Being Prepared the GreatBearOutdoors Way

I am fond of camping in the great outdoors. I know the rules that make a  successful camper, and the most important of these rules  is to be prepared. Now, you can be prepared, by going to http://GreatBearOutdoors.com and gettting your camping supplies such as tents, and sleeping bags. 

GreatBearOutdoors offers a big selection of camping tents for all types of camping ecosystems and camping experiences. It is nice to know that you can also pick up a variety of tent accessories such as rope, poles, stakes, and repair parts. They have it all in terms of meeting your camping needs. If you are like me you want to be prepared for the many surprises that occur in camping and  with regard to your camping tent.

Besides tents, you can also find a big variety of sleeping bags as both tents and sleeping bags are their specialty. You will find at the GreatBearOutdoors website under the category of sleeping bags all kinds of sleeping arrangements: cots, kids sleeping bags, hammocks, mattresses, blankets, and pillows. Just like tents, there is also a wide selection of accessories for your sleeping experience in the great outdoors. I can’t think of anything not found at http://GreatBearOutdoors.com.

We usually camp once every other month, in the northwest Florida outdoors, but have also camped in Colorado, New Mexico, the Appalachian Mountains of northern Georgia, Tennessee, Mexico, and Paraguay, South America. Camping is a rewarding, joyous and wonderful experience for individuals, couples, families and groups.  Just be prepared, and go http://GreatBearOutdoors.com to get all your camping supplies.

Off He Goes to Summer Camp

This morning, my son left for his second summer camp of this 2008 summer season. The first camp was at a boy scout reservation here in northwest Florida, Wallwood, to be exact, and now, he is on a plane flying to Missouri for another summer camp experience, but not scout related.

He will have fun with all the many activities offered: swimming, horseback riding, soccer, caving, water skiing, nature exploration, campouts, hikes in the Ozarks, other sports programs, musical theatre, drama, bible studies, and so much more. He will experience order, an underlying, harmonious order. This is an order that makes these activities possible and enriching for the children.

I don’t know if summer camps constitute a uniquely American tradition, or if camps are all over the world, but one thing I do know, is that many American youth have had the summer camp experience. I never did, except in the boy scouts, but, I did work at a summer camp near Bat Cave, North Carolina, one summer when I was in college. It was a fun, and learning experience. I only would have liked to have attended summer camps beyond the boy scout experience, and got to experience that part of growing up in America. There are so many camp, and camping programs for youth, as well as for families.

I was sitting in a McDonalds, in Milton, Florida, being interviewed for the position of Camp Counselor. I was accepted, and spend that summer working with children from all over North America. I was a cabin counselor, took them on field trips to theme parks nearby, took them camping, and backpacking in the forests around the camp, took them blackberry picking, took them swimming, and supervised water activities, and rock cave explorations. I taught martial arts classes, and nature studies. We gathered natural items, labeled them, learned to contemplate the sounds of waterfalls, and nature, listed the sounds, compared our lists, and decorated our nature hut. I had to help children get out of their homesickness, help them with cuts and scrapes, remind them to do this and do that. Working at a summer camp with so many good children, was probably one of the most fun, and rewarding jobs I have ever had.

The friendships made, the skills practiced, and acquired, the opportunities for growth, all the fun, are the experiences my son will have, like countless other before him, and others going to camp now.

Yes, summertime has the heat, the sun is not so friendly, but the fun is unending, and there is so much fun for the kids out there during summertime. This is in part due to summer camps.

So, we talked, my son and I, about getting involved, and participating in the many activities offered, over 100, I believe, and to think of our many camping experiences as a family, and in his scouting. I told him that we will miss him during these next two weeks, but that he has a wonderful opportunity to go to summer camp, a camp that offers more than most camps.

Everything about our son’s growing up, seems to fit an order. “Order is heavens first law” goes the famous expression. That is so true. Even though mortal eyes sometimes confuse what is going on, underneath everything is a strict, unbreakable order, a divine order if you are a God-loving individual, a scientific order, if you are an analytical individual, or a natural order, if you appreciate the things of nature and nature’s course in everything. I see my son fitting in with an underlying order, and it is beautiful. Everything seems to just drop in place, without a lot of human effort and agony. That is wonderful!

Camping a Spirtual Experience

Camping is a spiritual experience for many. When you real the bible stores of prophets, and spiritual seers, you find that many camped, and many went into mountains to gain spiritual uplift, inspiration and guidance.

When looking for the right campsite for that uplift, be sure to find a site wtih a view, a view that attracts your thoughts, such as a lake view, a particular tree that stands out, a view of a meadow, whatever. You will know what is attractive to your sight, and thoughts. Make sure you have a flat surface to avoid water runoff or water puddles should rain come. Make sure you have a cleared space for your cooking area, sleeping area, sitting area, and clothes line area. If you have a comfortable campsite, your spiritual inspiration will be more likely to come about, and  you will be happy to be out and about.

Tent life should also be comfortable and orderly. Make sure you have your shoes, or hiking boots near your sleeping bag or cot, since shoes are great storage compartments during the night. One shoe can hold your flashlight, and the other shoe can hold your glasses, car keys, wallet, pocket knife, and anything else that is small. I know from experience that we campers get up in the middle of the night and use the park restrooms, or nearby latrine or cathole. Camping food is good, and we tend to eat late into the night, or drink that good camping coffee. So having spare batteries for your flashlight is a good idea too, if the batteries are used. Of course a lantern works too for guiding you in the dark to the toilet. I often use my Treo light to get by, since it produces a strong light.

Remember in the bible, Moses went up into a mountain to listen to God giving him the 10 commandments. Remember, Jesus went up into a mountain to get inspiration for the Sermon on the Mount and expressed that divine message to his disciples. The Lords Prayer came to us from Jesus spiritual uplift in nature.

Everytime I am in the forest, on a camping trip, or camping by the sea, I get inspired, and get to thinking about God’s creation, and all the goodness in it. You see, my God is Good, and nature is good, although, we see nature in acts of unkindness, with our mortal eyes. I like to look out at the kingdom of God as God would. How do I do that. I go to the verse in Genesis 1, in which God “saw everything that he had made, and behold it was very good.” That is anchored in my thought as I experience nature.

The act of photosynthesis, or plants making our air that we breath, inspires me, and I see that as an act of divine goodness. Everything about photosynthesis is healthy, natural, and represents life. It is a beautiful act of harmony. Trees need carbon dioxide, for their breathing, and we need what the trees make: oxygen. This natural air supply, and air production, give the forest a healthy place for us to be in. I often talk about photosynthesis, because too me, it is one of most incredible processes in nature. Each part of the plant, such as the roots, bark, trunk, branches, and leaves as well as the soil, sun, and atmosphere, take part in this process in a harmonious operation of goodness.

Nature is Good.

Campers and the Golden Rule

I find that out camping in Florida’s many state parks, campers are a good people to be around. There are many examples of the Golden Rule in practice out in campgrounds, centered around getting the fire started, sharing food, noise considerations, and much more.

One time, while in one of Florida’s state parks, I ran out of fuel for the campfire. A camper neighbor was kind enough to share his abundant supply of firewood from the back of his pickup truck. Such kindness. He said he had more than enough, and was in fact sharing his fuel with other campers.

On another occasion, I was not having much success getting my fire started, so another neighbor camper came over and assisted with lighting the fire, and using his strategy for firemaking, was able to start it and get it going good.

Still on another occasion, a camper couple came over and shared some cooking with us. We had plenty, but they were just being friendly. We shared our delicious camp chile with their delicious food. We all had more than enough to eat on a beautiful camp evening. Food at camp always tastes good.

Not only are campers kind folks, but they also like telling stories. The best stories I have heard on camping trips, as well as when a youngster listening to grandma’s stories. Now with camping, we sit around the campfire, on comfortable camping chairs, snacking or eating something, making new friendships, getting to know where each other is from, what we all do back home, and telling some tall tales, which makes the camping experience really fun.

Imagine if we had as much fun and companionship with our neighbors back home as we have with campers that before the weekend, we never even met. There is something about nature, its beauty, its air, and being in close proximity to other campers, that bring out new friendships, some which last a long time.

Every Florida camping trip is a very good experience to me, and I go home ready for the next campout in Florida’s state parks. There is always something to learn at camp. Something I learn from other campers. One of the first things I do after I set up my campsite, is walk around the campground, to see who all is camping, and observe how they have their  home set up for the time they will be camping their. I say hi to campers, and we start to get to know each other. Everyone is friendly, I mean everyone. Camping is about friendship, and putting the Golden Rule in practice. What better place to have a rewarding and fun camping experience, then in Florida, with 161 state parks to choose from, some on the coast, some inland, some with waterfalls, some with big lakes, some with rivers and the popular tubing in the summer, some with cabins, some with rare animals, some with cold mineral springs. Florida has it all.

Hotel Travelers and Camping Travelers

Who does not like to travel and visit favorite attractions, or take in a new travel location? You are probaby a hotel traveler or a camping traveler. One usually dominates over the other, but most of us tend to do both kinds of traveling.

It is good to have an easy source of hotel price information, as well as pictures of the hotels. One site has all of that, and provides an easy comparing of hotel prices in a given location. http://www.hotelscombined.com will be your travel guide to your next hotel desination. I just recently found the site, and have made use of the information, having planned an enjoyable getaway weekend trip with my wife and son. We are passionate travelers, and thank to HotelsCombined, we were able to easily compare hotels and make online reservations. Not a bad deal. I don’t like using the phone for everything, when my world is more real-time, online. Yes, don’t we love real-time?

Now, not all our traveling includes hotels. There is a great website to go to to make reservations in state and national parks all around the nation: http://reserveamerica.com. Yes, I have used that online service a lot, having a son who loves camping with his boy scout daddy. You get information about the park, include maps and area attractions. Similar to making hotel reservations at http://www.hotelscombined.com, you get to put in the dates, and park location, and presto, you get a map of sites, that are available or not available. You pick the campsite you want. You can choose under the criteria of tent camping, RV camping, cabin or lodge.

Both these websites should be a true traveler’s companion, as they are mine.

Another Fabulous Florida State Park

You know, I am in awe at the beauty in Florida’s many, many state parks. They all contribute to protecting Florida’s nature, and wildlife. I am blessed to be living in a state with so many natural areas where we can run, and play, view nature, swim, fish, camp, hike, and interact in so many ways with the outdoors.

 

 I recently went on camping trip with my son, to Three Rivers State Park, in northwest Florida. It is on Lake Seminole which is on the Florida, Georgia border. It is a large lake, and there is a dam, on it. It is the first hydroelectric that my son ever saw. We walked as close to the dam as possible, and found some people fishing in its waters. I explained to my son, that often, where there are dams, there is boating and fishing going on.

 

The weather was PERFECT. We set up our tent, made our campfires, and my son, helped to prepare, and cook some meals for us over the fire. He is a good boy scout, and knows how to make campfires, the right way. He knows that a good campfire needs proper attention, including oxygen and fuel arranged correctly. He knows fire safety as well.

When we camp, we follow the rule of “Leave no trace,” at the end of each campout, so that the next individual or family, will find the campsite so natural and clean.

The main highlight of Three Rivers State Park, is the lake activity: fishing, canoeing, boating. It is not a park for swimming however. The campsite is densely wooded, many, many trees, compared to some other parks. There is a very big, open picnic area, great for those day get-togethers, birthdays, family reunions. It is a good place for those frisbe games, or for the kids to run around in.

My son and I went canoeing on the lake, and found the water to be kind of rough. We were in one spot and found about 4 feet in front of our canoe, a big alligator swimming perpendicular to the canoe. This is Florida, and probably, most lakes do have alligators. This was a big creature, and so graceful as it swam away from us.

My son and I are eagerly waiting for our next fun-filled campout, in another state park.

My Favorite Recreational Activity

Here we are, all set up at a campsite, and drinking coffee (or hot chocolate). Camping in the state parks near Tallahassee, Florida, elsewhere in Florida, and in parks outside this state, is my world of fun, relaxation, getting away, and adventure. I make new observations of an ecosystem each time I go camping, and find a new fact about nature. I experience the surprise, freshness, and eternal cycling of nature. There are many ecosystems, and they all are important, they all serve a purpose, and are beautiful in their own unique manner. We usually visit different state parks and stay in different camp grounds each time we pack our gear and head out to the outdoors.

It is even more fun exploring nature with a child, a family member, a friend. Stories are shared around the campfire, delicious meals are cooked, hikes take place. Each meal is different, and different tools are used to prepare the meal it seems, or at least the method of cooking or preparing the meal changes, advances, and gets better with practice, as cooking is a different experience outdoors in nature.

A hike is a good way to connect with nature, and others. It is a very good way to mingle with others, get to know and learn about others better, and share the observations of nature. My son looks forward to exploring ecosystems with me. We recently hiked in an wetland ecosystem and studies the sights, sounds, and wonders of a wetland. We have been to the mountains of north Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee on several occasions, and ran, played, photographed nature, and felt the elements of nature together. We went on a hike down into an area with a waterfall. That was a fun little hike. Got to hear the sounds of water falling, and see the speed in which water falls. We have explored gulf coast ecosystems, wooded pine forest ecosystems, praire basin ecosystems, and more.

Each campsite offers a different array of plants. I am fond of trees, and the greens displayed, the apearance of the trees around the site. Trees are my favorite element of nature, and I can’t imagine nature without them. Too me, the trees make the experience most comfortable, the way it should be.

We have new camping and hiking discoveries coming up, and although we have a busy, if not overly hectic schedule, yet we take time to be ourselves, and appreciate the simplicity of earth, and go on camping trips together.

Camping at Paynes Praire State Park

What is more fun than camping, and especially for a couple sunny and cool autumn days at beautiful Paynes Praire State Park near Gainesville, Florida, one of 161 state parks in Florida, all well maintained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

We set up our camp among the many upland oaks, palms, and palmettos in the woods. We were very private with all the green surrounding us and separating us for the most part from otther campers. Just how I like it. We immediately created a good fire after buying wood at the gate. Wood was going fast. We managed to have enough for the two days we were camping there.

We drove to the visitor center on the other end of the park, and looked out at the praire, as far as the eyes can see almost. Yes, a real Florida praire, but probably not the kind of praire that you would see in the west.

The information we read at the visitor center stated that there are 31 bison on the park’ praire. There are also wild horses, wild cows and wild boar. The horses and cows are descendants of the animals brought over by the Spaniards during the era of New World exploration.

I did not spot bison or cows at the lookout tower,which my son and I had fun climbing, but as we hiked out into the praire, we saw three black horses. They were so majestic looking, so pure. I wanted to see how close I could get to these shiny, black hoofed animals, so I calmly walked to within about 100 feet of two of the horses which stood close together side by side wagging there thick hairy tails. The third horse was further in the distance but as I started approaching the couple, the distant horse ran up to them and stopped. It was as if that horse was the protecting parent. The horses did not appear to be afraid of me or mind my presence. However, they stared at me in what appeared to be fascination. I tried walking closer to them. My son stayed way back in the distance, somewhat scared to approach the wildlife. As I started getting closer, the third horse who was the more distant horse earlier, started walking toward me. I stopped and hesitated to go closer. The horse stopped, and I decided to turn around and head back toward where I came from.

That day I saw the most beautiful horses.

The camping loop offers some more secluded, private campsites for tents only. Overall, there was a balance of tents and RVs in the camp ground loop.

This state park is unique for its praire basin ecosystem,with its abundant diversity of grasses and other plant types. The basis is partly wet through out the year, and is a winter harboring ground for many northern birds. The camp ground is in the upland woods beside a big lake.

This is the first time I ever visited Paynes Praire, and I am happy I did.

Florida offers so much biodiversity and many different ecosystems. With so much human expansion and development in Florida, there is also much nature for everyone to experience.     

                                                      

In Real Estate, You Need Tinder, Kindling, and fuel

When I go camping, I get much inspiration from the campfire. The campfire inspiration helps me with my perspective on things, and supports my business building endeavor. I have plenty of opportunties to build a campfire too. I know  the fundamentals to building a successful,  long lasting fire.

Next time you are in nature, and have the opportunity to make a campfire, study the process that you go through in buiding your fire.  See how you can apply basics of  campfire building  to growing your own business, or taking it to the next level. 

A fire must have oxygen to breath. To breath, there must be a tunnel of air at the bottom or ground level of the fire buildup. A business also needs good air, the oxygen, coming in so the business can grow, and continue. I make a fire by first gathering thre three essential ingredients: tinder, kindling and fuel. I learned this from my years in  Scouting, and camping with friends and family. Gather the amount you need, and have plenty of supply available. In business, you also need to gather the tools, and systems you need to bring forth the business activity.  You have to start with fundamentals.    Like a fire, every business has at least three fundamentals. These are the three essential building blocks to making a successful fire or business.

Next, I decide on the shape of my fire construction. I like the teepee campfire type the best. It works for me. I have a proven and tried system that works in my business too.  I stay with something until I find a better way. As of now, I have not found a better fire formation than the teepee fire type. It is easy to build. I gather three to four pieces of bigger wood, the fuel. I put them up in the form of a teepee, each log leaning against each other.  Then, I put a couple pieces of smaller wood, the kindling sticks, flat down on the ground, parallel to each other. On top of the kindling I spread the tender, which is the real small,  stuff to get the fire going: twigs, dried grass, leaves, or paper. I make sure I don’t add too much to prevent the flow of oxygen into the fire. Then, I add more longer kindling, which is  thinner than  the fuel, but thicker than the tender,  up next to the bigger pieces of fuel wood. I follow this process always, because bulding a fire is a process, just like building a business is a process.    I stay focused and consistent in the building and growing process. Building  a fire is an analogy of the process  in buying or selling a home, or a process in running a shop. We gather the essential tools, and make the essential preparations. I like this tender, kindling and fuel analogy. A business needs good preparation. Goals have to be planned. The shape of the business and type of business have to be decided, just like the shape of the fire center, has to be constructed. There is much trial and error in the beginning. We try to build in one way, and not able to get anywhere, so we try another way. With campfire building, we have to gather some experience, so that we know what type of wood we will need, how much, what type of campfire will work best in what condition, whether it is windy, wet or calm. Be prepared is a lesson always. 

Lighting the fire is the fun part of it all. I am not always successful with lighting my fires and wonder what I did wrong in the building process. The match just does not always get the fire burning. What to do. Perhaps we have all thought about our mistakes in business, or what we need to do to rebuild our business, make it stronger, get it moving forward. It is all in how we constructed our plans, our fire, so to speak. Once the fire is lit, we can sit and watch the unfoldment of our work, our plan. It is a rewarding opportunity.

Weekend Camping in Seminole State Park

Again, another weekend past, and another camping trip has ended. It is so much fun setting up camp, exploring nature, cooking over an open fire, and meeting other campers.

This was another a series of campouts with the Scouts. We went to Seminole State Park in southwest Georgia on the enormous Lake Seminole. Georgia, as well as Florida has many state parks. Florida has 161, and although, I don’t know how many Georgia has, it must be close. Seminole State Park has probably, according to a forest ranger, the region’s largest stand of Longleaf Pines.

If you know much about pines, the Longleaf pine is not in abundance like other pines, since it has historically been harvested for its productive value. Longleaf pines grow with more space among the trees, whereas with other pines that are in more abundance, such as the Slash pine, and the Lolloby pine, the spacing among the trees is smaller. This is an important factor in ecosystems. Certain wildlife flourish in the greater space amoung the Longleaf pines. Certain turtle and snake species need the space between pines. The ranger explained it so well. When you visit state parks, do not hesitate to ask rangers questions. They are in the park day after day, and are usually a knowledge base of information.

We went on a hike through a wetland, and read the signs along the nature trail explaining the importance of wetlands in filtering the water supply and in preserving wildlife habitats.

Our campsite was right beside the lake, with a fantastic view. The park is so open and with many views, but with many trees too. The park system maintains clean and spacious bathrooms with shower facilities. There is a place to purchase firewood, so you don’t have to bring your own, or take from nature. The parks are always clean. What impressed me a lot about Seminole State Park, is that each campsite is big. I have been to many other parks where the campsites are much smaller.

Our next camping trip is to Paynes Praire near Gainesville, Florida. Then, we go to Manatee State Park in Florida. Then, off to camping on the Gulf of Mexico at St Andrews State Park in northwest Florida.

As always, after a camping trip, I  come back home refreshed, more appreciative of nature, and always with new knowledge of ecosystems. Nature is always an interesting teacher, and always teaches with examples.

I am very grateful that my son is learning about ecosystems, photosynthesis, biomes, flora and fauna, habitats at his elementary school. Our society places so much emphasis in other directions it seems, so I am always happy when we have opportunities to learn nature, from nature, and how to preserve nature. The state park system is a great project of preserving the little bit of natural land that is left. This is one big reason why I like living in Tallahassee, Florida. We are so close to parks like Seminole State Park, which is only a little over an hour from Tallahassee.

Kenneth Fach in Tallahassee 850-339-5753  http://KennethFach.wordpress.com