Blog - Adventure Publications

Another Great Campfire Foodie Recipe

Posted on August 23, 2017

Julia Rutland, author of The Campfire Foodie Cookbook: Simple Camping Recipes with Gourmet Appeal, shares with us her recipe for Creamy Corn-Bacon Dip. The Creamy Corn-Bacon Dip is a crowd-pleasing recipe made as much at home as at the campsite. Fresh summer corn is amazing, but you can substitute 1 1⁄2 cups thawed frozen corn or 1 can of corn (rinsed and drained). Ingredients: 4 slices bacon, chopped 3 ears corn 2 green onions or 2 tablespoons chopped chives 1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional) 1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Cheddar cheese Corn or tortilla chips Prep at Home: Shuck corn and remove silks. Shred cheese; store in an airtight container. Note: The entire recipe can be prepared at home and reheated over low heat. At Campfire Site: Prepare a charcoal, wood, or gas grill, or assemble a camping cookstove. Heat an 8- to 10-inch cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Cook bacon until crispy. Drain bacon on a paper towel, reserving 2 teaspoons drippings in...

Stan Tekiela Photographs a Star-nosed Mole

Posted on August 18, 2017

in Nature, Nature Smart, Stan Tekiela

by Liliane Opsomer

In this week’s post, Stan Tekiela tells us about the time he got the chance to photograph a star-nosed mole. Over the past 30 years I’ve had many chances to study and photograph all sorts of critters, from tiny shrews to massive moose. But there are a few critters that I still haven’t had a chance to photograph and get to know. While out for a walk with a friend on a wintry day, we happened upon one of those critters that I’ve always wanted to study up close—a star-nosed mole (Condylura cristata). The star-nosed mole has to be one of the more strange-looking creatures. If you ever see one of these hamster-size moles, you won’t forget it. One is easily identified by its large, pink, fleshy nose ringed by a “star” of 22 short appendages, each called a ray, emanating from around the snout. It looks like it has an octopus on its face. The...

Total Eclipse of the Sun—GIVEAWAY

Posted on August 16, 2017

in Astronomy

by Liliane Opsomer

We are about to witness one of the rarest and most awesome sights in nature—a total eclipse of the sun! On Monday August 21st, from approximately noon until 3 p.m., everyone in North America will be able to see at least a partial eclipse, while the total eclipse will pass through portions of 14 states. The event is indeed huge when USPS releases total eclipse forever stamps. Have you gotten yours? If not, enter our GIVEAWAY for your chance to win one pane of 16 Total Eclipse of the Sun Forever® stamps. Read on and enter our giveaway at the bottom of this post. We here at AdventureKEEN are all excited about this rare celestial event, and we will cover it all day on social media, reporting to you from different locations. George Moromisato, author of 101 Amazing Sights of the Night Sky, will email us updates from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and colleagues will be reporting from...

The Short-tailed Weasel: A Tiny Bundle of Energy

Posted on August 11, 2017

in Nature, Nature Smart, Stan Tekiela

by Liliane Opsomer

In today’s post, Stan Tekiela shares with us his fascination with the short-tailed weasel. He had a chance to photograph this very interesting animal on one of his research trips. Also called ermine, the short-tailed weasel (Mustela erminea) is a tiny bundle of energy wrapped up in a fur coat. It is one of the most widespread members of the weasel family. It ranges all across the northland, inhabiting open woodlands, farms, prairies, and even wetlands. The short-tail is only 10-12 inches long, including its tail, which accounts for almost half its length. During summer these weasels are a rich shade of brown with a black-tipped tail and white feet. During winter they turn as white as snow but retain the black-tipped tail. In my encounter with the short-tailed weasel, I was amazed at how fast its short legs carried it over just about any obstacle. Its small size allowed it to fit...

Bird-Watching Gets Kids Outdoors

Posted on August 9, 2017

in Birds, Children's Books

by Ryan Jacobson

Sometimes it’s hard to get kids outdoors, but bird-watching is a perfect solution. In this age of smartphones, social media, and video games, there’s plenty to do from home. But we want our children to breathe fresh air, to exercise, to connect with nature. Luckily, birding has the allure to divert attention away from electronic screens and toward our feathered friends. Making this hobby even better, it’s easy and can be totally free. All you have to do is introduce it. How to Start It seems as if birds are everywhere, so chances are good that you can begin in your own backyard. A simple suggestion of “Let’s go bird-watching” might get the kids outdoors. But even if it takes a bit of coaxing, the children will be entranced as soon as they observe their first bird. To hold their interest, make it interactive. Keep a running total of how many birds you encounter. Ask...

Enter Our Giveaway Celebrating the Solar Eclipse

Posted on August 4, 2017

in Contest, Nature

by Liliane Opsomer

The solar eclipse is coming and we are celebrating with a giveaway. Read on and enter at end of post! On Monday, August 21st, North Americans get to experience one of the rarest and most awesome sights in nature: The path of the moon will perfectly intersect with the path of the sun at just the right time, causing the moon to either partially or fully block the sun from view (depending upon your location). In a Q&A session about the August 21st total solar eclipse, George Moromisato, author of 101 Amazing Sights of the Night Sky, shares with us what is so special about this rare event here. Lunar eclipses happened regularly enough that ancient astronomers were able to work out how to predict them. But total eclipses of the sun, which happen at a given spot only a few times per millennium, were impossible to predict with any accuracy. Imagine, then, how awesome and scary it must have been for our ancestors...

Easy to Prepare Grilled Buffalo Wings Recipe

Posted on August 2, 2017

in Cooking

by Liliane Opsomer

Julia Rutland, author of The Campfire Foodie Cookbook: Simple Camping Recipes with Gourmet Appeal, shares with us her recipe for Grilled Buffalo Wings. Ingredients: 3 pounds chicken drumettes and/or wings 1 1⁄2 teaspoons garlic salt or 1 teaspoon garlic powder and 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons butter 1⁄3 cup hot sauce 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon light brown sugar Blue Cheese Dressing (recipe below) Carrot and celery sticks Prep at Home: Separate chicken drumettes from wings, if necessary. Sprinkle evenly with garlic salt. Store in a large plastic storage bag or airtight container. Refrigerate at least 6 hours to overnight. At Campsite: Prepare a charcoal or gas grill for medium-high heat. Grease grill grates thoroughly. Grill wings, covered with grill lid or foil, turning occasionally, for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown with crisp skin. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan. Stir in hot sauce, vinegar, and brown sugar. Set aside. Prepare Blue Cheese Dressing. Remove from grill and toss in hot sauce mixture. Serve with dressing and carrot and...

Solar Eclipse Generates Interest in the Night Sky

Posted on July 28, 2017

in Astronomy

by Ryan Jacobson

The solar eclipse is coming. On Monday, August 21st, North Americans get to experience one of the rarest and most awesome sights in nature: The path of the moon will perfectly intersect with the path of the sun at just the right time, causing the moon to either partially or fully block the sun from view (depending upon your location). Not surprisingly, this incredible phenomenon has created a great deal of buzz across the continent, and it has people of all ages gazing skyward. The upcoming event offers an ideal excuse to introduce friends and family—especially children—to the night sky. About the Solar Eclipse Mark your calendar, and make plans to be outside when the time is right. But when exactly is that? And what exactly will you see* (weather permitting)? The answers depend on where you are located. NASA lays out this information quite well on its “Eclipse 101” pages. In...