My introduction to "Wonder Woman" country
Where I grew up in the bustling skyscraper city of Singapore, only homeless people considered 'camping'. Even then, they were a rare find because the efficient social engineers of Singapore were quick to spot them and usher (read shove) them back to civilization.
Think about it, if it is illegal to chew gum in that country, you think they'll let you lie on a grass patch in the middle of tourist-ridden Orchard Road to gaze at the Big Dipper? I don't think so.
Then I came to the United States for college. When my plane landed, I was expecting glorious scenes from " Dallas" and "Wonder Woman" - the TV series that symbolized Beautiful America to all Singaporean teenagers. Instead, the plane door opened to the vast corn fields of Wyoming. My first stop in the U.S. clued me in that Wonder Woman country might not be what I envisioned all along. 
But after my first taste of camping near the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, there was no turning back. Wonder Woman country or not, this is my country.
Fast forward twenty years and I'm still camping, now with a husband, two kids and a Suburban truck in tow.
Blame it on my brainwashed upbringing in Singapore, blame it on technology, I refuse to leave my creature comforts behind when I go camping. Let's face it, we are products of the 21st century. What's wrong with packing my George Foreman grill or my iPod?
"Nothing wrong with that. Just don't call it camping," some may argue
Let 's consult the authoritative Merriam-Webster
The last time I looked up the definitive authority, Merriam-Webster, it says camping is "to live temporarily outdoors". There you go. It didn't have a qualifier in bold: Exception: If you bring a Weber "Q" grill or an iPhone, or a goose-down sleeping bag... Joy of Camping
How else are you going to peel the kids (and the hubby?) from the TV?
1. So I can hear real birds, not just cuckoos.
2. To show them the Big Dipper is cooler than any video game.
3. When my kids grow up and accuse me of neglect to the therapist, I can show family camping pictures of great bonding time at camp.
Need more reasons? Watch the video below...
Packing for your Camping Trip
Tips to save you from a packing migraine
1. Always use a camping check list. Don't try to keep it all sorted in your brain. You'll break your head.2. Pack in Groups. Pack kitchen stuff together, pack sleeping stuff together, etc. For example, roll your pajamas in your sleeping bag so you're not rummaging through your stuff that first night looking for your pj. When you pack in groups, you are thinking of a few groups, and not 1,001 items.
3. At end of camp, pack it back into the same group. And don't take stuff out at home. Yes, a duplicate set of melamine plates, pot and skillet is a good idea. They are so cheap at Walmart. This way you are always camp-ready.
For a video on camping packing and to obtain a Word document camping list that you can edit to your own camping style and needs, see the source article here.
Planning Your Camping Trip
5 Steps to propell you from your TV couch to the great outdoors
Planning is essential to maximize your camping experience. Especially if you are about luxury camping. Poor planning will end up in cave-man camping like eating cold meatballs because you ran out of matches. (Your real problem there was relying on matches. Haven't you heard of an electric lighter?)
Step 1. Choose Your Camping Style
You want to camp in a tent, in a pop-up camper, in more...1 point
Step 2. Find the Best Campground For You
How do you find a campground that suits your famil more...1 point
Step 3. Pack Your Gear
3 essetial tips to packing so you don't get a migr more...1 point
Step 4. Set up Camp
Where to set up your tent? How about the camp kit more...1 point
Step 5. Feed Thyself
Food tastes even better outdoors.1 point
How to Be an Obnoxious Camper
Every campground boasts a few
We've all had our share of obnoxious camper neighbors. They say, look right, look left, look sideways, look back, look front, if you don't see an obnoxious camper... maybe you're it.Before you leave for the campground, you must read the 10 steps on how to be an obnoxious camper.
These are all actual things people have either done or seen done, they are not urban myths, which just goes to show how even the simple things in life like camping can be eye opening...
What is your favorite camping shortcut?
Share your camping tips with other family campers
kiwisoutback wrote...
I've never been camping...ever. But this might convince me. Great work!
Posted March 15, 2009
icjackson wrote...
Very cool lens!
You just might get me to plan a camping trip, now that I know that iPods are allowed!
LOL
Posted May 31, 2008
karenrob wrote...
Thumbs up for a great, informative, and fun lens! Have you gone backpacking, climbing, or canoeing? If so, what type of food do you take? Have you tried dehydrated camping foods? They are simple to pack and easy to fix when away from your main campsite.
Posted May 04, 2008
dataminer wrote...
Just wanted to say this is a fantastic lense with great info;-)
Best Travel Bargains
Posted October 22, 2007
DomesticGoddess wrote...
When we car-camp we pack in rubbermaid tubs. 1 kitchen, 1 tent stuff (lanterns flashlights etc) and 1 kid clothes and stuff. Then when you unpack your camping gear you can use the tubs to store food so critters don't get it. I love camping. It's not for everyone but those who don't try it miss out!
Posted October 19, 2007
Your Most Important Camping Gear
It's not your tent...
It's sunscreen. Any advice I give you about any other gear is just my opinion. But sunscreen, that's been proven to save your life. My favorite sunscreen articles:Baz Luhrmann's famous sunscreen song
How to choose sunscreen
10 common misconceptions about sunscreen
Your 2nd most important camping gear:
Camping First-Aid Kit
You've got your sunscreen, you've got your safety kit, now let's list the top 5 things you need at camp.
1. Camping Tents.
2. Air Mattress (why lie on the cold ground)
3. Sleeping Bags
4. Camping Stove
5. Camping Cooler
Camping gear is very fashionable today. Before you go out and splurge on style, whistles and bells, it helps if you know what to look for: Squidoo Lens - Camping Gear 101
Remember #1 rule of camping: Use a checklist. Email
camping_list@aweber.com for a packing list you can edit to your family's unique camping style.
Campfire GRUB !
How to eat well outdoors
Essential tips for camp cooking:
K.I.S.S. - Keep it simple and stupid. Always cook up simple recipes on your camping trips and save the more elaborate ones for the home kitchen! Sometimes, even 3 steps is one step too many after an exhausting but satifying day hiking, swimming, lying beside a brook...
You need 2-step camping recipes (Click Play to start video):
Pre-freeze or pre-cook food supplies at home as much as you can and transport them in a cooler.
Don't worry, be happy. Anything you cook will taste good. Because it is outdoors.
In the remote chance you did cook up a major disaster, a bottle of wine will help your friends and family forgive all.
And never, ever, ever run out of supplies for S'mores.
Don't stop at the traditional s'mores recipe. Here are 10 more ways to do S'mores, from classic to Mexican. For a free 28-page campfire recipe book email
camping_recipes@aweber.com
- Camp Cooking Videos
- Campfire banana splits, walking chili, etc..
- Camping Stove - How to choose one that's right for you
- Good food has the power to make breathtaking sunsets more beautiful, rainy days less of a drag and good friends even more fun to be around. Learn how to choose the right camping stove for your family.
- 2-Step Camping Recipes
- After an exhausting but happy day of hiking, fishing, relaxing by the creek, I want a quick but fulfilling grub, not play Julia Child. These 2-step camping recipe ideas are perfect for days like that.
- Camp Cooking for Men
- Camp kitchen Mamas, want to take a hike from camp cooking and let him take over? He really wants to help, just may not know how.
Mario's Tailgating Recipes will solve that problem.
Essential Campfire Skill
The one most people forget
You got the s'mores covered, you got the firemaking covered, you're sitting around a crackling campfire eating s'mores, with a soft wind blowing... and you know something's missing. It's .....a GHOST Story!
The ghost story I tell most often is, Where is my Golden A-a-a-r-R-M-M?
Now how you tell a ghost story is as important as the story itself. Here are some tips:
- First, choose a dark night, preferably, with a wind howling softly in the background.
- Sit around a crackling campfire.
- Speak in a soft voice very slowly. This makes people pay attention as they strain to hear you. As you reach the end of the story, gradually get louder.
- Just before the punch line, PAUSE. This is critical. Then finish with a bang or punch line.
How to end a ghost story
1.Jump up and pounce or point finger at a person in the audience.
2.Pre-storytime, recruit another person in the audience to make a loud scary noise to accompany your punch line.
3.Hold a flashlight under your face and move it (the flashlight) wildly as you scream at the top of your lungs. The audience will start screaming uncontrollably.
Screaming uncontrollably. That's how a ghost story should end.
Campfire Basics - Don't let a Campfire turn into a Wildfire
Basic campfire safety
2. Use an existing fire ring, don't create a new one. When not in a designated campground, build your fire within a ring of rocks.
3. Keep your campfire small.
4. Never leave a campfire unattended! Even a small breeze could quickly cause the fire to spread.
5. Understand how to put out a campfire safely and completely.
To watch a video on how to build a campfire
click here.
Family Camping Reading List
Avoid actually going camping by reading about it...
For those of you who love to keep reading, thinking and planning about a trip so you don't actually have to do the trip...
For those of you who are afraid you'll be bored stiff out there in the wild...
These are my favorite camping books.
Tent And Car Camper's Handbook: Advice for Families & First-timers (Backpacker Magazine)
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 11/11/2009) 
Camping for Dummies
Amazon Price: $13.59 (as of 11/11/2009)
Kids Campfire Book, The: Official Book of Campfire Fun (Family Fun)
Amazon Price: $13.45 (as of 11/11/2009)
Spooky Campfire Stories (Take Along Series)
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 11/11/2009)
Track Pack: Animal Tracks in Full Life Size
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 11/11/2009)
Top 10 National Parks
Tourists come from all over the world to see these national treasures of the U.S.
What's a Squidoo lens without links to favorite sites?
- Camping Gear Videos
- Know what important factors to look for when buying camping gear. Watch videos here on how to choose a tent, a cooler, a sleeping bag, etc..
- Camping Jokes
- Some really crack me up, some are corny. O well, got to have some for the campfire evenings.
- Camping TV
- Watch camping-related videos: How to choose a tent, What's in your Safety Kit? Camping with your Dog, etc..
- National Parks Service video
- I did not know the National Park Service does so much. This video was very enlightening. Beautifully done too.
May I Have Your Vote?
Let me know if you find this lens informative.
If you appreciate the information, please consider voting for my lens. The voting stars are way at the top of the lens. I thank you for your support.Myrtha @ www.JoyOfCamping.com
Latest Camping Tips from my blog
www.JoyOfCamping.com
Camping tips, shortcuts, funny videos, videos you can actually learn something from...
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Clean ones only. This is a family lens.
Two guys, Joe & Bill went camping. After they got their tent all set up, they fell sound asleep.
Some hours later, Joe wakes his faithful friend and says, "Bill, look up at the sky and tell me what you see."
Bill replies, "I see millions of stars."
"What does that tell you?" asked Joe.
Bill ponders for a minute, then says, "Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies, and potentially billions of planets.
Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning.
Theologically, it's evident the Lord is all-powerful and we are small, and insignificant.
Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.
What does it tell you, Joe?"
Joe is silent for a moment, then says, "Bill, you stupid moron, someone has stolen our tent."
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