American Wanderer Summer Camp: Exploring the National Parks

Reverse the Graying of the National Parks!

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:28:28 GMT

Reverse the Graying of the National Parks

We just finished reading the USA Today Story about the average age of those going to the parks and the need to get today’s youth into the national parks if we ever want them to become their future stewards. For 6 years we have tried to connect with the National Park Service in an attempt to solve one of their biggest problems. We, American Wanderer Summer Camp, have been preaching the same thing and doing it!

This isn’t something new to anyone that has been in the “iconic” parks. We found out early on that your parents were much more likely to have visited the National Parks than our generation and that our kids are even less likely to have visited them. Whether by luck or divine intervention we were fortunate enough to have taken our children across the country to see most of the “iconic” parks in 2006. The timing was perfect; the kids were 8 and 10, the only ages where they were old enough to appreciate it and young enough to spend that much time with their parents. We’ve heard it a thousand times, I’m going to take my kids one day to see the parks, to date we know of only 2 families that have done it, the rest missed the boat. We found tons of foreigners both European and Asian but very few Americans and even fewer American kids, hence the formation of American Wanderer Summer Camp.

We have taken all kinds of kids to the parks, from suburban, the inner city, kids of the military active duty, the guard, wounded warriors and even kids from other countries. Don’t get us started about foreigners appreciating our national treasures more than we do! Thanks to those that went before us, and their infinite wisdom, they saw the benefit of these parks for every American not only as a form of recreation but as a life changing experience. John Muir stated it best over a hundred years ago and it couldn’t be more relevant today; “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.”

Simply put American Wanderer does it and we do it well. We take middle school and high school age kids to explore the National Parks and their surroundings. We believe all children should learn about the natural wonders of America. Together, one child at a time, we can make the world a better place for them and all of us by creating the future stewards of our National Parks and the planet.

Walk with us and learn that which you cannot read about in a book or experience through a picture or movie. We ignite a spark of passion within every camper by opening their eyes to the wonders all around. Expand your horizons and explore these magnificent wonders.

We defy you to watch our 5 Minute Park Fix and not be amazed by the wonders in our back yard, it always brings us back to earth. If you really want a shiver up your spine, listen to our good friend Chris Plummer talk about nature, in an excerpt of a longer video he did for us, reading part of Teddy Roosevelt’s dedication of the Northern Arch at Yellowstone.

For information about our success with connecting teens with the National Parks, please contact: TheKimberlys@AmericanWanderer.com

PDF download feel free to pass this along: Reverse the Graying of the National Parks

Earth Day April 22nd

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 20:22:03 GMT

Join the Party April 22 from 11 – 2

The Nature Conservancy in conjunction with American Wanderer, C&NN and The Norfield Grange host Earth Day 2012 Sunday April 22 at the Katherine Ordway Preserve, 165 Good Hill Rd. Weston, CT. Join us and set a World Record for the largest multi-venue picnic in a 24-hour period! The Earth is an amazing planet, so let's take it out for lunch! Pack a picnic and join us for some outdoor fun, hike the trails, play badminton, frisbee or just enjoy the fresh air.

Picnic for the Planet is connecting people around the world through the food they love. American Wanderer connects kids with the National Parks and their surroundings, opening their eyes to the wonders all around. Let’s G.O.! is a youth-inspired, youth-led Children & Nature Network initiative that encourages intergenerational groups of people to get outside together to be active, have fun, and connect with nature. This year, we’ll take another giant step toward creating healthy communities! Participate and spread the word! The Norfield Grange, American Values, Hometown Roots, supports local agriculture, business, community service and family values since 1896.

The Nature Conservancy launched Picnic for the Planet in 2011 to nurture people's connection to the planet and the food it provides. Last year’s Picnic was a great success with thousands of people joining more than 600 picnics in 61 countries on all seven continents.

We couldn't resist.

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:34:55 GMT

Yellowstone is amazing, buffalo, mountains, waterfalls, geysers, hot springs, elk, deer and bear, both black and grizzly. The only thing any camper didn't like about Yellowstone was the smell. In some marketers infinite wisdom the following was created. We are still laughing-

The added awareness of the parks in a national advertising campaign can't hurt but we couldn't resist showing you our version of the real smells of the National Parks.

Nothing, not a chemical smell, picture or video can come close to planting your self in the middle of the parks and taking in all the wonders for yourself. If you really need to get a National Park fix I guess you could try watching our videos and opening one of their air fresheners. Let us know if it makes for a more realistic experience. We'll pass and just go back out for the real thing!

Park News Update

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:58:36 GMT

Just a little common sense PLEASE!
The ranchers and others filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the relocation program argued that wild bison damage fences, eat hay meant for cattle, and potentially spread disease. The real lawsuit should be filed by the Buffalo. The ranchers erect non osha fences, the cattle eat native grasses and are all imported from other countries potentially spreading foreign disease. Wouldn't it be nice if someone could show just an once of common sense!
Montana Judge blocks more Yellowstone bison moves

Saguaro National Park in Tucson is discontinuing the sale of disposable bottled water and soda.
Another win against trash in the National Parks. Don't think I'm some kind of "Green Freak", I just don't like people trashing Mother Nature for the rest of US!
Plastic Bottle Ban

Speaking of Trashing Mother Nature
If you haven't seen the video Christopher Plummer did for us last year you need to. His comment about Mother Nature should ring true to all of us. Chris's Video

We would also like to offer a belated congratulations on winning the Oscar for best supporting actor in the film "Beginners". Bravo!

Lets Give Them a Big Bronx Cheer

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 23:27:59 GMT

Yellowstone Bison arrive at Fort Peck

64 American Bison were shipped from Yellowstone National Park to Montana's Fort Peck Reservation. I have a Bison pen, from the Yellowstone Store, for the first person other than Susan that can tell me why a Bronx Cheer is appropriate.

latest Park News

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 18:05:12 GMT

Parks urge caution as bears emerge from hibernation

We saw this bear last summer crossing the Yellowstone river just up stream from Artists Point. Later that day on the way back to camp we saw a Grizzly crossing the road, looked as big as a pickup truck, magnificent animals best observed from the safety of a truck.
Bears come out of hibernation

Favorite hikes in the National Parks
Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim - The North Kaibab Trail is a must do every summer at camp. Yosemite National Park - we biked and hiked Yosemite in 2006. If you want to get away from the people you must see Hetch Hetchy Valley, a smaller more remote version of Yosemite Valley. Zion National Park - The River Walk is voted every year by our campers as the #1 hike of the summer. You actually hike in the Virgin River up the canyon into the Narrows. If you're going to any of the parks call us and we'll be glad to give you the list of our favorite hikes.
Great hiking trails

Mother nature and the wolves
We always root for the animals! A dilemma that we discuss in camp every summer, do we intervene and protect the present? All that is around us came from change. Is it possible to know that the future Mother Nature has in store isn't more wonderful than what we have now? The erosion in Arches National Park created the arches, and as we have seen, destroyed them as well. Millions of years ago Giant Sequoias grew in Colorado, should someone have tried to stop the ocean from receding and the mountains from rising in order to preserve them?
Isle Royale wolves may go extinct

Bucket list of the National Parks
Gotta keep talking them up and maybe we can get some more Americans into OUR parks!
Must-see National Parks

Plastic Bottles Continued

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 02:19:16 GMT

Ban on Plastic Bottle Sales at Grand Canyon Won’t Extend to Other National Parks.

Just shows you can still buy your way into the National Parks. Wouldn't it be nice if they really believed all the stuff they tell us to do? It doesn't matter how much we pollute so long as we recycle afterwards, "We removed 31 tons of solid waste that was diverted from landfills that was recycled here in the park and that included almost 4,800 pounds of plastic and an additional 58,000 pounds of cardboard.”

Moki Dugway

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 04:56:05 GMT

Most of you would be surprised to know that I don't just watch CNBC 24 hrs a day. Last night I awoke to a new show on the Discovery Channel (one of my favorites along with the History Channel and Nat Geo) called Hell Roads. In a previous life I was known to awake to Speed Vision at all hours of the night, reliving days driving at Lime Rock Race Track. So Hell Roads naturally got my attention. Unlike my first thought it wasn't about great and dangerous race tracks, it's about some of the most extreme roads in the world. One of the roads on the show was the Moki Dugway, built by uranium miners to get ore down the thousand foot Vermilion Cliffs just north of Mexican Hat in south eastern Utah. Some of our campers should remember a special morning where we watched the sun rise over the Valley of the Gods and then ascended the Dugway to the top of the mesa for a magnificent view of the valley below. From there you can see all the way to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Lots of hairpin turns and sheer cliff drops

Looks like the TREE HUGGERS won!

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:33:34 GMT

Looks like we won the battle to ban disposable water bottles from Grand Canyon National Park, for now. Read the story- Coke vs The People

Tree Huggers May Win!

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 06:58:24 GMT

People count! Looks like the National Parks are going to open the debate on disposable plastic water bottles being sold in Parks. On the North Rim they installed an ice maker and water spigots, behind the Ranger Station, to fill reusable bottles. Nothing better than a bunch of us TREE HUGGERS saving plastic trees.

Vanilla or Butterscotch?

ATK Rocket Garden

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:16:21 GMT

I've been a little lax in posting current events that happen in places Camp goes. I found this while finishing up The Shoshone Trail session of the Camp Yearbook. Kind of funny that the latest in space science happens right next to the Golden Spike National Historic Site. Here in 1869 the east met west with the most advanced form of travel the Railroad! Click the link to see the news-
worlds-largest-solid-rocket-motor-ignites-in-utah-desert-test

Session 4 - The Lakota Path...The Adventures Continue

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 22:20:51 GMT

South Dakota Fun in the Sun and "Rain"...

The campers learned about Pioneer Life in South Dakota...

and completed a Scavenger Hunt (with a little help from...) for a prize to see who learned the most...it was down to the wire...and they tied no one knew how many beds were in the room? Was it 5, 8 or 9 no 10...and they even learned what a "Murphy Bed" is!

We went on an amazing Candlelight Tour of Wind Cave (famous for its Boxwork formation...95% of the world's boxwork is found here)! We wore gloves and were allowed to touch the walls and scramble over rocks on our path all by candlelight like the original spelunkers did.

After our Harney Peak hike in the Black Hills we went to the spot where Nicolas Cage put his hand in the rock to open up the wall in National Treasure 2...sorry no treasure.

A refreshing swim in Sylvan Lake after our hike.

When we reached the fire tower at the top of Harney Peak we had a yummy lunch, relaxed for a bit, and enjoyed the view!

We had all weather BUT snow for this hike...yes sun, clouds, rain and HAIL!

The buffalo (a.k.a. American Bison) do roam in Custer State Park.

And a little bit further down the road we were pleased to be greeted by Pronghorn Antelope grazing on the side of the road in Custer S.P.

Session 4 - The Lakota Path...Continues

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:54:05 GMT

Days 3 - 6...The Adventures Continue

Cascade Falls in Hot Springs Eli message to Victor is "I did it!"

Drew's "famous cannonball splash"!

Ben and Brian holding a Mammoth Bone for the group to see at The Mammoth Site.

The campers imagine what it would be like to live in a home made of bones and hides.

FREE ICE WATER is the lure of Wall Drug Store (the largest in the world) a.k.a. Tourist Trap...but a great place to stop after a hike in The Badlands for Homemade Ice Cream Milk Shakes...raspberry was voted the best!

Then cool fun under the "Wall Drug Geysers" in the backyard.

Then on to see and hear the T-Rex ROAR!

Wildlife galore...Big Horn Sheep grazing on the side of the road...they didn't even notice us while we stopped to gawk and take pictures.

Scaling the wall from the lower prairie to the upper prairie...trying to imagine how outlaws, Native Americans and wagons from the Oregon Trail managed to accomplish this?

The other group made it to the top - Mission Accomplished!

Mount Rushmore or bust!

The first group saw it by spotlight at twilight and what a sight it is.

Session 4 - The Lakota Path Begins

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:24:44 GMT

Days 1-3 of Session 4 - The Lakota Path

A Vore Buffalo Jump Guide tells us about the Native Americans using this sink hole as a method for trapping Bison to prepare for their long winters - it dates back to before the time of Christopher Columbus.

A late afternoon hike around Devils Tower (the 1st National Monument) to learn about the Native American Legend and the geological story of the rock volcanic structure. The campers didn't believe it is great for rock climbing until they saw a group coming down! After dinner the kids watched "Close Encounters of the 3rd Kinds" that was filmed at the Tower.

A "protected" Prairie Dog Town at Devils Tower National Monument...they are out and about visiting each other at dawn and dusk...very social creatures.

A Native American metal sculpture at Little Big Horn Battlefield.

Custer's Head Stone on Last Stand Hill at Little Big Horn. His body was moved and laid to rest at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, NY.

Day 1 - No rest for the weary travelers...a short hike to see Pictograph Cave.

Thank you and hello from Session 4 of AW Summer Camp

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:56:03 GMT

Thank yous were said from the Campers to the many whom made it possible for them to attend camp this summer! Hello to their parents, families, friends, etc. Sit back and enjoy and more blogs with camp photos and videos to come.

Camp TV

Session 3 - The Grand Tetons & Yellowstone

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:14:12 GMT

Session 3 - The Grand Tetons & Yellowstone...lots of wildlife!

Our first hike in the Tetons was around Jenny Lake...we came across a Moose across the pond.

The water was so high from winter snow and spring rains that many of the bridges were washed out and being rebuilt. We saw Hidden Falls which you could hear long before you could see it.

An afternoon swim in Jackson Lake.

It
It's hard to see but you can see the outline of a cinnamon colored Black Bear at the start of our hike to Surprise Lake. For safety reasons we kept the group together for our hike and adventures throughout the park.

Walking through a meadow of wild flowers.

For those who dared a swim in Surprise Lake...you can see the melting snow on the far side so quite cold as you can imagine.

The top part of the trail had snow along the path.

On to Yellowstone to West Thumb Geyser Basin to see beautiful thermal features along Yellowstone Lake.

Campers looking at Fishing Cone where fisherman tell tales of catching a fish and dropping their line fish and all into the geyser and instantly cooking their fish meal.

Castle Geyser and more blasting off in the Old Faithful Geyser Basin.

Which way does the water flow? Ask the campers...a photo opp. at the Continental Divide.

Our walk to Fairy Falls...and a short walk up a hill to get great photos of Grand Prismatic Pool (the most photographed geyser in all of Yellowstone but usually from a helicopter).

Group postcard photo...better than what's in the gift shop.

Fairy Falls

Many swam to the falls and stood on the ledge below the falls and for others a great place to cool off their feet..

Wildlife galore! Over 100 American Buffalo or Bison counted that day!

Mud Volcano and lots of "sulphur fumes".

A bear swimming across the river...he/she made it...before the falls! Big cheers from the campers.

A walk down 375 stairs on Uncle Tom's Trail (better than the early 1900's when he took people down with ropes) to see the Lower Falls.

A view from the bottom...now 375 stairs back up...we stopped on each landing to take pictures.

Artist's Point the inspiration for many artists and photographers.

Campers having fun...the background is real!

Elk taking an afternoon nap on the lawn by the North Entrance in Hot Springs.

Hot Springs Lower Terrace a different view of a thermal feature...some of the oldest in the park and every changing from day-to-day,, season-to-season and year-to-year.

The North Entrance...dedicated by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1903 the gateway into the 1st National Park - Yellowstone!

On our way to see the Petrified Tree (a giant redwood from when this area was marsh along the shores of the ancient oceans)...we saw a Coyote running along the hillside at dusk (one of the best times of day to view wildlife)!

Session 2 Ends & The Session 3 Adventures Begin.....

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:05:57 GMT

If you haven't seen it here's the link to our LiveStream Channel Camp TV:
Camp TV

Session 2 Campers hike down to The Great Salt Lake to float in the 26% salty water via SaltAire access.

Last dip in the pool for the Session 2 campers and a jump into the hot tub to get the last of the salt off!

Sorry no fire ring on the last night of camp so we imporvised and used a lantern for our last fireside chat and camp wrapup chat.

Don't they look chipper at 4:30 in the morning...good bye Session 2 campers have a good end of the summer.

Session 3 begins with a live steam engine demonstration, a ranger talk about this historical landmark and a movie about building "The Golden Spike" where East met West on May 10th, 1869 at Promintory Point, Utah to celebrate the transcontinental RR.

Down the road is TDK's rocket booster playground...a transportation mecca in America.

On to the Paris, Idaho Tabernacle the first Mormon stake outside Utah. All hand built by local labor.

The campers were there in time to hear the beautiful serenade of the organ being played for it's daily practice. The wood is all hand carved in the Tabernacle.

The Oregon Trail Center for a simulated wagon train ride...it really is bumpy and authentic according to one of the actors who portrays the wagon master for the trip to "Oregon or Bust"!

A dip in the beautiful campground pool and a fun game of Marco Polo.

Dinner yum-yum...Chinese Cuisine - Chicken Stir Fry with Rice! One of the campers said "the food is great...not traditional camp slop"!

We fondly call Bear Lake the Caribbean of the West - "Coney Island" but you can't tell from the pictures. The kids are all thoroughly enjoying the sand and the surf.

Set up for Camp TV...so don't miss out on those updates too...Live Streaming from wherever we can get it to broadcast from.

Our first official hike from the cave to Porcupine CG and back to get our legs warmed up for The Grand Tetons...Surprise Lake here we come!

All ready for the 444 steps down into the cave and 444 back...

Minnetonka Cave...in Shoshone...one of the most famous formationon...the three sisters. The middle sister is waving her left hand at you! She once looked like her sisters...but after an earthquake voila she now has an arm to wave with!

Afton, Wyoming to stop for a photo opp. under the world's longest Elk Horn Arch made of over 3,000 antlers and a drink from the only cold water geyser in North America.

Group 1 ready for take off on The Snake River.

The black spots bobbing are the campers floating down river.

Capitol Reef, Bryce, GC and Zion...

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 22:42:19 GMT

Camp Blog # 2 - Capitol Reef, Grand Staircase Escalante, Bryce Canyon, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks.

A morning hike in Capitol Reed to Sunset Point. When the campers go back to school in the fall their teacher may ask what did you do this summer? Oh, I was just hanging around!

The campers in front of "The Capitol Dome" how the park got it's name.
Then we drove through the Dixie Forest National Forest full of pine trees, aspens and cool temperatures after the desert heat. On Scenic Highway 12 we drove up and over Grand Staircase Escalante one of the narrowest highways in America.

A grand view of the ampitheatre of colored rock from atop Bryce Point of Bryce NP.

Next we hiked into Bryce Canyon among the "hoodoos" the colorful pillars of rock. We started at Bryce Point taking the Peekaboo & Navajo Trail and split into two groups to see whom would reach the top first...the shorter, steeper group that took the Wall Street Trail won and reached the top via Sunset Point and hiked over to Sunrise Point to meet the group that took Queen Victoria's Trail. The campers were all rewarded with a ice cold drink on the back porch of the lodge.

Then back to the campground for a refreshing dip in the pool and a game of Marco Polo.
The next stop is the North Rim of the Grand Canyon!

The campers took their first hike out to the edge of the rim to Bright Angel Point and it is very hard for the kids to fathom that what they are standing on once was the bottom of the ocean. They found fossils of seashells to prove it!

On the back porch of the North Rim Lodge we attended a Ranger Talk about the reintroduction of the California Condor and caught a glimpse of one the next day on our hike...is it an airplane or a bird? A bird with a 9.5 foot wingspan! And at sunset we filmed Camp TV from the back porch overlooking the Grand Canyon (what an amazing backdrop).

The next morning we hiked down below the rim on the North Kaibab Trail to the Supai Tunnel where we enjoyed the shade, lunch, no mule trains (yeah), some R & R and refilled our water bottles for the long hike up!

A view out into the canyon towards the south rim and the Colorado River.

Coconino Overlook

The campers victorious after the hike were rewarded with "Fat Boys" (Utah's version of an overstuffed square ice cream sandwich).

After dinner we enjoyed the warmth of a campfire and some yummy s'mores!

On our way into Zion NP we were greated by 28+ Big Horn Sheep climbing gracefully near Checkboard Mesa. Collectively Chris, Lyn & Steve have never seen that many.

From the Temple of Sinawava we set out for the mile hike to the river where we plunged into the water of The Virgin River for a few miles to "The Narrows" and swam, floated and walked back. A great time was had by all...always a favorite camp hike!

7-12-2011 Camp TV from Bryce Canyon, UT

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:21:02 GMT

Click the link to go to or broadcast last night all about Bryce Canyon. Camp TV Bryce

Summer 2011 - American Wanderer's 5th Camp Season

Chris and Lyn Kimberly — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 06:16:11 GMT

Session 2 - Blog #1 from Canonville, Utah
Driving to Camp, Setting Up Camp and Camp Days 1-4 - Grand Junction, Colorado and Moab, Utah

When we left Connecticut bound for Colorado gas was $4.119 per gallon...and the lowest gas price we've seen since is $3.279!

First stop our Guide Steve's Farm in Indiana where his brother John trades exotic animals (Emu and Watusi Cattle to name a few).

From the car we saw The Gateway Arch "which reflects St. Louis' role in the Westward Expansion of the U.S."

In Grand Junction we saw "Chrome on the Range" a bison made of chrome bumpers.

Our first camp breakfast together as we set out for our first National Park and our first hike!

Colorado National Monument (celebrating it's 100th anniversary). Our first stop from the Otto Trail named after it's first ranger is a great view of the 450-foot Independence Monument. John Otto started the tradition in 1911 and every July 4th since of climbing and displaying the American flag atop the rock.

We saw the "coke ovens" and took a hike along Rim Walk to see many rock formations "praying hands" and more.

We traveled to Moab, Utah next the home of two National Parks. Our first hike was in Arches down Park Avenue and a view of Nefertiti.

Then to the Devil's Garden for a hike to see Landscape Arch (the longest in the world measuring 306 feet from base to base).

And then to see the Windows (North & South), Turret Arch and the Double Arch following the Parade of Elephants out.

The next day we climbed through the rock fins of the Fiery Furnace maze all on our own...we conquered it in 3 hours and even found the elusive Bridge at the end. Then off for an afternoon of fun floating around in Ken's Lake which was overflowing with water this year.

The next day we hiked in Canyonlands out to the rim of Island in the Sky Overlook where we attended a Ranger Led Talk about "Mining for Uranium in Canyonlands".

A walk out on White Rim Trail to see a grand view of the Needles District below.

Then to a favorite of the campers Mesa Arch which they all come up with a unique name for...picture window, T.V., etc.

Back to the campground for a delicious snack of watermelon.

Then back to Arches for a sunset hike to Delicate Arch (the most famous in the world and pictured on the Utah license plate). Had a nice hike up in the shade of clouds. Just as we got to the arch the sun came out for a magnificent picture. We were rained out the night before...and you don't want to get caught on wet "slick rock"!

Before we left Moab we went on a short hike to find "petroglyphs" of a mastodon (believed to be over 8,000 years old according to our campground host who's a local archeologist) and many others!