The summer camping season will be here before you know it and many states are looking for volunteers to act as “hosts” for the guests that will be enjoying the many campgrounds found in and around state parks.

  Volunteer campground hosts live in the parks in their own campers free of charge and help the park staff by checking in campers and being an informative resource to visitors enjoying the state parks and forests. Sometimes you’re asked with helping with light maintenance duties around the campground or park.

 Most programs require you to work a certain amount of hours per week and all require you being there for the busy times on weekends and holidays.

 If camping out all summer sounds like something you want to do, contact your state’s Department of Nature Resources or Conservation for details on what is offered in your state. They’ll be glad to have you.

  Find links to the State’s DNR’s here; http://www.backwoodsbound.com/stgamedepts.html

The Beaverkill seldom froze over solid
Back when we were kids.

We longed for those far too seldom days
When ice was thick and safe for us to play on.

Safe ice gave us an opportunity
To enjoy our river during the “off season”.

Moms, of course, worried about this;
They insisted that a responsible adult check the safety of the ice.

Just plain skating was our favorite frozen river pastime
On the bigger eddies that froze first.

The old Parish swimming hole and Pete’s Eddy
Were usually first to freeze.

It was fun to get off the mill pond and on the river
Where we could catch the wind and glide effortlessly.

On those rare occasions when the rapids froze
We were treated to a rough, wild, exciting downstream ride!

At some point, we started playing our version of “hockey”
Ice chunks for pucks…bent root saplings for sticks.

Most games were one-on-one, or two-on-two;
Only loosely did they resemble the real sport.

To a kid, we preferred plain old skating over hockey;
Skating was free and easy; Hockey was competitive and had rules.

We were especially fortunate when some of the local men
Invited us to join them for some ice fishing.

“Hooking Suckers” was the traditional local form of ice fishing,
Practiced by the likes of Charlie Allen, John Gilmore and Walt Maus.

These and other good old boys often took us kids along
And taught us how to fish in this unique way.

They taught us how to drive ‘em...How to hook ‘em;
And, afterward, even suggested how to cook ‘em!

I remember falling through the ice, hooking on Barnhart’s;
Daubek said, “You came out a helluva lot faster than you went in!”

We hooked on Cairns’ one cold January day;
Jim cut the holes: 24” of ice, with his chainsaw!

Been better than half a century since I played on the Beaverkill ice.
But the memories are vivid; I replay them often.

When I do…I’m young again, and
Enjoying good old fashioned Winter Fun!!

Another great story from Lloyd’s book Rambling Outdoors: Tales of Forest, Field and Stream. Used with permission. Thanks Lloyd!

  Nature offers serenity. In my eyes, it is the only thing that really does. What you see is what you get! No options.

  We, as humans have so many options. Does the car need air conditioning, navigation, speed control? Does the house need hardwood floors, carpeting, shudders, or brick? Do we need make-up, a hair transplant, short skirt, long skirt, suit, tie, or a turtleneck?

 Which computer? What cell phone?

 Think about it: nature does offer serenity. Be smart: take time to look, learn, appreciate and feel serene with nature. Our lives would be simpler, I believe, if we took time to simplify our lives and don’t spend so much time on options. Spend some time with nature and feel at peace with yourself.

 You will like it! I know!

FYI – The first ten amendments to the Constitution are known as the Bill of Rights. There are a total of twenty seven amendments.