JBlackout asked:


I know there is a type of camping stove that can burn pretty much anything (vodka, meths, petrol, other fuel). I know it has a pump on it, and on the other side of the reservoir is the filler cap. It looks like a dual fuel stove, but these seem only to be able to burn its two fuels. Am I wrong?

Nellie

Camping Now asked:


Buying a camping stove can be a tricky business. You want to make sure you get the right one for you. If you are hiking you need to get something that is compact and will carry easily. A trangia might be a good idea if you need something small, or if you are only cooking for yourself. A Trangia cimbines the methanol burner with all of the equipment that you need to do your cooking. If you are travelling by car then you can go fo a setup as large as you like, right up to a full kitchen set (if it takes your fancy!). Some camping stoves also come with wind protectors, which can be very useful if you’re camping outside.

camping stoves run on a variety of fuels and the type of fuel you will be using will play an important factor in your decision.

The most popular fuel is butan or propane gas or a propane/butane mix. These come in cartridges or refillable cylinder. This type of fuel is predictable and stable, lights easily and performs well, and is controllable in terms of the level of heat you require. The cartridges or cylinders attach directly to the stove. Resealable cartridges are good as they can be removed from the stove, so there is no chance of the gas being switched on accidentally. These smaller stoves are more suited to be sed with smaller pans and cookware sets and cannot comfortably accomodate larger pans.

Larger stoves often use cylinders attached with a gas hose and regulator. This aren’t carried easily so are only suitable if you are travelling by car. These stoves often include a lid and side wind shield. If you are camping in low temperatures, propane is more suitable than butane as it freezes at lower temperatures.

Pressure stoves run on pressurised petroleum. They can get very hot and are very fuel efficient. These types of cookers come in a range of sizes, from small compact burners suitable for backpackers to double burners suitable for families.

Methylated spirit stoves run on meths which, as a liquid, doesn’t need to be pressurised. It is instant lighting and there is no need for preheating. Meths produces an almost colourless flams so care needs to be taken in the daytime. meths only really gives about half the heat of the alternatives so isn’t the most efficiant. The most common types of meths burners is the trangia range which are simple to use, compact lightweight and cost efficient.

You might want to consider the price of the gas refills or methelated spirits when making your purchase. And don’t forget to take spares! There’s nothing worse than having the food to cook with no means to cook it.

If you have small children then safety may be an issue. You might want something that is stable and safe when there are footballs flying about! so you can go for something with a stand



Robin

Shelly Cartwright asked:


Hopefully your child will be among the 12 million other kids going to camp this summer. The positive benefits kids gain from a camp experience – such as learning to take responsibility for themselves, making new friends, and building self-confidence and esteem – are well-documented and indisputable.

You don’t want to make a mistake when picking a camp, so here are the top 7 things to consider before you sign on the dotted line.

Make sure your child is ready for camp

Kids develop at certain rates. Some kids are ready for camp before others. If your child is mature, gets along well with others, and is comfortable being separated from you, he or she is probably ready for a camp experience. Otherwise, you might consider waiting a year or two.

Include your child in the decision-making process

It’s been proven time and again: The kids who enjoy camp the most are those who’ve been involved in choosing their own camp. When parents pick a camp without consulting their kids, their kids usually don’t like camp as much.

Check references

One of the biggest mistakes parents make when signing up for camp is not checking references. Always ask the camp director for at least three references, and be sure to follow through on making your calls. If you don’t hear glowing reports from the references, look into other camps.

Only pick a camp with activities your child likes

This one’s easy. If your son wants to learn to surf, send him to a surf camp. If your daughter wants to polish her gymnastics skills, look into a gymnastics camp. Don’t send your surfer kid to cooking camp. Don’t send your daughter who’s obsessed with gymnastics to an archery camp.

Meet the director ahead of time

It’s not a good idea to register for camp sight-unseen. There’s too much potential for something bad to happen. The camp might not be as safe as you thought, the counselors might not be as nice, the director might not be as qualified, and the facilities might not be as clean. So meet the director ahead of time, and/or take a tour of the camp, if possible, before the summer starts. You wouldn’t buy a car without a test drive, so don’t sign up for camp without a test-drive, either.

Choose an ACA Accredited camp

Most parents would not send their kids to a non-accredited school, so why would you send them to a non-accredited camp? Picking a summer camp that’s accredited by the American Camp Association is the ONLY way you can be sure the camp meets or exceeds up to 300 best-practice industry standards relating to child safety and program quality, among others. If you don’t choose an accredited camp, watch out.

Find out the camp’s refund policy

What if your child doesn’t like camp? What if they break their arm before camp starts, or even during camp? What if something unexpected happens and you need to drop out? While many camps have no-refund policies, others are more lenient. Make sure you understand the camp’s refund policy in advance and get it in writing. You don’t want to make a finical mistake, especially in this awful economy.

These are the top 7 things to remember when choosing a camp for your child. Summer camp can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a child’s life when you pick the right program.



Danielle

Michel Marchand asked:


If you are into camping, then Camping World is a store that you would be familiar with. If you are not, then you are missing out big time. Simply put, camping World is in our opinion the world’s best and largest camping store. Camping World is privately owned with its head office based in Kentucky and boasts a chain of 70 stores right around the US and has a commanding presence online as well. They claim that they are the biggest trader of parts for RVS and who could argue with them. If camping is your thing, then you owe it to yourself to visit one of their stores. People from all over the US have reported that once they have been to one of the Camping World stores, they usually do not have to go anywhere else as the store meets all their shopping requirements for camping.

The Beginning

The first Camping World store opened for business in 1966 at Beech Bend Park. A very popular camping site at the time, it was also used as an amusement park. David Garvin, who was the son of the original owner, took a gamble by opening the store fully stocked with camping equipment and other general camping gears. The store was an instant success and with David Garvin’s strong marketing skills, the store began to grow each and every year. Finally in 1997 Camping World was bought over by its current owners, Affinity Group Inc.

Camping World Today

Camping World today has a huge presence both online and offline and has also become one of America’s biggest if not the biggest supplier of camping equipment. If you would like to make your purchase online, take a quick cyber visit to their website. You will find every product related to camping each listed under their respective category.

Everybody that loves camping has his or her own individual story to tell. Choosing camping equipment is also a somewhat personal exercise and no matter what you have planned, you can probably do with all the suggestions and help from the friendly staff at Camping World to make you camping experience even more special. Even if you were planning your very first camping trip, the wealth of camping knowledge from everyone at Camping World would surely be great help to any novice.

Outdoors Section

Camping World also has an outdoors section where several different products for your RV can be found. RV steps, mats, ladders, chains and every other piece of equipment that is RV related right down to flotation devices can be found in that section. They also cater for your pet by stocking different pet carriers. You name it they have it.

Camping Accessories

If any item is camping based or to be used outdoors, then Camping World will have it. If you are planning to build a campfire, then Camping World has got the items to make that happen for you. If you were worried that you will be bitten to bits by insects then you would be able to choose from a wide range of insect repellents. You name it they stock it. It also goes without saying that you will find your multitude of tents to choose from, countless shades of all shapes and sizes, first aid kits and even wireless weather stations. All you need to do is find a perfect camping spot and pay a visit to Camping World and let one of their friendly staff assist you.

Happy camping



Marvin

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Have you got everything you need to go on your camping tip or vacation? Have you prepared all you’ll need including the camping gear or other camping supplies? If you haven’t done so, this will be something you are going to want to do soon.

If you have never been camping before and still need the camping gear supplies, you could be hesitant about where you should buy all these things from. There are a number of choices/stores to choose from.

Do you know the difference between camping gear and camping supplies? There is a difference! Camping gear refers to items essential in camping…tents, sleeping bags, hot plates and so on. While camping supplies is used to describe food, toilet supplies and much more. So when you go searching for these items to purchase, you will know that there is indeed a difference between them.

1. Where can you buy camping gear? Camping gear can be bought at numerous locations that sell these items. They are sold offline and online as well. Yet, one of the best places to get your camping gear are stores specializing in sports. Sport stores are focused on products of the sport nature. These products range from baseballs to baseball bats, to basketball and the basketball gear and even camping gear like tents, sleeping bags to name a few. If you think you would like to go fishing while you camp out, then you can purchase a fishing pole too at the sports store.

Why are these stores so popular when searching for camping gear? They are popular because they have a wider selection of products to choose from. Although if you need a wider collection, then online sports retailers will do the trick.

2. Another place to buy camping gear are department stores. A large number of these types of stores will have tents, sleeping bags and other camping gear pieces you will need for sale. The selection in these stores is not as extensive as those sold in sports stores. However, the prices on these stores’ camping gear will be quite a bit lower. You can also say that department stores are known as the one-stop shopping center because they sell numerous things. This means you can get the camping supplies, like food and whatnot, from these stores.

3. Camping supplies can also be bought at grocery stores. This is nice because these stores mainly focus on food. You will have a wider variety of food and drinks to choose from. Many of which are great for camping escapades. Some local stores, in the summer months you can find camping snack displays set up which makes it easier to find what kind of food you should bring. Don’t forget that long with food and drinks, you will need to bring toiletry items that you will find useful on the trip.

4. As stated in earlier articles, a large quantity of camping pieces are sold online. If you want the best deals or a greater product selection, using the Internet is your best bet. Even if you do not buy your products online, you can get an idea of what the product is like by reading the consumer reviews.

So as one can tell, there are numerous options when you are in the market for purchasing camping gear and supplies for the next time you want to go on a camping trip or vacation.

Most importantly, before you start spending money on unnecessary items, make a list so you know you will have everything you need while you are on your expedition.



Joseph

Eric D. Naftulin asked:


Seems like everyone carries a cell phone, iPod or other electronic device these days. Kids are no exception, but what happens when kids want to bring these items to summer camp?

Some camps allow kids to bring electronic gadgets with them to camp. One camp even includes an “optional cell phone” in its suggested packing list.

But that’s the exception, not the rule. Most camps restrict kids from bringing these items to camp completely.

Theresa Torrone, the director her own summer camp in Los Angeles, California, does not allow portable electronics at camp. “We believe iPods, Gameboys, cell phones, other portable electronic devices electronics are better left at home,” Torrone says. “Not only are these items easily lost, damaged or even stolen, they are counterproductive to the camp experience.”

Torrone says the goals at her camp include teaching kids about beach and ocean ecology, introducing them to new aquatic activities like surfing and jet skiing, and facilitating new friendships, among others. But if children are listing to iPods or talking on cell phones, “they typically do so in isolation, apart from the rest of the camp group,” argues Torrone. “We believe a large part of going to camp is sharing new experiences in a group setting. When kids are playing with their cell phones or electronics, their opportunities to learn and experience new things with their group are limited.”

According to Torrone, some parents insist on sending a cell phone to camp with their kids because they feel more comfortable knowing they can reach their child anytime just by calling.

“But a major component to the camp experience is learning to live independently. Kids can’t do that with their parents calling them all the time. So we feel that parents should resist the temptation to send their kids to camp with cell phones. If you need to reach your child in an emergency or for any other reason, just call or email the camp office. They’ll be able to contact your child right away.”

Torrone says many camps now use technology to give parents “an arms length way” to see and communicate with their kids while they’re at camp. Some camps will post pictures of the campers on the Internet while others give parents the opportunity to send one-way emails to their kids as an alternative to sending letters.

Torrone understands kids’ cravings for electronic toys and gadgets. “Many kids are even more tech-savvy than their folks,” she says. And there are some kids, Torrone says, who just “can’t get enough tech.”

In this case, Torrone suggests sending your son or daughter to a technology-based summer program. “Many camps specialize in technology-driven activities,” Torrone said. “Computer camps and video-making camps are really popular these days.”

To find camps like these, or any other type of camp, Torrone advises logging onto http://findacamp.com, the American Camp Association’s summer camp search engine which is filled with a database of approximately 2,500 accredited camps.

Torrone’s Aloha Beach Camp embraces technology and the power of the Internet to provide information to prospective camp families and customers. “But we’d rather not have their kids bringing electronic devices into the camp community.”

Does Torrone ever envision a day when electronic toys and gadgets will be accepted at camp? She pauses to think, then replies, “Well, maybe when campers can learn to ride a horse, bond with the rest of the group, roast marshmallows, do skits around the campfire and download songs to their iPods all at the same time,” she laughs.

Copyright Eric D. Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.



Melanie

Abhishek Agarwal asked:


Is camping adventure in your list of future activities? If it is, is it going to be your first time? Or have you gone camping before? If you have not and this is your first time, you will need to carefully consider the supplies, gears or equipment that you must carry with you. Many people under circumstances like yours find it stressful to figure these things out. Well, the pointers that follow may help.

A camping adventure, especially if it is going to be an extended one, will require bringing along with you a variety or related items. These items normally include those that are called camping supplies and those that are known as camping gears. Supplies often refer to food, clothing, health and related products, and the like. On the other hand, gears refer to camping equipment and safety materials.

Campers easily understand what they need to bring when we talk about camping supplies. Aside from bringing along the right amount of food and clothing, they know that medicines, sunblocks and first aid supplies are also important. But when it comes to camping gear or equipment, not too many of them are too certain of what they need to bring along. Keep in mind that a camping adventure is not only about relaxing and enjoying. You also need to consider your safety and comfort. We can share with you a general idea of the what and the why of camping gears.

Coming first is a tent. This is a basic item which anyone going on a camping adventure must have. The number of tents that you need will depend on how many you may be in your group. You need multiple tents if you are a fairly large group. For your safety, you need to ensure the quality of your tents. If you have yet to buy them, select the ones that are sturdy, waterproof, dependable and made of strong materials. You may also bring along tents even if you plan to camp in a motor home, and venture to camp outdoors for a night or two, just like many campers in motor homes are wont to do.

Sleeping bags come next as essential camping gears. Camping entices you to move around a lot and you may feel tired at some point. Whether you camp with your family members, friends or your romantic mate, sleeping bags will always help make adventure comfortable anytime you need to recline. Try to bring light sleeping bags along with heavy sleeping bags, even during summertime. You will not always have a way of knowing when an excellent weather may suddenly turn cold. Be ready for any contingency.

Sleeping bags go well with an air mattress or sleeping pad. There are campsites with grounds that are not level. There are also camping tents that do not provide maximum comfort, especially the traditional ones. In these cases, pads and mattresses can add comfort and safety to your camping adventure. These items do not cost much. You lose nothing by bringing them along with you on your next camping trip.

Your ideas of what to bring with you on your next camping adventure along with what we pointed out as essentials will make your camping trip a delightful experience. Equip yourself with the right gear and supplies and make the most of your camping adventure.



Kim

romancegirl1963 asked:


I am going to camp in a Yogi Bear campground in a site that says “Water and Electrical Hookup”. Does that mean I can use an extension cord with a strip on the end of it that has plugs in it?
I can find lots of info on tent camping on the internet, but nothing that explains electrical hookup. I’m a single mom. I hope I can find a veteran camper who can help me with my camping questions.

Bertha

Denise asked:


I want to go camping with a bunch of my friends near or on a beach site. I was thinking Santa Barabara or Pismo beach but most of them say that it is RV only. So if you know of any camping sites where they have amenities such as showers, toilets and grills…and they allow tents inform me please. thanks!

Peter

Eric D. Naftulin asked:


Los Angeles is rich with a host of summer camp opportunities for your child. An increasing trend among Los Angeles families is to send their kids to several summer camps over the course of the summer, versus the traditional way of picking a single camp alone.

A confluence of factors — principally, kids’ diverse interests plus an increasing array of available specialty camps and flexible enrollment packages offered by Los Angeles area camps — has fueled this trend. And for your son or daughter, it’s a pretty good deal!

By attending a variety of summer camps rather than just one, your child can enjoy many different experiences which would otherwise be unavailable to them. And there’s definitely no shortage among available camps in Los Angeles!

A recent online search revealed the following types of summer camps (among others) in metropolitan L.A. alone: Surf camps, beach camps, science camps, technology camps, music camps, acting camps, Jewish camps, cooking camps, space camps, horseback riding camps, academic camps, rock star camps, nature camps, entrepreneurship camps and traditional camps.

Remember, this is just a partial list!

If you’re considering a Los Angeles summer camp for your child this summer — or if you’re considering more than one — here’s how to discover what’s available.

A great place to start is by asking your friends for recommendations. Assuming they’ve got kids of their own, your friends can usually direct you to some of the more popular Los Angeles summer camps. The internet is also a wonderful resource, because it offers numerous camp-specific Web sites that allow you to filter your camp search by geography, camp type, and other criteria to suit your needs.

For example, LA Summer Camps.com and LA Surf Camps.com are two great places to start.

Here’s hoping your child enjoys many safe and fun camp experiences this year. With so many available opportunities, there is surely a multitude of Los Angeles summer camp options designed to meet your needs!

Copyright Eric Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.



Leo