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Ten Essentials Plan ahead and take the Ten Essentials with you on your trip. NPS Photo National parks offer urban and rural settings with breathtaking views, historical sites that preserve the rich history of our country, and a multitude of fun activities you can enjoy with friends and family. You can experience your park through hiking, picnicking, kayaking, camping, or rock climbing, just to name a few.No matter what activity you choose, it is important to plan ahead. Make a fun adventure a safe adventure! Having the Ten Essentials with you can help you be prepared for minor injuries, sudden...

Boat Ramp Etiquette To avoid unnecessary delays and blocking the boat ramp when launching and retrieving your boat, complete as much of the preparation, loading, and unloading in the "staging area" as possible. Others will appreciate your preparation and consideration. Here are some tips to help you. NOTE: Launching conditions vary with each boat ramp and with different water and tide levels. Launching should progress slowly until you are familiar with the ramp and water levels. Adapt the following common steps as needed for safe launch and retrieval. Launching your vessel from a trailer: Prepare your vessel well away from...

When paddling, prepare by doing the following: 1. Always wear a properly fitting life jacket and know how to swim in a river current. 2. Never paddle alone. Bring along at least one other boater. When canoeing, two canoes with two canoeists each are recommended. If unfamiliar with the waterway, paddle with someone knowledgeable. 3. Never overload the boat. Tie down gear and distribute weight evenly. 4. Maintain a low center of gravity and maintain three points of contact whenever moving about, entering or exiting the boat. Keep your weight balanced over the center. Standing up or moving around in a...

Though I believe it is always useful to know how to tie different knots for backpacking and camping, there is sometimes no substitute for the speed and convenience of these little gadgets. They weigh almost nothing, so you could easily throw a few in with your camping or hiking gear along with some tent cord, paracord, or small diameter rope. I have actually just added these to the guy lines of my backpacking tarps, hammock tents, and standard tents for easy use. A few reason you want to use line tensioning products like the Pocket Knot, Brummel Hook and Paracord Cleat. 1....