In the state of Missouri there are over 900 properties operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) as "Conservation Areas." These Conservation Areas (CA's) can be operated for a variety of purposes.Some are managed as nature preserves, some allow hunting, some allow fishing, some are mainly boat accesses, and some are combinations of all or some of these.If you are considering a camping trip to a CA, it is wise to know what the area is used for primarily, and also to make sure camping is allowed.For example, if you are not camping in an area for hunting purposes and will be camping during the Fall deer firearms season, you might not fully enjoy your stay.One of the areas we have used that offers a bit of everything is Peck Ranch Conservation area in the Ozarks of Missouri.While it is not representative of all CA's, it does suggest what some of those that are most amenable to camping have to offer.There are two designated camping areas at Peck.One is designated for campers who will not use generators and one for those who will.This is nice for those tent campers who wish to have peace and solitude without the noisiness of a generator blaring in the background.At the non-generator site there are also pit toilets.Both campgrounds are outfitted with fire rings and picnic tables.This is most certainly an example of a campground where there is much activity associated with deer and turkey hunting seasons.So, if you wish to avoid this, avoid visiting at these times.This unique CA has over 25,000 acres of total area, about half of which is a designated wildlife area and fenced off from the rest.It was once a logging operation and has some unique history as well as geographical features.Summertime is a great time to visit for those who are looking for a camping place away from the crowds.Another example of a nice CA for camping at the other end of the state (northern Missouri) is Union Ridge just West of Kirksville.There, unlike most CA's, you can camp adjacent to area parking lots.Additionally, at "Parking Lot N" off of County Road D, there is a campground with similar facilities to those described at Peck Ranch.Again, things can be a bit hectic for non-hunters during deer season, but this area has more to offer than hunting.While not as big as Peck Ranch (around 8,000 acres), it has about 12 total acres of fishing lakes and ponds, including Union Ridge Lake.These lakes have populations of bass, crappie, catfish, and sunfish.If you are camping at a CA, and you will want a campground, keep in mind that if there is a campground it will offer only "primitive camping" facilities.This means that you will have a fire ring, and perhaps a picnic table and/or outhouse.Having said this, some of these campgrounds are quite well maintained and in absolutely beautiful settings.Since some of these campgrounds are quite small, and there is no reservation system, you might wish to also be prepared to camp outside these areas.If you choose to camp outside a campground at a CA, assuming this is allowed, keep in mind that you must be 100 yards from the nearest road or parking lot.Also, if you are camping along a stream or river, camp at least 100 feet away.Also, keep in mind that under certain weather conditions flooding or even flash flooding can be a danger.To find a CA that meets your needs, a bit of research can go a long way.Fortunately, there are two very nice resources to aid you in this process.First, is the MDC Conservation Atlas.This atlas is very helpful in that it gives area descriptions, maps, regulations, an outline of allowable activities, and of course, information on camping.Most of these have downloadable maps and/or brochures with trails, camping areas, and even driving directions to the area.The CA's in the atlas are searchable by name of the CA, county, or region.This process of switching back and forth from the CA to the atlas can be a bit laborious.You end up doing quite a lot of navigating back and forth between the atlas and the CA pages.The resource below might assist you in narrowing down the possibilities.The possibilities for camping in Missouri Conservation Areas will greatly expand the pool of camping areas available to the Missouri camper.If you do not want or need the amenities of a "fancy" private campground or one run by another government agency, these areas might be just right for you.

There is more to geography than memorizing states and capitals and studying maps. If you make geography an experience to remember rather than facts and information to recite, you and your child will have a lot more fun along the way.Explore the world with a compass.Take a walk around your neighborhood or hike through the park while carrying a compass. Take a compass to the mall or the grocery store. Let your kids carry a compass while they ride in the car. This helps orient a child to their world, making them pay attention to where they are and teaching them how to navigate.Draw your own maps.Maps tell you where things are and how to get there. However, maps don't need to be fancy. As you explore the world with your compass, draw maps of what you see. Draw a map of your house, your neighborhood, your grocery store, or your park.After drawing a few small maps of your local areas, expand your domain. Look at a real atlas to see how they designate rivers, deserts, and mountains, and then use that as a guide as you build your own world atlas.You can even have a little fun by drawing maps from stories. Based on the age group of your children, you can build a map for Clifford's neighborhood, for the barnyard where Charlotte weaves her web, or for the four kids who traveled through Narnia.Tell stories about your maps.What happened as you walked around your neighborhood? Tell a story about it as you draw your map. Telling stories builds memory, communication skills, and confidence, so swap some tales as you color.Add a little imagination and sail the Nile River on a raft. Climb to the top of Mount Everest and have a picnic with a mountain goat. Walk the entire length of the Great Wall of China. What do you see along the way? Who do you talk to?Write your stories down and compile your maps and stories into a book that you can read again and again. This can be a project that grows over the years.Experience different cultures.Russia is the big country in the northeast corner of our world atlas, but what is it like to actually experience Russia? What do the people like? What kind of clothes do they wear? What kind of music do they listen to? Do they dance? Do they sing? What do they eat? How do they work? How do they live?Answer these questions by eating their foods, wearing their clothes, and listening to their music. Learn some words of their language, and read books about children in that country. Maybe you could even find a pen pal your child can write letters to. Suddenly, you will find Russia is no longer a big orange smear on the map. It has come to life.Travel.As a child, I lived in Texas, and most of our extended family was in Wisconsin and Michigan. This means that every year, we had a long road to travel to visit our family. I remember every landmark along the way. I remember the little lazy town where our car broke down, and I remember the excitement over crossing each state border.As an adult, my husband and I moved out west for a short while. The seven day road trip is memorable, and we still laugh at the South Dakota road signs. I loved driving through the mountains of Minnesota and snapping pictures of the pica that scampered across the road. We drove through Yellowstone and experienced wild bison, and I watched a beautiful green-blue Oregon river turn muddy brown from pollution.Ask me to fill in those states on the map, and I can now easily list them all. But even more, I remember the terrain and what made each state different than the others.The wonderful thing about home schooling is that you don't have to wait for summer to take a vacation. Bring your schoolbooks, pack your paper and pencils, and hit the road.

Aaaah.The open road! Just begs for a roadtrip, doesn't it?We're getting closer and closer to pulling up stakes and taking off down the open road to live full time as wanderers, explorers, adventurers.No destination, no final stopping point.Just living life as one continuous road trip."the open road is a beckoning, a strangeness, a place where a man can lose himself." -William Least Heat Moon.We're not alone in living this roadtrip lifestyle.The Complete Idiot's Guide to RVing states that there are more than 30 million Americans who are living the RV lifestyle and the millions of others who are thinking about taking the plunge to live life as a roadtrip.Those who live as fulltime RVers say they wished they had started years ago.They have found the freedom and adventure of living every day on a roadtrip to be a new drug and they are addicted.But, those who are tip-toeing around the idea.Who have the dream and desire for freedom.For taking off on the endless roadtrip.Are sometimes hesitant to take the plunge because of all the "what-ifs".Worrying about all that could go wrong on the roadtrip.Isn't that how most of us live our lives.Having a burning desire to live our dreams, but allowing fear to hold us back?How does one break through that fear?Simply live like you drive on a roadtrip.Let me explain.The following 3 principles can change your roadtrip in life.Let Go Of The Past..You don't drive on your roadtrip with your eyes on the rearview mirror.Sure, you check it once in a while, but it would be disastrous to drive that way down the open road.Live like you drive.There is nothing you can do to change what has happened.All you can do is change what you do from this moment on.If your focus remains there.It will be disastrous.Let go of judgments, mistakes, regrets from the past."If you wish to travel far and fast, travel light.Take off all your envies, jealousies, unforgiveness, selfishness and fears." -Glenn Clark.Use Your Map..Travelers know the value of an atlas, a map, GPS to keep track of where they are and where they want to go on any roadtrip.Maps provide directions to get you to the next point.Some travelers take the shortest and most direct route to get to their destination.But some choose an alternate route, knowing the twists and turns of backroads are full of adventure and discoveries they would have missed on their roadtrip.Live like you drive.Keep your goals in front of you.Map out your plans.And move forward towards your dream.But, when faced with setbacks and detours, boulders and bumps in the road.Take another route to reach your goals.Don't let anything stop your journey.Find another way.And you will discover new ideas and solutions to help you keep going."Not all those who wander are lost" -J.R.R.Tolkien.Live In The Present..When you drive, your focus is on what is right in front of you.You are fully aware of where you are on the road.You watch your speed, you check the road signs, you maneuver around detours and roadblocks.Staying alert and aware is crucial to safe travels on a roadtrip.Live like you drive.Be fully present in each moment.Not distracted by what you have left behind or what might happen down the road.Set your pace at a comfortable level, accept the detours and find a way around the roadblocks that pop up.Not driving recklessly or crazily speeding.Just simply enjoying the ride."For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go.I travel for travel's sake.The great affair is to move; to feel the needs and hitches of our life more nearly; to come down off this feather-bed of civilization, and find the globe granite underfoot and strewn with cutting flints." -Robert Louis Stevenson.Life IS a roadtrip.No matter where you are right now.Whether you're already a fulltime rver or planning to be.If you live like you drive.Living by these three principles will assure safe and happy travels.

You can not just throw in a few pairs of boxers in the backpack and off you go.It requires a lot of forethought and planning to embark on a two-wheeled transcontinental odyssey, weekend long motorcycle camping trip or even an overnight jaunt.First, you have to nail down a destination.Second, will you be motorcycle trekking with a group or will you go it alone?You might want to pick up a copy of "Riding The World" by Gregory Frazier or Harley Davidson's Ride Atlas.These must-have guides features scenic routes,maps and motorcycle travel advice.This informative volumes will help you decide if you want a weekend ride along the California coastline, The Grand Canyon or The Sturgis rally and many more.If you have GPS device you can load up a map of a place you want to visit complete with detailed guide to gas stations, hospitals, airports, hotels, restaurants, banks etc.You can visit the Harley Davidson website click the "experience" tab and find great information for riders and under "Great Roads" is a treasure trove of information to destinations and roads that are rated for scenic value.If you are the old-fashioned type of rider, you can bring along a compass and hard copies of maps of a certain region.Mad Maps offers weather-proof and maps.You do not have to own a motorcycle to go on a full-blown motorcycle trek.There are motorcycle rental companies at almost any place near you.You can rent any models of Harley Davidson motorcycles or any brand motorcycle.Riders can rent a motorcycle on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.Have a pre-flight inspection done on your motorcycle.Check if the tires are of correct pressure and tread.Always bring a tire gauge and check pressure regularly during your tour.Remember, not to overload stuff on your bike by adhering to the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) on your bike's VIN plate or owner's manual.Load the heavy stuff on the bottom and on center of the motorcycle so as not to affect the handling.You can wear up a tire fast if you travel at higher than normal speeds on under-inflated tires with heavier than normal loads.If you expect to have your tires replaced on the trip.Contact your dealer and order an extra set of tires on hold, then have him send them over to your next stop when your current pair got thin or damaged.This sort of planning makes you avoid tempting fate by stretching worn rubber to its limit.Always bring a tire repair kit or tire patch kit if things are still workable.If not, aforementioned strategy is one viable option.They say tread life expectancy is a ride around the perimeter of the United States, give or take.Ideally, it would be nice if your cruiser has saddlebags ( throw-over or bolt on) and sissy bar bags with backrest of course.And additional tank bag, tail bag or fanny pack are convenient.You should make every space count.Things to pack are clothes (no cotton), rain gear, shoes, toiletries,bandanna, leather jacket, food, spare gloves and face shields (clear and tinted ), clean rags, water bottles,credit cards, cellphones, spare batteries, charger, digital camera, extra memory sticks, weather band radio, compass,led lights.For tools in separate bag, you need to pack duct tape, jumper cables, nuts and bolts,spark plugs.CO2 cartridges, fuses, cotter pins, resealable plastic storage bags (for dirty clothes), bulbs, bungee cords and net, pliers, knife, screwdrivers etc.Bringing along tools to make roadside repairs on today's new generation of high-tech motorcycles probably is not practical because modern motorcycles rarely breakdown anymore.But the simple thought of knowing that anything inside your tool pack can still be a lifesaver is comforting.Your first aid kit should consist of hand cleaning wipes, rubber gloves, bandages, hydrogen peroxide, small packets of anti-biotic ointment, non-aspiring reliever.These are for treating abrasions, bleeding and insect stings.And bring basic over-the-counter medications such as anti-nausea, anti-diarrhea, analgesics and Benadryl for allergic reaction.If things don't go as planned and bikers get sick or injured while on tour virtually anywhere around the globe, there's an insurance where you can avail of this medical evacuation program designed solely for motorcyclists.If you are a member and hospitalized a hundred miles or more from home, Medjet Assist will fly you to a hospital of your choice aboard a medically-equipped aircraft.Visit their website to know their annual membership fee.If a motorcycle camping trip is right up your alley, you need to pack up an easy to pitch lightweight tent and self- inflatable mattress, that blow themselves up and in the morning all you have to do is open the valve, roll it up and you are ready to go.You also need camping utensils and portable cooking stove.You have to be creative in loading all your camping gear into the saddlebags, sissy bar bag or what have you.Make sure you know the rules of the campground you are heading to because not all welcome motorcycles.Do your research if a laundry facility and showers are what you are looking for in a motorcycle-friendly campgrounds.A long cross- country motorcycle tour means you have to beat fatigue by getting adequate rest and sleep.You have to drag along with you appropriate riding gear to be ready with whatever weather-changes that you may encounter.Always re-hydrate by drinking water frequently especially crossing mountainous roads where there is notably thin dry air that can dehydrate you faster than you may have notice.Dehydration can cause confusion and delay response times.Bad combination if you are on a motorcycle.If you cross a desert like the Mojave, don't be tempted to go shirtless because of heat.Hose down your shirt and jacket or scarf with water before wearing it.You will feel cooler and not risk sunburn, wind burn, dehydration and fatigue.Some riders can ride for 500 miles a day and still do it leisurely.If you are a beginner just start carving away at that figure especially if you are riding down little country back roads, planning to have un-hurried meals and see scenic spots.The main aim of taking a long hiatus on a motorcycle is learning for yourself what moves you to travel by motorcycle.Is it experiencing different culture than what you are used to? Is the long hours on the bike the perfect vacation? Or to succinctly put it, is the ride the destination? Perhaps for you, the road is simply a way to connect points of interest which are best experience on a cruiser.Once you will know your ultimate passion, you can plan and embark on a motorcycle journey that are exciting, fun and experience life altering adventure.

Pure essential oils have a wide range of therapeutic uses and benefits.The method applied can affect your results.In this article I will talk about how to use an aromatherapy spray to enhance the health of your living environment, as well as its ambiance.First, please remember that essential oils should never be applied neat (undiluted) to your skin.There are absolutely NO exceptions to this! This includes the soles of your feet or palms of your hands.When using oils neat for inhalation purposes please exercise care and dispense your oils on a tissue or cotton ball for direct inhalation.Allow Your Senses the Healing Presence of Your Own Personalized Room Spray.Scent Your Personal Space using the following recipe to create an aromatherapy room spray.Please use glass colored bottle misters.BASIC RECIPE FOR YOUR AROMATHERAPY ROOM SPRAY. To freshen and deodorize your personal and private space, as well as promote a germ free living environment simply add your essential oils to 4 ounces of distilled water, shake well and spray.The amount of oil used will depend upon the purpose of your aromatic mist.Air Freshener ~ 40-60 drops essential oil in 4 ounces of distilled water, shake well and spray.Suggested oils to use. Lavender, Sweet Orange, Atlas Cedarwood.Deodorizer ~ 60-80 drops essential oil in 4 ounces of distilled water, shake well and spray.Suggested oils to use. Lavender, Lemon, Himalayan Cedarwood.Anti-microbial ~ 80-100 drops in 4 ounces of distilled water, shake well and spray.Suggested oils to use. Lemon, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon Bark.Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed.Please consult with your physician regarding your health concerns.KG has utilized essential oils in her energy medicine practice for more than 30 years.During that time she has facilitated healing for thousands of people suffering from personal trauma, illness and injury.Through her unique AromaTest(TM) system KG formulates essential oil blends that heal.PLEASE NOTE. There are many cheap chemical copies of essential oils available, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use.For best results always use ethically wild crafted or pure, organic essential oils that are pesticide free!