The following blog is an excerpt from 11 Cool National Parks to Raft, Kayak, & Canoe by the National Park Foundation. If it’s an off-the-grid national park vacation – away from the crowds – you’re looking for, then grab a paddle. From the unique vantage point of a raft, kayak, or canoe, you can access and explore […]

You’re not the only one enjoying the garden this summer. Chances are good that aphids, gnats, rabbits, and deer also love your lush annuals, perennials, vegetables, and herbs. Watching pests destroy your garden is frustrating, not to mention expensive (Americans spent more than $36 billion on their lawns and gardens in 2015, according to the National Gardening Survey, […]

A ramble through the woods, a stroll across a mountain meadow, or a strenuous alpine hike with the reward of a breathtaking vista – it all sounds idyllic until something goes wrong. As a former search and rescue volunteer and EMT, I’ve participated in too many wilderness searches that could have been avoided with a […]

There’s an awful lot going on in climbing. That’s actually one of the sport’s main attractions. No two climbs are ever the same. But with so many variables in what makes a climb how are you supposed to make sense of any of it? Well, there are actually a few different categories we can put aspects of a climb into. […]

My how things have changed!  There was a time when having to go to summer school was not a good thing.  Your friends felt sorry for you and your parents weren’t happy since going to summer school back then meant you didn’t do well in school and you had to retake some courses to keep […]

National Fishing and Boating Week is a national celebration, an event that highlights the importance of recreational boating and fishing. National Fishing and Boating Week will take place June 1-9, 2019. GO FISHING DURING FREE FISHING DAYS During National Fishing and Boating Week, most states offer free fishing days. These are days where anglers are allowed […]

No one treats sleeping bags quite as terribly as I do. In my day, I have broken all the rules of proper care techniques, including every single tip listed here. Luckily for you, I spoke to real experts to learn how to extend the lifespan of your sleeping bag — Jeff Blakely from Brooks-Range Mountaineering and Kimberly Cunningham from Warmlite. […]

For nearly 100 million Americans, boating continues to be a popular recreational activity. From coast to coast, and everywhere in between, people are taking to the water and enjoying time together boating, sailing, paddling, and fishing. During National Safe Boating Week, May 18-24, 2019, the U.S. Coast Guard and its federal, state, and local safe […]

As spring approaches, gardeners around the world are itching to get out into the soil and start growing again. In their haste, they often forget about one of the most interesting types of plants they can grow: vining plants! Most gardeners have little experience with vining plants, and for good reason: they can be confusing […]

Family camping trips are an excellent way to spend time together in the outdoors and enjoy a vacation on a budget, provided you have some camping tips and hacks up your sleeve. Otherwise, it can take as long to prepare and pack for a camping trip as the trip itself! To ensure that you’re ready […]

If you follow me, you know I run, and that I’m busy with traveling to the competitions my family takes part in. In response to the burgeoning popularity of leggings, aka tights, 5.11 Tactical debuted its Abby tight. Sponsored by 5.11 Tactical Abby Tight details: The length is really nice in the size 8 pair […]

At some point in every gardener’s life, we find ourselves faced with a difficult garden space. It might be a spot that’s shady, hot, soggy, narrow, or sloped. All of these scenarios present a challenge, but it’s precisely these challenging spaces that teach us the most. They are opportunities to broaden our gardening skills, and […]

You may already know that compost is the most valuable addition to any garden. You may also know that compost changes soil structure in the very best ways, converting your average garden soil into one that’s friable and fertile. Finished compost adds nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, making soil nutritionally rich. It acts as a pH […]

When it comes to recreational boats and commercial ship traffic, separation is key. Some boaters, however, may not recognize the dangers of navigating close to a commercial ship. Two 30-second videos captured by a pilot at the helm of 600-plus-foot commercial vessels navigating on New York’s Hudson River are aimed at educating recreational boaters on […]

One of the biggest mistakes new gardeners make is choosing the wrong potting soil. Because soil is so crucial to a plant’s growth, it’s no surprise that making a mistake here can be devastating. It doesn’t help that figuring out what type of potting soil is best can be a confusing process. With all of […]

Tent manufacturers often list multiple weight points to highlight the versatility of their products, especially when the tent is marketed as a lightweight or ultralight tent. Packed weight and trail weight are the most common, though you may come across terms like minimum weight, max weight, fast-pack weight, and flyweight. Unfortunately, there are no industry […]

The following blog is an excerpt from, The Service, Sacrifices, and Bravery of Women in Wartime by the National Park Foundation. National parks preserve military history and our nation’s stories amidst times of war. They’re found in places like Washita Battlefield National Historic Site in Oklahoma and World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, that stretches from Hawai’i, […]

Do you love the smell of the outdoors? Do you wish you had a way to bring those trail scents home with you? If you’re that person you’ll love this article from Territory Supply that showcases 15 candles inspired by the great outdoors. ~MC Anyone who has taken a walk in the woods can attest […]

Imagine being able to stand in one spot and yet you can witness the year-round migration of elk across the vast Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Now you can do so thanks to a collaborative effort between the National Geographic Society, Buffalo Bill Center of the West and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Invisible Boundaries, a highly […]

The popular “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” University returns to the Gulf Coast March 23-24, 2019 for their inshore saltwater fishing seminar weekend at Bass Pro Shops Fort Myers. Hosted by the nonprofit Ladies Let’s Go Fishing Foundation, the event offers classroom instruction, hands-on fishing activities, conservation, networking and optional guided boat fishing.  Perfect for women, men […]

When I enrolled at San Francisco State after graduating high school, I do not think I realized just how valuable the next 4 years of my life would be. I attended college because my friends were going to college. It just seemed like the natural progression after high school. Sponsored by Vera Koo Five decades […]

Learning how to drive a boat takes practice. That’s not always an easy or affordable thing to do, according to the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water – especially if you’ve never owned a boat or have a professional instructor to show you the ropes. After completing a successful pilot program in 2018, […]

If you know an adventurous, science-loving teenage Mighty Girl looking for a challenge this year, Inspiring Girls Expeditions is currently accepting applications for their free wilderness expedition science program! This year, the non-profit organization is running seven different expeditions, including ones focused on mountaineering on an Alaskan glacier, rock climbing in the Rocky Mountains, hiking […]

Don’t own a boat yet but want to learn how to boat? Are you traveling and interested in renting a boat? Then you should look into a one day boat license. Boating license terms vary quite a bit depending on your state. For example, you may find that a “one day boat license” may not even […]

The following blog is an excerpt from 19 Ways to Experience Your Parks in 2019 by the National Park Foundation. National parks are filled with so many opportunities for you to get active, meet new people, learn about different stories, gain new skills, and more. So why not make 2019 the year you prioritize experiencing more of […]

If you judged boaters by what they like to watch, you may think they prefer sitting on anchor all day. But just because “How to Drop and Retrieve Your Anchor” was the number-one watched Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) video of 2018, that doesn’t mean boaters don’t get around or need practical […]

The following blog is an excerpt from Experience the National Parks in all their Winter Glory by the National Park Foundation. Once winter rolls in, most of us slow down, stay in, and wait for the first signs of spring. Resist the temptation of warm blankets and seize the opportunity to experience nature in its most peaceful […]

What do you want your life to be about? What are your goals? What would make you happy? Have you ever thought about those questions? You should. Because you can make your dreams become reality. Sponsored by Vera Koo We can all be so much more than what we think you can be. It took […]

A fascination with celebrity boaters and dramatic boat collisions combined with practical boating tips and the desire to learn from others’ mistakes were just some of the most-read topics to make BoatUS Magazine’s Top 10 Stories of 2018. The magazine is the nation’s most widely read recreational boating publication, delivered to more than half a million members of […]

January 26 – 27, 2019 Survival Weekend for Women They have lots of spots available in all of these great classes but space is limited. Don’t wait too long to sign up! January 26, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM  Survive and Thrive What are the basic needs of a person in a survival situation, and what are […]

The outdoor lifestyle reality series – “Eva Shockey’s Outdoor 101” – is slated to launch on Monday, December 17, 2018 on Facebook Watch at 9 p.m. PT. The six-episode series chronicles the adventures of acclaimed outdoor enthusiast, conservationist and author Eva Shockey and her family as they traverse her adopted home state of North Carolina. […]