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Are you a fourth grader? Great!       You can see America’s amazing mountains, roaring rivers, wild animals, while camping, hiking, fishing, boating or doing so many fun things on national forests and grasslands. All you have to do is get the Every Kid in a Park pass. Ask an adult to help you go to www.everykidinapark.gov(link is external) and follow the instructions. You can print an Every Kid paper pass that is good until Aug. 31, 2017. And you don’t have to go alone. You can take your brothers and sisters and up to three adults. Or tell your teacher...

Camping with a view in Glacier National Park. (Claire Pistek, Share the Experience) For many of us, sunny spring days remind us that it’s time to start planning our summer camping trips. We picture s’mores around the campfire and drifting off to sleep reading a favorite novel. Then, briefly our minds wander into dreaded territory – the camping equipment. Where is the camp stove? Did I actually jam my sleeping bag into its stuff sack and leave it all winter? (You did.) Spring is the perfect time to test and prepare your camping equipment for those upcoming weekend adventures. Use these...

By Janelle Smith, Recreation.gov Find activities which suit your family, are age-appropriate and allow for discovery and learning. (Pam Rotberg, Share the Experience) Ask anyone about their most vivid childhood memories and if they went camping with their families, it’s those memories that often rise to the surface. Do you like the idea of camping but find it too daunting after putting in long work days, school activities, and all of the necessities of life? Here are some tips for camping with kids that just may get you on your way. And keep in mind, that if you have a...

If you are going to have a campfire: 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. Clear all vegetation away from the fire ring (remove all flammable materials such as needles, leaves, sticks, etc.) Select an open level spot away from trees, logs, stumps, overhanging branches, dense dry grass, and forest litter. Keep your campfire small. Keep plenty of water and a shovel nearby for throwing dirt on the fire if it gets out of control. Never leave a campfire unattended! Even a small...

Being outdoors can be great for our bodies and our minds. Moving, getting away from electronics and enjoying the scenery are all great benefits of hiking. Add kids to the mix and some of the peacefulness of the outdoors can quickly fade away. It is important to instill the love of the outdoors and hiking in kids young. Here are 5 ways to help them enjoy being out on the new adventure. 1. Make it an Adventure. Teach them to skip rocks across the rivers or lakes. Use the fallen trees as a fun obstacle course. Play follow the leader...