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 the campers close to each other, but more importantly, to nature. I greatly enjoyed many of our outdoor activities, and will certainly post a few articles about the specific experiences I had doing the various outdoor activities such as rock climbing and kayaking. However, before I am able to describe those experiences, it seems essential to write about a policy that the National Youth Science Camp took very seriously: leave no trace.

Naturally, as outdoor fanatics, we respect nature. We wouldn’t leave an aluminum can behind on a trail, or mark rocks with graffiti. Before camp, I wouldn’t think twice about leaving some crumbs on a campground. They decompose, right? Yes, they do, but before they get a chance to do that, they will attract some animal, and that animal might assume that the campground is a natural place for it to come and find food; as you can imagine, this can cause problems.

And what about throwing an apple core or an orange peel into the brush? Would you do that? Before tossing something, one needs to ask himself or herself, is this something that naturally grows here? If the answer is a no, then it should be put into a trash bag that he or she carries out of the area, even if it decomposes. The general rule is, “Pack out what you pack in.”

Another thing to note is that, when one comes across a muddy area on a trail, the best thing to do is trudge through it, not around, as unpleasant as the idea might be. Going around the mud causes the trail to widen, increasing our infringement upon nature.

“Leave no trace” means more than not leaving any plastic behind; it’s about trying to prevent even the slightest disruption in nature.

When I was younger, my family took a trip to Costa Rica. It is nearly a decade later now, and I have forgotten much about that vacation. However, there is one activity that I remember well: the canopy tours.

What’s a canopy tour? Canopy tours will vary from company to company, but the basic idea is that participants will be able to travel across zip lines that span from one platform to another, sometimes hundreds of feet away.

How safe is this? Naturally, when you’re zooming across treetops there are risks involved. You be rest assured that all of the equipment is safe to use. Since these canopy tours first came about, millions of tourists have enjoyed them in safety. You will not fall. There was one problem that I remember encountering when I went, though this has probably been fixed by now. The weather was not ideal and neither my sister nor I were heavy enough to gain enough speed going down one of the zip lines to make it to its very end. We were only short a few feet from the end, but one of guides had to hook himself on the line and climb out to drag us in! However, I never felt unsafe. Conversely, I got to spend some extra time checking out Costa Rica’s awesome ecosystem from above.

How much do the tours cost and how long do they last? For children the tours can often be as inexpensive as $20, but most charge around $50 for an adult. Tours generally last for a couple hours, which provide plenty of time for adventure, learning, and excitement. How long are the zip lines? The Poas Canopy Tour has a cable that is nearly 2000 feet long!

As an outdoor enthusiast, if you take a trip to Costa Rica, canopy tours are definitely worth the money. Not only is it thrilling, soaring above the treetops, but it gives you a wonderful view of the outdoors. This close view from above is perhaps one you won’t get a chance to see anywhere else. It is truly an unforgettable experience.

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 excited about to keep to myself: I was selected to take part in the 2010 National Youth Science Camp.

What is the National Youth Science Camp? It is a month-long camp for students in the summer after their senior year to explore various fields of science, learning both from hands-on experiments and exciting lectures made by scientists from around the nation. The delegates also will have a chance to travel to special locations, such as NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and several national museums. The National Youth Science Foundation (NYSF) sponsors this event, which is free to each of the two high school seniors chosen to represent each state nationwide. There also will be two delegates from Germany.

What does all this have to do with the outdoors? NYSC is set in the Monongahela National Forest. The delegates will be staying in Camp Pocahontas, near the National Radio Astronomy Observatory in the eastern mountains of West Virginia. There will be several opportunities to take overnight expeditions into the Monongahela National Forest; the excursions will include backpacking, rock climbing, kayaking, and similar(ly amazing) activities.  NYSF writes, “The area provides an outstanding natural laboratory for teaching and experimentation. Isolation from the usual distractions of cities or college campuses provides a nurturing atmosphere.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. What better way is there to learn science than to be immersed in the outdoors?

As fellow outdoors enthusiasts, I hope you can understand and share my extreme excitement for this upcoming summer. I can’t wait to attend this camp, which offers such an amazing experience, much of it in the outdoors. Expect a post on how this experience actually goes sometime after the end of July! Until then, I will be bursting with excitement.

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 compass is one of the most important navigational tools.

You’ve probably heard about this one: moss grows thicker on the north side of the tree. This tip is handy if you live in the middle latitudes of the northern hemisphere, otherwise it might not do you any good. Moss grows thicker on the north side because it grows better in shade; this side, in the middle latitudes of the northern hemisphere, receives the least amount of light. However, if you’re in a thick forest, all sides of the tree will receive the same amount and that quick trick won’t do you any good.

If you don’t have a compass but you have a watch on you, that can be just as useful. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, the first step is to hold your watch horizontally. Then, rotate the watch until the hour hand is pointing towards the sun. South will lie exactly halfway between the half hand and the numeral twelve on the watch. (If it is a digital watch you will have to imagine where the hour hand would be on an analog watch.) From this, you can determine the other three points of the compass you have created from your watch. In the Southern hemisphere, the same first few steps will lead you to the North rather than the South.

RunThePlanet.com encourages avid hikers to take advantage of the expansive outdoors that our planet has provided for us. For more navigation tips, you can read their article “Outdoor Navigation Tips” that explains a method of finding North without a watch. There are also methods to keep course with clouds so you don’t need to know your cardinal directions at all! Know a way out of the woods before you go in.

Nature is an art in itself. However, the Andres Institute of Art, located on Big Bear Mountain in Brookline, NH, takes this idea a step further. At the Andres Institute of Art, anyone can take a nature stroll and enjoy countless artistic surprises along the trails.

The Institute is a privately owned, but publicly open, land that is nearly 140 acres. The founder, engineer and innovator Paul Andrew purchased the area in 1996 with the idea of placing sculptures throughout the landscape, based on a previously founded love of nature and art. Fortunately, there was a sculptor already living there, John M. Weidman. In 1998, they co-founded the Andres Institute of Art.  It quickly grew to encompass large permanent sculptures, but also has smaller sculptures that come and go.

Each year, the Andres Institute of Art invites artists from around the world to come and design their own art during their annual symposium. The artists are paid a small amount, but their true reward is being allowed the freedom to place their art on the park wherever they please. They are provided with the tools and materials, thus all they need to bring is their own creativity. You can imagine that this symposium brings great results.

The Andres Institute of Art is open to the public every day of the year from dusk to dawn. There are trails that take just 15 minutes, such as the Picnic Trail, the Halfway Trail, the Headwall Spur Trail, and the South Way Trail, while others can take up to an hour, such as the Summit Loop Trail and the Parkway Road Trail. Many decades before, the Big Bear Mountain was used for skiing, and just like its former slopes, the trails range from easy to difficult. If you are in the area, it is definitely worth a visit, and if you ever come back, it is worth another one. The views around the park change drastically with the changing of the seasons, and the sculptures themselves change, coming from different artists, new and familiar.

There is a constant struggle in my family to get the youngsters out of the house.  The TV and computer offer significant competition.  And to be completely honest, my own exhaustion after a long day at the office can lead me to be less than forceful in suggesting a trip outside.

One successful approach I have found to getting the potatoes off the couch is tying an outdoor activity into one of their favorite indoor pass times.  I’ve written before about my love for Ninja Warrior.  As much as I enjoy watching it on TV, it does nothing to slim down my love handles.  When I suggest a trip to the park, I generally get some shrugs and “Ummm, maybe later”s.  But if I suggest we go try out our own Ninja Warrior course at the park, well, the boys can’t get dressed and ready to go fast enough.

Whatever the kids are interested in, you can find a corresponding outdoor activity if you look hard enough.  Of course, it isn’t just the kids that need some incentive sometimes to get off the couch and get outside.  I know that I’ve found it easier to motivate myself to get out and get some exercise if I’m looking forward to some ‘alone time’ to listen to a new album I’ve recently downloaded to my iPod.  Or if I need to clear my head to come up with some ideas to meet a writing deadline.

If you’re a regular reader of this site, you are a person who loves to spend time outdoors.  If you’re like me, however, you sometimes find yourself sacrificing your outdoor activities just to try to keep up with the hectic pace of life.  When you find yourself in that situation, give yourself an incentive to make the time you need to get outside and do the things you enjoy.

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, skiing season has started in New England!  I am a skier and thought I should do an article to help start kids’ skiing.

Now, if you are a parent with kids who ski and you need a way to get them skiing, as you are too busy, I would suggest using school ski programs to get kids skiing.  They are really helpful, as they take the kid skiing, let him/her hang out with friends, and teach them new things.  When I started skiing, I started via my school’s ski program.  My program bussed us to Pat’s Peak, a medium mountain (good for beginners), offered lessons, and took us home at 8 o’clock.  Rentals had a reduced price though the program, and there was a similar meal program.  Also, we got one free day there and two free days at other mountains.  We were allowed to travel around the mountain without chaperons, but there were still strict rules preventing unruly behavior.  Most ski programs are similar.

Now if your child does ski, he/she needs gear.  If they belong to a program, it is easy to rent but having your own gear is nice.  In the case of kids, buying used is best, as we tend to outgrow it (less so in the case of helmets, goggles, and coats).  I have my own gear, and when I outgrow it, we can trade it into a swap program, where it is much less.  Many ski stores have a way into the swaps.  Do, remember, don’t go crazy expensive, we are kids.

Traveling in groups is very fun as kids.  We like to roam mountains in herds.  So, when your kids (teens!) want to go skiing, let a friend or two come, especially if you are a parent who doesn’t ski.  That way, your kid can go off with a friend while you stay warm in the lodge, sipping hot chocolate.  Also, going around in groups is safer, and you learn from each other.

Skiing is a fun sport, and there are many cost effective ways for kids to take part.  Let them have fun, especially with friends!

Parkour is the art of moving. Parkour enthusiasts practice the art by maneuvering their way over, around, and through obstacles in the most efficient way possible. The sport requires no special equipment or playing surface. It typically is played in cities, which by their nature provide a suitable series of obstacles.

Parkour originated in France in the late 20th century and retains the original French terminology for many of the moves. The object of Parkour is to move in such a way as you would in an emergency, when every second counts. Practitioners, called “traceurs” for reasons that I don’t know, run as if trying to catch or escape from someone else moving at peak efficiency.

The originators of Parkour resist the idea of Parkour as a competitive sport, instead considering it to be a self-development activity. Predictably, Americans generally don’t view it that way. Here, we consider any physical activity worth doing is worth doing competitively, and competitive Parkour tournaments are making their rounds in cities across the country.

In America, Parkour has evolved/melded into Free Running. The primary difference between the two is that while true Parkour places the highest emphasis on efficient movement, Free Running values creative movement above all else. Parkour features a few predetermined moves, including vaults, drops and rolls. Free Running is constantly generating new and increasingly spectacular movements, which generally don’t have names and often cannot be duplicated.

In the Rowe family, European Parkour, American Free Running, and an episode of “The Office” have merged into something else altogether. Rokour, which is the official name for our own particular brand of the sport, involves my two sons running through the park, going out of their way to jump on and over every obstacle within sight, and yelling “Parkour!” at maximum volume upon encountering each obstacle.

There is no particular scoring in Rokour. There are no winners or losers, per se. The game usually ends when the little one falls down and starts to cry. The game resumes again when he realizes it didn’t really hurt that bad and his big brother is getting away. I highly recommend Rokour for your next family outing. Just be sure to bring the video camera… and the first aid kit.

Have you ever thought about keeping a journal on the outdoors?

How to keep a journal depends entirely on your personal preference. Your level of commitment and your availability will determine how far your journal will be able to take you. Here are some ideas, from simple to more advanced:

• Comment – Take notes on the most beautiful things you saw that day or maybe the weirdest thing you saw.
• Take pictures – A picture is worth a thousand words, right? There’s no reason you can’t cheat a little in your journal and just let the pictures speak for themselves.
• Save specimens – If a picture is worth a thousand words, what’s the real thing worth? You always can press or preserve interesting leaves or petals you find and include them in your journal.
• Identify – You can buy books to help you identify what you’re looking at, whether they are birds, insects, plants, mushrooms, critters, or all of the above. Take note of what you find. You might be surprised with what you end up with. You could look up a list of organisms that you should be able to find in your area and make it your goal to find each one.  (If you don’t know where to start, I would suggest trees.) If you can’t figure out what you’re looking at right away, snap a picture to search online later.
• Teach others – With a little bit of practice, you’ll be able to identify many creatures or plants without having to look in a book. You might have learned an interesting fact about that organism, and by all means, you should share it! Knowledge about nature is perhaps one of the most useful types of knowledge; it has saved many lives. Knowing what plants are edible or what side of the tree moss always grows the fullest on (North) is an essential survival fact that has saved many people in sticky situations in the outdoors.

If you keep the journal going throughout the year, you can see your progress and also compare what you saw one day with what happened the year before. Pretty neat!

Some things are just better outside. With all due respect to the treadmill crowd, you can’t beat a walk in the great outdoors. The best, juiciest, thickest hamburger that can be made in the finest of restaurants can’t compare to an average backyard barbecue burger.

I think of Labor Day as a weekend-long celebration of the outdoors life. We swim, fish, hike, cook, and eat outside on Labor Day weekend. That is the one time each year that no one seems to notice the bugs, or the heat, or any other impediment to enjoying life outside.

This year’s festivities were no exception. Volleyball, a homemade obstacle course, and grilled burgers and sausage highlighted the weekend. For all the times that we’ve paid our hard-earned money to be entertained inside – for every trip to Chuck E Cheese’s or the air conditioned black lighted mini golf course – they can’t compare to the free trip to the park to cook and play and eat and play and eat some more.

I don’t know why we can’t get the whole family together to do this more often. Just like we only cook a turkey once a year at Thanksgiving, we only gather the whole kit-n-kaboodle together once every year to spend a whole day outside. No one ever complains that they don’t like the turkey and stuffing each November, but we wait a whole year before we do it again.

Similarly, no one ever gets bored at the Labor Day picnic. Even the Yuppie cousins from the city obviously delight in every minute of three-legged races, water balloon fights, and roasting marshmallows.

This year, I declare 2nd Labor Day, sometime later to be determined, when we’ll try to marshal the troops to do it all again. Maybe they’ll come; maybe they’ll decline on account of that’s not how we do it. But I’m asking. And whether they come or not, I’m going again.