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.