Dogs have become a fixture in the lives of people around the world. Dogs often serve as partners, companions and protectors, and more and more people are taking their dogs with them when they travel. Camping is a very dog-friendly activity, although it can be a bit more difficult to spend time in the wilderness with your four-legged friend.

A camping adventure with your dog does not have to be a complex operation. You only need to make sure you pack a collar, lead, food and water bowl for your furry friend. As long as your dog is housebroken and won’t potty in your tent, there’s no need to worry about special housing overnight.

Safety is paramount what camping with your dog, so make sure that he is on lead at all times and never out of your sight. Predators such as bears and mountain lions will prey on dogs if left alone, so keep an eye out for bear tracks or lion dens on the trail. Keeping your dog on lead also helps to keep him from disturbing the natural environment and avoids destroying the habitat of the local creatures. It is illegal in many states to allow your dog to harass or injure local creatures, so be vigilant.

Clean up after your pooch throughout your trip. It’s only common courtesy to pick up any potty spots so that other campers don’t step in it. Also, keep you pet’s food and water picked up if he’s not eating it, so that it does not attract wildlife. Take along a garbage bag or two to clean up after yourselves and a small cooler to keep your dog’s food fresh and keep the scent from attracting other animals.

A number of companies have latched onto the idea of camping with your dog, producing a number of supplies specifically geared towards camping pooches. Doggie backpacks allow your pooch to carry his own supplies, and boots can help keep his feet free from sharp rocks on the trail.

Camping with your dog can be a very enlightening, relaxing and rewarding experience, as long as you plan ahead. Pack only the essentials, travel lightly, and leave the wilderness just wild as it was when you entered.

What better way to end a perfect day of camping than with a bright, cheerful (or scary!) campfire? Wonderful memories of campfire activities will last a lifetime. Family and friends come together at the end of the day to wind down and relax. The first step is building the best campfire ever, which will be the focal point of the gathering.

Types of Campfires

• The Pyramid-start with a bottom layer of logs that are 4”-6” in diameter placed in a square shape. Add additional layers of smaller, shorter logs until you reach the desired height. Fill the space in the middle with kindling and tinder. Light the fire on a small platform of twigs near the top so that the burning cinders fall into the middle of the pyramid.
• A Log-Cabin style fire starts with 2 large logs as the base running parallel. Place the next level of smaller logs perpendicular to the base. Continue alternating for a few layers. Fill the space between with kindling. This is important so that the fire does not burn too fast.
• A Tepee fire is made by stacking wood on its end so that the tops meet and form a shape like a tepee. Kindling and tinder should be placed in the middle, and the fire is lit from the bottom.

How big you build your fire depends on many things; the most important of which is your surroundings. Do you have a designated fire pit, or area that is safe to build a larger fire in? Make sure you have permission before building any fires and take into consideration the age of the participants. If you have several young children a roaring bonfire is an accident waiting to happen. Explain campfire rules and safety tips before the excitement begins.

Songs to Sing Around Campfires

• She’ll Be Coming ‘Round the Mountain
• Down By the Bay
• Alice the Camel (especially appropriate for younger crowd, just make sure they don’t get too close to the fire.)
• An Austrian Went Yodeling
• The Other Day I saw a Bear
• Rounds-such as Row Your Boat, Sarrasponda and Kookaburra
• Kum Ba Yah
• Michael Row the Boat Ashore

There are hundreds of songs that may be sung around a campfire. Don’t be afraid to ask for suggestions, or let campers make up new songs.

Storytelling is another great activity to engage in around a campfire. Appropriate stories for younger children may be told earlier. When they are sent off to bed, older children and adults may tell stories that are a bit scarier. If younger children are really frightened-stop the story.

A Scary Story for Younger Children

This is a classic story that most children learn early. Choose a youngster’s name from the group, or a generic name.

Once there was a (girl/boy) named (say name).

One night (she/he) woke up about midnight because (she/he) heard someone walking downstairs.

Step…step….step

(She/He) quickly pulled the covers up over (her/his) head and shivered.

Then (she/he) hears a wavery voice: (say the next line slowly in a scary voice)

“ (Say child’s name) I’m on the first step and I’m coming to get you!”

“(Say child’s name)! (pause)

I GOTCHYA! Jump at the campers as you yell

Stories for Older Children

Most pre-teens and teenagers know at least one version of the old classic about the couple that go on a date and meet the escaped maniac with the hook. If you prepare ahead of time with a Halloween prop this is a real scream. Local ghost stories are also great.

While dirt, bugs, and wildlife might not seem even remotely romantic, camping can be the perfect way to reconnect with your sweetie. What better way to rekindle the flame than to spend an evening in a secluded tent, cuddled up next to the one you love?

We all know that life gets hectic, and we often tend to take those we care about for granted. It can be difficult to stay close to our significant others, but the rugged outdoor nature of camping is an excellent way to get back in touch. Setting up your tent, for example, is a job too big for just one person. Working together with your loved one helps to reestablish a feeling of togetherness and reinforce your team-working skills.

The thought of even trying to prepare food over a campfire is enough to frighten some people. But think of it this way – sitting close to a low, romantic fire cooking for the person you love most in this world. Grab a couple of thick steaks, some baking potatoes, a bottle of your favorite wine, and you’ll soon have a meal fit for even the hungriest of lovers. Poke a few holes in your potatoes and wrap them in aluminum foil before placing them directly onto the coals for simple baked potatoes. Season your steaks lightly and grill directly over the fire for three to five minutes per side depending on your preference for the perfect, simple steak.

Most people are used to the hectic pace of everyday life, and usually wind down by watching television or spending a few minutes on the computer. Camping removes all of these electronic luxuries, so finding ways to occupy your time can be difficult. A simple deck of cards can provide the perfect distraction for a long night in the wild. If you have an area to yourselves and feel adventurous, try a quick game of strip poker to heat up the night.

After a satisfying night of good food and good fun, retreat to your tent for some well-deserved rest. Try spending the night snuggled in a single sleeping bag, as opposed to separate beds. This close contact will not only help keep you warm in the chilly air, but also keeps you as close as possible to your loved one. Stay warm, sleep well, and wake up to the beautiful sunrise with a new appreciation for your significant other.

Camping is my favorite type of vacation. I believe that camping is probably the healthiest type of vacation that a family can take—mentally, physically, spiritually, and romantically.

My family tries to camp in areas that have lots of recreation—such as hiking, swimming, nature trails, bike paths, wildlife viewing, and more. I personally believe that some of the best places in the United States to camp are the national and state parks. Not only are they reasonably priced, but you can’t beat the scenery and history of these places. It’s fairly easy to find secluded camp sites in these parks, too.

Maybe I’m just a romantic, but I think that everyone should experience camping at least once in their lives. From my experience, it beats the heck out of staying in a crowded resort, and it’s a great way for you to truly get to know and bond with whoever you are camping with.

One of my favorite things about camping is getting up in the mornings before the rest of the family even rolls over. My husband and I love to sip our coffee as we watch the sun come up. It’s a very peaceful (and romantic!) way to start the day. The fresh air and out of the way settings seem to bring out the best in both my husband and me. Having this quiet time in the mornings energizes us and prepares us for fun filled family days of exploring and enjoying the great outdoors. It also allows us to connect as a couple, and not just as “mom and dad.”

I encourage anyone who needs some rest and relaxation, and some time for couples or family bonding, to consider camping. You can camp in a mountain cabin, RV, or sleep in a tent. There really are no set rules. Your camping style can be whatever you want it to be. Just do it!