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“Straight Fire!”

Your kids will be saying this month’s THiNK OUTSiDE box is “straight fire” – something that is “really good, amazing, crazy (in a good way).” Building a fire is an important life skill but one that comes with a lot of responsibility to keep people safe and to prevent wildfires. Let’s start now with a few basics.

Always be sure that children are properly supervised by a responsible adult while practicing their fire building skills.

Prepare Your Fire Site

Before you start a fire, be sure to check local fire restrictions. Also ensure that conditions are not too dry or too windy. Choose a site with a clear opening above and at least 15 feet away from anything flammable including overhanging branches, dry grass and your tent!

Whenever possible, start by using existing fire pits and fire rings to reduce your impact on the surrounding area. Once you’ve selected your site, clear the area of leaves, grass and sticks down to the bare soil. Use a fire pit or build a fire ring with rocks to create a barrier.

Know Your Fire Building Materials

Once you’ve selected your site, collect the materials you need for your fire. You’ll need tinder, kindling and fuel for your fire. Look for dry wood as it is easier to burn than wet wood and releases less smoke.

  • Tinder: Material that catches fire easily with a match or spark. Examples include dry grasses, dry pine needles, wood shavings and newspaper.
  • Kindling: Smaller, dry sticks and twigs that are about an inch in diameter and about a foot long.
  • Fuel: Larger pieces of wood that keep your fire going.

Never transport firewood long distances. This could potentially introduce invasive insect species and cause damage to local trees and forests. Instead, buy it where you burn it or collect it on site if permitted. Collecting firewood may be prohibited or require a permit so be sure to check local rules.

Build a Fire and Keep It Going

Choose your fire starting method – lighter, matches or a flint and steel fire starter. We think using your THiNK OUTSiDE fire starter is the most fun and the most impressive. Always have at least two fire starting options available in a survival situation, just in case.

Choose the type of fire you want to build – pyramid, log cabin, teepee, lean-to or star. Start with small sticks and twigs and gradually add larger sticks and bigger logs. Keep your fire as small as possible and never leave your fire unattended.

Put Your Fire Out

Before you leave your fire, make sure it is completely extinguished with no chance of rekindling. Start putting your fire out 20 minutes in advance. Gently and gradually sprinkle water over the fire site. Stir the embers with a stick or shovel and spread logs apart. Make sure there is no steam, heat or noise coming from your fire site. Continue to add water and stir the area until you can safely hover your hand above the fire site without feeling heat.

Leave No Trace Behind

Just like everything you do in the outdoors, your campfire should follow The Leave No Trace Seven Principles. Allow wood to burn completely to ash. Completely extinguish the fire using water. Replace any turf and soil you may have removed. If you built a fire ring, take it apart and scatter the rocks. Make your spot look like no one has been there.

Let’s Hear from You!

We love seeing our OUTSiDERS in action. Send us pictures of the different types of fires you’ve built at social@thinkoutsideboxes.com and you may be featured on our page.

Let your kids get lost in nature; let them decide the direction. Eventually, they will find themselves!

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Happy Campers

What better way to practice the shelter building and survival skills you learned in this month’s THiNK OUTSiDE Shelter box than to take a family camping trip?  Follow the tips below to make a camping trip fun and enjoyable for the whole family.

Find Your Spot

The first step to an enjoyable camping trip is selecting the right type of trip for your family. What level of adventure are you feeling? From multi-day backpacking trips to living room pillow forts, there are lots of options to choose from for your family’s camping fun.

The most experienced and adventurous may want to try backcountry camping – hiking, biking or kayaking to a remote spot to spend the night. More moderate campers, may choose to spend the night at a campsite in a tent or an RV. Those who want to get away but have all the comforts of home can try glamping in a cabin, yurt or tree house.

Choose the one that’s right for your family based on your comfort, skill level, location and equipment. Practicing in the backyard or at a local campground can be a good idea for your first camping trip in case someone can’t make it through the night.

Keeping Busy and Having Fun

Camping is a fun and exciting family adventure but you won’t be surprised to hear that kids can lose interest quickly. Be sure to have lots of activities available to keep them busy and you from hearing, “I’m booooored.” Camping with friends always helps make the trip more fun for everyone, too.

  • Help with camp setup. It’s never too early to start teaching kids the essentials of setting up camp so get them involved with age-appropriate tasks. Clear debris off of the tent site. Collect sticks and logs for firewood. Help set up the tent. Organize the food and supplies. Scope out the bathrooms, garbage and recreation areas.
  • Outdoor activities. Bring along or rent supplies for some of your kids’ favorite activities as well as a few new things to try. Biking, fishing, throwing ball, kayaking, hiking, geocaching, corn hole, stand up paddle boarding, snow shoeing, bird watching, swimming, and our favorite this month – practicing your shelter building. The possibilities are endless.
  • Indoor activities. There is also lots of fun to have in your shelter and you may need to if you catch some bad weather. Play games and cards, read, do crafts, tell stories, play music, draw. While I prefer to keep electronics put away as much as possible on a camping trip, pulling out your device for a family movie can be a good option when everyone starts to get tired.
  • Campfire. And, of course, you can’t have a camping trip without a campfire (or lantern or fireplace if you’re in your living room). Let your kids practice their fire building and fire safety skills, gather more firewood (you can never have too much), cook over the fire, make s’mores, play music, sing, tell stories, and watch the stars.

Happy Campers, Not Hangry Campers

marshmallows and chocolate bar on brown wooden board

We want happy campers, not hangry campers. Be sure to pack lots of food and drinks for the family. Will you eat all of your meals at the campsite, pack some to eat while hiking or boating, or pick a few meals to eat out if there’s a nearby restaurant?

Bring the staples you know your family will eat but have fun and try some new foods over the fire as well. You’d be surprised how much you can cook with a skillet and a fire. My family’s favorite is mountain pies. Pack a few snacks that are special treats that you don’t normally eat at home.

Don’t forget about s’mores! Will you go traditional s’mores or will you try some new variations? Oreos instead of graham crackers? Peanut butter cups instead of chocolate bars? Add some strawberries? Yum!

Staying Safe and Comfortable

Having the right equipment is key to a successful trip to make sure everyone is comfortable and safe. Know what’s available at your site before you go – bathroom facilities, water source, fire ring, picnic table, etc. Check out this camping checklist from REI to get you started. Remember that you can borrow or rent gear as you get started to keep your trip more affordable.

Camping can be scary. Bring along items to help your kids feel safe and secure. If they sleep with a favorite stuffed animal, make sure it comes along for the trip. Let each person have their own flashlight or headlamp for getting around in the dark and to keep next to them in the tent. (I suggest a headlamp for those nighttime bathroom visits!)

Follow proper precautions for your campsite and follow all posted rules concerning food storage, animal safety and waste disposal. And always remember the The Leave No Trace Seven Principles when enjoying the outdoors.

Want Free Gear?

Check out our THiNK OUTSiDE Giveaways page for current offers. Now through March 14, 2021, enter to win up to $700 worth of gear including a full-year subscription, tent, sleeping bag and hammock!

Happy camping!

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Climate Change: What’s the Word?

Climate change. Global warming. Paris Agreement. Greenhouse gases. Carbon neutral. Fossil fuels. Renewable energy. Energy efficiency. Climate justice. Have you been hearing these words pop up more often? What does it all mean? Let’s break down some of the key terms.

Climate vs. weather: Weather is the short-term conditions at a specific time and can change rapidly. For example, it is 26 degrees and cloudy as I write this today in Columbus, Ohio. Meteorologists are predicting it will be 21 degrees and snowing on February 16th and that on February 23rd the temperature will go up to 38 degrees with rain. Climate is the long-term daily average of that weather. In Columbus, Ohio it is hot and humid in the summer with high temperatures around 85 degrees in July and cold in the winter with low temperatures around 20 degrees in January.

Climate change: 97% of scientists agree that the climate is changing. The earth’s average surface temperature has risen 2 degrees Fahrenheit (or 1 degree Celsius) since 1880 with the 7 most recent years being the warmest recorded. Along with rising temperatures, there have also been melting ice sheets, decreasing snow cover, rising sea levels, and more extreme weather events like hurricanes and wildfires. The impact of climate change varies by region with some areas having more extreme temperature changes than others and with some regions getting wetter while others get drier.

Global warming: While you may sometimes hear the terms global warming and climate change used interchangeably, global warming is actually just one component of climate change. Global warming refers to the rising temperatures while climate change includes all aspects of the changing climate like temperature, precipitation, and wind.

Greenhouse effect: The greenhouse effect is the natural warming of the earth. Natural greenhouse gases found in the atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Sunlight passes through the atmosphere and then the greenhouse gases capture some of the heat from the sun to keep the planet a comfortable temperature. That’s a good thing because it keeps the earth warm enough to support life for plants, animals, and humans. However, increased concentrations of these gases have led to more heat being captured and rising temperatures.

Carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas. However, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide have been increasing at unprecedented rates. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was measured at 415 parts per million (ppm) in December 2020. Scientists have used ice core samples to track carbon dioxide levels over the last 800,000 years. While levels have fluctuated in the past, they have never before increased above 300 ppm and never increased at the fast rate we have seen in recent years. Reducing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere will be key to controlling climate change.

Paris Agreement: The Paris Agreement is an international treaty to combat climate change with a goal to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius, and ambitiously to below 1.5 degrees Celsius. The treaty was adopted by 196 countries in Paris in 2015. Nations each commit to actions they will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the effects of climate change. In order to achieve the goal of 1.5 degrees Celsius, the world needs to target being carbon neutral by 2050.

Carbon neutral / Net zero: Carbon neutral, also known as net zero carbon, is the term used when carbon emissions are offset by carbon savings so the net effect is no increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon neutrality can be reached by increasing energy efficiency, transitioning to energy sources that have lower carbon emissions, and carbon sequestration. Many governments and companies are making net zero pledges.

Carbon negative / Climate positive: Some organizations are taking the net zero pledge even further, making commitments to remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than they add to it. This can be referred to as being climate positive or carbon negative.

Fossil fuels: Fossil fuels – primarily coal, petroleum, and natural gas – have long been the main source of energy around the world. Fossil fuels continue to provide 80% of energy consumed in the U.S. Fossil fuels have been key in fueling our economy but, unfortunately, they have also been a main contributor to climate change. In 2018, the burning of fossil fuels contributed 93% of all human-caused carbon dioxide emissions. Lower carbon alternatives and carbon capture technologies are being explored to reduce future emissions but consideration needs to be given to the people and places being impacted by such transitions.

Renewable energy: Renewable energy sources – primarily solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal, and biomass – are produced from earth’s resources that are naturally replenished. Renewable energy provided 11% of energy consumed in the U.S. in 2019, 3 times more than was consumed in 2000. Renewable energy is desirable because there are fewer emissions and it is becoming more affordable. But other impacts need to be considered as well including consistency of generation and availability, land and water use, and materials used to produce the equipment such as solar panels and wind turbines.

Energy efficiency: Energy efficiency is simply using less energy to perform the same task. This is achieved through new technologies, updated designs, and changed human behavior. Examples of improved energy efficiency can be found in LED light bulbs, home insulation, and fuel-efficient cars. A study by the ACEEE shows that the U.S. can achieve 50% of the needed greenhouse gas reductions needed by 2050 by implementing existing energy efficiency technology. 

Carbon sequestration: Carbon sequestration is the capture and long-term storage of carbon dioxide. Luckily, we already have a technology that is very effective at removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – plants. Land use adjustments such as reforestation, addition of green spaces, and improved agricultural practices can help reduce carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. Carbon capture and storage technology can also be used to capture carbon dioxide from industrial emissions, transport it, and store it deep underground.

Carbon credits / Carbon offsets: Organizations can purchase carbon credits, also known as carbon offsets, to help meet their carbon neutral commitments by paying someone else to reduce or remove emissions. Examples include forestry, renewable energy, and agricultural projects. Carbon credits are a key tool to offset the unavoidable emissions after other reduction efforts have been made. However, organizations should not continue business as usual and use carbon credits as the only emissions reduction tactic.

Climate justice: Climate change is not just an environmental issue. It is also a social and economic issue. Climate change does not impact all people equally. Often, low-income communities, people of color, women, and older populations are more susceptible to the impacts of climate change like severe heat, drought, poor air quality, and flooding. Climate change solutions must protect the most vulnerable.

There is no one size fits all solution to climate change. It will take a combination of efforts including improved energy efficiency, lower carbon energy production, and carbon capture. And it is going to take all of us – governments, businesses, and individuals – to take action to meet climate change targets.

We are small compared to the world around us, but we can have a BiG impact!

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Getting Knotty with Climbing

Have you been practicing your knot tying with the tools you received in this month’s THiNK OUTSiDE box? Do you have a favorite knot? What do you use it for? My favorite knot is the figure 8 knot because it makes one of my favorite activities possible – rock climbing. I just started climbing 2 years ago but I love it because it tests your strength, concentration, and courage and it is a lot of FUN! And it combines a lot of the skills and concepts from this month’s THiNK OUTSiDE Knot booklet – knots, carabiners, pulleys, and anxiety!

El Capitan, Yosemite National Park

Climbing for Everyone

Maybe you’ve seen the movie “Free Solo” and watched Alex Honnold climb Yosemite’s 3,000-foot El Capitan. That was quite an amazing feat! Whether you were inspired or terrified or a bit of both, you can be a climber. In fact, we are naturally inclined to climb. What do most kids do when they come across a big rock or boulder, a rock wall, a steep hill, or a jungle gym? Climb to the top!

Climbing is dangerous so it is important that you only climb with experienced guides or in a supervised gym until you are properly trained. One of the best places to start is in a climbing gym. Most climbing gyms have several sections to choose from – bouldering, auto-belay, top rope, and lead climbing.

Top Rope Climbing

Top rope climbing is a type of climbing where the rope is fixed to an anchor point at the top of the wall while the climber is tied into one end of the rope and the belayer (the person who holds the rope) supports them on the other end of the rope.

The climber begins by tying a figure 8 knot about 3 feet away from the end of the rope. Then, he feeds the end of the rope through the two loops in his harness. Finally, he uses the end of the rope to retrace the figure 8 and pulls the whole thing tight.

The belayer feeds his end of the rope through the belay device (also known as ATC or Air Traffic Controller). Then, he passes his carabiner through the rope and the belay device and attaches them to his harness belay loop and locks the carabiner.

Finally – the most important step – the safety check. Every time, no matter experience level, the climber and belayer must check each other’s equipment setup. Now we are ready to get climbing!

The climber uses the various handholds and footholds to make his way up to the top of the wall. There are many routes to choose from and are marked based on their difficulty level. The belayer pulls the slack out of the rope as the climber makes it higher and is ready to support his weight should he fall or need a break.

Once the climber makes it to the top of his climb, the belayer slowly and gradually releases the rope allowing the climber to rappel back down to the ground. The pulley helps support the climber’s weight. Soon, the climber is back on the ground and ready for high fives for a job well done.

Anxiety, Achievement, and Applause!

Rock climbing provides an excellent opportunity to teach your kids to overcome their own anxiety and to encourage someone else who is struggling. Let’s face it. Rock climbing can be scary. It is a new experience for a lot of us. But the rock climbing community is one of the most supportive I’ve ever encountered. And there’s no feeling like completing a climb that you thought you couldn’t do.

There was a dad at the climbing gym yesterday with his 5-year-old triplets. I was so impressed by the boys’ behavior. While dad belayed one brother, the other two brothers sat back against the wall and watched. One brother borrowed his dad’s phone and taped his brother’s climb with pride. The other brother shouted encouragement. “Wow! You’re doing a great job!” After one of the boys struggled on a climb and came back down a little tearful, his brothers were still there supporting him. “That was a really hard climb. You’ll get it next time!”

Let’s all aim to show that same bravery and encouragement. Climb on!

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Take a Hike: New Holiday Traditions

This holiday season will certainly be different without the usual large family gatherings. Why not take this opportunity to start some new traditions? Our THiNK OUTSiDE family encourages you and your loved ones to #OptOutside this year and take a hike.

Find Your Hike

One of the best things about hiking? There is a hike out there for everybody. Sure, my family enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with difficult terrain that really get our blood and adrenaline pumping. But don’t let that scare you away. That isn’t for everybody. And that isn’t the only definition of a hike.

The definition of hiking is simply “to travel over on foot for pleasure or exercise.”  Want to go 14 miles? Great. Want to go a quarter mile? Great. Want to gear up with your pack and trekking poles and boots? Great. Want to lace up the sneakers and hit a paved trail? Great. Do whatever makes you happy. But don’t be afraid to try something new either.

If you are looking for a new trail or path for your next outing, check out the AllTrails app. You can search and filter based on location, difficulty, length, accessibility, activities and attractions. I have used this app on all of my adventures locally and when I travel.

Make it Fun!

The key to a successful hike? Fun! (And plenty of snacks.) A good hike is about the journey, not the destination. Take your time and explore what’s around you. Here are some ideas to try on your next hike.

  • Look for signs of wildlife. Put those tracking skills you learned in this month’s THiNK OUTSiDE Wildlife Booklet to the test. Can you find any footprints, feathers, droppings or animal homes? Take your binoculars and journal and see what you can find.
  • Give geocaching a try. Think real-world treasure hunt. Download the Geocaching app on your smartphone and follow the GPS coordinates to hidden treasures.
  • Get out the camera. Take turns capturing photos of your surroundings and of your family. Play with different angles, zoom and lighting.
  • Play follow the leader. Give everyone a chance to be the leader. Jump over logs, hop from stone to stone, walk like a bear, be silly and laugh along the way.
  • Pack a picnic lunch. Plan a nice spot to stop and have a picnic lunch. Get everyone involved in planning and preparing the menu.
  • Enjoy a family chat. Time outside in nature, away from daily distractions and electronics, is the perfect opportunity to connect with your kids and hear what is on their mind.

Let your kids get lost in nature; let them decide the direction. Eventually, they will find themselves!

OUTSiDERS Stay Safe and Respect Nature

  • Plan for your hike. Make sure you dress appropriately for the weather, have any needed safety equipment and bring enough water and snacks for your day.
  • Follow your local COVID guidelines to keep you and your community healthy.
  • As always, remember to respect nature and follow The Leave No Trace Seven Principles.

Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures. Kill nothing but time. – John Muir

Just Keep Hiking

We hope that you enjoy a hike this weekend and continue to THiNK OUTSiDE all year long and for years to come.

Dream BiG! Be KiND! Adventure often!

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Gotcha! Animal Adoption and Your New Best Friend

Our family just celebrated Saturn’s 1st Gotcha Day – the anniversary of the day we adopted her. Read on to learn more about Saturn’s story, animal adoption and the upcoming Wildlife Box from THiNK OUTSiDE.

Saturn’s Story

Saturn is a 5-year-old goldendoodle – a mix of a golden retriever and a poodle. She loves to go for walks, play with her toys, and snuggle. She holds her paw out for you to hold and rolls over to receive belly rubs. She bounces as she runs and is always smiling and wagging her tail.

It’s hard to believe now that she has only been a part of our family for a year. And it’s even harder to believe that she wasn’t always loved as part of a family.

Saturn’s Beginning

Saturn had a hard life before she was rescued. She was a puppy mill mom thought of as a commodity instead of a loving, compassionate animal. She was kept in a barn stall along with 4 other female goldendoodles. She was never taken out to play or go for walks. She wasn’t petted or given affection. She was only used to have puppies that were sold for profit.

Saturn’s Rescue

Luckily, Golden Retrievers in Need (GRIN) came to her rescue. When she was done having puppies at 4 years old, the puppy mill relinquished her and her 4 stall mates over to GRIN who helped find them all loving homes – a much better fate than what they would have had at the puppy mill!

Once in GRIN’s hands, Saturn saw a vet who made sure she was healthy and had her fixed. Once all of her health checks were complete, she went to stay with her foster mom Norene.

As you can imagine, this was all quite an adjustment for Saturn. Norene tells us that Saturn was very scared and refused to come out of her crate, eat, drink or go to the bathroom for 3 days. Norene was patient with her and gave her reassuring support and eventually Saturn started to learn the ways of living in a loving home.

While this was happening, GRIN’s volunteers came to visit us at our house to make sure our home was safe and loving. They also got to know our human and animal family to be sure they matched us with the right dog. We got a phone call on October 15th, about a month after Saturn arrived at her foster home, that they had a potential dog for our family.

Saturn Finds Her Family

We set up time on that Saturday to go meet Saturn. Our whole family including my husband, our two boys, and our golden retriever Kiara drove to Norene’s house to meet Saturn and decide if she fit our family and we wanted to take her home.

Norene brought Saturn to her backyard to meet us. When she stood out on the patio and smiled her big goofy smile that was it. It was love at first sight. We knew she belonged in our family.

We spent a good part of the afternoon playing together and getting to know each other. Then we signed the paperwork, paid the adoption fee and brought her home. We couldn’t be more thankful to Norene and to GRIN for taking such good care of her before she made her way to us.

Saturn had a lot to learn when she came to our house and so did we. Things that are second nature to our family were brand new to Saturn – simple things like going up and down the steps, picking up a toy, and riding in a car. With our patience and Kiara’s lead, it didn’t take Saturn long to feel at home and act like a dog.

One year later we couldn’t love her more. I can’t imagine our family without Saturn.

Pet Adoption: Options Galore

The empathy section of next month’s Wildlife booklet teaches OUTSiDERS about animal cruelty and how they and others can help protect animals. Approximately 3.3 million dogs and 3.2 million cats live in animal shelters in the United States. We can help by supporting animal shelters and learning more from the Humane Society.

If you’re looking to add an animal friend to your family, there are many options. Your local animal shelter is an excellent resource and often a great fit for most families. But there are also a lot of other groups that also help animals find good homes.

Golden Retrievers in Need, for example, specializes in rescuing golden retrievers and goldendoodles in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. To date they have rescued 3,700 dogs. They have a thorough application and screening process and often have a long waitlist depending on the age of dog you would like. But you can be confident they’ll match you with your next best friend.

By doing a little research you can find a rescue that specializes in the type of animal and breed you want. There are lots of animals out there looking for good homes just waiting for you to find them.

What can i do to help?

Not everyone is in the position to adopt a new pet but there are a lot of other ways to help animals in need.

  • Hold a fundraiser for your local animal rescue group.
  • Donate needed items to your local shelter.
  • Volunteer with an animal rescue group.
  • Take a shelter dog for a walk.
  • Make sure your animals have proper ID and are spayed or neutered.

We are small compared to the world around us, but we can have a BiG impact!

Beyond Dogs and Cats

This month’s Wildlife booklet teaches OUTSiDERS how to identify dogs (including fox, coyote and wolf) versus cats (including cougar, mountain lion and bobcat) based on their paw print. OUTSiDERS will also learn how to track animals using their tracks, droppings, feathers and fur. Animal homes and migration patterns, the food chain and biodiversity are just a few more of the topics in your Wildlife box! Happy tracking!

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Wildfires: The West in Flames

October 9th is Fire Prevention Day. As this year’s fire season is shaping up to be one of the most intense ever, it’s more important than ever to learn about wildfires and how to manage them properly.

What is a Wildfire?

In this month’s THiNK OUTSiDE booklet, we learned that wildfires are uncontrolled fires that occur in wildland areas. They can burn millions of acres of land, destroy homes and threaten people’s lives.

Wildfires are actually a necessary part of many healthy ecosystems. Fire helps clear the forest of brush, debris, and weaker trees. This allows the remaining trees to grow bigger and stronger and prevents future fires from growing out of control. It also provides habitats for plants and animals, kills diseases, and allows new generations of trees to grow.

Wildfires become problematic when they grow out of control and when they get too close to developed areas threatening people and structures. Unfortunately, the West is experiencing unprecedented devastation from wildfires this year.

The West in Flames

As of October 7th, the National Interagency Fire Center reports there are currently seventy large active fires in the Western United States. To date, 7.9 million acres have burned in 2020 – 27% more than the 10-year average. The fires are spread across 11 states with the biggest impact in California.

The August Complex is California’s largest fire ever recorded at one million acres earning it the classification as a “gigafire” – a term used to describe a fire that burns more than a million acres. The fire started on August 17th due to multiple lightning strikes and is still only 60% contained.

The El Dorado Fire has also made headlines, not because of its size but because of its cause. The fire began on September 5th as a result of pyrotechnic smoke devices used at a gender reveal party. The fire forced the evacuation of 5 communities, destroyed 5 homes and has caused 1 death and 13 injuries.

Not only has 2020 produced California’s largest fire ever, it has produced 5 out of the 6 largest fires in the state’s history, 5 of the 20 most destructive fires and 2 of the 20 deadliest fires. So, what is behind the increased severity of this fire season?

Causes of Increased Wildfires

The recent increase in wildfires can be attributed to a few main factors – climate change, fire management practices, and human development patterns.

Climate change has led to higher temperatures, earlier snow melts, and more frequent droughts. These hot, dry conditions make wildfires more likely. Scientists have proven that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, especially carbon dioxide, are the main cause of climate change. Long-term relief from wildfires will require addressing climate change.

Forests naturally go through fire cycles to maintain their ecosystem with smaller, less intense fires clearing out brush and smaller trees. However, early fire management policies were focused on preventing fires and suppressing fires as quickly as possible. As scientists learned more, policies were adjusted in the 1970’s to allow naturally caused fires to burn where appropriate.

Since the 1990’s, the Forest Service has faced new challenges to proper forest management. Human development has sprawled into more of the natural lands requiring the suppression of more fires to protect people and structures. Increased costs of fire suppression also mean that not enough funding is left for preventative measures such as prescribed burns and forest thinning that could help reduce the risk of large, uncontrolled fires.

What can i do to help?

In order to get wildfires under control, we will all need to do our part. Always practice good fire safety and learn what you can do to help impact long-term changes.

  • Always follow fire safety rules. Fire is one of our greatest tools but it is also very dangerous. That is why there are fire safety reminders all throughout the THiNK OUTSiDE fire booklet.
    • Always have an adult with you when you are trying to build and start a fire.
    • Never build a fire within 15 feet of your shelter, tent or anything else that can catch on fire.
    • Never build a fire on grass or anything that could easily catch on fire. Use an existing fire pit or a dry area made of sand or stone.
    • When working with fire, always have a way to extinguish it, like a bucket of water or sand.
    • Never start a fire in windy or extremely dry conditions. Always check your state’s warnings.
    • If you are visiting a campground, find out if they prohibit the use of outside firewood and sell their own pre-cut logs on site.
    • Respect the fire. It gets hot, really hot, and can quickly burn you if you get too close.
    • When building a fire, always start small and add larger pieces as the fire picks up.
    • A fire can quickly get out of control, so NEVER walk away from a fire and leave it unattended.
    • Before you leave your fire, make sure it is completely extinguished with no chance of rekindling.
  • If you live in an area prone to wildfires, use this guide from the National Fire Protection Association to learn how to prepare your home for wildfire.
  • Consider giving a gift to the American Red Cross to support wildfire relief for families and firefighters.
  • Check out the Nature Conservancy guide to tackling climate change. It will take policy changes and moving to clean energy to make impactful long-term change. We have much of the needed technology available. Vote and let your elected officials know that climate change is important to you.
  • Thank a firefighter. They are true heroes putting their lives at risk to help keep us safe.

We are small compared to the world around us, but we can have a BiG impact!

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Let’s Go Creeking!

Let’s have some fun outside together! Find a local stream and go creeking. Get your feet wet as you look for bugs, fish, rocks, plants, and animals in and around the water. Below are some ideas to have fun in the water. Remember to always stay safe and to respect our natural areas.

Let your kids get lost in nature; let them decide the direction. Eventually, they will find themselves!

Have Fun and Explore

  • Do a scavenger hunt and see how many items you can find. Check out some fun Scavenger Hunt ideas from Love the Outdoors.
  • Identify the different plants and animals you see. Draw a picture of what you find and label it. Try out the iNaturalist app to help with identification.
  • Make a homemade Underwater Scope for better underwater viewing.
  • Make boats out of sticks and leaves and race them down the stream. Which one goes the fastest? Which goes the farthest?

Stay Safe in the Water

  • Supervise children near the water and keep young children within arms’ reach.
  • Check the depth of the water and be aware of sudden changes in depth.
  • Check the current of the water and stay in calmer areas.
  • Wear shoes to protect your feet from sharp objects and for to help grip on slippery rocks.

OUTSiDERS Respect Nature

As always, remember to respect nature and follow The Leave No Trace Seven Principles. While exploring near the stream it’s especially important to remember these points:

  • Use provided trash bins or take trash back home with you. Bonus points if you take a trash bag with you and help pick up litter you find in the area.
  • Feel free to carefully pick up and explore what’s in and around the creek but always put them back nicely where you found them. Instead, take a picture or do a drawing of what you find to remember it.
  • Be careful with the plants and animals you encounter to make sure that you do them no harm. It is our duty to protect our natural areas and the living beings that call them home.

Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures. Kill nothing but time. – John Muir

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OUTSiDER SPOTLiGHT – Sara Boyle

Hi OUTSiDERS! I’m Sara Boyle and I’m excited to be the newest member of the THiNK OUTSiDE team. I am passionate about the outdoors, enjoying life’s adventures, living sustainably, and helping others. I hope that by creating engaging content I can help THiNK OUTSiDE achieve their mission of instilling a love of the outdoors in children and their families.

As children grow into young adults it can become harder to stay connected, harder to set aside time for each other, harder to find something in common that everybody enjoys. While my boys have grown older (15 and 21) and begun exploring their own paths in life it is our sense of adventure and exploration that keeps us together.

For the boys, the more extreme and exciting the adventure, the better. They push me to try new things and to go just a little further. I encourage them to slow down every once in a while and take in the beauty (and catch my breath).

We recently took a trip to Great Smoky Mountain National Park. This year has been a bit chaotic, to say the least, so this trip was a great opportunity to disconnect from society, reconnect with nature, and reset.

Our advice to make the most of a trip to the Smokies (or any other park that sees a lot of visitors) – wake up early, even start a few hikes with headlamps if you can.

You may just be lucky enough to have the mountains to yourselves for a few moments. Adventure in the dark. Watch the sunrise. Enjoy the morning light streaming through the trees. Encounter animals in their morning routine. Savor the views all to yourself. And as you make your way back down from the summit, welcome your fellow hikers with a smile.

Dream BiG! Be KiND! Adventure often!

We want to hear from you – your experiences with THiNK OUTSiDE, your adventures, and the things that inspire you to get outside. Send us your stories and pictures to be featured on our page and social media! Learn More

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We All Live in a Shed: A Watershed

We all live in a shed. Wait! What? It’s true, but not the type of shed where grandpa stores his tools. We all live in a watershed. So what is a watershed anyway and why is it important?

What is a Watershed?

A watershed is an area of land that drains all of its water into a single output. The water from rainfall, streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater flows downhill towards that output. Watersheds are separated by ridges, hills and mountains. Water that lands on one side of the ridge flows into one watershed and water that hits the other side flows into a different one. Typically larger watersheds are made up of many smaller watersheds.

Finding a Watershed

I live near Columbus, Ohio in the Blacklick Creek Watershed that is part of the larger Scioto River Watershed and even larger Ohio River Watershed. Let’s follow the water to see where it goes.

Ohio EPA: Big Walnut Creek Watershed within Scioto River Watershed.

There is a very small stream called French Run that runs through backyards and a park in my neighborhood. From the park, the stream flows about a mile and a half until it meets up with Blacklick Creek. From there, Blacklick Creek flows into Big Walnut Creek and then Big Walnut Creek flows into the Scioto River south of downtown Columbus.

If we continue to follow the water even further, the Scioto River continues to flow south into the Ohio River at the border of Ohio and Kentucky. Does the water stop there? No, it continues into Illinois where it meets the Mississippi River and eventually flows all the way into the Gulf of Mexico. That’s a long way from my backyard!

In the United States, you can use the USGS Watershed Map to determine the watershed where you live. Or find a map and trace the flow of the water away from your house. Where does it go?

U.S. Geological Survey: Major watershed regions in the United States.

The Importance of Knowing Your Watershed

It’s fun to map out the water’s journey and imagine all the sites it passes along the way. But it is also really important to understand your watershed and the impacts human activity can have on the water in your own backyard and miles away. By being educated, we can take action to protect our waters.

What the water encounters along its journey determines the health of the watershed. Does it pass through healthy forests? If it passes through a farm is there a buffer of green space, called a riparian buffer zone, protecting the stream or does it come straight into contact with fertilizers, pesticides and animal waste? How much of the land is paved and developed? Do factories and businesses properly treat waste or does pollution flow into the streams?

In this month’s THiNK OUTSiDE water booklet, we learned water pollution reduces water quality and makes the water toxic and dangerous to humans and animals. In fact, half of our rivers and streams and more than one-third of our lakes are polluted and unfit for swimming, fishing and drinking.

What can i do to help?

Luckily, there are a lot of people already doing great work to protect our watersheds and you can help too!

Local watershed associations have formed in many areas by concerned citizens like you to understand and protect their waters. Groups may be devoted to a very small section of land, like the Friends of Pink Quarry Park that focuses on the park in my neighborhood, or to a much larger watershed, like the Ohio River Foundation that looks after the entire Ohio River and its watershed. See if you can find a group in your area and volunteer to help!

Here are a few ways you can help protect your watershed at home:

  • Educate yourself and tell others what you’ve learned. Use the EPA How’s My Waterway? website to find your local watershed along with information on the health of your watershed and current projects underway to improve your watershed.
  • Always throw trash away and pick up litter when you see it.
  • Never dump chemicals into your lawn, onto the street or into sewers.
  • Plant native plants in your yard instead of high maintenance grass areas and paved surfaces.
  • Use the mulching feature when you mow the lawn instead of bagging.
  • Start a compost bin to dispose of yard waste and organic kitchen scraps.
  • Use a rain barrel to collect rainwater from your roof and use it on your lawn.

In order to keep our watersheds healthy, we all need to work together to protect the water both close to home and miles away. OUTSiDERs, I challenge you to find your watershed, what issues are impacting your area, and how you can help.

We are small compared to the world around us, but we can have a BiG impact!

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OUTSiDERS Respect Nature

Getting kids outside is extremely beneficial – for their health, for their confidence, and for building a love of nature. However, it is equally important that we teach our children to be good stewards of the environment and always treat nature with respect.

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has provided The Leave No Trace Seven Principles for us to follow any time we are outdoors.

The Leave No Trace Seven Principles:

  • Plan Ahead and Prepare
  • Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  • Dispose of Waste Properly
  • Leave What You Find
  • Minimize Campfire Impacts
  • Respect Wildlife
  • Be Considerate of Other Visitors

© 1999 by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org.

Please take time to review these principles and make sure you and your children are good caretakers of the places you visit.

Leave nothing but footprints. Take nothing but pictures. Kill nothing but time. – John Muir

For more information, check out this in depth blog on the Do’s and Don’t principles from Conquerwild.com: How To Leave No Trace When Camping and Hiking.

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Seeking OUTSiDER Stories

At THiNK OUTSiDE, we aspire to live life unapologetically – to live a life full of meaning and joy and to do so proudly in our own unique way – and to inspire others to do the same.

This is a place for us to put the spotlight on some of our OUTSiDERS – the amazing people you are and the amazing things you do. We want to hear from you – your experiences with THiNK OUTSiDE, your adventures, and the things that inspire you.

Send us your stories and pictures at social@thinkoutsideboxes.com and you may be featured on our page!

Be so completely yourself that everyone else feels safe to be themselves too.

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Water You Doing?

We are enjoying some of our favorite jokes around this month’s THiNK OUTSiDE topic – WATER! Hope you get a few laughs too!

There are two reasons why you should never drink toilet water.

Number one. And number two.

What kind of bear enjoys hanging out in the rain?

A drizzly bear.

What did the sea say to the river?

You can run, but you can’t tide.

Who carries out operations in a river?

A sturgeon.

Where do fish keep their money?

In river banks.

Why do walruses swim in salt water?

Because pepper water makes them sneeze.

Water you doing?

Just rolling with the waves.

What runs, but never walks?

Water!

What’s the definition of a fishing dock?

A surgeon on vacation.

What did the man say to the pot of hot water?

RIP, boiled water. You will be mist.

What is a shark’s favorite sandwich?

Peanut butter and jellyfish.

Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever. – Walt Disney

Water some of your favorite family-friendly water jokes? Share them in the comments below.

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Access to Clean Water: A Human Right but Not a Guarantee

An Issue Globally

Access to clean water is essential to our health and well-being. A lot of us take for granted that we will have clean water when we turn on the tap. Unfortunately, this isn’t true for many people around the world.

In this month’s empathy section of the THiNK OUTSiDE booklet, we learned that a lack of safe drinking water impacts 1 out of 9 people globally.  We learned that millions of people in developing countries must walk several hours a day to collect drinkable water.

An Issue in the United States

But lack of clean water is an issue that is closer to home than you may realize. According to research done by the US Water Alliance and DigDeep, 2 million people in the U.S. lack running water and basic indoor plumbing. Additionally, 44 million people don’t have clean water that is safe to drink.

You probably have heard of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan that started in 2014 when the city’s water was contaminated with lead. And maybe you’ve heard the story of Erin Brockovich and the fight she helped the residents of Hinkley, California win against Pacific Gas & Electric in the 1990’s over contaminated groundwater supplies. But did you know that there are still many fights going on today in the United States where citizens do not have access to clean water?

Ongoing Problems

The battle for clean water is far from over. The DigDeep Report outlines six of the ongoing cases in the United States today – Tulare County, California; Navajo Nation; Texas Colonias; Rural South; Appalachia; and Puerto Rico.

These crises most often impact vulnerable communities where proper investment in water and wastewater infrastructure has not been made. Many of those impacted are people of color, people living in rural areas, and people living below the poverty line. Lack of clean water and sanitation exacerbates the economic problems of the areas.

Some of the communities were never connected to water and wastewater systems forcing them to use well water and septic systems. Others face unreliable water and wastewater systems. In many cases the groundwater is contaminated from farm runoff, pesticides, pollutants from mining and leaking septic systems. More frequent droughts also threaten the availability of water. Septic systems often back up causing wastewater to overflow into showers, sinks, toilets and yards contaminating water and making indoor plumbing unusable.

The people of these communities are faced with using unsafe water, buying expensive bottled water, driving long distances to attain water and surviving off of as little as 2-3 gallons of water per day.

Finding Solutions

Everyone deserves access to clean water. It is a basic human right. Safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030 is goal 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme.

Many organizations in the United States and worldwide are working on solutions to providing clean water and sanitation. It will take all of us recognizing this as a crisis, expanding funding to provide infrastructure to more communities, creating alternative solutions where traditional water and wastewater systems are not feasible, and working together as communities to help those in need.

What can i do to help?

  • Educate yourself and tell others what you’ve learned. The US Water Alliance and DigDeep websites are good places to start.
  • Try the #4Liters Challenge with DigDeep and learn what it is like to live in water poverty by using only 4 liters of water for 24 hours.
  • Use these EPA Water Conservation Tips to conserve water in your own home.
  • Hold a fundraiser for an organization working towards water security. Ask for donations for your birthday, put up a lemonade (or water?) stand, sell drawings you’ve done. Be creative. Every little bit helps!
  • Volunteer with your local watershed association working to keep your waterways clean.
  • Write to your elected officials to advocate for fair access to water for all.

We are small compared to the world around us, but we can have a BiG impact!