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When you pause and let your mind wander, where does it go? Maybe it goes to a time far away to a family trip to the lake. Perhaps it moseys off to summer days spent at your grandparents’ house. Possibly it drifts back to an amusement park visit with brothers, sisters, and the whole family. Wherever it goes, it always seems to be a summer place. Evidently, warm weather makes warm memories. ...read more
Inspiration | Mast Family Favorites
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When was the last time you wrestled a pickle jar? Truly engaged in “person versus pickle” combat with one? Sure, we’ve all been there… ...read more
At Home | Mast Family Favorites
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Did you know the State of North Carolina’s official folk dance is clogging? Yep, the North Carolina General Assembly adopted clogging as the state’s folk dance and shagging as the state’s official popular dance in an act executed on July 20, 2005. That’s recent history, but the roots of clogging extend to the country’s colonial period and even before. Photo courtesy of Joe Shannon's Mountain Home Music and Lonnie Webster. ...read more
Local Flavor | Travel
Asheville | Annex - Valle Crucis | Boone | Hendersonville | Knoxville | Roanoke | Original - Valle Crucis | Waynesville
... Our favorite foods! Food is universal because everybody’s got ta eat! And the last two months of the year are filled with more than their fair share of family meals, work gatherings, special outings to favorite restaurants, tins filled with homemade cookies and fudge, and the anticipation of food traditions handed down from generation to generation ...read more
At Home | Recipes
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Even before we bought the Mast General Store, we were taken by the beauty of Valle Crucis. We’ve heard people describe the drive out Broadstone Road as traveling through a time portal. In the 1970s, fields in the river bottoms would be filled with tobacco, cabbage, or high with hay to feed cattle that were grazing in the summer pasture. ...read more
Local Flavor | Mast Family Favorites
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The lucky few who have seen the Earth from a different perspective – astronauts - all echo the same viewpoint upon their return. Yuri Gagarin, a Russian cosmonaut and the first human to go to space, commented, “Orbiting Earth in the spaceship, I saw how beautiful our planet is. People, let us preserve and increase this beauty, not destroy it.”
Behind the Scenes | Inspiration
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So, when was the last time you spent the night under the stars? Can you remember roasting marshmallows and making s’mores? What about spinning ghost stories by the glow of the campfire? If it’s hard to remember, then we’d like for you to mark your calendars for the National Wildlife Federation’s Great American Campout. Since 2005, the fourth Saturday in June has been celebrated with tents in backyards and a public campsites. Won’t you take the pledge?
"Exposing children to the wealth of experiences in the outdoors is essential to creating the next generation of environmental stewards..."
The NWF started a new tradition in 2005 aimed at getting youngsters – and their friends and parents – out of the house and under the stars. The Great American Campout is part of the NWF’s continuing mission to reignite interest in the outdoors. A backyard campout doesn’t require any special equipment, expensive tents, or hiking down trails; it just needs a little imagination and a commitment to, for one night, to turn off the screens and enjoy what you can discover right outside your backdoor.
According to research, kids play outside only half as much as they did 20 years ago, and by not having as much physical activity, childhood obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. Studies show that children who engage in the outdoors show increases in concentration, creativity, and social skills. Outdoor time also decreases aggression and boosts performance in school.
Exposing children to the wealth of experiences in the outdoors is essential to creating the next generation of environmental stewards – those who will visit state and national parks and will enjoy and appreciate a hike to the balds on Roan Mountain to marvel at their expanse and the beauty of the Rhododendron blooms or travel to Glacier National Park to see firsthand the awesome force that nature can exert.
Spending the night under the stars is easy and anyone can do it almost anywhere. If you live in a large neighborhood, make it a happening – your next door neighbor could be a great yarn-spinner or an excellent “campfire” guitar player. Maybe another neighbor is an amateur astronomer, who can point out the constellations or take a look at the Orion Nebula (no telescope is needed for this one, just a set of moderately powerful binoculars).
Listen to the sounds of birds and insects and maybe ask the kids to imitate what they hear. Play cards – we once had a hilarious game of Crazy 8s at one of our campouts. With a little extra planning, everyone could participate in a scavenger hunt to find different leaves, pinecones, flowers, and other common items in the backyard. This link will take you to the NWF website’s Camp Activities page for more ideas.
Set up a tent using an inexpensive tarp, and sleeping bags can be made from blankets and sheets. You’ll definitely want to have some sort of sleeping pad to have a good experience sleeping out of doors – or a hammock is another option.
Make the night memorable and remember to take photos!
Some communities have public camping events marking the Great American Campout. Elk Knob State Park, located just outside of Boone, is hosting one on June 30. It is free, but pre-registration is required. They have several programs that are a part of the night including stargazing and wildlife interaction.
Here are some other links to state or national parks in our communities that are worth a visit:
Follow this LINK for a checklist for your campout, including two easy-to-make recipes. Enjoy your night under the stars!