Teaching kids how to love camping is the gift that keeps on giving

We love the land in Wyoming.  I know, folks outside of the state think we just pump out as much energy as we can and leave a mess behind. This is such a fallacy.  In Wyoming, we honor the land for everything it offers.  We respect the circle of life and we take care of our natural resources and our neighbors.  In fact, we simultaneously honor and protect the natural habitat, wildlife and the beauty we see all around us while we carefully harness the energy we’re so lucky to have throughout the Cowboy State.

So, how can you raise your kids to be good Wyoming citizens and campers to boot?  Check out these camps put on by Wyoming Land Trust and Teton Science School.  My son is going to his first camp this summer and can’t wait.

http://www.wynaturecamps.org/

Junior Brown doin' his thang

Camping isn’t just about the destination, it’s also about the journey.  Yes, we ripped that wisdom off from somewhere else, but it applies so well we just couldn’t help ourselves.

We begin thinking about the journey when we’re packing our gear – tent and all.  What route will we take?  What will we see or do on the way?  What road food will we stop for?  What games can we play in the truck?

Music is always a big question.  We like to enhance the journey with music that gets us in the mood for being close to the land – roughing it, you know?  And with a family of all ages, we have to be strategic about it.  Will they be begging for something different within five minutes? The music has to be fun, the words have to be easy to understand and the sound has to be classic to satisfy the older and the younger man in the car who both have a real penchant for almost anything old.

That’s why we love classic country western music.  Our playlist always includes Johnny Cash, Junior Brown, Ray Price, Willie Nelson and Chris Ledoux.  Here’s our list of favorites… what classics are we missing?

A boy named is Sue

Don’t Take Your Guns to Town

Highway Patrol

My Wife Thinks You’re Dead

This Cowboy’s Hat

Georgia on My Mind

Cadillac Ranch

Heartaches by the Numbers

Mammas Don’t let your Babies Grow up to be Cowboys

Canvas wall tents rule

Q: Why do you prefer canvas wall tents?

A: “The west wasn’t won in a flimsy nylon tent,” said the man.

Q:  So you’re saying canvas wall tents are better than flimsy nylon tents?

A: “Yes.  Canvas wall tents are more sturdy, reliable and comfortable than any nylon tent. Period.  Plus, why would i ever want to camp in a flimsy, uncomfortable squat nylon tent?  I like to enjoy myself and sleep comfortably when i camp.  Don’t you??”

Q: But nylon tents must be good for something, right?

A:  “Yes, they’re good for backyard camping for children…. But i’ll tell you what – if your kids want to grow up to be real campers, but ‘em in a canvas wall tent or a range tee pee in the backyard.  They’ll never go back.”

Q: Ok.  So what can you do in a canvas tent that you can’t do in a nylon tent?

A: “Woah, fella.  You sure you want to go there?  Okay then…You can actually stand up in a canvas tent, you can fire up a stove for warmth and cook in a canvas tent, you can live in a canvas tent for weeks comfortably, you can camp in the summer, fall, winter or spring in a canvas tent, you can make camp for hunting or fishing in a canvas tent.  Hey, you ever tried to crouch down in a flimsy nylon tent and gut a fish?   How about play cards at a folding table with your buddies?  Hmmm???”

Need we go on?

Canvas tents rule for one million and one reasons.  If you agree, join us on our journey to spread the word to new age campers who just don’t get it yet.  But they will, after they read this.

Canvas wall tent made by Sheridan Tent & Awning - Sheridan, Wyoming - since 1909

Across America folks are clamoring to get outside. It’s been one wet and cold weekend after another, but take heart, it’s summer now.  Bulbs are popping with color, trees are blooming and the grass is growing too fast to keep up with.  These are signs that it’s time to start planning your road trips, backyard-grilling parties and, most importantly, your camping trips.

If you didn’t know it already, we’re living in the experience economy.  It’s all about good times and making memories.  Camping is one of the best ways I know to live in the moment—away from the hubbub of everyday life—where virtually anyone can find entertainment in what Mother Nature has to offer.  Fishing, hunting, swimming, horseback riding and campfires are rights of passage.  That’s why camping trips are the kinds of experiences that we remember forever—far longer than a trip to the mall or an expensive getaway.

Family Camping in the Big Horn Mountains, Wyoming

To make the most of your outing, research your destinations well and begin gathering your gear now.  Just a modest amount of planning and preparation go a long way in creating a camping experience you’ll want to repeat throughout the summer.

While other gear and goodies, like sleeping bags, stoves and a cooler full of the best grilling ingredients are crucial to a good time, the right tent can make or break your experience. For maximum comfort and enjoyment generations of outdoorsmen have relied on classic canvas tents.   The most common types of canvas tents on the market are traditional wall tents and range tents or tee pees.  Both have an excellent old-school, western feel to them and are simply more charming than a lightweight nylon tent.

By investing in a well-made canvas tent, you’ll enhance your comfort and happiness quotient ten fold.

American-made

Camping is an American pastime. If you want an authentic camping experience that brings you closer to the land, buy an American-made tent.  Some American tent makers are craftsman—they’ve been making tents for decades or even a century, like Wyoming-based Sheridan Tent & Awning.  These folks create a tent that honors classic tent making technique and stands up to the elements for years to come.  Unfortunately, some American tent companies are now outsourcing their tent making to India or China.  Made in the USA matters.  Ask where your tent was sewn before you buy.

Size

How many people and bed rolls will live in your tent?  Will you have a stove?  How about a table with chairs for meals and games?  If you plan to own just one tent, select a tent large enough for your largest outing.  When shopping, ask how many people your potential tent will sleep comfortably and how much extra space you’ll need for the other stuff you’d like to have at your side.

Durability

If properly cared for, a well-made canvas tent should last a decade or more.  Because quality craftsmanship and fabric type are crucial to durability, choose wisely.  Sheridan Tent & Awning’s canvas tents are often handed down to the next generation, which speaks volumes to their attention to detail and durability.

Choose a tent made with grade A canvas.  Not grade A-B, not grade B.  Grade A canvas is the best quality, tightest weave canvas on the market. Tent makers pay more for this fabric so some may try to convince you it’s all the same, but it’s not.  In fact, the tighter the weave and the better quality the fabric, the more water repellent, breathable and durable your tent will be.

Occasion

Will you camp for short stints or weeks at a time?  Will you be hunting or fishing?  Alone or with others?  A canvas wall tent is best for weekends or longer where comfort and space is important.  A range tent or tee pee is better if you’re camping solo or for just one night because it can be set up and taken down quickly and easily by just one person.   A wall tent isn’t difficult to put up; it just takes more than one person.

Sheridan Tent & Awning Cowboy Range Tent and Tee Pee

Comfort

The desire for comfort while roughing it is universal.   Look for a grade A canvas tent that affords you the space to do what you wish, and the water repellency and breathability to keep you comfortable any time of the year.  Be sure to add a screen window with a sturdy zipper, a screen and a zipper for the door and a stovepipe ring for a stove.  Even if you camp in the summer, it can get a little nippy in the mountains at night, so why not be prepared?

Season

If you’re camping in the winter, you must have a grade A canvas wall tent.  There is no other tent that keeps you as warm and allows you to safely cook and heat your living space.  A wall tent is also large enough to accommodate the extra gear needed for cold weather trips.  If you’re camping in the summer either a wall tent or a range tent will suit your needs, but a wall tent is more versatile.

Transportation

How will you get to your campsite?  If you’re using a vehicle or a pack animal, you’ll have no problem transporting your canvas wall tent, range tent or tee pee.

Atmosphere

A western style wall tent sets an entirely different tone than a nylon camping tent.  Canvas tents have a charm and a nostalgic feel that transports you to a simpler time—when folks appreciated the land in a different way.  Virtually everyone hunted or fished for their food.  The west wasn’t won in a flimsy nylon tent, so don’t be surprised if you feel a bit like Bill Cody as you step out of your tent one morning in the woods with a cup of coffee in a tin cup.

Reputation

This is probably the most important consideration when choosing a canvas wall tent, range tent or tee pee.  Look for a company that’s been making tents for many years that has an excellent reputation for quality and craftsmanship.  Sheridan Tent & Awning has been making tents for 102 years and is well known for their quality and commitment to customer satisfaction.

Visit sheridantent.com to learn more.