Have you ever found yourself sitting around a campfire sharing stories of favorite trips, first trips or even worst trips? Those intense experiences that bonded you to people and taught you endurance and courage?

The Story Starts Like This: 

“It was a dark and stormy night…” 

“The fish was thiiiiis big!” 

“It was the best sunset I’ve ever seen…” 

“I was sooo sore after that portage, but it felt so good to challenge myself!” 

“I never imagined the view from the summit would be that stunning.” 

“Do you remember that time when…?”

“That was the coldest night of my life!”

The Joy of Remembering

I was thinking about how fun it is to tell adventure stories, but also how deeply meaningful it can be.

I am blessed to know many people who love the outdoors and who love Jesus.

For me personally, my love of nature is intertwined with my faith in a way that can’t be separated. When I’m telling or listening to stories of outdoor adventures, most are also stories of faith from me and people around me. 

It reminds me so much of the great cloud of witnesses!

Hebrews 12:1 says: “Therefore let’s also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”

Sometimes it’s like I can feel others that have gone before me encouraging me to keep going. To keep learning how to love Jesus better every day. And those stories of the faith journeys of others help me feel empowered. I can find the energy to keep on keeping on even when I’m discouraged.

Similarly there have been times when I’ve been doing a tough hike or portage and have reminded myself of the people who walked the trail before me, carrying the same weight. That encouraged me that my task is possible and worth completing.

The Cloud of Witnesses 

Hebrews 12 also reminds me that we all have people we’ve looked up to who were beloved mentors or leaders. Some of those people have since passed away.

I’ve sat around campfire circles where we’ve told stories of the great adventures of the people who have died. We’ve remembered their senses of humor, their skill sets and their character in the face of challenges.

Not only does the retelling keep their wisdom and memory alive, it allows us to grieve and to celebrate their life.

This is such an important part of our faith. We know our hope is in Jesus and in a salvation that allows us to rejoice as we grieve.

Remembering our Heroes 

As I was thinking about this idea of telling stories, I kept thinking about how the Bible retells stories of the heroes of the faith—just as we do for our personal heroes and people we love.

Hebrews 11 is a perfect example of this. It goes through a list of individuals considered to have been faithful and the great things they did.

Storytelling through History 

This also makes sense in the context of the culture. Many ancient cultures had oral traditions where the history of the people was passed on through stories from each generation to the next.

We don’t just see this in the Bible. Homer wrote an epic called The Odyssey about a man named Odysseus and his journeys. Much of it involves the elements of nature and survival.

Here’s an excerpt that talks about nature. It reminds me of stories of friends who describe their experience being in the Boundary Waters during an intense storm nicknamed The Blowdown: 

“…churned the waves into chaos, whipping all the gales from every quarter, shrouding over in thunderheads the earth and sea at once—and night swept down from the sky— East and South Winds clashed and the raging West and North, sprung from the heavens, roiled heaving breakers up—and Odysseus’ knees quaked, his spirit too…”

This writing was meant to be recited or sung, and was designed for people to hear it. 

History shows that the ancient Israelites had an oral tradition as well. They would have passed on lessons, histories and faith through that oral tradition.

While histories were also recorded in writing simultaneously, I think this shows that some stories are meant to be told.

Tell your Story 

I think that this is true, even today.

Revelation 12:11 says, “They overcame him because of the blood of the lamb and because of the word of their testimony”.

The testimonies that we have are a gift. They have strength within them.

The stories we tell show the character of God. They can encourage someone going through a similar situation. Or they can provide a different perspective resulting in a solution to a problem!

They remind us of all the wonderful ways God has continued to be good through our lives and the lives of those who went before us.

Just like our outdoors stories can be testimonies of God’s character and presence, they can also carry wisdom and beauty and encouragement.

As you think about this in your life, where do you have a story that needs to be told? Who are your heroes of faith in your personal life and testimony? 

Works Cited: Homer. (1919). The Odyssey. London : New York :W. Heinemann; G.P. Putnam’s sons; Robert D. Miller II, « Orality and Performance in Ancient Israel », Revue des sciences religieuses [En ligne], 86/2 | 2012, mis en ligne le 15 avril 2014, consulté le 06 août 2024. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/rsr/1467 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/rsr.1467

Here’s more…

• Hearing God in Our Outdoor Adventures
• Build Christian Community through Outdoor Adventure
• Find Your Way to “Hidden” Beauty

The post It’s a Joy to Remember Our Outdoor Adventures first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

I’ve done a fair amount of camping. So I have in mind what I know I need to take—with slight edits based on what kind of trip it is.

This list has been built over time and from experiences all around the world.

The items at the top of the list are likely there because, at some point in time, I forgot it and learned my lesson really fast! Like the time I forgot fuel to cook the food on a backpacking trip—0/10 would not recommend!

One of those supply lists that I have in my head is what I will need for my sleeping accommodations.

When thinking about shelters for camping, there are two common types I want to compare and contrast:

• Tent camping
• Hammock camping.

Both are great! However, both require a different supply and requirements list.

(Keep in mind this article is not a comprehensive list for your trip. This will just compare the supply lists for the sleeping portion of your packing list. These sleeping accommodations are comparable whether backpacking or campground camping with minor variations.)  

Terrain

First things first—what is your terrain like?

Will there be trees appropriate to hang your hammock from? Or will you end up using it on the ground like a tarp?

Cowboy camping under the stars is fun! But not when it’s your only option and you’re getting soaked because of it!

Will there be places on the ground that are large enough and flat enough for your tent? Or will you end up sleeping on a hill with your neck on a tree root and your feet in a puddle?

Weather 

What is the weather looking like?

Does a hammock setup provide you with enough shelter from the elements to stay safe on your trip?

Think about low temperatures at night, and projected wind and rain forecasts.

A hammock setup can definitely be lighter and take up less space in a pack. A bonus for the ultralight crowd! 

Gear List for Each

Now we’ll compare the actual gear lists, and discuss a few differences:

Tent vs Hammock: Main Differences

Okay, now let’s look at some of the main differences:

The tent needs a footprint under it to help keep your floor dry.

A hammock is suspended and the bottom shouldn’t touch the ground. However, if the ground might be muddy and you’ll want someplace to keep your shoes or put your pack, an extra tarp or footprint is useful.

A hammock also provides the best temperature regulation when an additional layer of the underquilt is added. Even a warm night can be chilly with half your body exposed to the air under your hammock. Lots of your body heat will be sucked away from you without an underquilt.

In a tent, your sleeping pad provides that insulation.

What About Bugs?

Bugs: a mosquito net with a hammock allows you to not get eaten alive all night. A tent has that feature built-in.

I’ve heard of people adding a layer of magnets at the edges of their hammocks for more protection from insects and for temperature regulation. This isn’t as secure against insects as a mosquito net that’s designed to attach to your hammock and completely surround you, though.

Rain?

A rainfly is beneficial for both setups. But consider that your backpack is usually in your tent or a vestibule but will not fit in your hammock.

Consider bringing an additional tarp and ropes to add a second cover over the top of your hammock. Rainflies designed for hammocks are attached right overhead. They’re usually not designed with much extra coverage for items on the ground beneath you. If the wind is blowing rain sideways, your shoes, pack and anything else will get very wet!

When tent camping, for added comfort some choose to bring a cot instead of sleeping on a pad on the ground. That isn’t an option with a hammock. 

Sleeping Positions

Hammocks limit your sleeping positions a bit. They put your body at a curve that varies by how close together your hammock ends are and how curved the fabric is designed to be.

Hammock sleep systems attached to permanent locations (such as in buildings) can be entirely flat. But the kind of hammock sleeping we’re talking about will always have some type of curve.

Do you have a history of musculoskeletal concerns like back issues? If you do, please talk to your medical provider before you choose a sleep system.

There’s some advice surrounding the optimal sleep angle and how to achieve this with hammock camping. See this article to reference that information! 

Bring a Hammock Along Anyway

You may decide to sleep in your tent for the trip. But that doesn’t mean bringing hammocks along isn’t a great addition to your campsite!

They’re great nap spots and perfect for extra seats instead of sitting on the ground.

And crawling into a hammock at the end of a full day of camping is a moment of pure bliss! 

Is There an “Ultimate List”?

Most of this list came from my experience, but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.

Different people have different preferences when it comes to what they have to have with them and where they’re willing to cut some weight out of their pack. So keep in mind these are recommendations, not rules.

As I looked around the internet to double check my list, I saw so many websites advertising “the ultimate list for…” or “the complete gear checklist for…”

So many websites seemed to assert their expertise as being the best or most complete list one could possibly find.

There are many excellent posts that I referenced in writing this and I want to give them credit as well. Those websites are here, here and here. I highly recommend checking out these links!

But, because of the nuances of personal preference, weather, type of trip and terrain, it’s difficult to create a truly comprehensive list for every person and every circumstance. 

There Isn’t Really an “Ultimate” Life List Either

This concept can also apply to our perspective surrounding life and engaging with the world around us!

There are so many times in life when we need to look at our circumstances and determine the right set of strengths needed. To balance our strengths and weaknesses within that.

There are foundational things—like don’t forget the tent. But there’s truly no “best” or “most complete” supply list. Everyone has preferences, and different trips may require different supplies.

Similarly, there are foundational character qualities that are important for every human to have. But there’s no ultimate or best list of strengths and abilities.

We’re all gifted in different ways. Those of us who believe our strengths and gifts are God-given believe these differences are what makes us truly shine in community with one another.

Our differences in strengths and our unique needs help us learn to depend on God and each other. They teach us to appreciate perspectives that are different from our own. 

Wrapping Up

What necessary items are on your packing list for your sleeping accommodations?

Did I miss any? Feel free to respond and let us know! To get a deeper dive into tents and how they connect to our faith walk, read How to Widen Your Tent Pegs. 

P.S. I feel an honorable mention is due for this article. Many thanks to my best friend and camping pal Lydia for taking so many random candids of me in tents over the years! 

Here’s more…

• Ideas for Devotionals for Your Next Camping Trip
• Camping Cabins: A Great Alternative to Motels & Tents
• Build Memories through Outdoor Travel & Recreation

The post Tent vs Hammock for Camping: Which is Best? first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

In the moment it sounds fun and adventurous and economical for everyone to cram a little. Everyone has a little less weight to carry…

Until someone’s feet are in your face and no one is sleeping!

The person sleeping next to the tent wall will often wake up a little damp from the dew coming through because there was no space to allow evaporation. If it rains, even more so. The tent is likely to become Puddle Central! 

Life Is Like a Tent 

Sometimes when life is bursting at the seams, things can get a little messy.

There’s a verse in the Bible where God tells His followers to:

“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.”

Isaiah 54:2

In many of the cultures represented in the Bible, the people groups were nomadic and lived in tents. So this teaching made sense to them in the context of their culture.

There are some differences between the backpacking tent I think of and the traditional tents of these ancestral cultures.

Theirs were large structures made of animal skins and often had multiple rooms with curtains separating spaces for different uses. They often attached additional fabric or animal hides to expand the tents.

This allowed people and families to create additional space they needed to bring more people in. They could all be included to dwell together in community. 

What Is Your Capacity? 

I was thinking about this lately in the context of how we as followers of Jesus interact with people in the world around us.

Just like a too-full tent feels like it’s no longer functioning the way it’s supposed to, sometimes a too-full life feels overwhelming. Like the day-to-day activities fall apart a bit at the seams.

Sometimes it feels like there’s just so much going on in life. When we add more, everything gets stretched to the limit.

As I thought about it, it struck me that there could be a lesson here when we compare the tents we use today with the tents that would have been used in the Bible.

I think it’s a cool metaphor we can apply to our outdoor adventure lives and think about in the context of our spiritual lives. 

Spiritual Tent Pegs 

Isaiah 54:2 is often used to describe spiritual capacity. To encourage Christians to widen the tent pegs of their hearts.

There are so many things this could mean, including:

• Praying for a new topic
• Hosting a Bible study to disciple people newly exploring a Christian faith practice
• Volunteering with refugee or immigration ministries
• Helping care for families experiencing change by contributing to a meal train
• Even inviting someone to live with you and your family.

There are so many ways we can translate this encouragement into action.

I took a deep dive in this topic when I read The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Dr. Rosaria Butterfield. If you see this verse as an invitation to grow more in a spiritual gift of hospitality, I recommend this read! 

Empowered to Expand 

Here is where the metaphor comes in:

We can’t widen the tent pegs on our own.

Radical acts of generosity and creating space in your life require a supernatural grace. In our own strength, we’re more like a modern tent.

It doesn’t matter how hard I try, I can’t get my tent to get bigger by pulling on it more. I’ll just pull it apart at the seams.

Alternatively, when the Holy Spirit inspires how I spend my time and resources and gives me the grace to do so, I can be more like the historical tents used in Biblical times.

This is where the Holy Spirit gives me the grace to expand my capacity. To use discernment to know where I’m called to allocate resources, and where someone else is called to allocate their resources. 

Everyone’s Giftings Are Unique 

This doesn’t look the same for every person who follows Christ.

We don’t take this metaphor and say “Look at their tent—how do they get so many people to fit?” We all have unique gifts we express in different ways.

I want you to think about it as an invitation to see how God wants to use you in unique and impactful ways.

Everyone’s “tent” is going to look a little different. However, at the end of the day, the verse gives the same call to all who follow Christ: Make space in your life.

Make space in your tent. 

Reflection 

What thoughts did this reading bring up in you? What can you talk about with a family member, friend or member of your congregation? 

Is there any place you feel the Lord is asking you to “expand your tent pegs”? 

Here’s more…

• Finding Beauty in Everyday Life
• Wildlife Loop in Custer State Park: Black Hills
• Why Strength is Key to Optimal Health

The post How to Widen Your Spiritual Tent Pegs first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Do you want a trip theme? Will you write your own devotions or use already-published ones? When will you do them? Who’s going to lead them each day?

These are the questions we’ll help answer here.

One of the main reasons people go camping is to be in nature. It’s a great opportunity to remember the Creator of all this nature and appreciate the work of His hands. Sometimes we can experience God’s presence “out there” in ways we don’t at home amid the busyness of regular life.

We can take advantage of that and set aside some time each day during our trips to let God’s word impact us and the Holy Spirit meet us—both individually and as a group.

Here are some things to think about when you’re preparing daily devotions for your next camping trip:

Pick a Trip Theme

Some of us love choosing themes for life events (like camping trips) while others prefer spontaneity. Whatever suits you and your crew best is what you should go with.

If you like the idea of picking a trip theme, there are endless options. 

What Type of Trip Is It?

One idea is to center your theme around the type of trip:

• Are you backpacking with friends? How about a “trail” or “path” theme?
• On a canoe trip? Maybe about Jesus being “living water” or “purity.”
• Center your theme around your camp meals. Talk about how Jesus taught us to ask the Father for our daily bread, or God’s provision of manna in the wilderness.
• Will you be in a wilderness area? You could go with Bible stories about when the Lord called His people into the wilderness for times with Him.
• Will these be family camping trips with young children? Kids love the simple things in nature like flowers, rocks, butterflies and water. There are so many important lessons we all can learn by tying in some of the Biblical pictures of nature. Things like trees rooted by streams of water, the beauty of the flowers of the field and how God cares for the sparrows.
• If you’ll stay in a tent, another ideal theme with children is tents in the Bible. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their families all lived in tents. And there’s God’s tent, the tabernacle.

Who’s Going?

The people going on your camping trip will help determine the theme if you choose to go in that direction. You can gear your theme toward young children or active middle schoolers, teens or 20-somethings.

Multi-generational camping trips can be the best ever. You could pull a million stories from the Bible about one generation impacting another.

Maybe you’d like a theme on the fruits of the Spirit. Or choose to read through one of the short epistles together, talking about it along the way. You could pick several Psalms ahead of time that include things in nature like trees, mountains and rivers.

See what I mean? Pretty much endless possibilities.

Write Your Own or Use Already Published Devotions

If you decide on a very specific theme, you may choose to write your own devotionals so you can customize them. They can target your particular trip exactly.

Some will want to write them out completely, and others may just just down a few points and improvise. Totally suit your personality.

Or maybe that’s way too much work…or you don’t need anything that specific. There are plenty of amazing devotional books out there, already printed and published, that would work just fine. You might even already own at least one of them.

If you’re not much of a theme lover or a planner—or simply want the easiest method—bring along a 365-day devotional book and do the daily readings for each calendar day of your trip. You can’t get much easier than that.

And the word of God—the Bible—is always powerful. You can’t go wrong reading the Word.

Decide on the When and How

Like at home, we can have the best intentions of having a daily time with God and just never get around to it. If you truly want to make sure these devos happen on your camping trips, you’ll want to be intentional about it.

For starters, when is a good time to do them? In the morning before breakfast? In the evening around the campfire? At lunch break while you’re out on a hike or at a portage?

For groups of older kids and adults, nighttime devos could be super cool, especially if the night sky is really showing off the stars.

Depending on the makeup of your group and the intention of your trip: will you encourage individual devos first, then come together as a group?

Or start with the group and then split off for some private time with Jesus?

If you have young children, that decision is pretty much made for you. But with everyone else, there are quite a few different ways you could go about this.

Will you include praying together? Or a worship time singing songs everyone will know?

Some of it will depend on where you’re camping. A popular campground during the height of the season may have way too many distractions to keep young children (and even adults!) focused on your devos.

So maybe do them inside your tent or camper before you start your day. Or maybe on a break next to a waterfall while hiking, away from the bustle of the campground.

Other things we commonly encounter while camping can be distractions too—like biting bugs or not-so-good weather. They can impact how and when you opt for your devo time. (It’s not much fun having a devo time outside in the evening if that’s when all the mosquitoes are out biting everyone!)

Who Will Lead the Devos Each Day?

If it’s a family of Mom, Dad and little ones on a camping trip together, Mom and/or Dad will lead the devos. Once kids know how to read, though, they’ll get more out of these days of devotions if they can participate by sharing in the reading.

Maybe you’re a youth leader camping with a few of your youth group kids. You can assign a different kid to lead the devos each day, or ask for volunteers to lead them. Some would think it’s fun and others would think it’s terrifying—but camping’s pretty chill so it’s a great time to practice.

I was on a 4-day canoe trip recently and my co-leader assigned each trip member a day to lead devos. There was no set plan—each woman could choose what she wanted to focus on. We did them after dinner so many of them brought in some of the things we had experienced on trail that day—both the good and the bad.

That kind of format works well for groups of adults.

Whichever you do—themed or not-themed, customized or already published—it’s most meaningful when you make room for questions and conversation about what’s being read.

You could have a few questions prepared, or just talk about what the members of your group bring up. It can be a great time together digging into each devo and the scriptures presented, and sharing personal stories.

Example of an Outdoor-Themed Devotional

Our devotional book Heaven and Nature Sing was written by and for outdoor and nature lovers. So we think it’s the perfect companion for your camping trips, especially if your trip mates are high school age or above.

(And they’re easily adaptable for younger kids!)

Each of the 365 daily devotions includes suggested scriptures to read to dig deeper into that day’s topic. Some of the authors also include a few questions to help process the topic.

Here’s an example of a devo that’s ideal to use on your next camping trip…

River Water is Only as Pure as What’s In It

(This is the May 2nd devo from Heaven and Nature Sing)

 “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23

Is water safe to drink from a mountain stream? A northwoods lake?

We’ve dipped our cup off the side of our canoe in the large Boundary Waters lakes and drank. My son was high in the Bighorn mountains and filled his water bottle from the alpine creek flowing by their campsite.

The water looks so pure and clean—and tastes wonderful. And so far we haven’t had any issues from it.

But I know people who’ve drank from those pure-looking waters and been very sorry afterward. Parasites like giardia are invisible to the human eye but can cause months of digestive problems if they sneak in.

There are several good brands of water filters we can bring into the backcountry with us to keep those nasties out of our system. We can take our chances…or we can use a good filter to make sure the water we drink is pure and safe.

Our culture is a big fan of “follow your heart.” But here in Proverbs, and elsewhere in the Bible, there are red flags about that. Before we can “follow our heart” we have to know our heart is leading us in the right direction!

Our “heart”—our mind, will, feelings—doesn’t always lead us into truth. That’s why this is so important: “Keep your heart with all diligence…” Guard it. Put a reliable filter on it. “…for out of it is the wellspring of life.”

The things in your heart affect all you are and do.

The spring or lake or creek is only as pure as what’s in it. Are there pollutants? Are there parasites? What’s there that we can’t see? We’d better know before we drink it!

Just so, we need to keep our heart diligently. Filter the things we allow into our mind. Filter how our feelings dictate our attitudes and actions. What source of truth are we using as the filter? For followers of Jesus, that has to be His word—the Bible.

Dig Deeper: Jeremiah 17:7-10; Matthew 15:19; Luke 12:34

For visual aids you can bring along:

• A simple microscope and look at water samples from a river or lake near your campground.
• A strainer that keeps out larger debris like sticks and leaves, but not the invisible germs.
• A quality water filter—demonstrate how to use it and talk about how well it filters out the unseen nasty things.

See what I mean? Easy-peasy.

Summing Up

God has FILLED the natural world around us with life lessons. And He’s filled His word, the Bible, with lessons from the natural world.

One of the best places to tie these together is when we’re out in nature on camping trips. Have fun with it!

Here’s more…

• The Value of Extended Time with God
• Finding Beauty in Everyday Life
• Why Symbiotic Relationships in Nature are So Cool

The post Uplifting Devo Ideas for Your Next Camping Trip first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Larger organizations usually have a volunteer coordinator (either paid or volunteer!), a volunteer application process and volunteer events that are already coordinated and on volunteer calendars.

Smaller non-profits and businesses often run a more flexible program based on their staff size and needs—whether by preference or necessity.

Beyond the common “indoor” help (computer work, website help, social media, customer service, bookkeeping, tech, special events, et cetera) many of them also rely on volunteers for all kinds of outdoor tasks. 

Whichever organizations you’d love to work with, volunteering is the perfect way to plug in when and where you can. It can be seasonal, gear-related, grounds-related, animal-related, maybe some trail and campsite maintenance, firewood processing…the list can be endless.

My family and I (my husband, our three now-adult kids and their families) have made this part of our lifestyle since forever ago. And it’s one of the most fulfilling things we do, especially since we love to do it together.

What Can Outdoor Volunteering Look Like?

If it’s local, you can offer to put time in weekly or monthly. If it’s not local, offer to help out for a multi-day project once or twice a year.

Some outdoor volunteer projects are best for large groups, others for just a handful of people. Some would love to have school groups help out, some only use adult volunteers. 

I volunteered monthly for a local horse rescue a few years ago. I lugged hay and grain to the various corrals, scooped out stalls and hauled manure away, cleaned and filled water troughs, and whatever else was on the agenda for the morning I was there.

It was a great option because got me around horses (I love horses). It got me off my rear and on my feet (when I sit a good part of my day it feels great to work hard for a while). It got me outside and around new people.

Most of my family’s outdoor volunteering has been for our favorite non-profit ministry in northern Minnesota—Okontoe, a wilderness family campground and Christian retreat center.

We’ve helped them plant, weed and harvest in their large community garden. We’ve helped maintain their campground. We’ve helped split and stack their winter firewood supply. We’ve helped cut and clear brush, and remove dead trees near campsites.

Often these volunteer projects have been an add-on to a long weekend or week of camping up there anyway.

When I was in my 20s, I volunteered for two summers there, too, when they used to run 2-week youth camps. I was a counselor one summer and co-director the other.

We taught things like wilderness skills, canoeing and team building. Each session culminated in a multi-day canoe trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

A few years ago I was able to fill an ongoing (remote) volunteer position with an outdoor ministry until they were able to get someone full-time in their office.

How to Find Outdoor Volunteer Gigs

We love volunteering for Okontoe because we can share fellowship, help behind the scenes at a Christ-based organization and freely talk about our faith with both staff and co-volunteers.

Christian kids camps and outdoor ministries near you, or ones you’re already connected with, are natural places to consider.

The first step is to reach out and see where they need help and what specific skills they look for. If they have a volunteer program in place, follow the procedure to get your name on the list. If not, get in touch and ask.

They don’t have to be too near if you can pull off an occasional multi-day trip like we do for Okontoe—which is a five-hour drive away. Now that we’re empty nesters, I’d even consider going across the country to volunteer for a week at a ministry I want to support.

There’s also much to be said for being salt and light in the broader community. Especially if your spiritual gifts are bent towards evangelism.

Examples of Outdoor Volunteer Opportunities

Wherever you decide to focus your volunteer efforts there are numerous opportunities:

• Do you love dogs but don’t have one of your own? Offer to walk a neighbor’s dog, or volunteer to walk dogs at your local animal shelter or rescue organization.
• Do you love to hike? Find a hiking organization in your state and see what they need help with. In Minnesota, we have the Superior Hiking Trail, part of the North Country Trail and the portage system in the Boundary Waters. They’re always looking for help with trail work—maintaining, trimming, removing fallen trees and more.
• Are you a camper? Check out local parks that accept volunteers to help maintain their campsites, plant trees, be a park guide or help get rid of invasive plant species. Many campgrounds, both public and private, need a campground host during their camping season. 
• Check with your state’s Department of Natural Resources for outdoor volunteer gigs at state parks. Minnesota’s DNR lists opportunities for master naturalist training, campground hosts and safety instructors.
• America’s National Park Service uses thousands of volunteers each year from Yosemite to Acadia, from Glacier to the Everglades. If you live near one of them or you’re an empty nester with flexibility, how awesome would it be to give a summer for that?
• Resorts and lodges in wilderness areas often can use volunteer help pre- and post-season. Just ask!

Include Your Family

If you’ve got kids at home or grandkids old enough to bring along, an outdoor volunteer stint with them accomplishes several things:

• It gives you a chance to spend time together doing hands-on activities.
• It gets the kids outside and away from their electronic gadgets. 
• It exposes them to the blessing of serving others. The more you do it, the more of a lifestyle it becomes.

I was raised by parents who regularly volunteered for all kinds of things, so it’s always been part of my life. My husband was also raised that way, and we raised our kids to volunteer with us as they grew up. Now it’s ingrained in their lives and will be part of their own children’s growing-up years.

This kind of generational giving is amazing! I’m so thankful for the example we had and the example we can be.

10 Reasons to be an Outdoor Volunteer

1. Gets you outside and active

I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of my day sitting. That’s one of the reasons I loved my 18-month volunteer gig with that local horse rescue. 

For two hours I was off my rear and working hard scooping poop, hauling hay, sometimes walking horses…whatever the day required. It was a wonderful break from all that sitting.

Our Okontoe events keep us outside for 3-4 days straight in all kinds of weather (even snow). That’s even better.

2. A great family affair

One outdoor volunteering project has become an annual family tradition—what we call our Woodcutting Weekend at Okontoe. 

The staff there burns wood all through their long winters. When our kids were young teens we started going up every October for a long weekend to spend a day or two helping process their winter wood supply. 

They started inviting their friends, and before long we had 15 teens and young adults coming with us.

Now our kids are in their 20s, and they still look forward to it every fall. They’ll schedule work around it if they can. As a mom, I treasure that!

This year (2023) even our 15-month-old grandson came along, as well as the 11-month-old daughter of one of our long-standing participants. These folks who were young kids when they started are now bringing their own families. What a joy!

3. Introduce city folks to the outdoors

That annual weekend—cutting, splitting and stacking many cords of firewood—has been an awesome way to introduce our kids’ city friends to the wilderness. 

Some of them had never hiked the beautiful trails, or lived for a weekend without running water, or had to stoke a wood stove instead of turning on a furnace.

While we’ve had plenty of beautiful sunshine and blue skies over the years, we’ve also worked in rain, cold and snow—something most of them wouldn’t do at home.

Without exception, they’ve all loved it (at least for a few days!).

4. A chance to learn new skills

Almost none of the first-time participants we bring on our Woodcutting Weekends have split wood with an ax before. And they all love it! Especially the guys, but many of the girls too.

It’s so empowering for them to realize what they can do physically. Most of them ask to come back to do it again and again.

Many of the available opportunities for outdoor volunteering can include learning new skills you can then use in your day-to-day life…or just for fun.

5. Gets everyone away from media

It’s not just young people who need a break from screens—we adults do too! A few days away from the internet, TV and phones can do wonders for your peace of mind. It’s wonderfully refreshing.

Not every outdoor volunteer gig will be media-free. But it’s sure nice to get them when we can.

6. See new parts of your state, region or country

There are volunteer opportunities at state parks, regional parks, national parks, wilderness ministries—all over the US and some international ones.

While you can certainly serve locally, another adventure would be to find a volunteer opportunity located in a destination you want to travel to. Add an extra day or two to take advantage of the outdoor recreation opportunities there.

Our weekends at Okontoe are five hours from us, so we always try to include some local hikes before or after our work days. Doing this has introduced a gorgeous part of Minnesota to several of our kids’ friends who had never experienced it before.

If the ministry or business you want to volunteer for has overnight accommodations it always helps. But even if they don’t, you can usually find a nearby campground or short-term rental to keep your trip within budget.

7. Meet new people

Invite people to your own group who don’t know each other yet. Most of the folks who come with us to Okontoe are part of our local church. Some of them are new and don’t know that many people yet, so these are great weekends for mingling.

Or you can join up with an established volunteer group. Either way, you’re bound to meet new people.

You automatically have two things in common with these soon-to-be friends—your love of the outdoors and your love of serving.

Volunteering for an outdoor ministry is also a wonderful way to get to know the staff. You never know how God will use these connections in the future!

8. Gain a new appreciation

Every state or national trail system (like the Superior Hiking Trail and the Appalachian Trail) has volunteer weekends for trail maintenance. 

I haven’t done this yet, but I’ll bet those who do have a new appreciation for what goes into the important work of keeping those trails in top condition for those who use and love them.

Every time we come back from our Wood Weekend we gain a new appreciation for our furnace and indoor plumbing, haha!

9. Develop an outward focus

One of the very top benefits of volunteering is focused giving. Remember Jesus’ words, “It is more blessed to give than receive”? Well, turns out—it is!

In their book The Paradox of Generosity, the authors state: “Generous people tend to receive back goods that are even more valuable than those they gave: happiness, health, a sense of purpose in life, and personal growth.”

(The Paradox of Generosity, by Christian Smith & Hilary Davidson, © 2014 Oxford University Press)

10. Create a lifestyle

All these choices—getting outdoors, being active and giving—can become a lifestyle. And a healthy one that offers physical, emotional, mental and spiritual benefits.

Kids who are raised this way see it as normal and are very likely to keep doing it all their lives. But even if this wasn’t modeled for you when you were young, you can start now.

Let’s review the benefits of outdoor volunteering one last time:

• It’s a great opportunity to get outside…
• It gets you active…
• It’s a wonderful way to give to and serve others. What a blessing for them!
• And it’s a blessing for you and others you bring along.

What could be better?

Here’s more…

• Build Memories through Outdoor Travel & Recreation
• How to Raise Our Girls to Love the Outdoors
• Seeing God in Nature

The post Volunteer to Make a Difference with Outdoor Ministries first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

What does this mean: a biblical worldview? And how are we doing as believers in living out this worldview we claim to have?

If you’re an auditory learner, you’ll want to go right to this podcast conversation between Carrie Abbott and Dr. George Barna (Relationship Insights with Carrie Abbott podcast, available on many channels).

I took some notes from the podcast episode and want to share them with you here. It’s SO vital we, as Christians, understand what a biblical worldview is.

There are some quotes from both Ms. Abbott and Dr. Barna, as well as thoughts of my own under each item below.

[Dr. Barna has been a widely-read researcher on American Christianity for many decades. He’s published dozens of books and currently is in leadership at the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University.]

[Fun Fact: When I worked for the Billy Graham Association’s publishing branch back in the late 80s, Dr. Barna was one of our authors. I sat at a book signing table with him at a national convention. My job was to hand him his book to sign for each person in line.]

Why is a Biblical Worldview Important?

You may be asking yourself why it even matters. Here are a few statistics from Dr. Barna that are a little shocking:

• Currently, just 4% of Americans hold a biblical worldview.
• Yet 35% of adult Americans consider themselves born again Christians. They believe they’ll go to heaven when they die because they’ve accepted Jesus as their personal Savior.
• Only 14% of that 35% hold a biblical worldview based on the seven cornerstones we’ll get into in a minute.

So if 86% of professing American Christians don’t have a biblical worldview, what are they believing?

And how will what they believe or not believe affect both how they’re living now and where their eternal destination will be?

Let’s answer those questions as we look at the seven cornerstones:

1. God is the all-knowing, all-powerful Creator of the universe…

…who still rules that universe today.

This first cornerstone provides the foundation of our book Heaven and Nature Sing. God is the Creator. It’s not just the first couple chapters of Genesis that declares this—it’s a theme woven throughout the entire Bible.

The main points? I’m not in control, He is. It’s not about me, it’s about Him. And this biblical understanding of God includes this wonderful truth: He wants relationship with each of us!

2. All humans are sinful by nature…

…Every choice we make has moral considerations and consequences.

“3 out of 4 Americans reject this,” says Dr. Barna. “Most Americans think we’re basically good. That’s a direct contradiction to what the Bible teaches.”

Even if we do think of sin, many of us measure it by our own criteria of what’s good and bad. But if God is the Creator and the Ruler, He’s the one who sets the standards…not His created works.

Along with this is the idea of cheap grace—get your “eternal fire insurance, then live the way you want.”

3. The consequences of our sin can only be forgiven and eliminated through Jesus Christ

This includes the truth that forgiveness must come through our own personal, sincere confession of our sins and our reliance on Jesus’ grace to forgive.

As you can see, believing #3 is dependent on #2, which is dependent on believing #1.

Here’s another shocking statistic (remember, only 4% of Americans hold a Biblical worldview): “Only 2% of people believe they’re going to wind up in hell,” says Dr. Barna.

(That’s something we may want to get worked out while we’re still alive!)

4. The entire Bible is true, reliable and relevant…

…making it the best moral guide for every person in all situations.

This is the historical, orthodox Christian view of the Bible, remember. In America today, though, “most people believe the best way to figure out right from wrong is our feelings, ” Dr. Barna says. “But they often mislead us.”

He goes on: “People have gotten away from believing the Bible is God’s word. And they’ve forgotten He gave us His words because He wants us to flourish in life.”

According to Dr. Barna’s research, “46% of Americans believe the Bible is the true and accurate word of God.” Which is more than the percent of people who say they’re a born-again Christian. Isn’t that interesting?

5. Absolute moral truths exist…

…Those truths are defined by God, described in the Bible and are unchanging across times and cultures.

As the podcast points out, we’re not going to get these moral truths from the media, our public schools or the government.

So, while 46% of Americans believe the Bible is true, only 25% believe in the absolute moral truths the Bible talks about. Something doesn’t jive here—does that 46% know what the Bible teaches?

This is a hard one for us. Why? Because it means we have to submit to Truth. Submit isn’t a popular word or a popular action. It comes back to who’s in control. Who calls the shots. Me or God?

6. The ultimate purpose of human life is to know God…

…to know, love and serve Him with your heart, mind, strength and soul.

About a third of Americans agree to this. The other two-thirds give other answers for the purpose of life, says Dr. Barna: to be happy, to make money, to live a comfortable life.

He says, “A worldview gives you a big picture about who you are, how you’re going to live, what your life is going to look like. A critical part of that is understanding purpose. And it’s not about you. It really is about God, the one who created us for His purposes. What a privilege to be able to have a relationship with this God!”

Our guidebook, the Bible, tells us how to love Him, get to know Him and serve Him.

7. Success on earth is best understood as consistent obedience to God…

…in thoughts, words and actions.

Over and over again, the Bible makes it clear that loving God and obeying Him go hand-in-hand. Jesus laid it out, “If you love Me, you’ll keep My commandments.”

Dr. Barna says, “The big difference is what Americans are pursuing—which is happiness based on circumstances or emotions—and what God wants for us: joy. Joy based on Him and His principles.”

Circumstances and emotions are fleeting and often out of our control. God and His principles, though, are rock solid.

Which Percentile are You In?

I don’t know where the percentages lie in your country. If you’re American, after reading through this list are you part of the 86% or the 14%?

As I stated earlier, your answer is determining how you live here on earth…and will also determine your eternal destiny.

At least that’s the biblical worldview!

We’ve done our best to keep the worldview expressed in the devotional book Heaven and Nature Sing solidly based on the Bible.

We may very well disagree on secondary topics, but these cornerstone beliefs are what unite us!

Here’s more…

• Why Your Worldview Matters
• A Tale of Two Lions: Which Keeps Your Attention?
• A Multi-Generational Outdoor Women’s Retreat? Yes, Please!

The post How to Know If You Have a Biblical Worldview first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

We’ve often used them when we’re en route to a final destination (especially when that destination is home)

The idea behind a camping cabin is that you have four solid walls, a roof and bunks to sleep on. You don’t have to set anything up or pull an RV. You bring your own bedding like you would if you were tent camping.

Have you ever taken advantage of one of these? Here’s what you can expect:

Common Amenities in Camping Cabins

At its most basic, a camping cabin is just what was described above: four walls, a roof and bunks. A solid shelter for sleeping.

Many cabins offer more, though. These are all possiblities:

• Some kind of front porch for a sitting area. One of ours had a porch swing.
• Picnic table and/or charcoal grill.
• Two rooms instead of just one, sleeping up to 6 people.
• Electricity
• Heat
• Even an indoor bathroom (although pretty rare)

So, when should you use one and where can you find them?

Advantages of a Camping Cabin

Convenience

How easy is it to pull up to your little cabin, roll out your sleeping bags and you’re ready for the night?

For those used to setting up a tent or pop-up camper, no matter how quick and easy, there’s no set up with a cabin.

I took advantage of one of these in Nebraska last May when I was driving home to Minnesota from a 2-week solo road trip in Wyoming and Colorado.

For most of my trip I stayed in Airbnbs or with family. On the way home, though, the least expensive and most convenient deal was a camping cabin in a KOA campground just a few minutes off the freeway.

When You Don’t have a Tent or RV

You still get the benefits of a campground stay. Maybe you’re like us and have the gear, but don’t always want to bring it or use it for some reason.

One of our cabin occasions was in the middle of a week-long stay at the Tetons and Yellowstone. We left our pop-up camper in our campsite in the Tetons while we drove into Yellowstone for a couple days.

We stayed at a KOA camping cabin that night on the north side of Yellowstone so we didn’t have to drive all the way back to our camper.

More Cost Effective

A camping cabin almost always costs less than a motel, hotel or private short-term rental unit. We’ve paid from $55 a night to $150 a night.

[Now $150 doesn’t seem like a deal—unless you compare it with the local motel prices! The summer we paid that much for our little rustic cabin was the summer we couldn’t find a motel room in the area for under $450 a night! That was near Yellowstone.]

Luxurious Winter Camping

If you’re like me and love winter but have no desire to camp in a tent in the snow, a year-round camping cabin is the perfect solution!

Usually these will be in a state or local park and will most often be rustic. Maybe not even electricity. But if it has heat, we’re good to go!

Disadvantages of a Camping Cabin

Cost More than a Campsite

If you’re used to paying $20 for a tent campsite, $55 and up sounds like a lot. So cost is relative.

You Need Your Own Bedding

All you get in camping cabins is a mattress, so you’ll want your own sheets/blankets or sleeping bags. This may or may not be an issue depending on how tightly your car is packed.

Limited Number Available

While a campground might have 200 tent and RV campsites, it may only have 2-4 camping cabins. So it becomes much more important to plan ahead if you want to nab one of those.

If you’re flexible and can use them during the week instead of on weekends, you’ll have a lot more options.

Where You’ll Find Camping Cabins

Private Campgrounds

The times our family has used camping cabins have been in private campgrounds. In these cases you have the amenities of the campground at hand—showers, indoor bathrooms, camp store and maybe laundry facilities.

If you’re a camper, you know about KOAs. Almost all KOAs have a few camping cabins. It’s almost like staying in a small village, so you miss out on some of the privacy and quietness, but have many conveniences.

Chances are you won’t find year-round cabins in private campgrounds in northern climates. Campgrounds close through the winter months up here. But in the south, winter is probably a better time—fewer bugs and cooler. Maybe fewer snakes and gators, too

State and Local Parks

These are almost always on the more rustic side, but you have the advantage of a beautiful and more natural location. Less busy, less commotion. Some of these will be open year-round.

The amenities in these public campgrounds really vary on the specific park. Some have hot showers and running water, some don’t. Many campgrounds have electricity, others don’t. Some have a camp store or Visitor Center, some don’t.

Camping Cabin’s First Cousin—the Yurt

Yurts have become more common in the past few years, too. Of Mongolian nomad heritage, yurts are to ethnic Mongolians what teepees were to many ethnic Native American plains tribes.

Prices and amenities seem similar to camping cabins.

I’ve yet to stay in one myself, but one of the state parks not far from us has a couple of them. Someday I want to try staying in one during the winter!

Are there Camping Cabins Where You Live?

All the above is based on our personal experience here in the American Midwest and West. On our own road trips.

What about where you live? Does your region or country have something similar?

Whether it’s a stop-over on your way to or from somewhere else, or a destination in itself, a camping cabin can be a wonderful option.

Here’s more…

• Public or Private Campground: Which Is Best?
• Camping & Trail Food 101
• Build Memories through Outdoor Travel and Recreation

The post Camping Cabins are a Great Alternative to Motels & Tents first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

It depends on your budget, the location, amenities you want or don’t want, crowds you want or don’t want.

Public campgrounds are run by county, state or federal agencies. They’re paid for by our tax dollars and run by government employees.

Private campgrounds are run as a business and owned by individuals or corporations. Many times, private campgrounds are family owned.

There are advantages and disadvantages of each type. Here are the basic differences we’ve found based on camping we’ve done in various parts of the US:

Public Campground Pros & Cons

Advantages of Public Campgrounds

Public campgrounds tend to be cheaper than private ones. That’s because their costs are supplemented by our tax dollars. As of this writing (2023) state park campgrounds in my home state of Minnesota run between $20-25 a night.

Of course each state’s fees will vary. Some are lower, some higher. Some charge more for out-of-state campers than they do the “locals.” But generally, their fees are lower—sometimes much lower—than private campgrounds in the same location.

Public campgrounds also tend to command the prime locations within the parks themselves.

If you want to camp right in your national or state park destination, chances are most or all of your choices will be public campgrounds.

Disadvantages of Public Campgrounds

Public campgrounds almost always have fewer amenities than privately owned ones. Many of the ones we’ve stayed in don’t have showers or electricity available.

If you want to stay in a public campground in one of the popular parks, be prepared for LOTS of people. There can easily be 200-300 campsites in one campground in the bigger national parks (like Colter Bay Campground in the Tetons, where our family has stayed a couple of times).

In many public campgrounds, some or all of the campsites are first-come/first-served. You’ll be taking your chances if you don’t plan ahead—sometimes months ahead.

And even if you do plan ahead, you may find yourself waiting in a long line to find a site during the busiest seasons.

Because public campgrounds rely on government funding, it’s not always possible for the staff to keep up with them as well as private ones. They’re at risk for budget cuts and even closing during government shut-downs.

Private Campground Pros & Cons

Advantages of Private Campgrounds

The biggest advantage is the level of amenities you get at a private campground. Showers, often clean and well-maintained bathrooms, electric hookups, a campground store, playground, planned kids’ activities, etc. All are common at private campgrounds.

Some even rival resorts in their activity offerings: golf or mini-golf, swimming pools, hot tubs, volleyball, fishing guides, movies and more.

Just like any other business, the level of professionalism, cleanliness and available activities depends on the owner, management and staff.

Private campgrounds tend to be smaller, if that’s important to you. We’ve not found a private campground with 200 sites like at some of the big national parks.

In our experience, private campgrounds always offer reservations ahead of time. We’ve often opted to pay more for a private campground site than a public one if it gave us the ability to make a reservation.

The last thing I want after driving 8-9 hours to a neighboring state is to find all the campsites full at a campground where we were hoping to stay!

We’ve been on 2-week family road trips to national parks several states away. At times I’ve intentionally made reservations in private campgrounds for a night just so we can all shower in-between the public campgrounds. Or so we can do a couple loads of laundry.

Disadvantages of Private Campgrounds

For the obvious reason that the owners need to make a profit in order to keep their business running, private campgrounds are more expensive than public ones. Their nightly fees can be twice or three times the rate of their neighboring public campgrounds.

And, as mentioned above, if you want to be smack in the middle of your favorite state or national park, you’re unlikely to find a private campground. But there are always private campgrounds nearby.

The Types of Campsites at Each

We’ve found the size, quality and privacy of individual campsites varies widely in both public and private campgrounds.

Some private campgrounds cater to RV travelers and have sites that are little more than slots in a parking lot. And we’ve stayed at public campgrounds where the sites were so crowded together that it was hard to get any sleep.

And we’ve had the opposite at both, too.

Some campgrounds—public and private—have a map, photos and descriptions of their sites. That’s super helpful, and if at all possible, those are the campgrounds we choose. We’ll reserve a site based on these clues.

We still can’t be sure on the wisdom of our choice until we get there, but it’s a great start.

Adventures and Memories

We Americans are fortunate to live in a country with thousands of campgrounds to choose from.

They help make road trips affordable for families, and add to a myriad of childhood adventures and memories. I can attest to this from my own growing up years, and the years my husband and I raised our kids.

Whether a campground is a destination in itself, or a stop-over to a destination, it’s really fun to explore them. To discover new favorite ones and put others on the “never again” list.

Campgrounds have made it possible for us to show our kids so many of our precious national natural resources. The beauty and wonder of God’s created world.

Camping can get you in that created world better than any other lodging option. For example: How many times has a deer or moose walked through your hotel room? We’ve had them walk through our campsite:

So whether you choose public or private (we choose both), go out there and have camping adventures!

Here’s more…

• Camping and Trail Food 101
• How to Plan an Epic Family Road Trip
• Build Memories through Outdoor Travel and Recreation

The post Public or Private Campground: Which is Best? first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

Yes, we want to eat. Yes, we want our camping and trail food to be reasonably healthy.

But when I’m out and about I want easy prep and easy cleanup. If I want to spend time “in the kitchen” putting out a gourmet spread, there are much better places to do it than the wilderness.

(At least that’s my philosophy! You might be different, and that’s just fine.)

The kind of food that’s best for outdoor activities really depends on a bunch of variables:

How Long will We be Out?

Is it a day trip, a weekend, a week or more?

Can I just throw some protein bars in a backpack, grab a water bottle and call it good?

Or are we packing meals for eight people for a week? Will we have access to a grocery store while we’re there to stock up? Or do we have to bring everything with us for the whole trip?

Who’s Going?

I planned menus and packed differently when our kids were along, especially if my husband wasn’t. I had to keep in mind what they’d eat and how much help they’d be.

Of course that was more of an issue when they were younger and much less so when they were old enough to help with the prep, cooking and cleanup.

Any Dietary Restrictions?

If people in your group have food allergies or other types of dietary restrictions, that’s something you need to plan around. Is anyone gluten-free? Allergic to nuts? Dairy-free?

Some people have self-imposed diet restrictions (like only eating organic) as opposed to medical diet restrictions (like a diabetic).

Either way, it’s often easiest to have that person provide their own meals and snacks.

Do We have to Carry It?

If we’re at the campground keeping our food in boxes in the car, it matters less how much we have than if we’re carrying it in a backpack up and down steep mountain trails for six hours.

A 5-pound bag of potatoes is no big deal if it’s in the car for a week. Not so if it’s in the food pack we have to carry over eight portages for the next five days.

What about Packaging?

Areas populated with bears usually have pretty strict rules about what can be packed in and how it can be stored. This is especially true in state and national parks.

Some backcountry wilderness areas have restrictions for bringing in glass or metal containers. Be sure you know how you need to back your food before you head out.

Will We have Refrigeration?

Is there access to a camper fridge? Do we need a cooler with ice? Will we put it in a Ziplock bag and sink it in the nearby cold-water lake or river?

Or do we need food that doesn’t require refrigeration at all?

Are there Gathering Options?

While I don’t advise planning on natural sources of food for survival, if we have a great day fishing do we have stuff along for a fish fry?

Are we going during berry season? Can we add fresh berries to pancakes or oatmeal? Do we want to add any wild edibles?

How about Cleanup?

Do you want minimal and easy cleanup? Or is a 4-course camp meal more of a priority?

Will you bring finger food or use dishes? Do we need biodegradable soap? Did we remember the washrags and towels for cleaning? How about a container for the soapy water?

What will We Cook With?

Is there a camper with a 2-4 burner cook stove? A grill? Or is it a backcountry trip with a backpacking single-burner stove? Or do we plan to cook over a fire?

If we plan to cook over a fire, do we know we’ll have an ample supply of firewood?

Is the cooking source stationary or will we have to carry it with us? If there are 8 of us, is our cooking source large enough to accommodate that many people?

Is Water Available?

We’ll need water for drinking, cooking and cleanup. Will we get it from a campground pump or from the nearest river or lake?

Do we need a water filter or purifier, or will we have to boil it? Or do we need to pack water with us?

Are there Bears in the Neighborhood?

This is top-of-mind for me from our times camping in the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone, and in northern Minnesota regularly.

“Be Bear Aware” signs and flyers are all over the place in grizzly territory—as it should be, both for the protection of us people and the bears.

How we cook, store our food and clean up after meals in bear country takes on a whole new level of awareness.

Enjoy the Community Aspect

If you want to eat well on outdoor excursions (and especially if you want to eat healthy) the food and meals take quite a lot of planning.

And it takes quite a lot of work when we don’t have hot running water, a countertop for chopping, an oven and other conveniences we’re used to at home.

But camp and trail food can be—and often are—a memorable part of our outdoor experiences. Planning for, preparing and cleaning up after meals is a great way to get the whole group or whole family involved.

To have fun together, to work together and have that time rubbing shoulders together.

The time around snacks and meals in the outdoors is ideal time to take advantage of the lack of distractions so normal in our busy lives.

We can enjoy quality time with the people we’re with at that moment or for that weekend, or during that week-long trip.

Check out our 365-day devotional Heaven and Nature Sing. It’s perfect to take along on your camping trips!

Here’s more…

• Camping in Glacier: Two Medicine Campground
• A Life Well-Lived: In Honor of My Outdoors Dad
• Who’s Your Trail Guide through Life?

The post What to Know Before You Pack Your Camping Food first appeared on Heaven and Nature.

In 2017, my friend Renee Scheil spent her second year in New Zealand with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). She was part of the YWAM staff at the Oxford base, where she had been a student the year before.

All YWAM Discipleship Training Schools (DTSs) have the same format: The first half of the program is classroom training, the second half is outreach.

What differs are the various tools they use to frame their training and outreach. YWAM Oxford offers a Backpackers & Climbers DTS.

Weekend Backpacking Trips for Training and Fun

During the classroom portion, students could choose a weekend backpacking excursion into New Zealand’s breathtaking natural beauty.

Renee was in charge of planning and leading the weekend trips—making sure they had the right gear, the right food in the right quantities, the route, etc.

These weekend treks could be easy and fun, or strenuous and challenging (which can still be fun!). After five days of teaching, most of the students were ready to get out and explore their surroundings.

Several of the students had some backpacking experience. And they would all learn important skills here they’d need later in the outreach portion of the DTS.

Not just the physical skills—but the mental and spiritual aspects of determination, perseverance, teamwork and encouragement.

The Outreach Phase: An Outward Focus

Renee’s team was assigned to southern India and Nepal for their Outreach Phase.

In India, they backpacked into a bouldering area frequented by tourists…hippy-ville, Renee called it! They stayed in local hostels and hung out with the folks they’d meet on the trails, many of them searching for meaning in their lives.

They came in daily contact with people looking for answers, and planted seeds of Jesus’ love with them.

As they headed into Nepal, the toughest portion of their Outreach Phase, Renee’s team came under an established organization called FIVE14. FIVE14 has several businesses that all focus on bettering the lives of the Nepali people. Their website says:

We’re a group of Nepalese and internationals who love adventure and the people of Nepal – especially the people. We think everyone should experience the beauty of this nation and help the people while they are here.

(You’ll want to check out their website! Renee spoke of them with the highest respect. What an amazing combination of adventure travel and community development!)

A Social Justice Adventure

Renee termed their 19-day trek a Social Justice Adventure. One of FIVE14’s key focuses is keeping Nepali girls out of the sex industry (they’re most vulnerable from the ages of 5-14) by working in remote villages to…

• Help bolster the local economy with tourism and other businesses
• Provide education (75% of the women are illiterate in the areas where FIVE14 works)
• Instill a biblical worldview of the value of every person
• Teach hygiene and basic health care

Of course one can’t sum up an experience like this in a sentence or two, but Renee said:

“My team spent the last 19 days hiking in the foothills of the Himalayas helping with post-earthquake relief work in some remote villages along the way. It was such an awesome experience to be the first westerners to stay in a Sherpa village and see how they live life. Nepali people are amazing!”

Renee described the Nepali culture as incredibly open, generous and welcoming—even though the villagers live in poverty.

One of the most sobering, and yet encouraging things she experienced was being in one village where FIVE14 focuses. Just a few years ago, there were no young girls—they had all been trafficked out as an income source for their families.

FIVE14 has come alongside these villagers with the kinds of support described above, so by the time Renee’s team got there in 2017:

“Now you see all these 5-and-under little girls running around, and we know it’s because of this ministry bringing income. It was really cool to be a part of that.

“The backpacking was really hard for some of the people on my team. And it was spiritually really, really intense. I could feel peoples’ prayers covering me. The warfare was real, but it didn’t affect me like it has in the past.”

About Renee

Renee has already spent two summers working in Glacier National Park (she was my main source of info for The Best Short Hikes in Glacier National Park).

She currently works as an occupational therapist assistant in the Minneapolis area, and helps out on her family’s cattle farm on the weekends.

Here’s more…

• Hearing God in Our Outdoor Adventures
• How God Uses Wilderness to Shape Us
• Seeing God in Nature

The post “Go Into All the World” …Backpacking! first appeared on Heaven and Nature.