Ask Ian!

Posted By Ian

I just found out. 

2009  is the International Year of Astronomy - a year-long, worldwide public celebration of astronomy, marking the 400th anniversary of Galileo pointing a telescope to the sky.  Check out this website to find national sites that include more details about events happening in your country to celebrate astronomy - http://www.astronomy2009.org/.

You can learn lots about stars and stargazing with Andy Camper activities….

Posted By Ian

If the answer is YES….. then check out this website http://www.ontarioparksinsider.com/3/ff#article54.  You can also subscribe to the Ontario Parks Insider newsletter and get the information sent to you directly so you can always have new ideas when you head out to camp.

Speaking of new ideas, If you haven’t tried geocaching with your kids yet - you have to try this summer! Andy Camper has tips on how you can get started http://andycamper.com/page?s=190…. and we have many Andy Camper items stashed that are on the move.  Once you start to geocache you will get hooked. 

Posted By Ian

Great photos of nature

By lynne on June 13th, 2009

Someone just forwarded me a link to this blog…. http://therecord.blogs.com/a_year_on_the_grand/.  It includes great photos taken by David Bebee and Mathew McCarthy, photojournalists for the Waterloo Region Record.  They also include interesting information about where the shots were taken along the grand river.  For example: the June blog post includes images of a monarch butterfly, heron, snail, dragonfly and crazy jumping water dog names Wyatt!  Makes me want to bring my camera next time I hike with the family.

Take photos the next time you are on a hike and email them to andy@andycamper.com and we may put them on our website. 

Posted By Ian

It’s time to “rock” out!

By lynne on May 13th, 2009

Well at least it is in our house - and maybe your’s too!  My daughter is currently studying rocks and minerals in school, so we went on the internet to get some information and also find some fun activities to do. 

There are lots, but I will just share with you three that were cool:

 

Posted By Ian

The kids are old enough to try kayaking this year and we are all really excited.  Our family has talked about how much fun it will be to get outdoors on the water on a sunny day!  I bet you have great spots close to where you live where you can adventure.  I did some digging and anyone living or visiting Southern Ontario has tons of options if they want to take advantage of the Grand River and all it has to offer. 

 

You can check out river access points at http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?Sec=32&Sub1=1 If you don’t have a canoe or kayak, you can rent one from http://www.canoeingthegrand.com/.  That’s what we are going to do.  It will be a great way to be active and explore spots close to home.   

While you are out in the kayak or canoe – bring along a fishing pole if you have room.  You can learn more about fish by visiting Andy Camper’s website page and reading all about fish before you go…. http://andycamper.com/page?s=154

 

 

Posted By Ian

Earth Day Facts (Not so fun) April 22nd

By AndyCamper on April 22nd, 2009

Hi we usually publish a bunch of fun facts about Earth day but this time we thought we would make a big lis to for you.

So here it goes. Earth Day Fact.

• The garbage in a landfill stays for a for about 30 years.

• In 1995 over 200 of the world landfills were full.

• Each person throws away approximately four pounds of garbage every day.

• One bus carries as many people as 40 cars!

• More than 1/3 of all energy is used by people at home

• Most families throw away about 88 pounds of plastic every year

• We each use about 12,000 gallons of water every year

• 1/3 of all water is used to flush the toilet.

• The 500 million automobiles on earth burn an average of 2 gallons of fuel a day.

• Each gallon of fuel releases 20 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air.

• Approximately 5 million tons of oil produced in the world each ear ends up in the ocean.

• The energy we save when we recycle one glass bottle is enough to light a traditional light bulb for four hours

• For every 2000 pounds of paper (1 ton) recycled, we save 7,000 gallons of water free from chemicals.

• Recycled paper requires 64% less energy than making paper from virgin wood pulp, and can save many trees

• Every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees

• The amount of wood and paper we throw away is enough to heat 50 million homes for 20 years

• Earth is 2/3 water. but all the fresh water streams only represent one hundredth of one percent.

• 14 billion pounds of trash is dumped into the ocean every year

• It takes 90% less energy to recycle aluminum cans than to make new ones

• 5 billion aluminum cans are used each year

• 84 percent of all household waste can be recycled.

• Computers pose an environmental threat because much of the material that makes them up is hazardous. A typical monitor contains 4-5 pounds of lead.

• Each year billions of used batteries are thrown away in the United States. This constitutes 88% of the mercury and 54% of the cadmium deposited into our landfills

• Approximately only 10 percent of every landfill can be cleaned up.

• Ivory comes from dead elephants, its best not to buy it.

• Fur coats often come from endangered animals, it’s best not to buy them.

• One gallon of motor oil can contaminate up to 2 million gallons of water. so dispose of properly!

Here are some great links for you as well:

Activities for Earth-day and More

http://holidays.kaboose.com/earth-day/

http://earthday.wilderness.org/kidsstuff/

http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/earth.html

History of Earth Day:

http://earthday.envirolink.org/history.html

Learn about Earth Day:

http://holidays.kaboose.com/earth-day/earth-day-guide.html


Earth Day QUIZ

http://www.pocanticohills.org/earthday/quiz.htm
Helpful Hints:

http://www.pocanticohills.org/earthday/earthday.htm

http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/specials/articles/1,28285,1601801,00.html

http://www.oakridger.com/news/x1092975959/Earth-Day-Festival-offers-kids-activities

Please send us your comments or posts as well

AndyCamper

Posted By Ian

Good Morning Campers, I read this story today on a friends blog and I could not believe the statistics. I am surprised in this day and age the participation levels could be declining still. The worst of it is that there is a decline in the connection to nature as a major result. Read below or check out this and other stories at this link. http://fitnessblog.projo.com/2009/01/as-childhood-ob.html

AndyCamper.

While overall participation in outdoor recreation among Americans is increasing, the connection to nature among kids is declining, according to a study by the Outdoor Foundation.

The 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report, is based on an on-line survey capturing responses from over 60,000 Americans, ages six and older and covers 114 different outdoor activities. The survey represents a collaborative effort among The Outdoor Foundation, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, National Golf Foundation, and SnowSports Industries America.

According to the report, over 50 percent of Americans participated in outdoor recreation in 2007, getting outside 11.36 billion times — either close to home, in a nearby park or on an overnight trip. While the increase in participation comes as good news to the outdoor recreation industry, the report also reveals over an 11-percent decline in participation in outdoor activities among kids, age 6 to 17 with the sharpest declines among youngsters age 6 to 12.

The insights detailed in the 2008 Outdoor Recreation Participation Report are critical to efforts nationwide seeking to understand and reverse the growing inactivity crisis among youth and the growing disconnect between youth and the outdoors.

“Children in America are suffering from the effects of obesity and inactivity at unprecedented levels,” said Chris Fanning, executive director of The Outdoor Foundation. “Teaching youth the benefits of a healthy active outdoor lifestyle will ensure healthier children, healthier communities, and healthier businesses.”

Posted By Ian

Ottawa’s children’s festival May 2009

By lynne on April 20th, 2009

This sounds like fun!  We may take a quick family trip to Ottawa this spring so did some quick research.  I hadn’t heard of the Ottawa children’s festival before - but their website says it has been around since 1985 and attracts 17,000 people.  That many kids can’t be wrong!

So - if you want to check it out, visit http://www.ottawachildrensfestival.ca/index.html.  The activities run from May 27 - 31st this year.  Come to think of it - if you do go, let us know what you thought was the coolest and why?   Send us pictures if you take them.  It might also be great to hear if there were activities to do with your friends, and if you think it would be something we should tell all our Andy Camper friends about for next year!

Posted By Ian

What a great way to feed the birds!

By lynne on April 17th, 2009

Here is a quick activity that the kids and I are going to do this weekend.  http://ourhouse.typepad.com/full_circle/2009/02/for-t.html.  It looks easy, inexpensive MESSY and lots of fun.  We have all kinds of birds that are starting to fly around our house and what better way to make them feel welcome.  We can’t wait to take outdoor pictures with our full and happy flying friends! 

 When you’re done – you can check out http://andycamper.com/page?s=147 on Andy Camper’s site to learn more about birds and get ideas for some other crafts you can do with the family.

 

 

Posted By Ian

Have You Ever Eaten a Bug?

By lynne on March 30th, 2009

You never know it might be fun to try with your friends or family!

If you live close to Waterloo Region in Ontario - and you want to try - go visit http://www.wingsofparadise.com/index.php?moduleId=RljE8mgg&pageId=8P3rDe98 during March break.  I hear they are quite delicious….. ( well, at least crunchy!)

And after you eat a few, learn all about bugs by checking out http://andycamper.com/page?s=152.  You could be all ready to hit the outdoors armed with a new bug catcher you’ve created and lots of ideas about the kind of bugs you want to find.

Make sure to let us know if you sampled any of the bugs…. I hear they are crunchy!

Don’t for get to send AndyCamper or Ask Ian a note. We would love to hear how your bug catcher turned out.