SNEWS best outdoor reads from around the web

What did the SNEWS team learn this week that other industry insiders might find interesting? Read on to find out!

• This industry, filled with kind-hearted people, does a lot of charitable work for a lot of great causes. So when some of those kind-hearted people are out camping and spot a hungry bear, why not throw it a shish kabob? It’s for the greater good, right? Wrong. Check out this Campsite Blog about feeding bears. If you don’t read it, remember this one thing: “A fed bear is a dead bear.”

• We put packs on our pooches, we take them on adventures, they sleep in the tent with us — needless to say we love our dogs. While this Guardian photo gallery isn’t exactly an informative article about issues in the industry, it is a collection of some mighty adorable surfing dogs.

• Perhaps the difficulty in getting young people introduced to the outdoors isn’t televisions or computers, but people like those in this subdivision in Hickory Grove, Ill., who oppose a proposed Girl Scout program center and camping area because they’re afraid the sound of young children learning outdoor skills will keep them awake and devalue their property. Check out this Quincy Herald-Whig story about the subject.

• A fun read in the Midland Reporter-Telegram about a momma, who doesn’t camp usually, enjoying some national parks with her kiddos. The tale chronicles her journey from the car to the conquering of feats way past her comfort zone, without showers and in extreme heat.

• Wow. The SNEWS team is floored because this Milford Daily News story contained what we believe is pure genius: information on how to make “hobo packets.” They are foil packets of meats and spices and veggies, tightly sealed and frozen overnight, to be taken on camping trips and cooked over the fire. We are definitely putting together a few packets for our next outdoor outing. 

• She calls herself the “Desert Green Goddess” or “G” for short if you’re cool like that. She loves mother earth. She loves camping. She loves recycling. If you’re camping with her, you better bring your reusable camp utensils and empty bins for your trash and recyclables because she’ll unleash her old childhood alter ego, the “Garbage Nazi” on you. Even if you’re not camping with “G,” check out this Daily Herald article and get some good tips from the Goddess on how to leave no trace.

• With the likes of GoPro and Pentax, and even camera bags from LowePro and Mountainsmith, we know the wilderness is filled with semi-professional photographers (or those who want to be), so snap a photo of your outdoor adventures in Oregon and if you think the photo is up to snuff, enter it in this Oregon Outdoors Photo contest.

• Maybe Denver’s own Big City Mountaineers can get the Duchess Kate Middleton to head into the woods with its youngsters like she did with inner-city schoolchildren recently. Check out this New York Daily News story about Middleton’s camping adventure. We at SNEWS suggest next time the duchess opt for some outdoor gear instead of the Burberry and Zara togs she was wearing. Imagine the money she would spend in your stores!

• Outdoor adventures come with enough worry if it’s just you you’re thinking about, but when you add kids to the mix, that brings worry on a whole other level. This Mother Nature Network blog post provides valuable tips on how to make the most out of (and create the least worry for) your camping trip with the little ones.

• The first day of summer was on Wednesday, and there’s not much time left to enjoy the 48 California State Parks that will be closing on July 1 in order to save the state nearly $22 million. So you best get to reserving your spots at the parks that are set to close. Check out the San Francisco Weekly story for more information.

Have you read anything interesting you’d like to share with us? Maybe we’ll include it next week’s column with a little shout out to whoever sent it to us. Send a link to the story with the subject line “SNEWS Reads” to be considered.

–Compiled by Ana Trujillo