Latest news with #campfire
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
No matches: learn how to start a fire with MDC at Springfield Nature Center on June 7
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Not all fires need matches. Knowing how to ignite a campfire without the aid of a fire starting tool can add fun for those who enjoy adding a primitive feel to their camping trips, while also being helpful in emergency situations. People can learn more about matchless ways of starting campfires at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) program 'Outdoor Preparedness: Fire and Flintstone' on Saturday, June 7. The program will be from 10 a.m.-noon at MDC's Springfield Conservation Nature Center. People can register for this program by clicking the link here. The June 7 program will be given by local ancestral skills specialist Don Brink. The fire-starting methods Brink will discuss will be flint-and-steel, bow drill, and solar ignition (if it's sunny). He'll also discuss fire lays (how to arrange sticks and tinder), materials that make good tinder, and how to start a fire in wet or adverse conditions. Brink will talk about how this type of fire-starting knowledge can add a unique touch to camping trips and can also be useful when consequences become dire. Though this program is free, registration is required. Use the link listed above. The Springfield Conservation Nature Center is located in southeast Springfield at 4601 S. Nature Center Way. People who have questions about upcoming programs or how to sign up for text alerts from the Springfield Nature Center can call (417) 888-4237. Staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual and in-person programs. A listing of these programs can be found at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
5 days ago
- General
- CBS News
24 abandoned campfires discovered in Colorado over Memorial Day weekend
U.S. Forest Service firefighters discovered dozens of campfires in Colorado that had been abandoned over Memorial Day weekend. Firefighters engaged in fire prevention patrols in the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands. During the patrols, they found 24 abandoned campfires, which can lead to multiple escaped wildfires, according to fire crews. USFS While on patrol, firefighters also responded to four wildfires in the forest. One was caused by lightning and the others were determined to be human-caused. Crews said the wildfires were quickly contained. The PSICC is located about 40 miles southwest of Denver. The Forest Service wants to remind campers and recreationists that everyone must do their part to keep a wildfire from starting. "While the vast majority of forest visitors camp responsibly, it takes only one spark, from recreational target shooting, dragging chains or an abandoned campfire, in the wrong place at the wrong time to put human lives, natural and cultural resources and infrastructure at risk," the Forest Service said in a statement. The Forest Service recommends: Building your campfire in an area cleared of vegetation Never abandon or leave a campfire unattended Always have plenty of water and a shovel nearby When it's time to leave, extinguish your campfire by drowning, stirring, and repeating until it's the consistency of a mud pie and cold to the touch If forest and grassland visitors come across an abandoned campfire, the Forest Service recommends to extinguish the fire if possible. If not, call and report it to the local PSICC nonemergency number at 719-553-1400.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
B.C. to impose seasonal campfire, fireworks ban in coastal regions
A campfire is pictured in the Broken Group Islands off the west coast of Vancouver Island in this undated image. (shutterstock)
Times
24-05-2025
- Times
I love camping and have done for 40 years — these are my best tips
Yes, it can be muddy, damp, uncomfortable and hay fever triggering, but camping — being outdoors around the clock — will put you back in touch with your natural self like nothing else. You know you want to sit by the campfire with friends as the stars come out, to breathe all that meadowy air and have none of the usual grinding household chores bar getting a pot of water to boil over a fire. It's just the itchy bits that get in the way — the tent poles that just won't be pushed into their little pockets, the can-I-just-hold-it-in dilemma of the night-time loo visit (don't, get out and appreciate the Milky Way). So how to make camping a bit easier? I've camped all my life, mainly in small, leafy sites in Britain, but also the Himalayas, where my water bottle froze solid at night and I slept in thermals, two fleeces, a thick down jacket and was still freezing. Also — far worse, comfort-wise — in 40C in a scorched-earth site in central Portugal, as well as plenty of glamping sites and my own back garden with the kids. Here's what I've gleaned. The biggest dilemma you face is not where to pitch the tent, but whether to crack your first beer before you do. I camp most often with a group of friends, and the temptation to leave the practicalities for later and throw ourselves down on a rug for a few drinks and a chinwag is a powerful one. On no account give in to this urge. As anyone who has tried to follow small-print Decathlon instructions in the dark while squiffy can confirm, it is always an error. Remembering which poles go in which slots first is hard at the best of times, so delay the fun until you are fully erect, so to speak. That is guaranteed. And you'll only discover it when you finally snuggle down into your sleeping bag, turn off the torch, then feel something like a medieval morning star digging into your backbone. Do at least try to pat the ground down for invisible rocks and those seemingly innocent-looking tufty patches of grass that feel like a hedgehog when you lie on top of them. Don't pitch on a slope, obvs. Packing a spirit level might be a bit much, but you could trial a nice lie-down before putting the tent up to prevent any middle-of-the-night sliding. Campsites that allow caravans, and that have proper cafés, shops and flushing loos in an actual building with electricity and lights, are not what it's about. You're here for the nature and for me that means compost loos and an honesty bar in a shack at most. Maybe a wood-fired sauna. If there must be showers they should be rigged up outdoorsy rustic ones, not the portable building variety (which are often coin-operated, so pack change). What you want is a small, quiet site that lets you feel you've returned to being an animal, with trees all around or a sea view. Near London, where I live, I've particularly liked escaping to the forest and field pitches of Welsummer Camping in Kent ( For more, see the 'woodland and forest' section of and list of 961 'nearly wild' campsites. • 10 of the best places to camp wild (or wild-ish) in the UK Proper wild camping — not on a campsite — is only officially allowed in the UK in Scotland and, as the Supreme Court ruling confirmed this week, on Dartmoor. It goes without saying you should follow the code of conduct (see tread lightly and leave no trace — and only go if you understand the rules, especially regarding fires. The question is, can you cope with the no-lavatory situation? Certain organisations arrange wild camping on people's land with permission but no facilities. Try Wild With Consent, which recommends packing a potty — with special black binbags (insert green puking emoji). CampWild has a list of venues too (£25 a year to access; When you commit to buying a decent roll mat (inflatable not foam — mine is a self-inflating Thermarest BaseCamp XL and excellent), table, fold-up chairs, kettle and stove, you know you've turned pro. These all make a huge difference to comfort levels, as do a dangling wind-up light (Decathlon does good ones) and head torches. I can take or leave the fold-up washing-up bowl (a bucket or trug does the job). Packing hang-up shelves for belongings, a tent doormat and even bunting strikes me as ridiculous. If you forget something, don't panic, just get creative with nature's bounty — twigs as stirrers; giant leaves for plates. • 19 of the best campsites in Cornwall It might seem overcautious but a spare pole can save the day. On a trip last summer to the South Downs, our group pitched despite a weather warning for gale force winds, then spent an unsociable evening disparately spread across a field, each gripping our own tents while plates of burgers flew into the air. The wind howled, all of our plastic tent poles splintered. As for pegs, you always come back with half the number you took — future metal detectorists will have a (disappointing) field day. Bulk buy. And nothing will win you more friends than packing a mallet for hammering them in. Like with stacking the dishwasher, everyone thinks they know best when it comes to building a campfire. There will be pass-agg advice. The uninvited adjusting of sticks. According to Mears, clear the floor to the earth, make a platform of dead wood, add two handfuls of kindling sticks, one crossed over the other, then light shredded dry bark beneath it before adding bigger logs when lit. As to what to eat, don't bother trying to spit roast a squirrel. A stew or curry cooked in advance for the first night will feel heaven-sent — bring it frozen. For the second, macaroni with cheese mixed in and sausages is fine. Go for hearty and not too clever. A pan for frying eggs for breakfast is essential. Double the amount of marshmallows you think you'll need. I take a mini raclette set that uses tea lights, for melting cheese to spread on bread, then chocolate for dipping fruit and biscuits in. • 23 of the best campsites in the Lake District I have stayed in lots of lovely glamping sites, whose gorgeous yurts and tepees contained proper beds under wooden roofs, furniture, running water and even en suite loos. Not really camping, is it? And there were still slugs. And spiders. And mud and hay fever. You might be getting spoilt with a hot tub and an honesty fridge full of homemade perry and organic local meat, but you will still look and feel like you've been dragged through a hedge backwards by the end of your stay. Nevertheless camping lite and luxe is a lovely experience; find gorgeous sites at and • Nine top coastal campsites in the UK I'd happily camp at any time of year — my trusty Arctic-grade Rab sleeping bag has seen me through nights at minus 10C (Ellis Brigham has a great range; I've found often in late September — end of the season for many sites — that we had the field to ourselves. But really, unless you're on some long-distance trek, a couple of nights feels plenty. Then you only need one outfit — leggings, shorts, wellies, fleece, waterproof, and a poncho for vibes (packing more is pointless, though kids always need at least five pairs of socks a day). Stay longer and the dirt and lack of sleep starts to feel a bit grim. What are your top tips for making camping trips a success? Let us know in the comments below
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Travel + Leisure
11-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
How 2 Sisters Turned a Historic Summer Camp Into the No. 1 Hotel in New York State
Cedar Lakes Estate is located roughly 90 minutes from NYC, in the picturesque Hudson Valley. The property encourages play inside and out, from snowshoeing, sledding, and ice skating to pie-making sessions with cider pairings, movie nights in the barn, and whiskey tastings. Rooms range from cozy two-person cottages to generous four-bedroom homes with idyllic lake views; amenities include wood-burning fireplaces, heated floors, and spa-like bathrooms. Guests can enjoy multicourse meals in the Pavilion for a convivial, candlelit evening or in a private igloo on the lakeside deck under twinkling lights. It was sometime between the still, early morning hours of 7 and 8 a.m., my ears attuned to the snap, crackle, pop of a campfire, that my emotional muscle memory kicked in. My summer-camp years were behind me, a distant past that lived only in stories that began with 'remember when,' but in that moment, the ineffable comfort of nostalgia crept in. I was suddenly back in a time and place when free-flowing conversation around glowing embers was a familiar combination. My husband and I had arrived at Cedar Lakes Estate, a 500-acre woodsy retreat in the Hudson Valley, the night before. Less than two hours from New York City, the transition from tall buildings to tall trees happened quickly. As we neared the property, the road deviated into a path of twinkling lights, cozy cottages, and a tranquil lake that signaled play, even in winter. 'Picture the most beautiful bucolic summer camp. Now, imagine it went to culinary school, got a master's degree, and the property and cottages [on the grounds] were polished up just enough to be luxurious and elegant, without losing their nostalgic spirit,' said Lisa Karvellas, who owns the property—named the best hotel in New York state in Travel + Leisure 's 2024 World's Best Awards—with her sister, Stephanie. Cedar Lakes Estate has summer camp in its DNA: The property served as a youth camp in the 1920s, and then later as the Team USA Sports Camp, hosting Olympic athletes for nearly 15 years. Today, it's first and foremost an idyllic wedding venue in the spring, summer, and fall, counting Zosia Mamet and Josh Radnor as celebs who have tied the knot here. For those without a coveted wedding invite, however, Cedar Lakes Estate opens as a hotel in the winter (generally, December until late April). 'We realized our guests only had the opportunity to experience Cedar Lakes Estate if they happen to be invited to a wedding,' said Lisa. 'We wanted to give everyone an opportunity to come enjoy our wonderful property, cottages, culinary program, and service.' Lucky me. 'We hope guests leave feeling a strong sense of comfort, home, warmth, and belonging,' she continues. 'We hope they leave knowing they can come back and be treated like family. And when they do return, we hope they feel that happy nostalgia that comes with a treasured memory.' On our final morning, as we began our drive home, I couldn't help but start scrolling through photos of our weekend at Cedar Lakes Estate. I'd do the same a few months later, on a mundane commute to work, and again when the weather turned chilly the following winter. Each time, I felt a pull to return to camp—this time the kind that serves cocktails in a clear igloo atop a mountain. Views of Hudson Valley from one of the domed igloos. Alisha Prakash/Travel + Leisure Cedar Lakes Estate's cluster of cabins and cottages—36 total—has summer camp written all over it, but step inside and you'll be reminded you're a grown-up with grown-up tastes. After a day in the cold, I came to appreciate the wood-burning fireplace, spacious bathroom with Italian marble, and plush bed I melted into every night in my Poolside Cottage. Accommodations range from the two-person Sleepy Pine Cottages to the two-story, four-bedroom Farmhouse Main House with floor-to-ceiling windows peering over the misty lake. The Field House has lofted queen-size beds plus a separate bedroom; and the Bluebird Cottage comes with a fireside soaking tub and heated stone floors. A cozy fireplace lights the interior of a living room. Bia Sampaio/Cedar Lakes Estate I was decades removed from any summer-camp stint, but that same eager, first-day feeling set in as we checked in—though 'orientation' here was decidedly adult, commencing with a welcome glass of prosecco and a rundown of the grounds from a staffer with the enthusiastic energy of a camp counselor. The rest of our stay here felt equal parts sentimental and sophisticated—pie-making sessions came with hard cider tastings; a spirited host recited dad jokes alongside chocolate and whiskey pairings; and movie nights in the barn were fueled by vintage candy and cocktails. But this is camp after all, and that meant getting outdoors, despite the chilly temps. Activities include snowshoeing, sledding, ice skating, curling, snowmobiling, and even ice fishing (weather permitting), some for an added 'layer-on' fee. My husband and I joined a guided hike through the woods to learn how to build a campfire using nothing but flint and steel. Though it was only a 30-minute jaunt through the frost-covered leaves, it felt good to be in nature, searching for the ideal rock, waiting with childlike wonder as we took turns striking it against the steel, and cheering upon seeing the first spark—pure, uncomplicated fun. Guests relaxing and playing one of the available vintage video games. Edward Winter/Cedar Lakes Estate When we weren't outside, days unfurled like one long playdate. We explored every inch of this utopia as if we were kids, playing old-school Nintendo games and filling up on complimentary '90s-themed snacks in the Treehouse Lounge, and sitting by the communal outdoor firepits long enough for the smell of smoke to linger in our hair. Over a game of Scrabble in the Treehouse Lounge, we struck up a conversation with one couple, who told us this was their third year visiting. They had found Cedar Lakes Estate in 2021, a refuge during the height of COVID-19, and decided a winter visit would become an annual tradition. The food and drinks available inside the domes. Alisha Prakash/Travel + Leisure We knew this, just like camp, was transient. We would eventually have to return home and resume our grown-up lives. But for now, the evening called for summiting (OK, by golf cart) a mountain, where a fairy-tale igloo filled with make-your-own cocktails, blankets, and a platter of fresh vegetables and dips were to keep us company as we watched the sun dip below the mountains. As we stepped into our cozy cocoon, my husband first tinkered with the iPad to adjust the playlist, then beelined to the bar cart to peruse the variety of gins, olives, and other accoutrements left out for concocting his ideal martini. The staff had also prepared a build-your-own hot chocolate kit, complete with a blowtorch for toasting the pillowy marshmallows—proof the Karvellas sisters have thought of everything. Outdoor yoga sessions, polar plunges in the lake, guided tours to learn about the local wildlife, and a St. Moritz-inspired après bash with caviar bumps and DJs have all been on the itinerary in the past, though winter activities do rotate to keep things fresh. The exterior of the general store and a fire lit dining room. Meals here are a special affair, too. This is where the property's main persona as a wedding venue really shines: Candlelit dinners in the Pavilion—rustic yet romantic with an oversized fireplace as its centerpiece—feel choreographed, in that tables are served course after course at roughly the same time. The menu leans local and changes with the seasons—my winter visit brought a velvety potato and leek soup with smoked trout and crème fraîche; braised beef short rib tucked alongside mascarpone polenta and baby carrots; and a dark chocolate brownie sundae drizzled with bourbon caramel and candied pecans. The whole evening felt like a celebration, even concluding with a DJ spinning tunes and encouraging guests to get off their seats and hit the dance floor. Still, my favorite meal was the private dinner held in the clear-domed, heated igloo on the lakeside deck beneath twinkling lights. Overlooking the snow-globe of a landscape outside, my husband and I tucked into a deeply comforting five-course extravaganza: roasted rainbow beets with toasted festa and puffed quinoa; smoked ricotta ravioli with truffle cream and oyster mushrooms; pan seared salmon with crispy potatoes and a caper chimichurri; orange Campari sorbet; and a pear cranberry upside-down cake with whipped mascarpone. Mornings are equally indulgent, with a to-die-for cinnamon bun or a basket of warm pastries and coffee delivered to your door, though lighter options—eggs, yogurt with homemade granola, fresh-pressed juices—are available at the Pavilion for a sit-down breakfast. Interior of the cozy Bluebird Cottage. Bia Sampaio/Cedar Lakes Estate A deep soaking tub in the Poolside Cottages bathroom. Cedar Lakes estate bills itself as 'an hour and a half and a world away.' Indeed, the canvas of Shawangunk Mountains, still lakes, and serene forests is quick to make you forget this upstate gem, in the heart of New York's Hudson Valley in Port Jervis, is just 70 miles, or roughly 90 minutes by car, from the big-city noise. You can drive or take the Metro-North or New Jersey Transit from NYC's Penn Station to Port Jervis Station, a 15-minute Uber ride from the hotel. Those with their own car will find it easier to explore the surrounding area, which includes nearby High Point State Park, home to beautiful hiking trails, and Storm King Art Center. Though, with so much on offer at the estate, you'll have little reason (or desire) to leave. Although I only saw couples during my winter stay at Cedar Lakes Estate, there are plenty of reasons to bring the whole family along. Not only are the accommodations—some multibedroom with large living spaces and full kitchens—ideal for multigenerational groups, but the activities, both indoor (drive-in movies, game nights, picnic lunches in the Pavilion) and outdoor (ice skating, sledding, snowmobiling) will get the whole brood bonding without any digital distractions. And again, while the property changes up its offerings each season, previous years have brought a Little Campers' Corner, with space for kids to craft, plus themed, kid-friendly 'kits,' with all the items needed for a plotting a scavenger hunt, decorating cookies, building snowmen, and stringing friendship bracelets. Also on the agenda: a Snow Paint Party, where little ones use eco-friendly paints to create a colorful masterpiece on the snow. 'Sustainability at the heart of everything we do at Cedar Lakes Estate,' says Lisa. That includes providing refillable water bottles for guests, with water stations throughout the grounds; reducing energy consumption by using geothermal technology in some buildings; growing seasonal produce in the garden and sourcing the rest from nearby farms and purveyors to ensure meals are as fresh and local as possible; and composting on-site to limit waste. Plus, by the end of 2025, about 65 percent of the property's energy needs will be fueled by solar power, according to Lisa. Considering Cedar Lakes Estate was originally built in the 1920s, it's important to note some, but not all, areas are equipped for wheelchairs. There's a wheelchair-accessible entrance and path, plus handicap parking on-site for all guests. There are also five ADA-friendly accommodations, and all public and shared spaces, including the restored barn, are wheelchair accessible. Guests taking one of the on property cooking class. Edward Winter/Cedar Lakes Estate Cedar Lakes Estate is not an all-inclusive, but all meals, including breakfast, dinner, and afternoon snacks, are included in the rate, as are many activities, with some layer-on options for an added fee; private igloo dinners are an additional cost as well. As a hotel only in the winter months, Cedar Lakes Estate is not part of any loyalty programs. Cottages start at $375/night; cabins start at $225/night. Every T+L hotel review is written by an editor or reporter who has stayed at the property, and each hotel selected aligns with our core values.
