When preparing for a backpacking trip, most people are concerned with what to pack. However, how you pack and carry your backpack is just as crucial for a successful hike. If you are wearing your backpack correctly, nearly all of the weight should be resting on your hips, through the use of the straps that [...]

I mentioned in a previously posted article, “Share My Excitement,” that I would be attending the National Youth Science Camp. Well, I’m back, and it was everything that I expected and more! The 3.5 week stay in the middle of the Monongahela National Forest (without any cell service, I might add) truly brought all of [...]

Every once in a while, things come up that we just can’t wait to tell the rest of the world. This is also known to some as bragging. Okay, maybe it is bragging, but in my opinion, a little bragging is okay sometimes, right? I’m saying all this because I have something that I’m too [...]

Sometimes it can be fun to go on walks or hikes in the outdoors without a planned route or destination. However, such an adventure only stays fun as long as you can navigate your way to where you need to be. Being able to determine your cardinal directions (north, south, east or west) without a [...]

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that 90% of the world’s water is contaminated in some way. The water might look clear, but chances are that there are microscopic dangers, lurking unseen. There are three basic methods of water purification: boiling, filtering, and using chemical additives. All have pros and cons. Boiling is the age-old [...]