Let’s get personal

September 20th is your opportunity to “get up close and personal” with Loudoun’s very own Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve.

This free Open House, which runs from 11am to 3 pm, is being sponsored and organized by the Friends of Banshee Reeks.  The event will feature several “stations” where visitors can see hands-on demonstrations and learn more about the volunteer activities going on at Banshee Reeks.

Have an interest in birds?  You can learn more about volunteer bird banding, migratory birds, and what birds are found on the Preserve.  There will be demonstrations by stream monitors, a station to learn more about our snakes, turtles, and frogs; and information about invasive plants and the volunteer efforts at Banshee Reeks to manage these alien invaders and promote the return of native plants.

“The event will feature family-friendly activities and interactive demonstrations focusing on stream monitoring, bird banding and monitoring, amphibians and reptiles, native and invasive plants, rain gardens, and more that will provide an opportunity for visitors to celebrate the environmental, cultural, and historical stewardship of the nature preserve. Hayrides and guided archaeological and nature walks are also planned for the open house. Admission is free.“

Nature Find is another tool to find outdoor opportunities

The National Wildlife Federation’s Nature Find website lets you search an area for nature related activities and sites.  You can refine your search by type of activity and zip code.

Once you locate a site you are interested in you can select it on the map and get a popup with site information,  driving directions, and event schedule.

Check out Nature Find at this LINK

New site Koddler offers search for “local activities for Kids and Toddlers”

Koddler is a new website that parents will find useful and interesting.

Koddler helps you find local activities for Kids and Toddlers.

At their home page you can do a quick search of “what you are looking for” coupled with the ability to limit your search to your own geographic area.  Audubon Naturalist Society’s Rust Nature Sanctuary is currently one of the featured sites on the home page.

Check it out HERE

A great Bed and Breakfast with a Bonus

My wife and I spent a delightful two nights in a bed and breakfast last weekend.  She and I love Victorian era homes with all of the gingerbread and usually try to find a restored Victorian when we travel.

I must say that this weekend’s stay was a wonderful experience.  The Lady Linden Bed & Breakfast in York, Pennsylvania is an “almost” fully restored Victorian home circa 1897.  The owners are on the last leg of their three-year restoration project.   That in itself is not unique but the back story is what intrigued me.

Jim and Jean Leaman are the proprietors and quite frankly I felt like my wife and I had found soul mates.  What this couple has accomplished is an inspiration on many levels.  First of all Jean is from England and the child of botanists.  Her love of plants, and affection for native plants in particular, is demonstrated in her garden.  Underneath the colorful bounty of her flowers is a rain garden she and Jim installed to safely handle the roof runoff and overflow from the rain barrels tucked under the down spouts.

Jim is a retired biology and environmental science teacher with a love of the outdoors, wildflowers, birds, and hiking.  He is also a community activist and Chairman of the Codurus Creek Watershed Association.  Like many community advocates for clean streams and clean water, Jim knows that the only way things are going to improve is through citizen action.

The last part of my short story is how this couple rescued a house that was on the verge of being condemned.  Jim and Jean watched the house fall into severe disrepair.  Jim did not want to see it demolished leaving either a vacant lot or making way for a modern home that would not fit the historic neighborhood.  So he and Jean purchased the home and embarked on a three-year restoration plan.  They have taken painstaking care to bring this beautiful home back to life.  This is what I would call “Extreme Reuse and Recycle”.

The neighborhood, known as “The Avenues”,  is better for what Jim and Jean have done and I am better to have met them and heard the story of their journey.  What would have been landfilled has been brought back with renewed life and purpose.

York, Pennsylvania may not be the first place that comes to mind for a weekend get-away but it was one of the best I’ve experienced.  If you are a nature lover Jim and Jean can give you some great ideas for hikes in the area (we are planning a spring retreat to see the trillium). And the accommodations and hospitality were wonderful.

You can link to their website HERE

Environmental Stewardship Adventure Days

I wanted to pass this along from my firends at Adventure Links.

Get Outside & Give Back This Summer

Environmental Stewardship Adventure Days 2009

With such a enthusiastic response in 2008, Adventure Links is once again organizing three Environmental Stewardship Adventure Days. These volunteer opportunities are designed to support our local parks and wildlife areas while getting families active and outdoors.  The giving goes both ways too – spend the morning doing trail and river clean up and the afternoon participating in complementary adventure activities! The day trips are free and open to all volunteers over the age of 8. We encourage families to come together, and participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Shenandoah River Clean Up DATE: June 27 TIME: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM MAX:  20 Volunteers Spend the day on the river cleaning up the banks and pulling out debris from the river. Rafting is a refreshing retreat from the hot summer rays. Elizabeth Furnace Clean Up DATE: July 18 TIME: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM MAX: 20 Volunteers Help clean up Elizabeth’s Furnace! We will be removing debris from the bottom of the rock and surrounding trails, then rewarding ourselves with an afternoon of rock climbing. Bear’s Den Clean Up DATE: September 12 TIME: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM MAX: 20 Volunteers Come hike the trails around Bear’s Den Hostel, a favorite Blue Ridge stop for Appalachian Trail hikers. We’ll help maintain the several loop trails around the hostel, while learning the rich history of the AT. Please call Adventure Links at (800) 877-0954 or visit our web site at www.AdventureLinks.net for more information.

Adventure Links
21498 Blue Ridge Mountain Road
Paris, Virginia 20130
800.877.0954

Hike the Blue Ridge Center with Hillsboro Elementary School

Supporting and developing tomorrow’s environmental leaders is important.  Here is an opportunity to join students from Hillsboro Elementary School and Loudoun Valley High School on a nature hike at the Blue Ridge Center.

John DeMary and his students from the Loudoun Valley High School Environmental Explorations class will be along to point out various plants and wildlife we see along the trail. Bring your own lunch to enjoy after the hike.

WHEN: Saturday, April 25 from 10am to 12pm.

WHERE: Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship,11661 Harpers Ferry Road, Purcellville VA 20132

For more information, please email Amie Ware.

Directions to the site >>>

Volunteers needed to Watch the Wild

Nature Abounds™ Seeks Volunteers to Watch the Wild™

Watch the Wild, the newest program of Nature Abounds, seeks volunteers from across the United States to monitor the “wild” in their community.

In as little as 10 minutes, volunteers can gather and report information that will help to analyze how our climate is changing in different regions of the United States, and how our ecosystems are reacting to the change.

Volunteers contribute information about wildlife, plants, trees, and weather. Watching the Wild can be done in a specific area such as a backyard or a local park, or volunteers can choose to observe and report on the route they commute to work or a trail that they hike regularly.

It’s All about the AT coming Mar 6

The Old Stone School in Hillsboro, Virginia is the site of a free event on March 6 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm for exciting and entertaining presentations about the natural history of the Appalachian Trail.

Guest speakers include:

• Mike Hayslett: Called “Virginia’s leading vernal pool expert” by the Audubon Naturalist Society, Mike has studied mysterious, dark “swamp waters” since childhood and championed the conservation of these wetlands for 20 years. Featured in the April/May 2000 issue of National Wildlife magazine, Mike’s graduate work at Longwood University was on the Natural History of the Mole Salamander in Virginia. He is Naturalist-in-Residence in the Department of Biology at Sweet Briar College and Director of the Virginia Vernal Pools Program, traveling the state and raising awareness for the ecological importance of “underdog wetlands” and their unique living resources. He and his son hiked the 550-mile Virginia portion of the Appalachian Trail. Mike is affectionately called the “SWAAAAmp Man” by Loudoun Valley High School students.

• Rita Hennessy, Outdoor Recreation Specialist, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, National Park Service: Rita has 20 years with the NPS, and more than a 25 year history with the Appalachian Trail. She recently completed a Master of Arts in Community Change and Civic Leadership. Through her graduate studies, Rita created A Trail to Every Classroom, modeled after A Forest for Every Classroom in Vermont. This is a professional development opportunity for teachers to promote getting kids in the woods and discovering the significance of their communities and local resources, as well as connections to other locales through the conduit of the Appalachian Trail.

REI will be there to provide information about trail gear and helpful advice.

And, entertainment by Loudoun’s own Acoustic Burgoo to entertain with their unique blend of folk, blues and traditional tunes. The Acoustic Burgoo features Rudy Bzdyk, Ben Walters, Erik Burnham and Melissa Wright, four young adults bringing a fresh sound to favorite old tunes – with a professional dedication that belies their ages. Formed in January 2006, this band of former LVHS students has been playing local gigs for quite a while, including opening for Ralph Stanley at Franklin Park, opening for Larry Sparks at the Lucketts Bluegrass Series, performing at the Watermelon Park Fest, The Bluemont Fair, The Purple Fiddle, and at The Round Hill Arts Center Bluegrass and Folk Music Jam. And, on April 3, they will be opening for The Seldom Scene at Franklin Park. The Acoustic Burgoo organizes the Loudoun Wildlife Fest, an annual Loudoun County music festival.

Camping refreshments will be provided by the Newton Marasco Foundation (NMF).

“It’s All about the AT” is part of the NMF’s Engaging the Environment in Loudoun community outreach series. This event is free, but space is limited, so please reserve your seat today!

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER HERE >>>

Summer internships announced for Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has announced opportunities for its 2009 SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (LWC) is accepting applications for its 2009 Summer Internship Program. The LWC internship program provides educational and hands-on opportunities for students concerning environmental issues impacting Loudoun County. College juniors, seniors, and graduate students pursuing a career in the environment are encouraged to apply. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2009.

In previous years, interns have supported LWC’s citizen science programs, including stream monitoring, amphibian monitoring and habitat restoration. They have helped to develop the organization’s publications and assisted with nature camps for children. In 2009, interns will also assist in collecting data for the Bird Atlas, a five-year program designed to identify bird populations around the county, as well as provide follow-up data analysis for the annual International Migratory Bird Day and the organization’s annual butterfly count. Additional responsibilities include assistance with internal LWC operations, as assigned.

The LWC Summer Internship Program provides students learning and training opportunities to:

• advance their knowledge and understanding of environmental issues;
• gain exposure to the operations of a nonprofit organization;
• develop research capabilities, and technical, field and leadership skills;
• apply knowledge learned in the classroom to real world environmental challenges;
• be guided and mentored by environmental professionals;
• benefit from the opportunity to network with LWC volunteers and the greater Loudoun community; and
• explore career possibilities in the nonprofit and environmental field.

Requirements for consideration:

• The intern should be available for work at least 20 hours per week, from approximately May 15 – Aug. 25.
• The intern should be pursuing a degree in an environmental career including, for example, biology, policy issues, environmental management, horticulture, etc.
• The intern will need to be available to participate in a face-to-face interview with two LWC staff for consideration.
• Applicants will need to submit a resume and cover letter detailing education, training, and skills they will bring to the LWC internship program.
• The intern will need to provide two references, preferably employment-related.
• A writing sample in the candidate’s current research field or other environmental area of interest will need to be submitted.

Interns will receive compensation for the work performed. Applications may be submitted online at www.loudounwildlife.org. Or, contact the LWC Summer Internship Coordinator, Karen Strick, at kstrick@loudounwildlife.org, for more information.

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy is an all-volunteer non-profit organization whose mission is to promote the preservation and proliferation of healthy wildlife habitats throughout Loudoun County.

Visit www.loudounwildlife.org or call 540-554-2542.

Anyone can be a Citizen Scientist

CITIZEN SCIENCE (via wikipedia)

Citizen science is a term used for projects or ongoing program of scientific work in which individual volunteers or networks of volunteers, many of whom may have no specific scientific training, perform or manage research-related tasks such as observation, measurement or computation.

The use of citizen-science networks often allows scientists to accomplish research objectives more feasibly than would otherwise be possible. In addition, these projects aim to promote public engagement with the research, as well as with science in general. Some programs provide materials specifically for use by primary or secondary school students. As such, citizen science is one approach to informal science education.

The longest-running citizen science project currently active is probably the Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count

Citizen Scientists at AVEO-Ashuelot Valley Environmental Observatory http://keeneweb.org/aveo

You can learn about local opportunities in citizen science by registering for Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy’s INTRODUCTION TO CITIZEN SCIENCE

WHEN: Sunday, January 11, noon to 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: Banshee Reeks Registration Required.

Join us for a talk about the importance of citizen science and the important role that data gathered by our volunteers plays in monitoring habitats and animal species locally and nationally. Learn about our different monitoring program areas which include bird surveys, butterfly counts, stream monitoring, amphibian monitoring and bluebird nestbox monitoring and opportunities for you and your family to get involved collecting data in your neighborhood and across Loudoun. Celebrate the accomplishments of our past volunteers, meet fellow monitors, share experiences from the field, and sign up to be a citizen scientist for 2009. We’ll provide a presentation on our monitoring programs and have handouts available for more information. Current volunteers as well as anyone interested in finding out more about our programs are encouraged to attend.

Please Sign Up Online or contact Nicole Hamilton at nhamilton@loudounwildlife.org.

Google Map

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

How do you survive the cold?  Sweaters, turn up the heat, hot soup? Wildlife do not have the luxury of clothing and shelter that we enjoy.  So, how does nature adapt to the cold months?

Sign up for the January walk “Baby, It’s Cold Outside!”

WHEN: Sunday, January 18, 2009  1 – 3:30pm
WHERE: Rust Nature Sanctuary, 802 Childrens Center Rd SW, Leesburg, Virginia 20175

You will explore the basics of winter ecology and the many strategies organisms from grasses to grackles employ for winter survival. These walks are recommended for ages 10+ up, and admission is $5 per walk or any three for $10. Space is limited, so please rsvp to the Rust Nature Sanctuary at 703-737-0021or visit their website.

“Get outdoors its yours” campaign launched to get America’s youth back to nature

Via USDA Department of Agriculture — Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer, and Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Corps of Engineers Maj. Gen. Don T. Riley today announced a “Get Outdoors, It’s Yours!” campaign to reconnect children with nature.

The new campaign, described at the website http://www.getoutdoorsitsyours.gov, encourages children and their educators and families to experience nature firsthand. Federal leaders from eight agencies and bureaus said that “Get Outdoors, It’s Yours!” will provide more information for America’s young people about opportunities to get outdoors on our national parks, forests, refuges, other public lands and waterways.

Anyone can be a Citizen Scientist

Citizen Science. What is it? Wikipedia defines it this way:

“Citizen science is a term used for projects or ongoing program of scientific work in which individual volunteers or networks of volunteers, many of whom may have no specific scientific training, perform or manage research-related tasks such as observation, measurement or computation. The use of citizen-science networks often allows scientists to accomplish research objectives more feasibly than would otherwise be possible. In addition, these projects aim to promote public engagement with the research, as well as with science in general. Some programs provide materials specifically for use by primary or secondary school students. As such, citizen science is one approach to informal
science education.”

Image: flickr photo uploaded by dermoidhome

According to a post at Science Cheerleader, Citizen Scientists are all the rage. Author Darlene Cavalier writes:

As a kid, perhaps you wanted to grow up and be a scientist…and baseball player, famous chef, president, or first [fill-in-the-blank] astronaut. Then came middle school and the emergence of hormones/testosterone and stereotypical overtures reminding you that science is for geeky boys or socially dysfunctional girls. High school just ramped all of this up but at least in middle school you did some cool classroom science experiments.

Some science-loving adolescents (like the Science Cheerleader) weren’t swayed by any of this, but couldn’t afford college, started a family or chose other careers.

Well, have I got news for you folks! People like us, untrained in the sciences, are clamoring to be engaged in science at rates unmatched since the days of Ben Franklin. A growing number of so-called “citizen scientists” are not waiting for invitations to participate in science policy discussions or hoping the next generation will improve its dismal science literacy rates. Instead, they are jumping in to change the way science gets done. And having a lot of fun in the process!

Citizen scientists monitor water quality, tag butterflies , count birds, record earthquake tremors and observe and record celestial patterns. Here are three good resource sites where you can learn about other cool citizen science opportunities: Terrie Miller’s Citizen Science blog, Cornell University’s Citizen Science ToolKit and the Society for Amateur Scientists.

In July, news of Sky Survey,an international collaboration mapping a large section of the universe, spread over the web. Within a few months, more than 100,000 volunteer citizen scientists classified more than 1 million galaxies.

John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, notes that as “more and more amateurs and the researchers they work with realize the potential, and people see that their contributions matter, the era of the citizen scientist will explode.”

Read more at Science Cheerleader >>>

Image: Pixdaus: God Gave Us Pics!

There are many opportunities for Citizen Science. There are probably opportunities to meet your current interests or something that could develop into a new interest.

image credit: Cappaert, David

What about Spider WebWatch, which is a biodiversity monitoring effort for biologists, naturalists, educators and students? From more than 4,400 species of spiders in North America, 9 were chosen as eight-legged ambassadors. You can learn to identify them, view the sighting reports, and read some active discussions online.

Or, Firefly Watch? According to their web site
Firefly Watch combines an annual summer evening ritual with scientific research. You can join a network of volunteers and make observations in your own backyard. Particpants can track their progress online and interact with fellow Citizen Scientists and help scientists map fireflies found in New England and beyond. No specific scientific training required.

If your interest is birds, you must visit Citizen Science Central at the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

The National Wildlife Federation offers FrogWatch USA for volunteers to learn the calls of local frogs and toads then report which ones you hear calling in the spring and early summer. Data is entered through an online form.

Image: Releasing a tagged Monarch. Photo by Anne Okonek.

If you’re fascination is with Monarch Butterflies you can find several opportunities here.

You can even get ideas from a Citizen Science blog called Citizen Science Projects.

There are also lots of opportunities close to home. For example Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy has organized Stream Monitoring, Bluebird Nestbox Monitoring, local Amphibian Monitoring, the Annual Butterfly Count in August each year, the Christmas Bird Count in December, and the International Migratory Bird Count in May.

If you are interested in a better understanding of nature, science and ecology, and would like to develop or participate in Citizen Science projects you can also sign up to be a Virginia Master Naturalist
here.

Outdoor opportunities listed at loudounnature.org

Here is a list of organizations and activities from the “it’s their nature” website:

Adventure Links offers Summer Camp, school and youth group programs, and adult and corporate programs which include a variety of engaging, active and transformational activities. We focus on adventure summer programming for youth, team building adventure activities for schools and groups and team building seminars for corporations.
800.877.0954 or http://www.adventurelinks.net/.

The Rust Nature Sanctuary of the Audubon Naturalist Society fosters stewardship of the region’s environment by educating citizens about the natural world, promoting conservation of biodiversity, and protecting natural habitat.  Located on the edge of Leesburg, the sanctuary is secluded on 68 acres of woodland and meadow and offers a beautiful place to walk the trails, have a picnic, or enjoy one of our many environmental education programs.  Our education programs include adult programs, school programs, scout programs and summer camps.  Take photographs and leave with pleasant memories and plans to return again and again. http://www.audubonnaturalist.org or www.audubonnaturalist.org/default.asp?page=515

Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy aims their activities and programs to appeal to a wide variety of interests and skill levels.  Recent talks in our speaker series include topics on salamanders, bald eagles, wildflowers and cougars. Each year, LWC participates in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count and the North American Butterfly Association Butterfly Count.
http://loudounwildlife.org/index.htm

Virginia Master Naturalists are volunteer educators, citizen scientists, and stewards helping Virginia conserve and manage natural resources. The local Banshee Reeks Chapter can provide speakers or leaders for nature walks for your organization, school class, or scout troop.
http://www.vmnbansheereeks.org/index.html

Piedmont Environmental Council offers summer camps and a fellowship program for college students.
http://www.pecva.org/

The Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital – Girl Scout Mission Statement:  Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
http://www.gscnc.org/

Claude Moore Park offers a variety of activities for people of all ages. Because of Claude Moore Park’s open spaces, miles of hiking trails, pavilions, and ponds, the park hosts classes and activities that take advantage of these natural resources.
http://www.loudoun.gov/claudemoorepark

Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is a 700-acre nature preserve now open to the general public between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. every weekend. Members of the newly formed Visitor Information Volunteer Association (“VIVA”) at Banshee Reeks staff the preserve during the weekend.
http://www.co.loudoun.va.us/prcs/parks/banshee.htm

Earth Force engages young people as active citizens who improve the environment and their communities now and in the future. We do so by training and supporting educators in programs that enable young people to lead community action projects focused on creating sustainable solutions to local environment issues in the community.
http://www.earthforce.org/section/aboutef

The Smithsonian Naturalist Center in Loudoun County, Virginia, invites visitors ages 10 and older to use its 36.000 object hands-on collection of natural history objects, 6,500 books, and scientific equipment. Identify natural objects and curiosities, draw work on school projects, or just browse. The center offers a full range of services, special events, and school programs for middle school, high school and beyond.
http://www.mnh.si.edu/education/naturalistcenter.htm

Luck Stone is a private, family-owned corporation that is committed to being a steward of the environment. Luck Stone operates three quarries and one architectural stone center in Loudoun County, and its associates actively engage with local schools and communities in geology and environmental education. www.luckstone.com

Loudoun Soil and Water Conservation District promotes educational and technical programs in the field of natural resources conservation which meet the agricultural and urban conservations needs of the District. http://loudoun.vaswcd.org/about.htm

Loudoun County’s Hidden Treasure

BANSHEE REEKS NATURE PRESERVE:

LOUDOUN COUNTY’S HIDDEN TREASURE

by Christyna Hunter

Like its name, Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve is unique. The preserve, which is more than 700 acres, strives to protect natural habitats and wildlife populations; be a place to conduct and coordinate ecological, historical, and other scientific research; and to provide the public with an opportunity to enjoy and learn from this unique reserved area. And it’s located in the heart of the largest growing county in the state!

Located off the beaten path, so to speak, the preserve, located on The Woods Road, near Heritage High School in Leesburg, is operated by the Loudoun County Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services. It was purchased by the county from a private landowner in 1993 and opened to the public in 2003. It is now opened to the public every weekend, 8–4 on Saturday and Sunday.

The preserve has hosted a photography show by retired National Geographic photographer Bruce Dale, been mapped out by a Phase I archeological survey, and has provided opportunities for high school and college  students to perform internships in many areas such as field and wildlife management. The place is also a   wealth of historical information. A 3,000-year old arrowhead was found on the property and the bank barn located on the eastern corner of the preserve is believed to be one of the few left of its kind in the county from the Civil War era.

Banshee Reeks is currently the meeting place for a chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist program

(http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org).

This property is also kept intrinsically dark and will be managed as a “Dark Sky Facility” for the benefit of both the environment and visitors.

It is supported by the Friends of Banshee Reeks, a volunteer, nonprofit organization. There is a team of volunteers (VIVA’s) who work in the visitor center the third weekend of every month. To learn more about the Friends of Banshee Reeks, the VIVA program, and the preserve in general, visit www.bansheereeks.org.

_______________________

Christyna Hunter is an author that lives in Loudoun County and an active volunteer promoting Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve and nature protection throughout the county.

You can learn more about Christyna and her book “The Butterfly Dance“  <HERE> and <HERE>.

The Butterfly’s Dance (Paperback)

by Christyna Hunter (Author)

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List Price: $16.95 Price: $16.95 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

In Stock. Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Great American Backyard Campout is June 28

National wildlife Federation’s Great American Backyard Campout is this Saturday.

Image:flickr uploaded by Fort Photo

The National Wildlife Federation is asking people to register their campsite and take part in what may be the largest concerted camping effort in backyards across America since the Revolution.  As of this writing there are 19,382 campers registered across the US.

Join thousands of neighbors, friends, and families across the country for NWF’s fourth annual Great American Backyard Campout™—Saturday, June 28, 2008!

Be part of this nation-wide event! Add your campsite today and we’ll help you make the most of your event with packing lists, recipes, wildlife guides, activities, tips and more. Whether in your backyard or favorite campground – Register your campsite now!