Heres Some Camping Tips & Tricks at Your Fingertips
Our Kiefer Campground Blog is the information you need to make your next camping trip even more enjoyable. From RV and camping tips and tricks, to amazing campfire recipes, to advice on planning your next trip... the information below is here to help you. And please, feel free to comment and share your experiences, knowledge and favorite recipes. At Kiefer Campground, we are a family and all here to help each other enjoy the great outdoors to the fullest!
Gifts for Campers: The Holiday Gift Guide for Outdoor Lovers
Still need a gift? Here’s the perfect holiday gift guide for campers and outdoor lovers — ranging from practical gear to cozy extras! 🎁
🏕️ Camping Essentials
Avalanche High Back Ultralight Camp Chair (a sturdy, portable chair that folds up easily — great for around the campfire or at the tent) – $39.99 from Sierra
Custom Insulated Stainless Steel Camping Travel Mug (an insulated mug for hot coffee or tea on chilly mornings or nights outdoors)
NEMO Switchback Ultralight Sleeping Pad (a lightweight sleeping pad that adds comfort and insulation when sleeping on the ground) – $49.95 from NEMO Equipment + others
🔥 Campfire Comfort & Cozy Extras
Micro Flannel Sherpa Blanket (a soft, warm blanket perfect for chilly evenings by the fire) – $47.99 from Kohl’s + others
Complete Ferro Rod Fire Starter Kit (handy for lighting campfires or stoves reliably, even when conditions are damp) – $23.95 from Coopers Bay Outdoors
Compact Firestarter Kit (Ceder + Matches) (a small, thoughtful gift to make starting fires or cooking easier on camping trips) – $11.15 from Etsy
🔦 Gadgets & Useful Gear
Ozark Trail 1000 Lumen Rechargeable Headlamp (a bright, hands-free light — essential for tent setup, nighttime walks, or cooking after dark) – $22.96 from Walmart + others
Anker Nano Power Bank With Built‑In USB‑C Cable (compact portable power to keep phones or small devices charged while off-grid)
Leatherman Wingman Multi‑Tool (a versatile all-in-one tool that’s useful for repairs, gear setup, cooking prep, and more) – $55.89 from REI + others
🍳 Camp Kitchen & Cooking Gear
Coleman 2‑Burner Propane Camping Stove (a reliable stove for cooking meals outdoors — great for breakfasts, dinners, or warming water) – $59.00 from Walmart Supercenter + others
Ozark Trail Space‑Saving 5‑Piece Cookware Kit (lightweight cookware set that helps when pots/pans are needed for meals or boiling water) – $12.46 from Walmart + others
Thermos 10 oz Vacuum Insulated Food Jar ( handy for packing hot meals or soups to eat later, or keeping food warm/cold on the trail) – $12.72 from Walmart + others
🧭 Adventure & Survival Extras
Ozark Trail Flint and Steel Fire Starter (a basic fire-starter tool that’s useful for emergency fire starting or campfires) – $5.27 from Walmart + others
Leatherman Wingman Multi‑Tool (a multi-purpose tool that’s excellent for unexpected fixes, repairs, cutting wood or rope, etc.) – $55.89 from REI + others
Try one of these gifts when doing your Christmas shopping this year! Happy Holidays from Kiefer Campgrounds!
🍎 Cranberry-Apple Campfire Stuffing
Here’s a tasty Cranberry-Apple Stuffing recipe that works great for campfire cooking or the kitchen!
Ingredients
- 1 box of stuffing mix (or 4 cups cubed bread)
- 1 apple, diced
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ small onion, diced
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 cup chicken broth (or water)
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp poultry seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
Campfire Instructions
- Heat your skillet over the fire and melt the butter.
- Add diced onions and apples. Cook until softened and lightly golden.
- Mix in dried cranberries and seasonings.
- Stir in the stuffing mix (or bread cubes).
- Pour broth over the mixture and stir until combined.
- Cover with foil and let it cook for 5–10 minutes, stirring once, until fluffy and warm.
Tip for Extra Flavor
Add chopped pecans, a splash of apple cider, or sausage bits for more richness!
Try this recipe during your stay at Kiefer Campgrounds this Thanksgiving!
🌲 The History of the U.S. National Parks Camping System
There’s nothing like camping under the stars in one of America’s National Parks. From mountain lakes to forest clearings, camping has been part of the park experience for over a century!
🏞️ The Early Days
When Yellowstone became the first national park in 1872, there were no official campgrounds or rangers — visitors simply set up tents wherever they pleased. By 1916, the creation of the National Park Service (NPS) brought organization, protection, and designated camping areas.
🚗 The Auto Camping Boom
The 1920s ushered in auto camping, as families packed their cars and hit the road. To meet demand, the NPS began building formal campgrounds with picnic tables and restrooms. The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) expanded this work in the 1930s, laying the foundation for many park facilities still used today.
🏕️ The Golden Age of Camping
After World War II, Americans had more time — and more wheels. The 1950s and 1960s became the Golden Age of Camping, with families exploring parks in RVs and trailers. Campgrounds grew, reservation systems were introduced, and ranger-led programs made visits both educational and fun.
🌐 Modern Camping
By the 1980s, attention turned toward environmental sustainability. The NPS promoted “Leave No Trace” ethics and added features like bear-proof lockers, solar lighting, and online reservations. Today’s campgrounds balance modern comfort with nature-friendly design.
🌄 Camping Today
The National Park System now includes over 1,400 campgrounds and 27,000+ campsites, ranging from frontcountry and backcountry to RV and glamping options. Whether it’s stargazing in Arches or pitching a tent in the Smokies, camping remains one of the best ways to connect with America’s wild spaces.
❤️ A Legacy That Lives On
National park camping is more than a getaway — it’s a proud American tradition rooted in adventure, conservation, and the simple joy of sleeping under the stars.
Be sure to stay at one of Kiefer Campgrounds‘ locations on your next adventure to the National Parks!
🎃 Eyeball Truffles Recipe
Here’s a detailed, step-by-step recipe for Eyeball Truffles — fun to make and creepy-cute enough for any Halloween party or campground gathering!
👁️ What You’ll Need:
Ingredients:
- 1 box (about 15 oz) vanilla or red velvet cake (store-bought or homemade)
- 1/2 cup cream cheese frosting (store-bought or homemade)
- 12 oz white chocolate or white candy melts
- Gel or liquid food coloring (blue, green, or red for the iris)
- Black edible gel, or mini chocolate chips (for pupils)
- Optional: Red decorating gel (for bloodshot veins)
- Lollipop sticks (if making them as cake pops)
🍰 Step 1: Make the Truffle Base
- Bake your cake according to the box directions (or use leftover cake). Let it cool completely.
- Crumble the cooled cake into fine crumbs in a large bowl.
- Add cream cheese frosting, a little at a time, and mix until it forms a dough-like consistency that holds together when pressed.
- (You might not need the full 1/2 cup depending on the cake’s moisture.)
- (You might not need the full 1/2 cup depending on the cake’s moisture.)
🍡 Step 2: Form the “Eyeballs”
- Roll the mixture into small balls — about 1 inch in diameter (eyeball size!).
- Place the balls on a parchment-lined tray.
- Chill in the freezer for 20–30 minutes, or until firm.
🍫 Step 3: Coat with “Eyeball Whites”
- Melt the white chocolate or candy melts in a microwave-safe bowl (in 20-second intervals, stirring each time, until smooth).
- Using a fork or dipping tool, coat each truffle completely in white chocolate.
- Tap off excess and place them back on the parchment paper.
- Let them set until hardened (refrigerate for about 10–15 minutes).
🎨 Step 4: Add the Iris & Pupil
- Using colored gel icing or melted candy melts, draw a circle on top of each truffle to make the iris.
- Blue, green, or red are great spooky colors.
- Blue, green, or red are great spooky colors.
- Add a black dot of edible gel in the center for the pupil (or press in a mini chocolate chip).
💉 Step 5: Make Them Bloodshot (Optional)
- Use red decorating gel or a toothpick dipped in red food coloring to draw thin “veins” radiating from the iris for a creepy touch!
❄️ Step 6: Chill & Serve
- Refrigerate the truffles for at least 30 minutes before serving to keep them firm.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
🧁 Optional Variations:
- Use red velvet cake inside for a “bloody” surprise when bitten!
- Add a splash of almond or vanilla extract to the cake mixture for extra flavor.
- Stick them on lollipop sticks and display them upright in a foam block for a fun Halloween centerpiece.
Try this easy, spooky dessert the next time you stay at Kiefer Campgrounds!
🍫👻 Monster S’mores Recipe
Beware… these Monster S’mores are frighteningly good! 👀🔥🍫
Ingredients:
- Graham crackers
- Marshmallows
- Chocolate bars
- Candy eyes
- Green icing or melted green-tinted white chocolate (for “slime”)
Instructions:
- Build your base: Place half of a graham cracker on a plate or napkin.
- Add the chocolate: Top the cracker with a square of your favorite chocolate bar.
- Toast the marshmallow: Roast your marshmallow over the campfire until golden and gooey.
- Assemble the s’more: Sandwich the roasted marshmallow between the chocolate and another graham cracker half.
- Make it monstrous: Use green icing to add “slime” oozing out the sides. Stick candy eyes onto the top cracker or icing while it’s still warm.
- Serve & scare: Enjoy your creepy-cute Monster S’more by the fire! 🔥🍫
Try this easy recipe the next time you stay at Kiefer Campgrounds on Halloween!
🕸️ How to Make Your Own Trick-or-Treat Bag! 🍬
Why buy one when you can make it yourself? Get creative and design a spook-tacular bag to carry all your Halloween candy! 👻
🧵 What You’ll Need:
- Plain canvas tote or pillowcase
- Fabric markers or acrylic paint
- Stencils or Halloween stickers
- Optional: felt, ribbon, or glow-in-the-dark paint
🎨 Steps:
- Lay Out Your Design: Sketch your idea — pumpkins, ghosts, bats, your name — anything fun and spooky!
- Decorate: Use markers or paint to bring it to life. Add stickers, patches, or felt cutouts for extra flair.
- Personalize It: Write your name so no one “accidentally” takes your candy! 😉
- Let It Dry: Make sure everything is fully dry before using.
- Add a Safety Touch: Outline your designs with reflective or glow-in-the-dark paint so cars can see you while trick-or-treating.
🎃 Bonus Tip:
Turn it into a family craft night — everyone makes their own unique bag!
Try making your own trick-or-treat bags during your next stay at Kiefer Campgrounds!
🏕️ Mason Jar Camping Iced Coffee Recipe
Who says you have to skip your morning coffee just because you’re on the road? Start your camping adventure off the right way with some Camping Coffee!
What You’ll Need (per jar):
- 1 mason jar with lid
- 1 cup cold brew or strong brewed coffee (chilled)
- ½ cup milk, oat milk, or creamer of choice
- 1–2 tbsp sweetener (sugar, honey, or flavored syrup)
- Ice cubes
- Optional: whipped cream, cinnamon, or chocolate drizzle
Directions:
- Prep at Home (Optional): Brew a strong pot of coffee before your trip. Let it cool and store in a sealed container or pre-fill mason jars with black coffee. Keep chilled in a cooler.
- Assemble at Camp: Fill your mason jar halfway with ice.
- Pour in your chilled coffee.
- Add milk or creamer, then sweeten to taste.
- Screw on the lid and shake gently (this also makes it frothy!).
- Top with whipped cream or a sprinkle of cinnamon if you’re feeling fancy.
- Enjoy by the campfire!
Flavor Twists:
- Mocha Camp Treat: Add a spoonful of chocolate syrup before shaking.
- Vanilla Sunrise: A splash of vanilla extract + a sprinkle of cinnamon.
- Maple Brew: Swap sugar for real maple syrup.
✨ Pro Tip: Mason jars travel great in coolers and double as your mug—no need for extra cups at the campsite!
You won’t have to worry about skipping your morning coffee! Bring this recipe during your next stay with us at Kiefer Campgrounds!
🔦 DIY Lanterns & Lighting for the Campsite
Camping nights feel extra magical with the right glow! ✨ You don’t need fancy gear—just a little creativity. Here are some easy DIY ideas to light up your campsite:
1. Mason Jar Lanterns
- Place battery-operated tea lights inside mason jars.
- Add sand, pebbles, or fairy lights for a cozy touch.
- Hang them from tree branches with twine.
2. Glow Stick Jars
- Crack glow sticks and drop them into clear jars.
- Perfect for kids’ tents or a fun nighttime game.
3. Solar Pathway Lights
- Grab inexpensive solar garden lights.
- Line your tent entrance or trail for safety and style.
4. Headlamp + Water Jug Trick
- Strap a headlamp around a water jug filled with water.
- The jug diffuses the light, creating a glowing lantern for your picnic table.
5. Tin Can Luminaries
- Hammer nail holes into empty tin cans (stars, hearts, or random patterns).
- Place a candle or LED light inside for a rustic lantern.
6. Rope Light Perimeter
- Use battery or solar-powered rope lights.
- Outline your tent or campsite for a warm, safe glow.
🌙 Pro Tip: Always use LED or solar-powered lights when possible to save on batteries and reduce fire hazards.
Try making your own DIY lantern the next time you stay at a Kiefer Campgrounds location!
Camping Ice Cream in a Bag
This recipe is an easy way to make ice cream on the go! You only need a few ingredients, and it takes little to no time at all!
Ingredients (per person):
- 1 cup half-and-half (or whole milk for lighter, heavy cream for richer)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- Ice (enough to fill a gallon bag halfway)
- ⅓ cup rock salt (or kosher salt)
Equipment:
- 1 quart-size resealable bag (for the ice cream mix)
- 1 gallon-size resealable bag (for the ice + salt)
- A spoon for each camper
Directions:
- Mix in a bag – Pour half-and-half, sugar, and vanilla into the quart-size bag. Seal tight.
- Ice + salt bag – Fill the gallon bag halfway with ice, then add rock salt.
- Combine + shake – Place the small bag inside the large one and seal. Shake, squeeze, or pass the bag around the campfire for 5–10 minutes until the ice cream firms up.
- Pro tip: Wrap the bag in a towel or bandana—it gets really cold!
- Pro tip: Wrap the bag in a towel or bandana—it gets really cold!
- Eat straight from the bag – Once ready, pull out the quart bag, wipe it off, unzip, and hand out spoons. No bowls or cleanup needed!
🔥 Camping Twist Ideas:
- Toss in M&M’s, trail mix, or crushed graham crackers before serving.
- Add instant coffee granules to the mix for a “campfire latte” ice cream.
- Drizzle chocolate syrup right into the bag for a swirled effect.
Try this easy trick for making ice cream in the middle of nowhere or while camping at Kiefer Campgrounds!
Foraging in the Wild: What’s Safe to Eat? 🌿🍓
Finding your own food in nature can be fun and rewarding—but it can also be dangerous if you’re not careful. Many wild plants, berries, and mushrooms look harmless but can cause serious illness or worse. Here’s how to forage safely.
1. Learn Before You Go
- Know your plants. Study reliable field guides or take a class with a local foraging expert.
- Never rely on “looks familiar.” Some edible species have deadly look-alikes (e.g., wild carrots vs. poison hemlock).
- Bring a guidebook or plant ID app—and cross-check multiple sources.
2. Common Safe-to-Eat Wild Foods (when correctly identified)
✅ Berries – Wild blackberries, raspberries, blueberries.
✅ Nuts – Acorns (after leaching tannins), black walnuts, hickory nuts.
✅ Greens – Dandelion leaves, lamb’s quarters, chickweed.
✅ Flowers – Clover, violets, daylilies (in moderation).
3. Foods to Avoid Unless Expertly Trained
🚫 Mushrooms — Even seasoned foragers can mistake toxic varieties for edible ones.
🚫 Unknown berries — Many red or white berries are poisonous.
🚫 Wild tubers and bulbs — Can be mistaken for toxic species.
4. Golden Safety Rules
- When in doubt, leave it out.
- Test only after 100% positive ID—and try small amounts first.
- Harvest away from roadsides, polluted water, or treated areas.
- Respect nature—only take what you’ll use, and leave enough for wildlife.
5. Gear to Bring
📗 Field guide or app
🔪 Small knife for cutting greens
🛍️ Breathable bag or basket
🥤 Water for rinsing finds
Bottom line: Foraging can add adventure to your outdoor trip, but safety is everything. The most experienced foragers spend years learning—and they still double-check every plant before eating it. Check out more tips from Kiefer Campgrounds!
Family owned and operated, Kiefer Campgrounds strive to offer you the best rates for a comfortable location with outstanding service, and spotless facilities. When you stay in one of our parks, you are no longer just a happy camper, but a part of our family! We are most certain you will enjoy your stay with us. Pick your favorite location and book your spot now before it’s too late! You’ll be happy you did!
