When you go camping in the spring, what do you do? I did a lot of camping as a teen and look forward to camping with my children, but it should be much more than just communing with nature. Camping is the perfect time to appreciate the world around you and the variety of life that exists on this big blue marble.
My camping trips weren’t that special. We went out to the woods, set up camp, made a fire and tried to make apple turnovers (which never ended well). In the morning, we might do a little hiking, but by the afternoon it was time to pack up and head home. This is not the type of camping trip I envision for myself in the future.
If you go to your local library or Amazon.com, then you’ll find several books and field guides about local wild and plant life specific to your area. The books go into great detail about everything from the birds to the insects that are common and rare. There are books that can tell you the effects of different plants, from seasoning and healing to being a poison.
Instead of taking that random hike where all you do is stare up at the treetops and hope the sun doesn’t bake you alive, take the books and try to find some of the more common and rare flora and fauna of the area. You’ll get a certain thrill as you search for a specific type of bird or plant and accomplishment when you find it. Who knows, you might even end up using a plant to help season that beef stew you are praying cooks well tonight at the fire. (Bring a few cans you can just heat up just in case.)
Camping is a long standing American tradition, and countless people have searched the world looking for new animals and plants. You can walk in their shoes for a short time with the books provided for you. Odds are you’re not going to find a new species, but you might just learn to appreciate ones that already exists.
When it’s time to pack it in and you’re exhausted from traveling, you’ll know that you did some real camping and learned a little more about the world around you. Life is about learning, so take advantage of the opportunities you have.
See also:
- 3 Cold Weather Camping Tips To Consider
- Tips For Planning Your Spring Camping Trips
- Camping Out: A Garden Camping Survival Guide
- Roughin’ It: Getting Your Family Interested in Camping
- Outdoor Living Ideas: Camping in the Winter
- Roughin’ It: Backyard Camping Supplies Checklist
- Technology on a Camping Trip: Do or Don’t?
- The Great Outdoors: Backyard Camping 101
- Learning From Your Mistakes: When Home Projects Go Bad
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