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I am a bit of a craftaholic- but this is cute idea for kids. Make a “first aid” kit using film canister and plastic lacing (gimp)
Finished crafts easily fits on knapsack , belt or whatever.
Check out the craft here
It’s a small enough craft that can easily take along- great for a rainy day. Its also useful- unlike so many other crafts that currently clutter up our house 
Posted by admin as Camping with Kids, General Camping, Great Camping Crafts at 10:20 PM EDT
This was quite a little gem to find. I think because it a Hamilton, Ontario Conservation area- and the site is a mess to figure out- and not a Provincial Park many people don’t even know about it. It is just outside of Cambridge- about a half hour drive from Hamilton and an hour south west of Toronto. Nearby is the African Lion Safari and Westfield Pioneer Village.
The campground has an older an more established section and and newer one- the newer ones are Tamarack and
Map of Valens Campground/Campsites Avoid the Tamarack and Spruce Hollow sections/campsites like the plague! They are tiny tiny sites with zero privacy and full sun. Basically a quite open field.
The older parts of the park are nice. Roomy well treed sites with lots of shade. Most of the sites have electrical and water hook-up. The sites are 24.00 CAD for standard and 28.00 CAD with electrical and water.
The park features a really nice beach. Sandy and shallow water that is chlorinated.
The campgrounds are very family friendly- lots of kids. There is an alcohol ban at the park- I am not sure how well enforced this is.
Twice a month on Saturdays new release movies are shown on a giant inflatable screen outdoors.
Valens Conservation Area Website
Posted by admin as Campground Reviews, General Camping at 10:29 AM EDT
For those who do not want to put DEET on their skin:
20 drops Eucalyptus oil
20 drops Cedarwood oil
10 drops Tea Tree oil
10 drops Geranium oil
2 oz. carrier oil ( like olive oil, almond oil or grape seed oil) Note: You must use some kind of carrier oil to dilute the essential oils- never put essential oils directly onto skin.
Mix together in a 4 oz. container. I get a small spray bottle at drugstore that holds just the right amount and has a fine spray. You could also just keep in bottle and put on a cloth and rub onto skin. When spraying on the skin avoiding the eye and any mucous membrane areas. Keep out of reach of children. Test on a small area of skin for sensitivities . You can experiment with different amounts of essential oils.
I would re-apply every two hours or so. You can aslo put some on a handkerchief and tie around your neck to avoid nasty mosquito bits on the neck and face.
Posted by admin as Camping and Mosquitoes, Camping and Safety, Camping and Wildlife, General Camping at 10:50 PM EDT
It’s important you take steps that will protect you and your family from mosquito bites. The good news is, it’s easy.
Use insect repellent when outdoors.
Cover up.
Use insect repellent when camping
Use an insect repellents on exposed skin, such as those containing DEET. A light coating will do.
The concentration of DEET should be no greater than 30% for adults and no greater than 10% for children.
DEET-based repellents can also be used on top of clothing. Do not use it under clothing.
Several DEET-free botanical repellents are federally registered but provide a shorter time of effectiveness.
If you are going outdoors for less than 30 minutes, these are safe, effective alternatives.
- Burning Candle ( which gives off carbon dioxide and naturally repels mosquitoes)
-Citronella Oil
Also try dabs of these natural oil on a handkerchief around the next or wrists:
Rosemary Oil
Lemongrass Oil
Cedar Oil ( try getting cedar oil spray at pet store and safe to use on pets AND humans- including kids)
Peppermint Oil
Clove Oil
Geranium Oil
Vicks Vapour rub- some people swear by this!
My own homemade natural mosquito repellent mosquito
Reduce the amount of skin exposed to mosquito’s- wear long-sleeved shirts or jackets and long pants.
Mosquitoes are attracted to darker, more intense colours, try to wear lighter colours if possible. Also avoid fragrance- avoid scented soaps. perfumes, fabric softeners and deodorants.
If mosquito population is particularly bad consider specialized bug-protective clothing.
Top Ten Mosquito “Hot Spots”
Bird baths
Old tires
Unused containers like barrels
Flower pot saucers
Swimming pool covers
Wading pools
Clogged gutters and eaves troughs
Clogged drainage ditches
Small containers like cans or bottle tops
Unused children’s toys or vehicles
Posted by admin as Camping and Safety, Camping and Wildlife, General Camping at 10:42 PM EDT
A heat pump is different than a heat strip. A heat pump is a machine which moves heat. Heat exists in all air at all temperatures down to “absolute zero” (-460ยบ F). In the winter, a heat pump draws heat from the outdoor air and circulates it through ducts into your home. During the summer, it reverses the process and draws heat from your interior air and releases it outdoors. It also dehumidifies the indoor air as it cools it.
A heat pump in an air conditioner that contains a valve that lets it switch between “air conditioner” and “heater.” When the valve is switched one way, the heat pump acts like an air conditioner, and when it is switched the other way it reverses the flow of Freon and acts like a heater.
The heat pump serves as a heater by absorbing heat from outdoor air and pumping it indoors. All air, even cold winter air, contains a certain amount of heat. As the outdoor air passes over the outdoor coil, heat from that air is absorbed by the refrigerant contained inside the coil. This absorption of heat changes the refrigerant from a low-temperature liquid to a low-temperature, low-pressure vapor. The vapor then passes through a compressor where it is compressed into a high pressure, high-temperature vapor. The hot vapor then circulates into the indoor coil. As indoor air passes over the indoor coil, it absorbs heat from the coil. The warmed air is then redistributed through the duct system.
Posted by admin as Air Conditioners, General Camping, Heating and Cooling at 12:56 PM EDT
Heat strips in AC units are basically the same as a small space heater. The have an output of 5000 BTU’s which is the same as most ceramic heaters.
It won;t be as hot as your furnace or heater but it will do a decent job.
Posted by admin as General Camping at 12:35 PM EDT
There are basically four brand to choose from when buying an air conditioner for you popup trailer:
Carrier Air V
Coleman P.S.
and the
Dometic Brisk Air
I have done a fair amount of research on this- and the brand most people seems to recommend most is Carrier Air V.
One thing to avoid when buying an air conditioner for you RV is one that has excessive water run off- I know that Carrier Air V does not have this problem. The Carrier a/c unit has oscillating vents, a slinger wheel that throws the run off back on the compressor so that run off is minimum. The “slinger wheel” design recycles condensation back onto the condenser coil, which significantly reduces water runoff along the roof and down the sides of the RV. This reduces system head pressure and extends compressor life, too. A bottom discharge louver directs conditioned air from the ceiling.
Another option to look for is a heat strip. This option will only cost you about 50.00 and well worth it.
Posted by admin as Air Conditioners, Camping Equipment and Reviews, General Camping, Heating and Cooling at 12:32 PM EDT
I had a rough trip recently- very bad sway when towing our 12″ box pop up trailer. I had to use over ride button on electric brakes about every 5 minutes- especially bad when a big 18 wheeler passed me by or a curve in the road. Pushing the over ride button on the brakes did work ( when you do this brakes are applied to the trailer while you are driving) as did a couple of other things- like speeding up slightly.
I got a tip that solved the problem immediately and went on a 7 hour trip with not ONE instance of sway. I put a second propane tank on- the weight help stabilize. Also, I heavy item in from of the axle- i.e drinking water jugs under seats near front bunk, etc. This worked like a dream.
Posted by admin as Fleetwood Pop Up Trailers, General Camping, Trailer Towing Tips at 1:49 PM EDT
We returned recently from New York’s Allegany State Park. There are two campgrounds in the park- Red House Area and Cain Hollow. We stayed at Cain Hollow campground- which is divided into several loops. The drive and the area is beautiful. The park itself is lovely. Our reservations were for Cain Hollow Loop A. It was AWFUL. Basically an open field - no shade, no privacy. Both my husband and I flipped when we saw it. The drive through the park was breath taking and I was sick with disappointment. It was pretty much the worst set of campsites I have ever seen; however- were were able to change our site-what a relief! every other site in Cain Hollow was nice. Good privacy, shady areas, etc.
We camped in a pop-up trailer, our new Fleetwood Sun Valley , and had electrical service. The parks web site said it was 30 amp service but it was only 20 amps. We don;t have an air conditioner or microwave so it didn’t matter that much to me.
The site was large and had some shade all the roads were paved. Comfort stations were nearby- with showers. There was no hot water in women’s shower for the entire time I was there.
The staff were friendly enough but most didn’t seem to know much about the park or its facilities. For example at registration we asked where the fill station and staff didn;t know what that was let alone where it was- *gulp*.
We did go to several of the programs. My kids liked the adventure camps held and the folk singer, Glen Wallace was particularly good. I have normally stayed at Canadian Provincial Parks and I was quite please with the “entertainment” at the park- but I was found the staff really didn;t have that much knowledge and couldn’t answer even basic questions- or worse a lot of misinformation.
The beach at Cain Hollow was very nice- it is on Quaker Lake. The beach was closed one day becasue of poor water quality- whch was a surprise to meas the water looked quite clean.
The ground were gorgeous- and nearby Bradford and Salamanca had ample shopping for groceries, etc. My kids had a blast and we would like to return some day. This park must be spectacular in the Fall.
also be warned- they are NOT kidding about the bears. They were everywhere. You MUST keep your food in trailer or car at all times.
Posted by admin as Campground Reviews, General Camping at 6:04 PM EDT
We recently encountered black bear while camping- on one occasion a large male black bear was at our campsite for a good 20 minutes. I did follow the usual advice- make lots of noise , etc. But the bear just hung around and was eating some food stolen from a nearby cooler. One of the park staff said to try and scare away a bear- but my instinct told me that coming between a animal and its food was never a good idea. The ontario governmenr has excellent information on how to handle black bears in general and what to do if you meet up with bear on your campsite.
Some of the topics covered are:
What To Do If You Encounter a Bear
Bears are normally shy of humans and quickly get out of our way when they see us. There are a number of things you can do if you spot a bear on a trail or one enters your campsite or yard.
Do not approach the bear to get a better look. Slowly back away while watching the bear and wait for it to leave.
If you are near a building or car, get inside it as a precaution. If the bear was attracted to food or garbage, make sure it is removed after the bear leaves to discourage the bear from returning.
It is important to keep dogs away from a bear. While a well-trained dog may deter a bear, a poorly trained one may only excite it resulting in the bear following the dog back to its owner.
If a bear is in a tree, leave it alone. Remove people and dogs from the area. The bear will usually come down and leave when it feels safe.
If a bear is trying to get at food in your yard or campsite (and a building or a car is not within reach) or if a bear tries to approach you, here is how you should react:
Stop. Face the bear. Do not run. If you are with others, stay together and act as a group. Make sure that the bear has a clear escape route, then yell and wave your arms to make yourself look bigger. Use a whistle or airhorn if you have one. The idea is to be aggressive and to persuade the bear to leave. This will work if the bear is still partly afraid of humans.
If these attempts fail to frighten the bear away, slowly back away watching the bear and giving it a wide berth.
Climbing a tree to get away from a bear may offer you little advantage as black bears are excellent tree climbers.
A bear may stand upright to get a better view, make huffing or “popping” sounds, swat or beat the ground with its forepaws or even bluff charge. These are a bear’s way of telling you that you are too close. Back off and give the bear more space. If the bear comes within range, use pepper spray if you have it.
Injuries by black bears are rare, but can occur in the following situations:
Cornered bears
Black bears may become anxious or annoyed if they are crowded by people or dogs, or if intently focused on a food source. These bears will generally give many warning signs (they may make huffing or “popping” sounds, swat or beat the ground with their forepaws or even bluff charge) to let you know that you are too close.
Mother bears protecting their young
Mother bears are rarely aggressive towards humans but they are protective of their cubs. Do not test this by intentionally approaching cubs or knowingly getting between them and their mother. The mother bear will generally give you many warning signs to let you know that you are too close.
Predatory black bears
On EXTREMELY RARE occasions, black bears (usually adult males) have attacked humans with the intent to kill and eat them. This has happened about 40 times in the last century in North America (six incidents in Ontario). By comparison, many more people have been killed by lightning, dogs, and bee stings. Predatory black bears may not make huffing or “popping” sounds, swat or beat the ground with their forepaws or perform bluff charges. Instead, they may press closer and closer to their intended prey assessing whether it is safe to attack
Here is what to do if you find yourself in one of these situations.
Slowly back away, watching the bear.
If the bear tries to approach you, stop. Be aggressive, yell, throw rocks or sticks and use pepper spray if you have it. NEVER TURN AND RUN.
If the bear continues to approach you, resume backing away slowly while continuing to be aggressive towards the bear.
If a bear makes contact with you, DO NOT PLAY DEAD. Fighting back is the best chance of persuading a black bear to stop its attack. Use a large stick, a rock or anything else that you have on hand to hurt the bear.
Are Black Bears Exhibiting Increased Boldness?
Ontario’s Black Bear Population
What You Should Know About Black Bears
Bears Travel a Long Way
Posted by admin as Camping Advice and Camping Tips, Camping and Wildlife, General Camping at 1:00 AM EDT
