"If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give."George MacDonald
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5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your BackCountry Gear
Time out of doors is a precious commodity to the outdoor enthusiast - but are we getting the most out of this time. One way to ensure maximum backcountry enjoyment is to get the most possible value from the gear you acquire and use. Here are 5 ways to ...
History of the Adirondack Chair
Thomas Lee designed the first Adirondack Chair in 1903. He was on vacation in Westport, NY and he needed outdoor chairs for his summer home. He tested the first designs on his family.The original Adirondack Chair was made with eleven pieces of wood, cut ...
What's In Your Hiking Pack?
Every time I leave the pavement, I take along my trusty hiking pack – even if I have no intention of hiking. Doing this has become a habit rather than a conscious decision. My pack goes with me when a hike, camp, hunt, fish, bird watch and even when I ...
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Have you thought about helping to protect wildlife or wild flowers, but you don’t know how? Or maybe you want to protect your favorite camping site or that cool little stream nobody else knows about? Making a difference in the backcountry is easy for anyone – you don’t have to be Ted Turner. Not every one can fly to the Amazon delta to move bird nests or trek off to the Aleutian Islands to remove crude oil from a pristine beach. But everyone can help right where they are. Follow these 3 easy steps, and you’ll be on your way to giving back to your backcountry and you’ll have a ball doing it.
First step is to take inventory of your backcountry interests. What is your favorite outdoor activity? Is it fishing, rock climbing, bird watching, hiking, camping, canoeing, hunting, skiing, classifying plants, kayaking, horseback riding or something else? Take a few minutes to really understand what excites you about being off the pavement and in the backcountry. Once you have pictured yourself engaging in your favorite outdoor recreation, you’re ready for step two.
The second step towards becoming a backcountry hero is to do a little research. If you love to hike, perhaps spending some time researching the American Hiking Society and some of its projects make sense to you. If bird watching is your thing, BirdLife International may be worth looking into. The easiest way for many to do research is on the internet. But don’t forget about book stores, libraries or sport specific organizations like the ones just mentioned. A more comprehensive list can be found on-line in our Education Center at www.backcountrytoys.com.
As you do your research, keep your eyes open for projects in your area. You’ll be amazed at how you
will be able to make a difference right where you live. Only one step to go.
Up to this point you’ve identified a subject, you’ve research it and now it’s time to get moving and this is most critical step. I doesn’t take much time or effort to take action. In fact, there are organizations all around the world looking for you to volunteer and they all have active lists of projects that could use your talents. If you have a hiking vacation planned, why not incorporate a small project into your trip? Maybe a letter needs to be written to your legislator or perhaps you could pick up trash along a local lake shore. There’s lots to be done.
Spending time in the backcountry doing the things you love to do is made sweeter when you help to protect, conserve and enhance your activity. We have great trail systems and great river and lake systems and all because of people like us, who take the time to improve those things we love so much. With just a little action, you will be an outdoor hero. Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!
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 'We love being outdoors and feel it's a better life' - Independent
ONE month into the move of a lifetime, and the Gernon family from Dublin have no regrets. Richard Gernon (27) and his wife Suzanne (30) both worked in the banking sector but decided that moving to Brisbane in Queensland , Australia would be better ...
Artwork honors Cuba's patron saint - Miami Herald
Our Lady of Charity, patron saint of Cuba, has a new stylized statue in Miami as of Sunday -- outdoors and by the bay. The 4 ½-foot-tall bronze sculpture, standing on a polished black granite pedestal, was unveiled Sunday evening in the gardens ...
Spears sparkles, wins 3 prizes - Detroit News
As we were reminded last week, F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, "There are no second acts in American lives." Well, Fitzgerald must not have had MTV. That's because Britney Spears, whose career nearly flamed out after her sloppy, disastrous ...
Outdoors Notebook | Chinook count in Lake Washington down - Seattle Times
It looks like another salmon run is biting the dust in Lake Washington. This time chinook migrating into huge urban watershed are struggling, but cross your fingers because the coho returning on its heel has started off with a bang. Through Aug. 31 ...
John McCain has found a muse in Sarah Palin - Los Angeles Times
ALBUQUERQUE -- After the Republican reception for Sarah Palin this last week, it seemed reasonable to wonder how John McCain was ever going to campaign on his own again. The campaign's effort to present the Republican ticket as a team of mavericks ...
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