Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Emporia VA

Where you camp with friends!®

2940 Sussex Drive, Emporia, Virginia 23847
Phone: 800-545-4248

Keep Your Camping Gear Mildew Free

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mold prevention for camping gearHumidity is one of the most common problems campers run into when they pull their camping gear out of storage in the spring. Often it was slightly damp when it was packed away and those nasty little microbes had the whole winter to grow and prosper on your gear. There are some steps you can take to avoid this problem.

Spread everything out or hang it up for a sufficient amount of time to allow it to completely dry out. You can use the warm afternoon sun to speed this process up or a room in your home that isn’t used at the time. Make sure all the seams are good and dry before you fold it up for storage.

RVers sometimes use a dehumidifier to keep things dry. It’s another helpful preventative. If you do find mildew on your camping gear you can attempt to clean it up a few ways. Try a mild mix of bleach and water in a spray bottle. Then scrub the area with a stiff brush. Let it dry well through and check it to see if you got all the mold. If not, try another application.

You can pack your gear with commercial packets of absorbent material as well. This will draw in any moisture that has gone undetected by you. We hope all your camping trips are fun and memorable and you don’t have to spend time cleaning up your camping gear. Happy camping, we look forward to seeing you around the campground.

Camping Journals Are Fun to Look Back On

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camping journalLots of campers have their own way of documenting their camping trips for further reflection through the years. Some keep scrapbooks, others take lots of video, and some like to keep a camping journal. This can be a notebook of your choosing and can contain any type of details you deem to be important.

It can be fun to track how many miles you’ve driven, who was camping, any hiking you did, or area events you attended. It’s heart warming to look back on what you’ve written and experience fond memories come flooding back of a special trip with special people.

Some keep a day by day journal and others document each trip as a whole. It’s fun to note the age, height, and interests of each of the kids. You can then compare the details as each year passes. Make sure to write down fun stories about the family pets too. They, unfortunately are gone too soon and this can be a way of remembering them.

Some might choose a handsome moleskin journal while others are content with a spiral bound notebook. Maybe you’d like to make quick sketches in it as well. That’s the beauty of a camping journal. It’s an extension of your personality and contains all the things you find to be most important in your life.

You might like to keep yours stored in with your camping gear so it is only available for camping trips. Others like to use their journal at home in order to write about all aspects of their lives. We hope all your camping adventures are worthy of documenting and that you have a wonderful time each time you visit us. We look forward to seeing you around the campground for many years to come.

Avoiding the Heat While Camping

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sun exposure while campingCampers spend a lot of time in a warm environment when they are camping. Whether you are cooking something on the grill, enjoying time around a campfire, or spending time basking in the sun. Some of these activities can lead to a burn. Whether it’s a burn from the stove or sunburn across your shoulders it hurts and most people want to get things healed up quickly.

To avoid burns from fire, coals, or steam you should consider bringing along a pair (or two) of heat resistant gloves. Wear them when you add wood to your campfire or are taking food off the grill. They are made to protect you from high temperatures and can save a camping trip.

Use a poker or folding shovel when manipulating your campfire. They are made to withstand the high temps and offer a lengthy handle which keeps your limbs further from the fire. Sunscreen should be worn even on cool and overcast days. We tend to overdue the sun while on vacation and a sunburn can really take the fun out a camping trip. Be sure to reapply often and after each swim. It will protect your skin for hours. Check that the kids are covered, too.

Choose light colored clothing which will reflect the sun instead of absorbing it. Wear non-flammable clothing if you’re going to be around 4th of July fireworks or sparklers. And drink plenty of water while you’re adventuring during the day. You’ll be burning off more than you realize so staying hydrated will help to protect you from heat exhaustion.

 

Tips for Leveling Your RV

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level the RvThere are as many ways to level your rig as there are RV models and RV owners. Some people have a system figured out and go through their routine religiously. Others might appreciate a few tips so this information is for you.

The video below is a helpful walk through to give you an idea of one way to level your rig. The man is using Anderson Levelers. Other things to consider are:

Wood is a common material to use and it works best in sand or dirt. You can use longer pieces to span a soft area. Plastic may sink into the aggregate. Wood, however, can decay and splinter so you’ll end up replacing it more often. Plastic blocks will last a very long time and they are most useful when the grass or gravel is wet. Plastic is more expensive so be sure to check the recommended weight level. You wouldn’t want them to crack or break.

Check out the video below to see how a plastic leveler can be used in your circumstance.

Easy Tips For Keeping Things From Rattling in Your RV

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Fix Rattles in RVHave you ever taken a trip in your RV only to have the stress of hearing all of your belongings twist and turn throughout the vehicle after rolling over even the smallest pothole? This can be an incredible annoyance at the surface level, and a major setback if food or other important items end up ruined. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of handy ways to better equip yourself to keep things from rattling in your RV! Be sure to do the following:

Use Fridge Protection Bars & Plastic Containers
This is absolutely essential if you’re planning on keeping your RV’s refrigerator stocked. Adjustable bars can be placed right in front of the door of the fridge to offer another layer of protection should it happen to burst open after hitting a pothole or rolling over one of those frustratingly high speed bumps. You should also store any refrigerated food in sealed plastic containers and use plastic bottles as much as possible to avoid broken kitchenware and spills.

Line Your Cabinets
You can also keep things from rattling around in your cabinet space by using shelf liners. The friction alone will help keep everything in place. There are several options made especially with RV travel in mind, but any generic vinyl material should do the trick. You should be able to find entire rolls at any department or home improvement store. Simply cut the size you need and you’re all set!

Towels & Pillows
Finally, you might also have a problem with your luggage or cookware rattling around. Try storing any travel bags or luggage alongside pillows or blankets and they’ll likely stay put. Noisy, loose cookware can also be fixed by using hand towels or even paper towels to separate and hold them in place. (Be sure to use your shelf liner if you aren’t hanging them.)

With that in mind, you should be well prepared to keep things from rattling around the RV while you drive. Next time you hit the road, you’ll be able to do so in peace! Have fun!

Protecting Your Pets’ Paws When RVing

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protect pet pawsIf you have a pet, it’s very likely that he or she is a part of your family and often goes with you in your RV. However, your pet isn’t at home and can be at a higher risk for injury if you’re not being mindful of their paws.

To protect your pet’s paws ensure that you have some special paw pads available for those times that your pet may have to go outside but you’re not in an area that has softer grass or pavement.

Keep in mind too that pavement can get hot and burn your pet’s paws. Help your pet before you ever leave home by helping them to get used to paw protectors before the trip. This way, when you put them on during the trip your pet won’t mind wearing them.

Keep your pet on a leash at all times to ensure that they don’t run off into an area that could be potentially dangerous for their paws. Even the most well-behaved pet will sometimes run off in an unfamiliar area. Be sure to stay with your pet at all times when they are outside of your RV.

Always sweep the campsite area before letting your pet out of the RV. Shards of glass and other sharp objects can seriously injure your pet’s paws.

Keep a ground cover available for your RV so that when your pet emerges he or she will have something familiar to walk on.

Remove pet paw covers when your pet is inside of the RV and make sure that you teach your pet that these are for their safety and comfort. It will help you to protect them if they get into the habit of wearing these on their feet.

Having Fun With Road Trip Games

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road trip gamesThere are a couple of road trip games that can be fun to take part in. You can find small versions of board games, for instance, to take with you. Or, you can play games like looking for different colored cars and more.

Eye spy is a game where you say that you see something with certain features. For instance, you can say “eye spy with my little eye, something blue” if there is a blue car around the vehicle you’re in. You can also play this when the vehicle is stopped because that allows you to pick from more things in the landscape. You can’t expect to pick something on the side of the road if the vehicle will be going by it fast, but if there is a large landmark in the distance that may just work out.

You can find small versions of games that you can bring with you on a road trip. Even if you don’t want to go with that because your kids don’t know what to do to play the game, you can bring tablets or other devices that have games on them. You could also bring paper and pens and let the kids play tic-tac-toe. If you’re going to bring anything in the vehicle, make sure you store it properly when it’s not in use. You don’t want to have, for instance, your tablet sitting out in the sun while you go somewhere for a while.

What you take with you as your road trip games will depend on what your family is into. The more you can prepare to have a good time on a trip, the better. You’ll know you made the right choice when everyone is having a lot of fun on the road.

Your Camping First Aid Kit

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first aid caseYou’re going to have a ball when you’re camping and the adventures may also bring a bump or two. That’s why it’s always a good idea to carry a first-aid kit with you when you’re camping. Following is a list of things to consider when assembling a kit for your family.

Things for cuts, bumps, and bruises – bring bandages, gauze, antibiotic cream, tweezers, a small magnifying glass, ace bandages, aloe, small scissors, and calamine lotion.

Things for cold, fever, and allergies – bring pain reliever, cold medicine, allergy medicine, and any personal prescriptions needed for each member of the family.

Pets – be sure to bring first aid supplies that they will need as well. Bring their prescriptions, allergy tabs, favorite food and snacks.

You can easily pack all your supplies in a case that is dedicated to be your first aid kit. You can also buy them pre-made if you don’t want to assemble one yourself. Both options are fine as long as you have one. Then, if one of the kids gets a splinter or you burn your finger on a hot pan, you’ll have exactly what you need right away. It will save you a trip to the store or to the doctor. You can be back enjoying your vacation in no time.

We hope your camping trip is the best on ever and we look forward to seeing you here this summer. Be sure to say hello if you see us around the campground.

Delicious Camping Chili Dogs

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chili dogThere are just some foods that scream they were created just for a campfire. Think about bacon and eggs, roasted nuts, s’mores. Of course, we can not forget about homemade chili dogs. There is something about a real wood fire that makes this simple dish soar off the plate. Most of us have loved this old favorite since we were kids. That hasn’t changed.

If you have never made this simple dish over the campfire, there is no need for fear. We are going to walk through it and ensure that you please everyone at the picnic table this summer!

 

You’ll find a very good chili recipe at Papa Funk’s Campfire Chili. You’ll be making it separately from the hotdogs. Once both are cooked it is time for the fixin’s. You can have a variety available for each person’s taste. You might like to have chopped onion, cheese slices or sauce, mustard, sauerkraut, hot sauce, and jalapeno.

People can make their own which makes things easy for you. These will be a big hit and we recommend you make extra because they taste even better the next day. You can squeeze a lunch out of them as well so you can get a two for one out of your effort.

We hope all your camping meals are fabulous and we can’t wait to see you this year.

Camping Trip Tips

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Camping TipsIt’s sometimes challenging to make sure you bring everything you’ll need on your camping trip so making a checklist will be your first little life-saver. As far as food goes, there are lots of meals you can plan ahead for.

Prepare as much food as you can before going on your camping adventure. This will provide you with adequate amounts of food to last for the length of your camping trip. It will also provide you with more time to spend with your family and friends than in preparing meals at the campsite.

It is obvious that every camping trip should include a good variety and adequate supply of condiments such as mustard, relish, ketchup, mayonnaise, and so forth. After all, most campers will have a nightly barbecue that will provide each member of the family with a hot dog or hamburger. You’ll also want to have baggies, tin foil, paper plates, napkins, trash bags, and hand wipes.

Food that can be prepared before going on a camping trip are things such as potato salad, casseroles, hamburger patties, macaroni and bean salads, and desserts. You can delay adding mixes such as mayo until you are ready to eat. Often these can be frozen and then placed in the cooler to slowly thaw until you’re ready for them.

Whichever types of foods you prepare for your camping trip is obviously a personal choice. The point of this article is to remind you to sit down with your family members before the camping trip and go over what type of foods you should prepare. When you involve each member of the family then you will have a successful and happy camping trip.