Cheerful Valley Campground

Come Camping in New York’s Finger Lakes Region

1412 Route 14, Phelps, NY 14532, 315.781.1222    Email Us

Camping With Pets

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Pets at the campgroundCamping with Pets is an enjoyable experience and we are seeing more of it all the time. You little fur-kids make the whole trip a joy when you’ve planned ahead and for the unexpected.

Be sure to carry a copy of their vaccination records with you. If something comes up and you have to take them to a Vet while traveling, you won’t have to rely on your memory and your pet can get the care it needs in a hurry.

Bring plenty of their medications. Try to stock extra, just in case. You never know when that road less traveled will call you to take a side trip and you don’t want to run out of their meds in an unfamiliar place.

Some people find it helpful to put a sign on their RV that there is a pet in residence. Campgrounds are a friendly place and that can be intimidating for a shy pet. It’s helpful to warn others there is a pet inside your rig so they don’t accidentally open the door and let your little one escape.

We know you love your pets and we love that you bring them with you. We are looking forward to seeing you walking around the campground this year.

 

Easy Energy Bars for Camping Treats

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camping energy barsHave you recently been to a grocery store and priced out a box of energy bars? If you are outraged at the high price that is required for a few energy bars then you may want to consider making your own energy bars at home. In fact, not only will this save you money but it will be a great opportunity to spend some time with your children as they help you put together a variety of energy bar recipes.

One energy bar recipe that your kids will truly love is a peanut energy bar. A peanut energy bar is delicious and nutritious because it is packed full of seeds, nuts, fruit, and peanuts. It is a great grab-and-go breakfast alternative for parents and children who are on a busy schedule. The recipe requires peanuts, sunflower seeds, raisins, rolled oats, rice cereal, and wheat germ.

Another no bake energy bar that has delicious wholesome ingredients is the Mediterranean no bake energy bar. This energy bar is made with almonds, dried dates, spicy cinnamon, and flaxseeds. All you need for this amazing treat is a food processor. After you have mixed all of the ingredients in a food processor you can pour the mixture into a pan of your choice that is lined with wax paper. Press the mixture down into the pan, cover it with Saran wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until the mixture is hard.

A unique energy bar that will be a big sensation in your home is the pear and ginger energy bar. This energy bar requires one pear, fresh ginger, flour, dried dates, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and ground flaxseed. Once again you will need only a food processor. Do the same process as you would with the Mediterranean no bake energy bar. All of the above recipes can be made easily at home but you can also make an energy bar of your own design by simply using your imagination.

Calming Your Dog During a Thunderstorm

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helping pets through a stormIn case you hadn’t noticed, thunderstorms can make the most calm canines become filled with anxiety. It is frustrating when this happens and you have no idea how to react. The next time a storm is headed your way, use all of the following tips.

Play some calming tunes. One of the most frightening parts of thunderstorms are the booming claps. You can stop this from taking control of your dog’s emotions if you drown them out. Head to a part of your home that does not have many windows and drown the sound out with soothing melodies. This will stop your pooch from being startled every time there is a loud sound.

Never leave your dog alone when you know that a storm is coming. This might seem like an inconvenience, but it is your responsibility as a pet owner. If you have to head out, place them in a carrier or crate and cover it with a thick blanket. This will prevent them from seeing all of the things they find so startling and it will provide a bit of a buffer from the noise.

Attempt to desensitize them to the sounds. Head to a site like YouTube and play videos that depict thunderstorms. Put them on at a fairly low volume for short spurts of time. As your dog listens, offer them treats and praise. Gradually lengthen the time you play the video and the volume until they seem to be unfazed.

There are people who are frightened at the mere thought of thunder, so it should not be surprising that this is something that can affect canines. Preparing yourself and adhering to the guidelines here should help you keep your dog calm the next time a storm rolls your way.

How to be a Good Camping Neighbor

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good camping neighborThere’s nothing like spending time with family and friends, camping and enjoying each others’ company. You get the chance to catch up with each other, spend quality time together, and reconnect for awhile.Your experience will be a good one and so will your camping neighbors’ when each of us follows a few simple rules of camping etiquette.

Arrive early. Try to arrive before dark, if you can. Setting up in daylight will be much easier for you and you won’t risk waking those campers around you who have already gone to bed.

Keep it clean. Run a sweep of your campsite at least once a day to pick up any paper or food wrappers that may have fallen on the ground. Put all food away each evening before going to bed for the night.

Be friendly. You’ll be surprised how willing campers are to talk to you if you strike up a conversation with them. You all have one big thing in common, you love camping and sharing stories is half of the fun.

Leash your pet. It’s better for everyone when you keep you pet on a leash at all times. Campgrounds are known for having a lot of running kids, bicycles, and new smells that can tempt your pet to run. They will be safer in your care, safely leashed. Be sure, also, to clean up after your pet. Bring bags with you as you walk the campground so you can remove their waste as it happens.

Watch for boundaries. Your neighbor’s campsite is their home for the duration of their stay so be careful of walking across their lawn. Make an effort to keep to the roads and everyone will be fine.

These are just a few things to enhance your camping experience and that of your camping neighbors. We look forward to meeting you so be sure to say hello if you see us in the campground.

Delight Your Camping Family With Dutch Oven Bread

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Dutch Oven Bread Some of the best camping memories we have come from the smells of our favorite food cooking over the campfire. That morning coffee that wafts around the campsite as we wake up, fresh corn roasting on the grill, and fresh-baked bread can be one of those memories as well. It’s really not hard to make fresh bread when you’re camping and Dutch ovens make it so much easier to do. The family will love sitting down to a meal with fresh, warm, toasty bread all ready for them to slather in real butter and sink their teeth into.

Photo Source: Keyingredient.com

All you need is flour, yeast, salt, water, and a Dutch oven. You combine the ingredients just like you do with bread at home and let it rise. You can punch it down once and form it into a ball, then slash it two or three times on top with a sharp knife. You’ll drop it into an oiled Dutch oven or some people like to use parchment paper. It can take a while to cook using this method. You may leave it in the Dutch oven for up to an hour and a half, depending on the heat of your coals.

It’s a good opportunity to add things to the bread for a variety of flavor. You might like to try adding shredded cheese, garlic, rosemary, or even try new types of flour such as pumpernickel or rye. Another option is to flatten the dough and layer it with butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon then roll it into a loaf. The results will be a tasty cinnamon bread that will disappear in a single meal. You can also make the dough ahead of time at home and pop it in the freezer. Then simply let it thaw when you’re ready to cook at the campsite.

You can find this recipe and details for cooking the bread in your Dutch oven at Campfire Dutch Oven Bread.

Camping meals provide time for families to catch up and enjoy time with each other. We hope all your camping meals are delicious and accompanied by the friendly faces of the people you love most. Give this bread to try it really is easy to do and very rewarding.

Camping With The Family

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family-campingCamping is possibly one of the most effective means for families to take pleasure in each other’s company, away from the schedules of every day life. It does require some planning and preparation, but every minute you invest with your family members will be worth the effort. If you keep it simple and bring along the basics, you’ll have a wonderful time outdoors and you will not miss out on any of the activity at home. You and your family can enjoy a memorable experience of camping together while everyone is still living at home and hasn’t gone off to college or started families of their own.

Some tips to help you make it the best camping trip ever:

Depending on whether you are planning on camping in a tent, an RV, or a cabin, your camping list will be unique. Take each person’s preferences into consideration when you make your decision. Modern dome-style tents can easily accommodate 3 to 4 people, with bigger ones being able to fit as many as 8. Due to the fact that you only have to connect a couple of pieces, dome camping tents can be set up very quickly and then you’re off to play in the campground. If you do utilize a tent make sure you spray it with some rain-resistant spray to stop leaking in the event it rains. A tarp underneath the tent provides additional security from moisture and sticks or stones.

RVs and cabins provide more comfort and protection from the weather. They are roomier but come with their own set of work to maintain. You can sleep in a soft bed, it’s easier to cook inside, and there is room to store supplies. You’ll probably have a fridge and a heater as well. Some people prefer them while others would rather camp in a tent. Camping is a very individual issue depending on people’s preferences and experiences.

Pack lighter than you may think necessary. A four-day trip, for instance, requires just a few sets of garments. You’ll most likely need just a jacket, a sweatshirt, 3 or 4 shirts, a set of trousers as well as shorts, socks, underclothing, and also an extra pair of shoes or sandals. Bring along a pair of trekking boots if you intend on hiking any trails. You’ll be packing for every member of the family so keeping a list of what has been packed and what is still needed will help keep you organized.

Prepare your food. Obviously you can bring coolers along but we recommend bringing foods like nuts, bread, and cookies, anything that does not need refrigeration. Kids will want to eat all the treats at once so stretching them out over your trip will keep them from getting a tummy ache. Keep your food choices simple. Hamburgers and hotdogs are camping favorites. Much of what you plan to bring can be prepared ahead of time and placed in food-safe containers. It will save you time for more play and less work while you are here.

It’s a great time to bring out the board games, a deck of cards, or lawn games you know the kids might like. Pack any favorite toys, especially the ones your kids like to sleep with. It will help comfort them at night if they feel a little anxious when the lights go out. Add extra batteries to your list and more flashlights than you think you’ll need. They tend to get lost or used for fun after dark. It’s good to have a schedule but be prepared for that schedule to go out the window from time to time. Kids may sleep later than you expect or want to swim longer than you’d planned. You can zig when they zag and enjoy the lack of a planned schedule for the day.

Either way, the best part is being together. Your kids will be talking about the trip many years from now when they consider camping with their own little ones. Let yourself enjoy the chaos and take lots of photos. There is plenty of time to get back to a normal routine once you are home. We hope your trip is memorable and that you come back to camp with us many times over the coming years. We look forward to seeing you and watching you have an absolutely wonderful time camping with your family.

Tips for Backing Up Your RV

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backing up your RVBacking up your RV is one of the tricky parts of camping. Each campground you visit has a different configuration to navigate. There are some steps to take in backing up that will make it easier for you and increase your chances of success the first time.

Survey the Site – Look the site over to give yourself bearings on where you’d like to park your rig. Make sure nothing is scattered on the grown that could be run over.

Move Slowly – Taking your time is very important. If you find yourself rushing you’ll probably also find yourself making multiple attempts at getting backed in.

Have a Guide – Have someone standing outside within view of your mirror. They can give you hand signals to lead you in. Some people like to use radios for communicating with each other, too.

Keep to the Driver’s Side – That is your best vantage point for using your mirror and getting yourself into your site without problems.

Practice – The more you can practice before actually setting out on your first road trip, the better. Find a parking lot and practice backing in between the lines. The more you do this the more comfortable you will feel in your rig. Each RV has its own nuances and the more familiar you become with your rig the better you will do.

We hope your RVing days are long and happy and we hope that every effort at backing your rig in is a successful one.

BBQ Grilled Trout in Beer Butter

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grilled-fishWe think fish taste best when it’s cooked on the grill and we know our campers love it, too. We found some helpful tips for making sure your grilled fish is delicious and good enough to feed your crew next summer.

BBQ Grilled Trout in Beer Butter – The flavors combined in this recipe with be memorable. You start with a fresh trout and stuff it full of flavor. Slice lemon, red onion, and leeks and put them into a cavity you’ve cut in the belly of the fish. Then make some slices on the outside of the fish to add more lemon slices, salt, basil, parsley, and chives can also go inside. Pepper it all well and drizzle with olive oil.

Set this marvel on the grill and you can then mix butter with chopped onion, parsley, and garlic. Salt and pepper it well and then pour a splash of beer into the mix. Stir it all together and then add chunks of the butter mixture in the slices  and center of the fish. Cook 5 – 10 minutes and you’ll be ready to eat the best trout you’ve had in a long time.

You can see the whole process done in the video below. We hope you enjoy plenty of delicious grilled fish while camping next year.

 

Camping Gear to Always Have With You

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Camping Gear ChecklistDifferent types of camping usually requires different lists of gear needed for making a successful trip but there are a few things that all campers will probably find they need.

Flashlight – It will get dark at night and you won’t have street lights to rely on like you do in town. Flashlights come in handy for walking to the bathroom at night, reading to kids after lights-out, and finding your way around the campsite at night. Bring more than one because they tend to get lost easily.

Batteries – Just like Christmas, camping requires batteries. It might be your lantern, radio, or the kids’ video games. Either way you will find you can go through quite a few batteries when you’re camping. Bring a variety of sizes, too.

Matches – Water resistent matches always come in handy for lighting your campfire or your grill. There are lighters that can do the trick, too, so just make sure you have a reliable source of a fire starter.

Pocket Knife – You’ll be surprised how often you use a pocket knife at camp. It doesn’t have to be anything big or fancy, just a compact knife that folds up and fits in your pocket will do. You’ll be cutting string, carving marshmallow sticks, and any number of operations requiring a cutting surface.

Hatchet – This is good to have for pounding stakes and trimming wood. A folding hatchet works well in this situation and can be kept in the car until needed.

Bungee Cords – You’ll use them for strapping things down, strapping things up, and strapping things open or closed. There are just about a hundred uses for a bungee cord so bring a few along with you.

Tarp – You’ll need to tarp something at some point. You’ll either be putting a tarp over something or under something and there is no replacement when what you need is a tarp.

Extra Sleeping Bags – You might have company, it might be extra cold, you might use them for sitting on or for wrapping yourself in for that early morning cup of campfire coffee. Extra sleeping bags will come in handy.

These brief list of things you’ll probably need when you are camping is intended to help you avoid any difficulties during your camping stay with us. We look forward to meeting you in 2017.

Useful Camping Checklists

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camping checklistsThere is a lot to remember when you are packing for your camping trip. You have to make sure you have everything you need for making meals, clothes to wear, activities for the kids, and tools for potential repairs. Then there is the process of setting up the tent or RV and breaking camp as well. Add to that the things you have to do when it’s time to winterize your RV or get it ready for the road in the spring.

This all adds up to a lot of things to remember and that’s why camping checklists come in so handy. There are a wide variety of lists you can refer to.

Basic First Aid Check List – This list will details items you’ll need for managing cuts, skin rashes, allergies, sunburn, splinters, bee stings, fever, pain, and burns.

Cooking Checklist – This list will assist you in making sure you have everything you need to make all your meals while you’re RVing or tent camping. It lists everything from dinnerware, pot holders, dish soap, aluminum foil, and water jugs, to mixing bowls, paper towels, and pie irons.

RV Camp Set-Up Checklist – You’ll be reminded of everything you need to know once you arrive and begin setting up the RV from hooking up utilities, leveling the rig, to extending the trailer steps.

RV Troubleshooting Tools – You’ll be amazed at the number of items on this list, and most of them are small but mighty – especially when you need them. They range from duct tape (of course), wire crimpers, cotter pins, and cleaning rags, to a socket set, extra fuses, and electrical tape.

These lists and others can be found at Good Sam’s RV Travel Checklist. We hope they help you in your camping adventures and we cannot wait to see you at the campground this summer.