Outdoor Recreation Resources

Fire pits are becoming more popular, and with good reason. They can be used to cook your family or guests a meal, keep you all warm on a chilly night, or just for the joy of watching flickering flames. But what about when it’s not in use? A fire pit can be something of an eyesore during the day. That’s where a stone fire pit can be a good option – it’s practical, but at the same time it’s attractive to look at any time of the day or night.

A stone fire pit can be designed in whatever way you like. You can choose to have an old style design, or you can use modern colors to make it blend in with your house. It can be small or large, incorporate cooking facilities, and give your garden an attractive focal point. So spend some time looking at where you plan to build your fire pit, and see what else is close by. Do you have a brick house? You will need to think about what type and color of stone will complement the bricks. Or perhaps your fire pit location leaves you free to choose whatever stone you like. Maybe you have a stone path that you would like to match. It’s your decision.

Once you have a basic idea of what you want, you will need to find someone who has experience designing and building stone fire pits. This is important, because if it’s poorly designed the air won’t flow properly, which means your fire will struggle to burn well. Make sure the design incorporates some safety features, so that people who wish to approach the fire pit for warmth or to toast marshmallow can do so with ease.

If you’re an experienced handyman, you will probably be able to take the fire pit designs and build the structure yourself. However it might still be wise to have an expert do the work, simply because fires can be tricky things to get right. Building the fire pit correctly will make a big difference to how well it works. Plus, you want your fire pit to be something that can be admired, rather than an eyesore. A well-built stone fire pit will be something that all your friends and family will admire.

If you want to read more about fire pits, click over to Josh’s site at http://www.infoaboutfirepits.com

I always feel that spring and summer are the most wonderful seasons of the year. I can do many things outside the house during those seasons.

Although I can also do my activities during autumn and winter, I find that spring and summer are more exciting, especially when it comes to burning off calories.

Here are some fun activities I do and the calories burned out of them. Maybe you’ll want to do the same. Check it out….

1. Gardening – I clean my garden, water the flowers, plant seeds, trim shrubs, watch my blooming flowers, etc. Gardening during these seasons is fun and gives me lots of enjoyment. It is like a workout as I burn about 100-120 calories in 30 minutes gardening.

2. Bicycling -I love doing this activity. I can go anywhere I want as far as I can reach. This is like a low impact workout. But I don’t really go far, most of the time it is just in the neighborhood area. After riding about 30 minutes, I will have burned about 300 calories. This is a great way to stay in shape.

3. Trekking – I like to go trekking at a conservation park. It is fun and I enjoy the nice scenery; I also burn off some calories. For these activities I need more preparation because I have to wear a special outfit and need to do more warming up exercise to avoid cramps while climbing high area. For 30 minutes of trekking I burn about 350 calories.

4. Swimming – This is a fun way to stay cool during hot season. I go to the beach and indoor pools, depending on my schedule. However, I prefer swimming in the sea. It burns off my calories at about 300 in 30 minutes.

5. Water Skiing – This is a more rare activity I do. But, once in a while I go with my friends. It can help me build my upper and lower body muscles. From this activity, I’ll lose about 200 calories in 30 minutes.

If you have any other activities you like to do outdoor, just enjoy them.

Don’t forget to wear sun cream to protect your skin from sunburn. Have fun…

About the author: Riana Lance writes about health in some publications. Twice a week she informs her health tips and knowledge in a newsletter. Subscribe to get your free twice a week newsletters so you can stay healthy for the rest of your life from http://Heathifica.com

The debate over which grill is better–gas or charcoal–may not induce as many passionate and polarized opinions as a political campaign, but for outdoor cooking enthusiasts it comes pretty close. Die-hard grilling aficionados swear by the flavor and process of cooking with charcoal grills. But with the majority of new grill purchases being gas models, there are obviously fans in that camp, too.

So which grill wins the debate? Let’s look at the arguments for both. The case for gas or charcoal seems to be divided along three main points:

• Convenience
• Cost
• Taste

The Convenience Argument

The clear winner in this category is the gas grill. Most models feature push-button ignitions, a consistent, steady heat source that’s ready to go within minutes, excellent temperature control, and easy cleanup.

But convenience isn’t necessarily a deciding factor for all grill shoppers. Charcoal enthusiasts say it’s the ritual–piling up the charcoal, lighting it, tending the fire, and manually adjusting cooking temperatures by moving food from hotter spots to cooler ones–that makes outdoor cooking worth the effort. They feel that trading the process of the backyard barbeque for the push-button convenience of a gas grill is missing the point.

The Cost Argument

If cost is the most important deciding factor for you, you’ll likely want to look at charcoal grills. They cost considerably less than gas, with basic models ranging from about $30 to $100. If you add features like additional burners and side tables, you can count on something like a $300 to $400 range.

Most gas grills–excluding portable and table-top models–are on the expensive side, ranging anywhere from $300 to $1500, and more for higher end models such as built-ins and smoker/grill combinations.

The Taste Argument

Though some barbeque fans swear they can’t tell the difference between food cooked on gas grills and food cooked on charcoal, the charcoal purists insist otherwise. According to them, the flavor that is infused from the smoke of charcoal briquettes or wood coals is what distinguishes an outdoor feast from a standard kitchen meal.

In an effort to address the taste issue, some gas grill manufacturers have built models that add ceramic flavor bars. These bars catch grease drippings and vaporize them into smoke that infuses more flavor into what’s being cooked.

So who’s the winner in this category? The jury is still out on this argument, and it probably always will be. Taste is such an individual decision; you may just have to try both grills and see for yourself.

For Those Who Still Can’t Decide . . .

As you can see, there are pros and cons to owning a gas grill, just as there are advantages and disadvantages to owning a charcoal model.

Still aren’t sure which one is right for you? Do what many families have done in recent years–buy both! If you truly enjoy outdoor cooking, it makes sense to own two models that you use for different purposes. For example, you can use the gas grill for cooking quick barbeque meals during the week, and break out the charcoal grill for when you want to take your time on the weekend.

There are a couple of options available to you if you want to own both a gas and a charcoal grill. There’s the obvious one: buy both grills. But if your budget is tight, or you’re limited on patio space, check out a combination gas/charcoal model. These grills convert from gas to charcoal and back again with just a little preparation and effort.

So what will it be–gas, charcoal, or both? In the end, the decision comes down to your lifestyle and what features work best for you and your family.

—————————————————————

About the Author

Vanessa Kirkland is a freelance writer and outdoor cooking enthusiast whose articles offer consumer tips and advice for online purchasers of gas grills, charcoal grills, and other barbeque accessories.

Have you ever shined a flashlight against a surface in the dark. If you point the flashlight straight toward a wall, for instance, you’d see a small circle of light. But if you slant the flashlight upward, the circle gets larger.

In the same way, sunlight is more concentrated in one area when it hits the earth directly, and when the sunlight hits the earth at a slant, the sunlight spreads out, making it less intense.

In the following activity, ultraviolet will be referred to as sunlight.

Purpose of this activity

To learn about the angle of the sun to the earth and how it affects you.

What you will do

Observe and measure your own shadow. Choose a weekend to perform this activity when you’ll be able to return to the same location throughout the day. If you’re a child wishing to complete this activity and you need help, ask a parent or older brother or sister to assist you.

What you’ll need

Measuring tape, notebook, pencil or pen, and chalk.

Procedure:

1. Begin this experiment around 8 or 9 a.m. on a sunny day.

2. Stand in the same place, your back to the sun.

3. Draw a circle around your shoes with the chalk.

4. Observe your shadow. Is it long or short?

5. Draw another circle around the head of the shadow.

6. Measure the distance from one circle to the next.

7. Write the time of day and the distance in your notebook.

8. Continue to do this every one or two hours until around 4 or 5 in the afternoon.

9. Record in your notebook what you observed about your shadow. For instance, did it get longer or shorter throughout the day or did it increase and then decrease in size? When was your shadow the longest? Shortest? Did it change direction?

What’s happening

You observed the sun’s movement as you were watching your shadow. When your shadow is long earlier and later in the day, the sunlight is less intense and at a lower angle. When sunlight is more intense between 10 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon, but particularly an hour before and after noon, try to stay in the shade and wear sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat with a wide brim and clothing that covers you.

Source

Ahrens, Donald C. (1991). Meteorology Today, 4th Ed. St Paul: West Publishing Company, 79-93.

About The Author

Diana Clarke was a teacher in Silicon Valley and wrote articles for the San Jose Mercury News, Bay Area Parent Magazine and other Silicon Valley newspapers.

http://www.yourskinandsun.com; dianaclarke2001@yahoo.com

Think about incorporating a variety of homework activities into your lesson plans. To come up with some great homework activities, think of things that will extend their comprehension of things you are studying in class. Also, be sure to think of activities that will incorporate your students’ home environment.

Here are some innovative homework activity ideas:

Homework activities using the World Wide Web:

The internet is an important part of daily life these days. Think about incorporating it into your students’ homework. Here are some homework activities that use the World Wide Web:

· Create a classroom page or group and have your students post their homework assignments on it. Also, have your students post a comment or question once a week or answer or respond to another student’s comment or question.
· Have your students check online newspapers for stories that relate to whatever lesson you are teaching.
· Have your students make and update their own web pages

Outdoor homework activities:

· Have your students help the environment by picking up litter in their neighborhoods.
· Have your students gather different types of leaves, rocks, insects, etc. and bring them to class. Have them guess what they are, and then have guides in your classroom to figure out what they actually are.
· Make a flower press to add plants to every week. You can then take the pressed plants and add them to a craft project.
· Have your students take binoculars out and look at the stars and observe them every night for 15 minutes. What do they notice changing?
· Give your students a magnifying glass to study the world of their backyard or a park up close. Have them write about what they see.

Indoor homework activities:

· Have your students think of ways that they can conserve electricity or water at home.
· Give your students safe, at-home science experiments. For instance, have them put two ice cubes in separate cups and add salt to one of the ice cubes and see what happens. Or have them mix corn starch and water and see what they get.
· Have your students use household objects to create musical instruments.
· Have your students turn on TV for just 10 seconds, write down as much as they heard and saw, and then have them turn that information into a story.

Other homework activities ideas:

· Give each of your students a chance to come up with their own homework activities (within certain restrictions) to assign the other students.
· Create a scavenger hunt for your students to follow throughout the week.
· Divide your students into groups and have them work together as a team to come up with inventions.
· Have your students call or e-mail representatives of your states with ideas or questions, etc.
· Have your students write to a company to learn more or to express a problem, etc. – teach your kids how they can elicit change in their own environments.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on teaching ideas, please visit Teaching Supplies.

On your special day, when you are celebrating the combining of your lives together, you may want a special ritual to symbolize your new unity. Many couples opt for the Unity Candle, which has become very common in recent years.

But here is another idea, which would be perfect for a garden, park, or beach wedding: Have a sand ceremony.

The ceremony is very simple, and very beautiful. Get three nicely shaped clear glass bowls or vases. Buy either black and white sand or two other complementary colors, perhaps those you are using in your wedding. (Colored sand is readily available at craft stores, garden shops, and stores which sell aquariums.) Set the bowls or vases side by side. The groom then pours one color of sand into one of the vessels, while the bride pours the other color into another one. Then, together, they pour sand into the center bowl, creating a beautiful design. The side bowls or vases can then be filled with flowers or topped with colored stones and become part of the reception decoration, while the center container becomes a wonderful keepsake for the bride and groom.

For ceremonies in which either the bride or groom or both have children, the children can also be given bowls of colored sand, which they may add to the center vessel along with that of the bride and groom.

I hope this lovely, inexpensive ceremony can add an extra touch of sweetness to your day.

Rhetta Akamatsu is a wedding planner, independent travel agent, and freelance writer in Marietta, GA. She is the owner of Rose and Star Wedding Planning. Please visit the Rose and Star website at http://www.roseandstar.com for more information, articles, and advice.

Home decorating outdoors has never been easier with the help of wrought iron. If you are looking for the perfect garden décor, consider wrought iron. An entire garden can be accessorized solely with wrought iron items including, garden gates and fences, arbors, plant stands and benches.

No garden has a better feel to it than one that is enclosed by a wrought iron fence. This type of fencing gives your garden a simple yet elegant look. What better way to enter your garden than with a complimentary wrought iron gate that has the beautiful curves and designs that are exclusive to wrought iron material. Or, give your garden an inviting look by leaving it without a gate and using a wrought iron arbor instead, providing a beautiful entrance with flowering vine plants.

Smaller accessories for a garden that compliment your wrought iron enclosure and entrance are a must. A wrought iron garden bench located in the midst of your garden provides a comfortable place for relaxing and watching nature around you. Wrought iron plant stands positioned at just the right places in your garden make it possible to raise the height of smaller potted plants to add visual interest.

So if you are looking for garden décor that is simple yet elegant, consider wrought iron. Using wrought iron throughout your garden is an easy way to unify the area and make it more visually interesting.

Get started home decorating with Wrought Iron today. Wrought Iron Depot can help you find the perfect wrought iron for your indoor or outdoor living area including information about wrought iron furniture, wrought iron railing, wrought iron chandelier, wrought iron home decor. Get the facts and info at http://www.wrought-iron-depot.com.

(NC)-In most cases insect bites are harmless and if left alone, the irritation will subside within 48 hours.

However, for some people, particularly children, scratching bites may lead to a highly contagious bacterial skin infection called impetigo. Left unchecked, impetigo can spread to other parts of the body and even from person to person.

As a family physician, I recommend the following tips to ensure you and your family maximize your summer fun and avoid this irritating skin disease:

When people think of fire pits, they usually think of the traditional wood burning versions. A wood burning fire pit certainly gives a traditional touch to your yard or patio, but a gas fire pit has a number of advantages. That doesn’t necessarily mean that a gas fire pit is better, it’s just that it may suit some people better than a wood burning fire pit.

Perhaps the biggest advantage of a gas fire pit is that it gives off lots of heat and that heat is consistent. If you’re planning on using your fire pit to keep warm during the cold months, this is very important. It’s also handy if you’re traveling in the great outdoors and need some added comfort only those chilly nights.

It’s also really easy to operate a gas fire pit. Basically, when you’re ready to light it, you turn the gas on. The flames instantly appear, and that’s all you have to do. You don’t have to find wood to burn, or get the fire started. This convenience is a big factor for many people, who don’t want to spend ages messing about getting the fire going.

Gas fire pits are also very easy to clean up when you’re done. You turn the gas off, and you can walk away. With a wood burning fire pit, you need to make sure that the flame has been completely extinguished before it’s safe to leave the pit unattended. At some point you also have to clean out all the burnt matter.

If you’re serious about buying a fire pit for your patio or garden, or even to take on vacation with you, then a gas fire pit is a great choice. It may not have the natural beauty of a wood burning fire pit, but it’s much less work and trouble, and very simple to use. You also don’t have to mess about after the evening is finished, you simply turn it off and that’s all. A gas fire pit is a great buy if you want to give your outdoor entertaining something special.

If you want to find out more about fire pits, click over to Josh’s site at http://www.infoaboutfirepits.com

Trampolines are a fun way to keep fit and get regular exercise. For children, a trampoline can be an exiting form of play. There are many different sizes and styles available. When choosing a back yard trampoline it is important to consider what size and shape trampoline will suit your backyard.

Different Types of Trampolines

There are three main types of trampolines available and they all come in varying sizes. There is a size and shape for everyone. The three types are:

*Round

This design is made to keep the person who is jumping in the center of the trampoline. This style is ideal for younger children, especially if a guard is used to stop falls.

* Rectangular

This design offers more area to jump on. The springs are also a lot more flexible which enables the person using the trampoline to jump higher. This type of trampoline is ideal for teenagers and is favored by professional trampoline jumpers and gymnasts.

*Square

This design is a lot like the rectangular trampoline but will not allow as high a bounce. The square trampoline is also a lot smaller. This is another good backyard option if there are smaller children using it.

It is recommended all trampolines that are being used by smaller children have proper guards and padding on the springs, and that adult supervision be provided for safety reasons. Also it is advisable that trampolines not be bounced on when the jumping mat is wet since the mat can become very slippery.

The Cost of a Trampoline

Trampolines vary in cost a great deal depending on the size and style. For a smaller, round backyard type without guards you could pay as little as $200. If you are looking for a trampoline that is a lot larger, for instance, a rectangular style, you could expect to pay up to $1,800. Prices will vary from store to store so the best thing to do when looking to buy a trampoline, is research different prices. Have a clear budget on how much you intend to spend. Choose a trampoline that fits your backyard and your budget.

What to Look For

The most important things to look for in a trampoline are:

*Structure

Make sure the structure of your trampoline is sturdy and, preferably, aluminum, so that it is not too heavy to move around should you need to.

*Quality mats are also very important.

A badly made trampoline mat can cause serious injury to a person if they were to fall through it.

*Added safety measures

It is important to make note of the companies that will either give you a discount on guards or padding
for the springs or will give them to you as a packaged deal. Safety comes first!

*Warranties

Make sure your trampoline is covered by a warranty for faulty workmanship and badly made parts.

*Weight requirements

Make note of the maximum weight that the trampoline will hold as children often like to jump together or in groups.

Conclusion

There are many types of backyard trampolines available. Look around and find the best trampoline to suit your needs and your budget. Define exactly what you are looking for, such as who will be using the trampoline. Make sure the size and style will be suitable. If you are on a budget, it is advisable to look around and buy a trampoline that is on sale rather than ‘cheap’. Don’t sacrifice quality to save a few dollars, it is usually not worth it in the long run.

John Furnem specializes in work psychology, stress relief and time management, after a stress relief seminar held in a gymnasium John started using a trampoline for his workout, John publishes Trampoline advice on the zupatips.com pages