Blog - Adventure Publications

Sugar Bush Knolls and the Father of Tree Surgery

Posted on November 19, 2019

The Tree Doctor of Sugar Bush Knolls The Development of the village of Sugar Bush Knolls (population 179) all began with an idea from the “father of tree surgery,” John Davey, of Kent, Ohio. Davey was born in England in 1846 and moved to the United States as an adult. As the story goes, Davey was a self-made man, even down to the simplest details, like learning to read. After moving to the United States and pursuing a more robust education, Davey became intrigued by the idea of finding a “systematic, scientific way” to save neglected trees. In 1901, Davey published his book, The Tree Doctor, to share with the world an interesting idea: trees, like people, became ill, and rather than destroying an ill tree, you could treat it. Around the time that his father published this book, a young Martin L. Davey was traveling door-to-door near Kent, Ohio, selling typewriters...

Sharp-tailed Grouse Fascinates with Mating Behavior

Posted on November 14, 2019

in Birds, Nature Smart, Stan Tekiela, wildlife

by Liliane Opsomer

Stan Tekiela shares with us the fascinating mating behavior of the Sharp-tailed Grouse. There is a group of birds that I find so very interesting and exciting. They are not tiny and colorful, nor do they sing a beautiful song; rather, they look plain and sort of familiar. In fact, they look much like a chicken. These birds are known as Gallinaceous birds or Chicken-like birds. This group of birds includes some of my favorites, such as the Ruffed Grouse, Sage Grouse, and Prairie Chickens. If you read my column you might remember that I recently spent a week photographing and filming Sage Grouse in the high plains of Wyoming and Colorado. Last week I spent several mornings photographing another member of this wonderful group of birds, the Sharp-tailed Grouse. All of these Gallinaceous birds are medium to large in size with stocky bodies and resemble farmyard chickens. They are an ancient...

Home For the Holidays: A Perfect Time to Read to Your Children

Posted on November 12, 2019

in Children's Books, Contest, Giveaway

by Liliane Opsomer

To help you get into the spirit of the happiest season of all, we are having a GIVEAWAY. Giving the gift of books and taking time to read to your children must find its way to the top of your “to-do” list every day. Check out our suggestions for your Christmas shopping list and enter for your chance to win a set of three amazing rescue and rehabilitation books by Christie Gove. The author thrills readers with true stories of rescue and rehabilitation with her best-sellers Maggie the One-Eyed Peregrine Falcon, Esther the Eaglet, and her latest book Greta the Great Horned Owl, a tale of an injured owl’s recovery and return to nature. Wildlife photographer and naturalist Stan Tekiela will make you laugh while you read Whose Baby Butt?. From fuzzy to feathery, baby animal butts are the silliest sights in nature. This hilarious book is the perfect companion to Whose Butt?, an acclaimed...

Florida is Perfect for Outdoor Adventures

Posted on November 8, 2019

in Nature

by Liliane Opsomer

Florida’s year-round temperate, tropical climate makes it a perfect place for outdoor adventures. The state is bordered by 8,400 miles of saltwater coast, and its interior is bejeweled by more than 30,000 lakes and thousands of miles of rivers and streams. Florida has an extensive state park system, along with national parks, local parks, and bike trails. There are limitless places for boating, fishing, or just plain beachcombing and shell hunting. Florida has one of the longest saltwater shorelines in the United States, and the Environmental Protection Agency says the state has 570 beaches, with a total beach length of 902 miles. We don’t know who can challenge that number, but it doesn’t really matter. No matter what kind of beach you are looking for, Florida probably has it. From sunbathing to long walks, treasure hunting, or searching for unique seashells, you can find it here. It’s perfect for swimming, sunbathing,...

Stan Tekiela Presents: The Pileated Woodpecker

Posted on November 5, 2019

in Nature

by Liliane Opsomer

There are only a handful of birds that elicit pure excitement and joy when they show up at your backyard feeding station. The Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is our largest woodpecker species in America and Canada. Some say it is the second largest woodpecker. It all depends upon if you believe the Ivory-billed Woodpecker exists or not. Stan Tekiela The Pileated Woodpecker inhabits deciduous forests in and around the Great Lakes, New England, and as far south as Florida and other Gulf Coast states. The name “pileated” refers to the large shock of red feathers on its head, called a crest. The word pileatus is Latin and translates to “cap” or “hat,” which I believe describes the prominent crest very well. They are very large birds standing nearly 20 inches tall and have a wingspan of 30 inches. Even though they look huge, they weigh only 11 oz. Males have a red mustache...

Little Ohio: A Nostalgic Look at the Buckeye State’s Smallest Towns

Posted on November 1, 2019

in Nature

by Liliane Opsomer

Little Ohio presents 100 of the state’s tiniest towns and most miniature villages. With populations under 500, these charming and unique locations dot the entire state―from Lake Seneca in the Northwest corner to Neville, bordering the Ohio River and the state of Kentucky. Little Ohio even ventures into Lake Erie, telling the story of Put-in-Bay and Kelley’s Island. Little Ohio, written by lifelong resident Karen Robertson, is for anyone who grew up in a small town and for everyone who takes pride in being called an Ohioan. It’s one book with 100 places to love. The selected locations help readers to appreciate the broader history of small-town life in Ohio. Yet each featured town boasts a distinct narrative, as unique as the citizens who call these places home. Some villages offer hundreds of years of history, such as Tarlton, laid out before Ohio had even gained statehood. Others were built with more expedience, such as...

Five Tips to Make Fishing With Kids a Fun Experience

Posted on October 29, 2019

in Nature

by Ryan Jacobson

The time comes in most anglers’ lives when you get to pass along your wisdom and go fishing with kids. After all, it’s a great outdoor activity, and anyone can be successful at it—with a little bit of know-how and the right equipment. But it does take patience and the ability to sit still for a while, so getting children interested can be a challenge. If you are an avid angler and you want to share your love of fishing with others, here are a few tips to help them (and you) have the time of their lives. Ensure Success Quantity is far more important than quality when fishing with kids. For them, it’s about feeling that tug and reeling in the line. It doesn’t matter what’s on the other end. While bigger is certainly better, even the smallest of catches will do (including baby fish). There’s no need to go looking...

How to Get Your Kids Into Hiking

Posted on October 25, 2019

in Nature

by Liliane Opsomer

Want to get your kids interested in hiking? Adventure Publications editor, dad, and hiker Brett Ortler gives you his tried-and-true tips. Find the Hikes Near You Whether it’s a paved path in a city park, a managed trail in a state park, or a wild national marvel such as the Appalachian Trail, there’s probably a trail near you. Start by looking for local trails. City and county parks are often undiscovered treasure troves of hiking trails; even if you’re in the heart of a suburban or urban area, you’ll often see a surprising amount of wildlife when traipsing along them. State parks, too, often boast hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and they may offer guided hikes, as well as hikes with ties to local history or trails with interpretive signage along the way. In my experience, kids are often quick to race up to those signs and read them aloud. Keep Trail...