Amp Your Camp

Has this week's burst of sunny weather got you thinking more and more about sleeping out under the stars?

If you're looking to camp more often and enjoy it more, too, come to TrailsFest! Throughout the day, you'll be able to pick up tons of ideas on what to bring, where to go, what to do, and what to eat to make your nights camping out into some of the most memorable you'll ever have.

You can start by taking up a "campsite accomodation improvement initiative" the minute you walk into TrailsFest. How? Purchase raffle tickets at the TrailsFest Info Booth and throw them all in for the Camping Grand Prize, featuring a Sierra Designs 2-person tent, Sierra Designs sleeping bag & a Mountaineers Books Backcountry Coooking Deck. (Or, wait...you can even purchase your raffle tickets in advance! How organized would that be?)

Keeping your fingers crossed that you will win some new camp gear, you can then wander around visiting booths at the Lakeshore. You'll probably pick up some good camping tips doing this, but, to really up your camping know-how, you'll want to visit the REI Outdoor Classroom or the Cedar River Watershed Education Center for a class or two.

At 11 am, John Kruse, of Northwestern Outdoors Radio, will give a talk on Outdoors Adventure in the Evergreen State. Don't miss this enthusiastic Wenatachee outdoorsman as he divulges some great, but not neccessarily well known campsites in Washington.

Sarah Kirkconnell, the foodie, blogger, and diva behind Trailcooking.com, will present a class appropriately scheduled for lunch hour, from noon to 1 pm, at the REI Outdoor Classroom. Hot dogs are great and all, but they aren't the only camping food out there. Sarah will share recipes as well as preparation tips for camp meals that will impress your dining companions, no matter how discerning, gourmet, or frugal they may be.

Or, join The Wilderness Society and North Cascades National Park at 1 pm. They'll help you plan a green stay-cation in North Cascades. From hikes and paddling trips to ranger-led workshops and volunteer stewardship activities, there’s something for everyone in the North Cascades.

Come out to TrailsFest on July 18 anytime between 9 am and 4 pm and we promise you'll go home a happy camper!