Who's Your Camping Momma?

For Mother's Day, the moms at grasshavenoutdoor.com and talesofamountainmama.com thought it fun to share a little humorous look at camping and specifically camping moms.

The smell of fresh air and the warmth of campfire, sounds inviting right?  Many moms relish the camping experience to some degree or another.  A few moms vehemently do not.  At grasshavenoutdor.com, we wanted to better understand camping moms and ask the question: What’s your camping personality?  The verdicts are in.  Each mom has a different perception of the joys (or tortures) of camping.  Explore our light-hearted look at six camping mom archetypes and answer the question for yourself: “Where do I fit in?”

The Granola Camping Mom

This type of mom gives Bear Gryllis a run for his money.  Empowered, she packs light, hikes hard and escapes into the backcountry.   Journeying with the family into the far reaches of the wilderness and getting back (way back) to nature is her thing.  She brings only the essentials and looks for nature to provide the rest.   Look out wilderness this mama bear is going native.  Pack it in; pack it out…that’s her mantra.

Motto: “If Louis and Clark could do it, so can I”

What defines her:

Scoffs at cell phones, technology – there’s no technology in nature

… well, bears pee in the woods, don’t they?

Forages for bugs, beetles and other sources of protein

What she packs: Dehydrated food (or she uses her expert hunting and gathering skills); Bivy sack, the shoes on her feet and a sturdy dose of chutzpah

Where she stays:  Remote, self-created campsite after packing in five miles to climb a “fourteener”

Her sleeping arrangements: On the ground after the rocks are removed (mostly)

Secret Wish: A hot shower and fluffy bed

 The Den Camp Mother 

Calling all camp directors and den mothers (and those who wanna be).  This mama knows the ins and outs of the camp but she doesn’t have to go extremes.  She just likes to create memorable experiences with her loved ones.  Whether it’s camping at a primitive site or a campground with a few creature comforts, she just likes the time with her family and friends.   For her, camping is equivalent to quality family time like no other.

Motto: “I’m game for the outdoors: anytime, anyplace”

What defines her:

Gear is neatly packed in well organized bins and bags      Efficiency is everything; set up and break down is a snap      She’s comfortable in any outdoor situation

What she packs: Multi-functional and multi-use gear tailored to make the most out of her family’s adventures

Where she stays:  Anywhere. She just likes to be out with her most important people

Her sleeping arrangement: In an ample sized tent, on a cozy air mattress snuggled next to her family

Secret Wish: To do this again next weekend

The "Glamping" Camping Mom 

Ah the perfectly coiffed, styled and set campsite complete with coordinated stemware set against a perfectly foraged centerpiece that would make Colin Cowie envious.  This is glamorous, luxury camping at its finest.  This mama puts the Glamp into glamorous camping.  Move over Martha, there’s a new outdoor diva in town.

Motto: Camping shouldn’t be relegated to roughing it, I © glamorous camping

What defines her:

Creature comforts abound – she’s got it all 

Isn’t everyone’s campsite ready for a Sunset magazine cover?    Serves five-course meal plated on coordinating dinnerware

What she packs: Everything luxurious and it’s all coordinated

Where she stays:  Recreational camping destinations - hello? With concierge service, of course

Sleep: Under a duvet encircled down comforter set a top a 30-foot inflatable mattress.  This princess couldn’t feel a pea even if she tried.

Secret Wish: Sherpa to haul everything back and put it away 

The Haute Wheeling Mama

Arising early at the campsite for this mom entails rolling out of her bed, turning on the overhead light and creaking open the screen door.  Call it a 5th wheel, camper, motorhome or trailer; she just calls it her outdoor home.   There’s no tent camping for this matriarch of the open road.  Tents are where the kids (and occasionally the ill-behaved spouse) sleep.  She enjoys the well-deserved comforts of her home on wheels.  She survived the terrible twos, hasn’t she sacrificed enough in her life?

Motto: “Camping, I love to camp … in the comforts of my home on wheels.”

What defines her: 

 Four walls, floor, ceiling and 2+ wheels 

Square footage that makes a New Yorker envious 

Decked out outdoor living space complete with twinkly lights

What she packs: Clothes, everything else comes standard in her transportable home

Where she stays: Preferably the RV park with hook-ups and satellite TV

Her sleeping arrangement: Bed, comforter, nightstand just like back home

Secret Wish: Sleeping in a moonlight infused tent

The Reluctant Camping Mama

After significant poking, prodding and convincing from the family, this mom reluctantly gets outdoors, albeit, maybe only 25 feet from the backdoor. She characterizes the outdoors as dirty, bug infested and generally uncomfortable but for the sake of her family she’ll venture out. This mom's not keen on camping but musters enough courage to do it for a night (or two).

Motto: If the going gets rough, this mama goes home

What defines her:

Staying close to camp or her spouse for that matter

Camping sites with appropriate facilities close by (showers, toilets, running water etc.)

If it gets too extreme she gives up and sleeps in the car

What she packs: Bug, bear and bite spray and leaves the rest of the packing to the boys

Where she stays:  In the backyard (that’s outdoors right?!?!) or at the closest campgrounds to civilization  (or at the nearest Holiday Inn worst case)

Her sleeping arrangement: Inside a claustrophobic mummy sleeping bag on a 0.001 inch self-inflating mat after having left camping details to the “boys”

Secret Wish: To become a “Den Mother” and do this again next weekend

The Motel Camping Mama

 Operator can I order room service?  What, no room service?!?! Now I’m really camping, this mom thinks to herself.  We all know her (and we might even be her).  She sneers at the idea of staying overnight without a hot shower, indoor plumbing and the immutable HVAC system.  She craves electricity to power every gadget know to man (err woman) and she shuns the thought of roughing it.  I mean, no room service…this is roughing it in her mind.  She can’t wait to get back to civilization and like Dorothy, she repeated clicks her heels together citing “there’s no place like the Spa; there’s no place like the Spa.”

Motto: “Camping?!?  Isn’t that a hotel without room service”

What defines her:

Ideal outdoor experience: sitting on the grassy knoll, poolside

Prefers air conditioning to fresh air

Only lifts a polished finger to get the cabana boy’s attention

What she packs: Everything. Cosmetics; hairdryer and curling iron.  I mean a girl’s gotta look her best

Where she stays:  With every hotel booked for the Star Wars convention, she’ll grudgingly stay in the only open vacancy room

Her sleeping arrangement: On a lumpy hotel bed, listening to a noisy elevator all night

Secret Wish: To be really be outside camping 

Whether you’re a mom who delights in the back to nature basics of camping, hiking five miles with their kids’ and husband’s in tow.  Or a mom from the other spectrum who views camping as a hotel without room service, all moms are unique and loved by their families.  Whatever the case, moms are an important part of the outdoor experience however they personally choose to experience it.  We say just get outside and enjoy it together.

Luxury Camping Destinations: RVC, Our Top Pick

At Grasshaven we are often asked, where should I go on my next camping or RV outdoor vacation?  We have finally found the answer.  And our answer is any property owned and operated by RVC Outdoor.  The idea behind RVC is to take your favorite hotel, put it in a natural setting and add any hotel-expected amenity (valet, concierge, fitness equipment and the list goes on); the results are luxury camping destinations and resorts perfect for your family's next retreat.  They have tent sites, RV pads and even cabins and Yurts.  Every accommodation has been considered.


With eight open and operational sites across the southeast and more in the works westward, RVC is continuing to expand its property presence.  Recently, they announced the grand reopening of the Garden of the Gods Camping Resort in Colorado Springs. This grand reopening also ushers in an opportunity for Grasshaven as we have collaborated with the Garden of the Gods Camping Resort to open our first retail store within a store.

The Grasshaven Outdoor store in the Garden of the Gods Camping Resort is the first location where customers can get a hands on experience with products and the lifestyle Grasshaven strives to promote.  From beautiful dishes and silverware geared towards camping and the RV-lifestyles to awesome camping products and decor, we work hard to "think of everything" as we fashion our line of "home-away-from-home" products (so you don't have to).  We even have mock campsite exhibits for shoppers to browse through and enjoy.

"This strategic alliance between the camping resort and our company perfectly marries the high-style of Grasshaven Outdoor products with the high-end camping experience of the RVC Outdoor Group," says Dawn Bitz, Grasshaven President/Founder.  "We are so thrilled to showcase our products including many that are made in the US in our new space.  It's simply spectacular and sensational!"  The collaboration between RVC and Grasshaven marries style with the ease and comfort that families need to have fun in the outdoors.

To view images from our Grasshaven store in the Garden of the Gods camping resort click here. For more information and to see some of the beautiful RVC destinations first hand, check out the video

Stylish and Family Camping Tips Featured in Sunset and RV West Magazines

No riding off into the Sunset here, at Grasshaven we're just getting started! 

When it comes to camping in style, with friends, the family or both, the team at Grasshaven Outdoor loves to share advice and tips.  May 2013 has publicized our advice in spades as both Sunset Magazine and RV West Magazine have highlighted some of Grasshaven's fun ideas to make camping more comfortable, chic and downright enjoyable!

In the May 2013 issue of Sunset Magazine, page 71, Dawn Bitz, founder and camping style guru, outlines four simple steps to get a hotel-quality rest in the great outdoors.  All it takes is an inflatable mattress, a metallic emergency blanket, a quilted mattress cover and some luxurious linens.  Who needs a sleeping bag, right.

Step 1: Lay the right foundation with an inflatable mattress
Step 2: Line for warmth by laying down an emergency blanket (to reflect the heat back to your body)
Step 3: Add some padding with a mattress cover
Step 4: Finish it off with a sheet set fitting for your bed at home.

In RV West online and in their printed magazine, Grasshaven shares five ways to personalize the RV lifestyle.

1. Turn the dinner table into a sensory feast by adding stylish outdoor appropriate dinnerware and drink ware

2. Bring out the campsite chef with multi-use and collapsible tools to create epicurean dining experiences

3. Add a softer side to the RV with rugs and luxurious linens

4. Use accessories and lighting to personalize your outdoor home

So whether its kitschy and campy (no pun intended) or sophisticated and stylish, take a cue from these publications and check out Grasshaven tips, tricks, recipes and products to  add personality and panache to the campsite. We think your family and friends will be glad you did.

High-Style Camping Equipment Meets High-End Camping Destination

Announcing Ribbon Cutting of Grasshaven Outdoor Retail Store

Whew, it's been a busy spring here at Grasshaven.  In addition to attending two Denver RV and Camping Shows and one show in Minneapolis, we haven been busy continuing to expand our presence.  We are excited to announce the grand opening of our first retail store!  In collaboration with RVC Outdoor, the leading provider of high end camping destinations, Grasshaven has opened its first retail store at the Garden of the Gods Camping Resort in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  We'll share more about this amazing camping and RV destination company in upcoming posts.  But now, you can check us out online and at our Colorado Springs retail location!

Grasshaven Outdoor Store
at Garden of the Gods Camping Resort, an RVC Outdoor Destination
3704 W. Colorado Ave
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904
(719) 475-9450

Camping Etiquette

Etiquette? But I’m outdoors, in the wilderness… I have to have manners? Yes. Just because you’re not in someone’s house, you’re on Mother Earth’s territory, as well as the park or campgrounds you’re staying at. You must be respectful of the wildlife and people around you.

Leave No Trace

Any campsite you enter should be left better then when you came.

• ·      Garbage: keep a trash bin at the site, just a big bag tied to a tree will do. If there are dumpsters at the campground, make sure to dump it before night so no critters come. Do no ever leave any garbage ever on the campsite. And don’t burn anything other than paper
• ·      Fire: try not to leave big burned logs in the fire pit, burn them completely or dispose of them. Burn only wood and paper. Make sure the fire is completely out before you leave or go to bed, this means no smoke, heat, or ambers left.
• ·      Water disposal: if there is no designated drain at the site dig a sump to do dishes and brush teeth. Be sure to fill the sump before you leave. And try not to get too much food waste in the sump, that should go in the garbage

Neighbors

There are people around you and you do not know what type of people they are. Be kind and respectful. This means quiet after 10pm and do not walk through the other campsites, it doesn’t matter how bad you have to go to the bathroom, they don’t want you there and you must respect these boundaries.

Pets

Before you arrive at any campsite with your dog, be sure they are allowed. Keep your dog on a leash at all times if required, and do not let them wander into others campsites. Clean up after them and dispose of it properly. If your dog is extremely territorial and a loud barker, think about putting them in a kennel; you don’t want to interrupt other campers vacation.

Respect

Respect the campgrounds and wildlife. If the park requires payment for each person, don’t lie. Stay on paths when walking and don’t pick the plants or touch any animals. You are in their home and need to remember that. Park in designated areas; usually campsites allow two cars only; more requires the purchase of a second site. If there is a lake near by, treat it like your personal pool. Be cautious of others and if you have to go to the bathroom, I’m sure it’s only a short distance away.

Camping Safety and First Aid

“Better safe than sorry”, bet you’ve heard that more than enough times in your life, but it’s true and doesn’t apply any better then when you’re out in the wilderness…or your backyard. Camping is a great pleasure until someone gets hurt, therefore you must be prepared, not just with a first aid kit, but with the knowledge of how to prevent injury paired with responsibility and keeping your eyes open for potentially dangerous situations. Don’t be discouraged if this sounds scary, camping is a blast and totally worth these precautionary measures.

Surviving Zombie Attacks

Just kidding, zombies aren’t wild about campers, but there are some other things that you should be aware of when camping so you know how to keep your family and yourself safe. Every campsite is different and it also depends where you are in the world for what kind of critters you’ll have wondering around, but here are a few general things to watch out for.

Mosquitos and horseflies

If you haven’t had any experience with either of these, congratulations first of all, but being in the outdoors, especially near water, you may have some encounters. Horseflies are a bigger problem up north closer to Canada, but Mosquitos find their place almost anywhere. The first key is to wear clothing too heavy for them to drill through (it’s actually quite pleasurable to watch a little sucker land on your coat all confident and then realize it can’t reach your skin, fly a few centimeters over and try again, then becomes frustrated and fly off.) Expose little skin when the sun is going down, and PLEASE don’t forget the repellent! Insect repellent is a savior, look at the ingredients when buying a bottle; you’ll want the one with the most non-diethyl-metatoluamide, that’s the killer ;). Be sure to spray some on any exposed areas of skin, ankles are a good place too even if you are wearing long socks. Another good idea is to spray a bandana down and wrap it around your neck or even just use it to swat them away.  Be sure to spray down the door of your tent before dark as well If horseflies or yellow jackets are your problem, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to look for a new site, they’re not worth it. . If in fact you do get bit, no big deal, just apply a little After Bite or ammonia and DON”T scratch, that’s what they want. Some people believe taking vitamin B1 or eating garlic will ward them off, but I’ve met mosquitos who will beg to differ.

Ticks

These Dracula bugs are nasty little vermin that like to find warmth by the blood of your family, so beware and keep an eye out because the trick is to find them and get them off before they get their head under your skin. If you spot a tick and it’s only been a short time, your best bet is to take tweezers to it make sure to grab it at the head and isolate the mouth. Another technique is to use Vaseline or alcohol to cut off its oxygen and wait till it gives up. If bitten, be sure to apply peroxide and some sort of first aid gel such as Neosporin and cover with gauze or a Band-aid.  Lyme disease is transmitted though ticks, although rare, you’ll want to watch for symptoms such as a red splotchy rash, nausea, fever or stiff neck, because in the rare case of getting it, it is easily treated in these early stages.  To prevent tick bites, wear long light colored clothing, and maybe even tuck your pants into your socks with repellent sprayed around openings they could creep in through. You may feel like you look stupid but you’ll feel even more stupid if you have to pull a tick out of your skin. After a hike or any activity that a tick could be caught on your clothing, be sure to shower, shake out you clothes, and maybe even put them in a separate sealed bag just in case.

Poison Oak (Leaves of three, let them be)

Poison oak is transferred through the oils on the leaves, which can be passed from leaf to person to person, so be aware of your surrounding and make sure your family can recognize the three-leafed plant. If in fact you do come in contact apply Caladryl or another similar ointment and try not to itch. Another trick is to expose area to the hottest water you can stand then with ice cold water. This opens the pores and gets the “itch” out, and then the cold water quickly seals the pores. Remember in the spring it’s a shiny green and turns reddish in the summer. Dogs can transfer it too so be sure to bathe them and keep on a leash.

Hydration

Out in such beautiful scenery, some people forget about life essentials such as drinking enough water. Be sure to supply yourself and family with enough water to last the trip, or bring a water purifier if you’re near a lake. Be sure to never drink unpurified water; don’t want to get Giardia, a microscopic protozoan that can cause abdominal pain and reaction similar to food poisoning. Drinking enough water is important especially in heat and during activity, so make sure your family is drinking enough, and don’t forget about yourself.

Sunburn

Can’t stress enough the importance of sunscreen for the entire family, even if you are “naturally tan” or “don’t burn”. Protect your skin from damage and the risk of heat stroke by wearing a hat, getting under as much shade as possible, and reapply sunscreen and don’t forget to get your ears. Wear chapstick with SPF and protect your eyes with sunglasses. If you decide not to take this instruction and get burned, apply first aid cream or aloe to soothe the burn. Keep the Aloe in the cooler for a cool treatment.

Weather

Even if the forecast said sunny clear skies, keep an eye out for suspicious clouds that could bring rain], thunder or lightning. Always bring your rain gear, you can guarantee rain if you forget it. If thunder and lightning to come your way, steer clear of the tent (metal poles…) and spread yourselves out among the site staying away from widower trees (dead standing trees without any stability).  Count the seconds between lightning and thunder, that’s how many miles away it is. If its farther than 25-30 miles, you’re fine to be in the tent, but under that the recommendation is to stay put, preferably sitting on a PFD.  Also if you’re in the water when thunder and lighting are approaching, get out ASAP. Pray for sunny skies and be prepared.

Bears/Wildlife

Depending on where you are you may have a problem with critters coming after your food; there are a few ways to handle this. First of all, always clean up before dark to avoid leaving anything out.

• Bear hang: to do this one you’ll have to know your knots and have a good sturdy tree near by to hang everything from.
• Burrito wrap: this is where you wrap everything in a tarp, all food and supplies that could attract animals and put your pots and pans on top so that you can wake up if an animal is going after it.

If you do come in contact with a bear or any wildlife for that matter, make it aware that you are humans and you are not trying to harm them. Make noise, but stay calm so you’re sure not to threaten them. If your in the tent, stay in the tent, they wont go after you, as long as there is no food in there; NEVER keep food in the tent, not only does it attract animals, it attracts bugs, don’t even keep toothpaste in the tent.

General Safety

Bring a fully supplied first aid kit on any trip and take it with you on hikes or outings. When entering or swimming in water be aware of rocks and logs and make boundaries for the kiddies. Always watch the fire, and make sure it is put out completely at night, that means no heat or smoke coming from it. Overall keep your eyes peeled for situations that can be dangerous and prepare for them. Be responsible and set rules ahead of time. Being prepared for the worst, but expecting the best is the way to go.