Enjoy the Great Outdoors this Summer!

Reading is Rewarding

Memorial Day officially kicks off summer activities. For many Missourians, it’s the beginning of camping season. I find summer camping in Missouri to be a little uncomfortable, unless you have access to a river or lake for a refreshing swim. However, many enjoy it and trek, almost weekly, to a favorite campground, lake, or river. Camping definitely gained popularity over the last few years as we all looked for recreation and travel opportunities to escape lock-downs.

As a result, campgrounds fill up faster now, so you may need to search harder for a good one. Maybe you are new to camping or you just want a new place to go. The Best In Tent Camping: Missouri and the Ozarks, may be just the book to get you started. This book includes campground maps, information, and driving directions for many lesser-known campgrounds. Author Steve Henry encourages you to use the campgrounds as a base from which to explore some of the back country areas and waterways in the state. Seeming to agree with me that camping can be better in the “off season”, he says, ” You’ll see better views from overlooks when the leaves are off the trees. Cooler temperatures also mean no bugs or crowded campgrounds. Winter skies offer incredible stargazing…” So this book could also get you planning some excursions for fall and winter, too.

If you do plan some hiking and exploring on your camping trip, you might need Cliff Jacobson’s Basic Essentials: Map and Compass. This book claims to contain “everything you need to know to travel confidently with map, compass, and GPS.” It will help you choose the correct tools to use, too. Even in our world of technology, basic skills come in very handy. I know some of the trails I’ve hiked were not well marked and were overgrown. Compass skills could have come in handy. Kids will enjoy learning practical skills, putting them to use, and reporting which direction you’re heading.

Perhaps you’re looking beyond Missouri for your camping trip. National Geographic’s Our Fifty States is loaded with maps, pictures, and information that will inspire you to explore our beautiful country. You will soon be hunting for campgrounds all over the country in order to take it all in. Good news! Campgrounds are everywhere for tents, RVs, and backcountry, too.

If your camping trip does include a long road trip, the kids will need entertainment in the car. The Family Vision not only has books to read, but also audio books, music CDs, and videos. Check out our CD, Patch the Pirate’s Camp Kookawacka Woods, for an enjoyable camp-themed story, fun songs, and good Biblical teaching. This is a sure way to help the travel time pass more quickly. I almost guarantee you will be replaying the disc and singing the songs.

May you and your family enjoy your summer adventures, have safe travel, discover our country’s natural beauty, and make great memories together. I hope you are all “happy campers”!

Reading is Rewarding!