Grand Canyon NP Bans Sale of Plastic Water Bottles
 © National Park Service |
Grand Canyon National Park announced its decision to ban the sale of water in disposable containers of less than one gallon this week. The decision will be effective within 30 days. Free water stations are available throughout the park to allow visitors to fill reusable water bottles.
According to the National Park Service, the waste associated with disposable bottles comprises an estimated 20 percent of the park's overall waste stream and 30 percent of the park's recyclables.
Grand Canyon National Park has experienced increasing amounts of litter associated with disposable plastic bottles along trails both on the rim and within the inner canyons.
"We want to minimize both the monetary and environmental costs associated with water packaged in disposable containers," said Grand Canyon Superintendent Dave Uberuaga.
More: Grand Canyon National Park Travel | National Park Fee Free Days | Like About Camping on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Nominations are Closing
There are just a few days left to nominate your favorites in camping for a 2012 Readers' Choice Award. Nominations close this Wednesday, February 15. The top nominations in each category will go on to the final voting round February 22 - March 21. The winners will be announced on March 30.
Camping Award Categories:
More: Nominate the Best in Camping | Facebook | Free Weekly E-Newsletter | Twitter
Fish and Wildlife Service Grants $7.5M to Recreational Boating
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Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that more than $7.5 million in grants to boost recreational boating will be distributed this year for construction and renovation of recreational boating facilities around the country.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Boating Infrastructure Grant program has selected 11 programs in 10 states to receive the funding.
"Recreational boaters and anglers contribute to our nation's thriving outdoor recreation economy and play an important role in conservation of our rivers, watersheds and oceans," Secretary Salazar said in a press statement.
Outdoor recreation, including boating and fishing, contribute an estimated $730 billion to the U.S. economy each year, Salazar noted.
Funding for the Boating Infrastructure Grant program is highly competitive. The projects receiving grants are:
- The Docks at Manderson Landing, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
- Rockwater Marina, North Little Rock, Arkansas
- Slidell Municipal Marina at Heritage Park, Slidell, Louisiana
- Garrison Bight Marina Transient Dock, Key West, Florida
- St. Pete Beach Transient Docks, St. Pete Beach, Florida
- J. P. Coleman State Park, Iuka, Mississippi
- Wethersfield Cove Marina, Wethersfield, Connecticut
- Market Pier Docks, Washington, DC
- Gratwick Park Marina, New York
- SouthSide Works Marina, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Oyster Point, San Mateo County, California
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Boating Infrastructure Grant program is part of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative.
More Outdoor News: America's Great Outdoors Initiative | U.S. Forest Service Grants for Conservation Projects | 2012 National Park Fee Free Days | Healthy Kids Outdoors Act
Valentine's Gifts for Campers
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Forget chocolate and roses this Valentine's Day; take your special someone on a romantic weekend camping getaway or buy them a gift they'll love!
Has your significant other seen more national parks than movies? Does your camper love coffee, outdoor photography or fishing? Check out our best gifts for campers gift guide and fall in love with nature.
More: Plan a Camping Getaway | Find an Outdoor Destination | Campground Reviews | Where to Camp
Your Weekend Escape
Planning a weekend camping escape? Check out our latest campground reviews: Missouri, Virginia, Washington and California.
Campers love campgrounds and it can be tough to find a good one. About Camping Readers submit campground reviews and the latest have come from around the country -- Missouri, Virginia, Washington, and California. Before you head out on your camping weekend getaway, have a look at the latest reviews and camping destination guide.
- Alley Springs Campground, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri
- Christopher Run Campground, Lake Anna, Virginia
- Trailer Inns RV Park, Bellevue, Washington
- Sacramento River RV Park, Redding, California
Planning a weekend getaway or camping escape? Check out the campground review state index. Have something to say? Submit your own campground review or nominate your favorite US State and US National Park for a camping award.
For more up-to-date outdoor news and campground reviews like About Camping on Facebook and follow on Twitter.
Tasty Side Dishes
No good camping dinner is complete without a delicious side dish, so we have new recipes for you. Try one of these easy recipes at your next campground cookout!
Campfire Corn on the Cob There's no reason to hassle with husking and boiling corn. This simple corn on the cob recipe is cooked in the campfire. It tastes great and there are no dishes to clean.
Baked Beans with Cornbread This dutch oven baked bean recipe is a variation on a classic baked bean recipe. Try serving it with corn bread and butter.
Veggie Medeley Another delicious dutch oven side dish, this vegetarian dish is a crowd pleaser. You can't go wrong serving a side that includes potatoes, carrots, zucchini, italian seasonings and more!
Stay up-to-date with camping news,campground recipes and gear reviews: follow About Camping on Facebook and Twitter
Campers Love Camping
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It is a close race for the top nominations in the Camping Readers' Choice Awards. There are just ten days left to get your nominations in, so don't hesitate -- nominate the best in camping today!
Camping Award Categories:
The nominations are open until February 15 and the top nominations in each category will go on to final voting February 22 - March 21. The winners will be announced March 30. More: Nominate the Best in Camping | Facebook | Free Weekly E-Newsletter | Twitter
Youth Nature Writing Contest
Nature seems to inspire my best ideas. It's when I am fishing, hiking or mountain biking that I feel inspired to write about outdoor adventures, nature and life.
That's why the Lewis and Clark Natural Historical Park holds an annual Youth Nature Writing contest -- nature and the outdoors inspire creativity. The theme for this year's writing contest is "Tales from the Trail: A Hiker's Story."
The contest is open to 9th through 12th grade students in Oregon and Washington. Entries should be true stories about hiking, 500-words and submitted by March 31, 2012. The top three writers will receive a cash prize and will be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2012.
The 2012 Lewis and Clark National Historical Park Youth Nature Writing Contest is sponsored by the National Park Service and the Lewis and Clark National Park Association. For more information, visit the NPS website.
For more up-to-date outdoor news and camping gear reviews like About Camping on Facebook and follow on Twitter.
Wild, Wild Love
Lions, beetles and little brown bats show their love in the most natural ways and not just on Valentine's Day -- prairie chickens and deep sea angler fish too. This Valentine's Day, the Nature Conservancy is celebrating the national day of love with the top 10 most bizarre examples of love in the wild.
"Nature can get pretty wild, especially when procreation is at stake," said Sanjayan, lead scientist of The Nature Conservancy. "While we may find mating habits of some critters bizarre, they just might remind you of someone you know."
According to the Nature Conservancy, many of these creatures are unfortunately at risk of disappearing forever because of habitat loss and climate change.
The Nature Conservancy is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.
More from the the Nature Conservancy: Donate | Urgent Environmental Issues | Share the Love
More on Conservation:
- Golden Girl Betty White Goes Camping
- Camping Ethics: Leave No Trace
- Forest Service Grants $52.2M to Conservation Projects
For more up-to-date outdoor news and camping gear reviews like About Camping on Facebook and follow on Twitter.
Protecting North America's Fisheries
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A group of fly fisherman was once guided by the principal that if they "take care of the fish, then the fishing will take care of itself."
The group of 16 fisherman in Michigan founded Trout Unlimited, an organization that now has 140,000 volunteers working to conserve, protect and restore North America's cold water fisheries and their watersheds.
Trout Unlimited will work to "ensure that robust populations of native and wild cold water fish once again thrive within their North American range, so that our children can enjoy healthy fisheries in their home waters."
Latest News from Trout Unlimited:
- Colorado River Advocates Rally in Denver
- Pennsylvania Should Protect its Land from Drilling
- Lake Trout Removal Efforts Get a Boost in Yellowstone
More: Trout Unlimited | Join the Community | Nominate your Favorite Outdoor Activity for a Camping Award
For more up-to-date outdoor news and camping gear reviews like About Camping on Facebook and follow on Twitter.