Ten Creative and Cheap Ways to Enjoy the Great Outdoors

Let's face it: for some Americans, the days of luxurious, all-inclusive vacations are over. But is that really such a bad thing? Personally, I never liked them anyway. A ten-hour flight, haggling with customs, and tipping every waitperson in existence for my "free" meals is not my idea of a good time. Neither is journeying to far away places that might as well be set in Disneyland, with all the effort put into maintaining an atmosphere that will make Americans feel at home.

So what's the alternative? Well, think back to your youth. Think hard. Chances are, your parents were the same money saving, cost-cutting, wrapping-paper reusing sort that mine were. After all, they had kids to feed and clothe, and money doesn't grow on trees! What did your family do for fun? That's right -they forced your whining self away from the Atari and dragged you into the great outdoors. Camping, road trips, visiting state parks and monuments, driving to the beach for a day of broiling in the sun amidst the smells of Coppertone and seaweed; this was what families did for leisure when they were pinching pennies, and this is what today's families across America are rediscovering now.

But before you run out and rent a Winnebago, bear in mind that things have changed since the days of National Lampoon's Vacation - both for the good and bad. There are so many tourist traps these days that not only will you be crammed into throngs of people like a can of sun-glass wearing sardines, but you're not likely to save much money when even a bottle of water will cost you five dollars. But buck up, little camper! There are plenty of other ways to enjoy yourself outside - and you may even discover something good for your soul, as well.

1. Visit a wildlife refuge. Did you know that in just about every state in the US there are people who have made careers of protecting natural resources? Have you ever wondered why a swamp is so worth saving, or who cares if birds have a place to live? Well, these people are more than happy to tell you why. Many are students, some are environmental scientists, and a few are just concerned citizens who love being outdoors and relish a chance to do something with their time other than drool in front of the television. This is a great outing for kids, because not only are they encouraged to ask questions, but they get informed answers and many centers have kids activities and stations set up for them to enjoy. Find your nearest wildlife refuge here.

2. Fly a kite. The beauty of professional kites has muffled the fact that any Joe Shmoe can construct and fly a kite. You can recycle a plastic bag, make a traditional paper diamond or if you're good with making things and want to tackle something more complicated, make a box kite. Most state parks have kite festivals to showcase those beauties swirling and dipping in the sky. Have fun sending up your own ugly ducking amidst the swans, and watching the reactions. Kids can help with the construction and will adore the chance to decorate their kite and see their efforts flying in the air. Here in Delaware, the big annual event is the Great Delaware Kite Festival held in Lewes, Delaware at Cape Henlopen State Park.

3. Throw a Frisbee. Ah, those wacky Frisbee aficionados have invented yet another way to enjoy their favorite hobby - Frisbee golf, aka disc golf. This is the way it works - chain baskets are set up at distances all over the course, which is usually a state park. You walk the course and score yourself based on the number of attempts to complete each "hole", just as you would with golf. Some holes are harder than others - the shot is through a wooded area, or up a hill, for instance. You can play with just about any Frisbee, but if you find you enjoy the hobby and want to excel at it, you can buy specially weighted Frisbees to take advantage of particularly difficult shots, much as you would use different weight irons. The great thing about Frisbee golf is that it is a leisurely active hobby that you can do with friends and when you are done you can enjoy a picnic lunch, spread out a blanket, and lounge the rest of the day away. Kids might not have enough patience for the full course, but you can always do a few holes and then go straight to the picnic part of the plan.

4. Test the waters. I'm sure you've groused just as much as I have about the amount of pollution in the ocean waters at beaches we frequent. Well, stop complaining and do something! Join Surfrider, an organization dedicated to advocating for clean water by policing the shores, taking water samples and grading the results. Actually, you can do this for most inland streams and lakes as well through organizations like Riverkeeper. There is absolutely no lack of need for volunteers to help improve water quality, and it's one of the best things you can do to help the environment - provide data feedback. This is also a great opportunity to introduce kids to the concept of environmental stewardship in a very tangible way.

5. Shoot a bird. I have a friend who carries around a three ring binder and if you don't run fast enough, he will show you hundreds of photos of birds. Every photo is one he took as proof of a particular bird sighting. He's got photos from all across the US and a few other countries as well. I've always thought of bird watching as kind of a weak hobby, but I had to admit that I was wrong. Not only has he become an expert source of information about birds, but also it's improved his photography skills and provided an opportunity for him to bond with his father, who took up the hobby with him.

6. Learn to survive. I'm going to quote Robert A. Heinlein (one of my favorite authors), who said through his character Lazarus Long, "A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." With that in mind, check out some of the courses in your area for living off the land. This can be anything from learning to identify mushrooms and animal footprints, to erecting shelters and treating snake bites. You can find courses online, but you can also get plenty of great information from the US Army Survival Manual for a good price. This is also a great opportunity, if you have kids of scouting age or just like working with youth programs, to get involved with any boys and girls organization like Boys and Girls Club of America, 4H, Girl Scouts of America and Boy Scouts of America, or Outward Bound.

7. Find a stash. Geocaching started gaining popularity in the last five years, and it's something you can do with the whole family. Someone hides a stash of small items, notes the coordinates, and posts the coordinates online. Seekers then try to find the stash with the coordinates given (usually with a GPS, but theoretically, you can do this with a USGS map, or even Google). If successful, they write in the log which is usually included in the stash, take an item out, and put in a new one. Nothing expensive - troll dolls, dice, whistles, just little things. If you're not thrilled about the idea of needing a GPS, plan a scavenger hunt. Be sure to suit up with head scarves and eye patches and practice your "Ar, mateys!" If your hunt involves kids, make the items fairly easy (and safe) to find - and give the winner a baggie of chocolate pirate gold.

8. Harvest. Picking your own orchard fruit is never going to go out of style. It gets you outside, and you get bushels of fresh fruit to cart home and consume. Bonus points to you if you go to the trouble of canning - I just make pies.

9. Build a go-cart. Okay, so it's not exactly mountain man material, and it's not "green" unless you build something based on batteries or foot pedals, but methinks if you have older kids, you know they're only going to stand for just so much wholesome family fun. Why not reintroduce another old school favorite like go-carts? You can easily find plans available online and it's a great excuse to wield tools and get dirty. And yes, you can race them, too. I recommend checking out some of the go-cart fan forums to find a race in your area. If you do this, you absolutely must send me photos, please. I want to see flame decorations and fuzzy dice.

10. LARP. It's a bad idea for me to even mention this because then I need to fortify my home against an onslaught of outraged LARPers who want have me drawn and quartered for telling their secret. Live Action Role Play, or LARP for short, is not for everyone. First, you have to like role-playing games. Second, you have to have a high tolerance for people in costume. And third, you have to do it out in public where everyone can see you in your own costume and hear you stumble over your "thees" and "thous." But there are many who love that sort of thing, and it is highly entertaining for kids of any age. LARP is not restricted to particular genres - there are all kinds of settings and genres currently organized, and you can always start your own.

Bear in mind that as with anything, you can spend as little or as much as you like on any of the above ideas. Materials and gear do not need to be new; they just need to be good. You can visit any army surplus store, secondhand store, or yard sale and find great outdoors gear. Other ways to get great deals are to check the newspaper ads, Craigslist ads, or Freecycle. Once you really put your mind to it, having a great time outdoors on the cheap is more fun than any pleasure cruise. With a list like this, who needs sweaty cheese buffets and tiki tables? Not I.