Backyard Winter "Olympics"

The Winter Olympics are coming up in February, as most people are aware. It's a great time to focus on the efforts that the athletes put in to their sports both as teams and as individuals.  

With that same thing in mind, why not create your own Backyard Olympics? Get the kids off the couch and outside in the snow with these great winter games and activities.

1. Tow The Line

Put two teams (they don't have to be huge) together for a slip-sliding variation of Tug-O-War! Tamp down a wide, shallow trench in the snow to serve as the middle line.  Then, take up positions at the ends of a long rope and let the tugging begin!  Whichever team pulls the entire opposing group over to its side of the trench wins!

2. The Hat Trick

Build a nice, plump snowman in the yard and then make a game out of adding his head gear. Take turns trying to land a hat on his head by throwing it Frisbee style.  

3. You're On A Roll

Have players pair up for a contest to roll the biggest snowball possible.  The contest ends and the judging begins when the teams can no longer roll their snowball or they run out of snow. 

4. Zoo Sculptures

Create a wintertime zoo out of snow.  Have each team decide on what animal they want to make.  Things like turtles, otters or penguins are great choices.  You can even add color by mixing food coloring with some water and putting it into a spray bottle.  

5. Last (Snow) Man Standing

Each team builds five small snowmen and lines them up.  Then , team members stand about 10 feet away and take turns throwing snowballs at the snowmen the goal being to knock them down.  The first team with all of their snowmen knocked over wins. 

In a day and age where it seems like kids have forgotten how to play without some sort of device in their hands or in front of their faces, this is a great way to get them out into the fresh air.  So, unplug for a day and play together as a family-OUTDOORS!

"Hey Baby It's COLD Outside!"

There's a LOT to think about when you
camp in the winter!

Winter camping can pose some interesting challenges, but for the camping enthusiast, it can also have some advantages.  You don't have to worry about mosquitoes, the chances of a bear coming out of hibernation to rummage through your campsite is next to none, and if you are looking for some solitude, you're probably going to get your wish.

Here are some things to think about before packing up and heading out into the snow for a weekend of winter camping.  

1.  Keep 'em WARM!  
I'm not talking about your toes!  I'm talking about your batteries!  Batteries don't discharge their energy as well when they're cold.  And we all know, it gets darker earlier in the winter, so you are going to be relying on your flashlight/lantern more.  So, warm batteries up in your hands before using them or even, keep them in your sleeping bag until you need them. 

2. Let your clothes keep you company!
Having big, open pockets of air in your sleeping bag means more places your body heat has to warm up.  So, fill those spaces with the clothes you plan to wear the next day.  And the great part is, you won't have to put on cold clothing the next morning!

3. Share the warmth
When it's really cold outside, your body heat is your sleeping bag's only heat source and it takes a lot longer to heat up and then KEEP heated.  By putting a hand warmer inside, you can warm up your sleeping bag quicker and keep the heat inside longer. You can order them from a site like Discount Safety Gear. 

4. Put up a wall
Whether you're camping in an RV or in a tent, putting up a tarp between two trees is a great way to create a wind wall.  Not only will it keep snow/wind from blowing at you from a particular direction, it also helps when it's time to build a fire.  Never tied a tarp knot?  Here is a great video that shows you how! 

5. Burn baby burn
What is the quickest way to start a fire that's at your disposal whenever you're ready?  Take a small square of aluminum foil and a cotton ball coated with Vaseline.  Put the coated cotton ball into the center of the foil and fold over the foil edges to create a small square.  When you're ready to start a fire, cut an X in the packet and pull out a small amount of cotton.  Twist it into a wick and light a match to it.  It will light the first time, every time.  This little square will burn up to 10 minutes, depending on how much Vaseline is on the cotton.  

These are just a few of many tips for winter camping.  If shack-happiness takes over this winter give it a try!  Camping-it's not just for summer anymore!