Geocaching (pronounced- geocashing) is an outdoor treasure hunting game using your GPS device

Geocaching is a community-wide game that is gaining in popularity across the world. I was recently introduced to it through Twitter tweets by other outdoor adventurers. I looked up exactly how to play and found that it is really easier than it sounds. There are geocache searches made specifically for children and others that are easy enough for them. Many geocaches are hid in local parks. After finding our first cache, the children and I were hooked. I loved watching the excitement in their faces and experiencing us working together towards a common goal. They loved the challenge and the great trade items inside. It’s a great way to add interest to your  hikes while promoting family bonding.

As children get older, it is easy to just let the family grow apart. It takes time and work to keep a family close. I believe a family should be a place of love and security for children. I learn so much about my children as well as learn about myself as we spend time outdoors together. There is something relaxing about the fresh air, allergies or not, that can help change a person’s whole attitude. Stress seems to evaporate with the morning dew or afternoon sun. There is peace within us and peace with one another as we look outside of ourselves. It’s a time where simplicity and technology merge. I hope you will take time to explore the possibilities of what geocaching can mean for your family. Here are a few tips on how to get started using your iphone. You can also use a Garmin.

• Download a good GPS app.
• Go to www.geocaching.com and watch the introduction video.
• Decide which geocaching app is best for you and download it.
• Choose a geocache that is medium to large sized for your first hunt and a one star difficulty level. You want to make sure you find something the first try.
• Wear appropriate shoes and clothing for the terrain and temperature. Caches are often hid in bushes, trees or tall grasses.
• Look for other “treasures” along the way. My son is ecstatic to find simple bolts or wires. You may want to name plants and animals you see and take photos.
• Bring items to trade like silly bands, coins. . .
• Sign the log book- you may need to use your own pen.
• Place the cache back where you found it.
• Have a picnic and spend time talking as a family. It may be a great afterschool activity for your kids before they get started with homework or something fun to do when homework is finished.
• Hide your own cache in your neighborhood.

Tucked away, not far from Pensacola, is Becks Fish Camp and Wildlife Refuge. The Fish Camp and Refuge has over 420 acres. Though mostly undeveloped, Ted Brown is seeking developers to make this a top notch destination to outdoor enthusiasts.

The property is located on Becks lake which is actually a lagoon that joins the Escambia River. This is an ideal location for catching bass, catfish, and other fresh water fish. Beck’s fish camp offers bank fishing and also has boat ramps to launch your own boat.

Becks Fish Camp and Wildlife Refuge is also an ideal place to kayak- bring your own or rent one from their fleet of kayaks. The bayou looks very inviting to explore. Live Oaks stand laced with Spanish Moss. Large cypress trees line the banks creating a beautiful southern setting. Kayak from the lagoon to the Escambia River or simply enjoy exploring the lagoon.

For those that love keeping their feet on solid ground, Becks has been creating hiking trails and picnic areas. Make your way back to the pavilion and picnic area and you’ll discover a beautiful secluded place to take in nature. There at the picnic area you’ll discover benches along the lagoon to enjoy the surrounding beauty. You’ll enjoy looking at the beautiful cypress trees. Also available in this area is primitive camping and shore fishing.

For more information about Becks Fish Camp and Wildlife Refuge visit them online at www.beckslakefishcamp.com.

Boats and Kayaks for Rent

Picnic area

Bench overlooking the bayou

Becks Lake

Ponce De Leon Springs State Park is the perfect place to cool off on a hot summer day. The water is a 68 degree crystal clear spring. This spring is the perfect place to swim and snorkel.

What you will find at Ponce De Leon Springs State Park:

• Swimming and Snorkeling
• Hiking
• Fishing – bring a fishing pole to fish from the banks of Sandy Creek.
• Picnic tables & four Pavilions
• Bathroom facilities

National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month

What is osteoporosis? Osteoporosis is a disease which causes the bones to become more brittle. There are many reasons a person gets osteoporosis such as low estrogen levels, having a small frame/bones, calcium intake or absorption and age. Exercise can help prevent osteoporosis, but it can also lower estrogen levels. Your athletic, teenage daughter may like not having periods, but it can mean weak bones later. Her doctor may want to prescribe estrogen pills during sport season. Weight-bearing exercise builds denser, stronger bones. The more bone mass you build before age 25 or 30, the better off you will be during the years of gradual bone loss.

Hiking and biking are great weight-bearing activities that require your muscles to work against gravity and can help keep your bones strong.

Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month

You may feel like you have to skip out on enjoying hikes because of allergies and asthma, but you shouldn’t have to. Try following a few of these tips :

• Pollen counts are highest on hot, dry, windy days. Check the forecast before making plans to go out for a hike. Warm, breezy mornings have the highest pollen counts. Cool, rainy days have the lowest.

• Move your morning hike or walk to evening. Peak pollen and mold time is 5- 10 a.m.

• Where sunglasses when doing outside activities like hiking. Sunglasses not only protect against harmful UV rays, they also keep pollen out of your eyes.

• Start allergy medications a few weeks before pollen season starts. Claritin is available over-the-counter if you cannot get Allegra or the other prescription allergy medications.

• Depending on the severity of your allergies, you may need to carry along your inhaler or EpiPen with you on hikes, but don’t skip the adventures. They can be a refreshing time and great exercise.

Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

More people get skin cancer than any other cancer. The good news is that it can be taken care of if detected early enough.

There are over 200 types of cancer that can invade skin tissue. The most serious is malignant melanoma. It often arises from or near a mole, so make sure to check your moles for irregular shape.  The best known way to prevent skin cancer is to avoid getting sunburns.

Our bodies need the vitamin D from the sun, so don’t stay inside. Head outside for a nature hike. If you are fair- skinned and burn rather than tan, just wear sunscreen and UV protecting clothing. It is very important that children do not get burns.

Lyme Disease Awareness Month

Lyme disease is a tick-borne illness. When out in the woods or in grassy areas make sure to use tick repellents with DEET. Also, wear light colored clothing, long sleeves, and long pants with pants’ legs tucked into socks.
Check for ticks on your skin when you get home from outdoor activities.  Rashes and flu-like symptoms can be signs of lyme disease and you should call your doctor immediately.

Looking for a hiking or biking trail you can take the entire family on? Fort Pickens on Pensacola Beach has many trails the family can enjoy. One section of trail we enjoy connects Battery Worth and Fort Pickens. This trail is part of the Florida National Scenic Trail and is only .7 miles long.

The landscape is made up of small dunes, sand live oak, slash pines, myrtle oak, fetterbush, rosemary, saw palmetto, Cruise’s golden aster, and more.  A section of trail runs along a few water channels where you can see many turtles and other wildlife. There is also a bridge you cross and is a great place to see turtles and other wildlife.

Trailhead at Battery Worth in Fort Pickens

Trail is made of ground oyster shells

beach shrubs and trees along the trail

Water channels on Fort Pickens along trail

Visitor at the bridge

Want more on Fort Pickens?

Johnson Beach Discovery Nature Trail is located on Perdido Key. This is a nice hike for the entire family. The hike takes you on a raised boardwalk through dunes, pine trees, salt marsh outlooks, and brings you to a beautiful view of Grand Lagoon. The hike is  just under 1/2 a mile long-just long enough for a fun time of exploring with young kids.  When we hiked through, we saw a hawk family soaring around its nest bringing a Sunday fish dinner. We also observed other small birds. Bring a picnic and check out Johnson Beach this Spring!

View Discovery Nature Trail at Johnson Beach in a larger map

Deer at Krul Lake

It’s beautiful this time of year in Northwest Florida for enjoying the many great trails the area has to offer. Recently, we went to Krul Lake and took a family hike on part of the Sweetwater trail. The first half mile of Sweetwater Trail is a handicapped accessible boardwalk that winds through magnolia, oaks, and pine trees. The trail follows alongside the Sweetwater River and has many outlooks for sitting back and enjoying the sound of flowing water. The trail also has a fun suspension bridge over the Sweetwater River. And, the trail also has a gristmill located near the trail entrance.

We had a really nice time getting outside and enjoying nature. On the hike our kids had a lot of fun climbing trees and exploring the river banks. My wife and I enjoyed the fresh air while getting exercise and taking photos of of the surrounding beauty.

If you are interested in hiking on Sweetwater Trail the trail-head is off the parking area at Krul Lake Recreation Area.

[View with PicLens]

Bayou Marcus Water Reclamation Facility Boardwalk is located near Pensacola, Florida. This facility discharges reclaimed water into the Bayou Marcus receiving wetland system. The water is discharged along the bayou boardwalk. Many birds and other wildlife may be seen along the boardwalk. To walk to the end of the boardwalk and back is approximately 3 miles. For more information visit the Florida Department of Environmental Protection website.

View Bayou Marcus in a larger map

Sunday afternoon, we bundled up and headed out to take a hike. It’s been a very cold couple of weeks, so it’s been more difficult to  get out of the heated house. Getting out turned out to be a great way to spend the afternoon although we did get our feet a bit wet. . . okay, more like soaked!

My wife and I only had an hour, so we went to a nearby trail in Milton called Garcon Point Trail. Garcon Point Trail has a 1.7 mile loop and a 1.2 mile spur off that trail. We hiked the 1.2 mile spur then walked back another 1.5 along the  along Garcon Point Road.

The first mile was nice and dry. We saw a few different species of birds and then some human species. As we got to the loop, we started to hit some wet spots. This is where we met a dad who had taken some time to go for a hike with his two kids. They were turning around at this point. However, we kept going on across wet areas. Many of the wet areas had boards you could cross. Yet, toward the end of our hike we got to jump through some ankle deep water. Fortunately, this time a year we didn’t have to worry much about snakes. Another plus about hiking this time of year is that the bugs aren’t a problem. During the summer months, mosquitoes and ticks can be a bit of a problem on this trail, so you’ll need protection.

This hike turned out to make a fun, refreshing afternoon. Though the air temperature wasn’t far from freezing, we dressed properly. By the end of the hike, I was even feeling hot. Garcon Point Trail turned out to be a great pick for a Sunday afternoon hike. It was a great way to get refreshed for the week ahead through some good outdoor exercise.