Monica Prelle, your About.com Camping Guide, will be going live on Martha Stewart Living Radio tomorrow morning! "Morning Living" hosts Betsy Karetnick and Brian Kelsey invited Monica to chat with them about camping. We'll be talking about camping for beginners and how to get started backcountry camping.

Tune in to Martha Stewart Living Radio on SiriusXM110 on Thursday, May 17th at 10:30 AM Eastern Time.

"Start your day the Martha way with 'Morning Living!' (and About Camping)!"

More: Gearing Up for Camping | Where to Camp | Setting Up Camp | Breaking Down Camp | After Camping

Just in time for Armed Forces Day, active duty service members and their dependents have been offered a military pass to several U.S. government agencies. The pass will grant free access to more than 2,000 national parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, and other public lands around the nation in the coming years.

"Our nation owes a debt of gratitude to our service men and women who make great sacrifices and put their lives on the lines to protect our country and preserve our freedom," Secretary Salazar said in a statement. "In recognition of their contributions and service, we are putting out a welcome mat for these brave men and women and their families at America's most beautiful and storied sites."

Beginning on May 19, active duty service men and women - Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and activated National Guard and Reserves - can obtain the new military version of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Annual Pass.

"First Lady Michelle Obama and I started the Joining Forces initiative last year as a way to honor, recognize and support our veterans and military families," said Dr. Jill Biden in a press statement. "This effort is a wonderful way to give something back, giving our military men and women and their families a chance to reconnect with their loved ones, experience the beauty of this country, and simply have a little fun."

Unfortunately the military pass is not available to veterans or retirees.

The first solar eclipse viewable in the U.S. in the last 18 years will darken the sky before sunset on May 20, 2012. The partial solar eclipse can be seen best from California, New Mexico and Utah.

"Even though we won't have a total eclipse, the moon will be in position to block out 96 percent of the sun's light at the eclipse maximum, leaving what we call a 'ring of fire' around the disc of the moon," said Astronomer and National Park Service volunteer Dr. Tyler Nordgren.

National park rangers and astronomers from the National Park Service, local astronomy clubs and NASA will converge on several national parks with programs and hands-on eclipse activities for park visitors.

"This will be spectacular," said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. "There are 33 national parks positioned for a great view of the eclipse."

More: Plan a Stargazing Campout | Top 5 US National Parks to Pitch a Tent | National Park Events

Photo: A total solar eclipse is seen on July 22, 2009 in Iwojima Island, Tokyo, Japan. / Getty Images

The Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC) awarded About Camping and Monica Prelle 2nd Place for Best Website in the annual craft awards. The 2012 OWAC Craft Awards were announced this week at the organization's spring conference in Morro Bay, California.

About Camping's Awards Include:

• 2nd Place Best Website - About Camping
• 1st Place Series of Photos - Postcards from California
• 1st Place Feature Photo - Hot Creek (from Postcards from California)

Each year OWAC salutes the best writing, photography, web, radio and video work by its members from the previous year. Entries are judged by prominent outdoor writers and photographers from beyond California.