood creek, building makeshift rafts, fishing for crawdads, and dreaming of great river adventures. In 2011 those dreams came true when they spent 30 days canoeing down the Mississippi River from Minneapolis to St. Louis. During their journey they camped, canoed, filmed and most importantly, composed the songs that make up their album for kids and families. They hope their project and songs will inspire kids to take an active role in their lives, get outside and make their dreams realities.

The Gift of Camping

The OkeeDokee Brothers exemplify what NWF’s Be Out There campaign is telling parents: give kids time to explore the outdoors and connect with nature to encourage creativity, and let kids play with their own imaginations and gain a respect for the natural world, all while having fun and engaging in activities that benefit their health.

Giving kids a tradition of camping is one of the best things parents can do for their children. A perfect place to start is by participating in National Wildlife Federation’s Great American Backyard Campout on June 23. The Campout web site is loaded with ideas and tips to make your camping experience one that your family will want to repeat year after year.

The Great American Backyard Campout on June 23rd brings together thousands of families for a night of outdoor fun at sites across the country. (Photo courtesy of Curtis Fisher)

Why is this important? As you probably know if you’ve browsed this blog before, more and more kids are giving up on regular outdoor play, favoring TV or video games instead. In fact, American kids now spend less time outdoors than any generation in modern history. Not only does this affect kids’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, but it greatly reduces appreciation of nature, and therefore thins the ranks of future conservationists.

Get Outdoors Day helps fight this trend by offering kids the opportunity to try activities like fishing, geocaching and camping, and learn about subjects like sustainability, health and nutrition (the event supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside campaign to eliminate childhood obesity within one generation).

To see all 130 locations hosting National Get Outdoors Day activities and find out whether there is a site near you, click here. You can also get involved by volunteering or hosting a National Get Outdoors Day event.

Every Day Can Be ‘Get Outdoors Day’

NWF has developed a few handy tools to help families fit nature into their lives and make any day ‘Get Outdoors Day’:

• The Great American Backyard Campout on June 23^rd brings together thousands of families for a night of exploration and fun at sites across the country. Sign up today! When you participate, you can support NWF’s programs to get kids outdoors as part of our Be Out There campaign.
• NatureFind helps you find local nature sites and events by zip code, city or state, including directions and visitor ratings.  It offers immediate information on 10,000 beautiful outdoor locales, and 50,000 events and organized activities.

• Our free parent guide to outdoor play, everyday provides information, tips and activities to help busy parents, kids and families overcome many top obstacles to outdoor play.
• Find a new outdoor activity in our Activity Finder database. Crafts, games, recipes and more. You can search by keyword, your child’s age, or level of difficulty. Every activity is designed for the outdoors or has a wildlife twist.

If you would like to learn more about NWF’s programs that help parents provide outdoor opportunities for children, visit our Be Out There ™ website.

Enjoy National Get Outdoors Day!