June is Great Outdoors Month

In addition to being Dairy Month, June is also the home of Great Outdoors Month. Are you and your family ready to enjoy the great outdoors? I'm a city girl, I admit it. I grew up in the city, and have always done better sleeping inside versus sleeping outside. But camping can be fun IF you're prepared. And prepared means having the gear you need before you hit the great outdoors, because if you're buying stuff on the fly -- you're probably spending too much.

Check out this great gear checklist at The Camping Club's website. Be sure you check with local retailers for the best deals on the items you don't already have on hand.

In addition to this list -- I would add the following thing: a head lamp. I looked silly, but it made all the difference in the world on my Fall 2008 camping trip. I also tucked a heavy duty plastic bag in my pack for storing the last day's wet towel -- kept my other stuff nice and dry for the trip home.

Now get out there and enjoy the great outdoors before June is over!

-reenie