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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

THE DEN


The dictionary defines a den as “the lair of a wild beast, a lurking place, a hovel,” before it goes on the mention “a study, a sanctum, a smuggery.” The Rover Den, however, suggests other words such as Possession, Recreation, Comradeship, Improvement……Its furnishing and decorations should be in keeping with the general character of the building, and should not be too elaborate or finicky.  What is wanted is the atmosphere of the workbench, not that of the boudoir. Utility, comfort and manliness should combine in its general appearance, together with touches of a Scouty nature.
There is a tendency for those who have good dens to stay in them and forget that they are really only base camps from which they set out to explore the open country round about, from which they can launch attacks on mountains.                                           The Rover Scout




It is great: fun, in the long winter evenings, to sort over your beloved duffel, to make and fit up the little boxes and hold-alls in which everything has its proper place, to contrive new wrinkles that no body but yourself has the gigantic brain to conceive to concoct mysterious dopes that fill the house with unsanctimonious smells, to fish around for materials, in odd corners where you have no business, and, generally, to set the female members of the household buzzing around in curiosity, disapproval, and sundry other states of mind.
To be sure, even though a man rigs up his own outfit, he never gets it quite to suit him. Every season sees the downfall of some cherished scheme, the failure of some fond contrivance. Every winter sees you again fussing over your kit, altering this, substituting that, and flogging your wits with the same old problem of how to save weight and bulk without sacrifice of utility.  All thoroughbred campers do this as regularly as the birds come back in spring, and their kind has been doing it since the world began. It is good for us.
 If some misguided genius should invent a camping equipment that nobody could find fault with, half our pleasure in life would be swept away.
Horace Kephardt - Camping and Woodcraft,  1917 









For an up-to-date 
schedule of  
Camp Kephart classes, 
check out the 2015 announcement at 




.....'nuf said !

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

A Merry Campers Christmas To All !
Here's hoping that our trails cross this new year. 




Sunday, December 21, 2014

Woodsmoke Classic Camping Symposium
July 12-18, 2015


Spend a week camped on the banks of Henry's Fork of the Snake River learning the classic skills that were taught by the old masters of woodcraft. Register today at woodsmokeusa.com.

Stickcraft
Tincraft
Bindcraft
Plantcraft
Campcraft
Trailcraft
Fieldcraft
 and more !



Saturday, December 20, 2014

Join The Classic Camping Revival

Be sure to pick up your copy of the latest edition of the American Frontiersman magazine available on newsstands now. In this issue, Watts and Wescott spend some time explaining the renewed interest in camping in the classic style and those involved - especially the Acorn Patrol - learn more about them at: pinterest.com/davidwescott56/.



Camping In The Old Style is Back

Due out in March of 2015, David Wescott's popular book returns in hardback, full color and greatly expanded over the original edition (2000) with contributions from his old camping buddy Steve Watts. The book is currently in the final stages of editing and design and will go to press shortly after the first of the year. You can guarantee a free autographed copy by going to woodsmokeusa.com and be one of the first 25 people to register for this years Woodsmoke Symposium  that will be held on the banks of the Henry's Fork of the Snake River on July 12-18, 2015. Don't wait - register today!


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Old Gear from new sources - We're always on the lookout for great old finds, quality replicas and sources of gear that have been in business since the Golden Age. Here are a few more little tidbits from DeutscheOptik.com.