Learn camping basics at Arizona State Parks

Kids love camping, exploring, sitting around a campfire sharing spooky stories and, of course, eating s’mores.

Parents, too; especially the s’mores.

But not everybody has the equipment or experience to pull off a family camping trip without the fear of being eaten alive by bugs, knocking over the tent or hooking themselves rather than a trout while fishing.

That’s where Arizona State Parks can help.

The Arizona Family Campout Program introduces families with little or no camping experience to the outdoors under the guidance of Arizona State Parks rangers and camp coordinators.

Heck, you don’t even have to own a tent. And they’ll teach you how to pitch one.

There are six dates at five state parks this fall, beginning Sept. 26-27 at Lyman Lake State Park near St. Johns. There are two dates at Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction.

In the spring, six weekends are planned at six parks, including Red Rock in Sedona and Dead Horse Ranch in Cottonwood.

For $70 for a family of four (an additional $5 per person for larger families), campers will learn how to set up a tent, build a fire, cook outdoors and take part in archery, mountain biking, hiking, fishing and geocaching (sort of a game of hide-and-seek using GPS).

Trained coordinators provide instruction. Even some experienced campers have used the program to introduce their kids to camping, according to Louis Juers, who coordinates the program for Arizona State Parks.

“What we’ve found is we’ll get moms and dads who were brought up camping and now have two or three kids who have never slept under the stars,” he said. “They use this to ease them over that camping threshold. We even get grandparents who bring their grandkids. We had one camp with three generations. It has really snowballed.”

The parks provide just about everything except snowballs. Tents, sleeping mats, camping chairs, first-aid kits and all the equipment used in the activities — even mountain bikes — are provided.

Coffee, snacks, a Dutch oven dessert and campfire treats are provided, along with water. And don’t worry about messing up a meal.

“We make sure everybody is covered,” Juers said. “We provide the cookstoves, and make sure campers are comfortable starting the stove and cooking what they brought. If not, we’ll help them along. And if it all goes dark, we buy extra food to make sure nobody goes to bed hungry.”

Campers must bring pillows, clothing, sturdy shoes, water bottles, flashlights, personal items (tooth brushes, soap and such), cooking utensils and pots and pans, if needed, plus food for four meals — from a suggested meal-planning and shopping list that is provided.

Kids must be older than 5 to take part. Pets are not allowed.

Rolling on two wheels

Arizona bicyclists have been on a roll lately.

• Last week, Daniel Eaton of Mesa added a fourth-place finish in the individual time trial, the fifth stage of the USA Pro Challenge bicycle tour in Breckenridge, Colo., to his USA Cycling Under-23 National Time Trial victory this year.
• Eric Marcotte of Scottsdale, who won the USA Cycling National Road Race last year, won a silver medal at the Pan-American Games in Toronto and the USA Cycling National Criterium title this year.
• Dominic Suozzi, 18, of Fountain Hills won a bronze medal in the elite division at the USA Cycling Elite & Juniors National Track Championships in Carson, Calif., to go along with his three gold medals in junior competition there.
• Scottsdale’s Gea Johnson won two bronze medals at the track nationals.
• Cypress Gorry of Payson recently won the Under 23 gold medal at the USA Cycling Mountain Bike National Championships at Mammoth Mountain, Calif. The next day, Gorry missed the podium by just one spot in the National Pro Short Track Cross-Country Championship, finishing fourth.

Tour de Fat

For those who prefer a beach cruiser to a fancy racing bike, the Tour de Fat bike parade and festival are coming to Tempe Beach Park Oct. 3. The event is billed as a way to increase awareness of bicycling as a sustainable form of transportation.

But really it’s an excuse to wear crazy costumes, join a rolling carnival of bicyclists and possibly sample a frosty adult beverage from New Belgium Brewing, the Fort Collins, Colo., brewer that created Tour de Fat events around the country.

The bike parade through downtown Tempe begins at 11 a.m.; the festival, games and music follow at Beach Park until 5 p.m.

The highlight of each Tour de Fat is the car-for-bike swap. One person from among those who have applied for the privilege will hand over the keys to his or her car, which will be auctioned off with proceeds going to local bike-related non-profits, such as Bike Saviours and the Tempe Bicycle Action Group.

In exchange, the individual receives a $2,250 stipend to purchase their dream commuter bike and accessories.

Applicants must submit a two-minute video to New Belgium’s Facebook page and the Tempe Tour de Fat event page explaining why they want to give away their car and ride a bike.

Details: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway. Free; a $5 donation is requested. newbelgium.com.

Try this next

Louis Tewanima Memorial Footrace: Join me at the next stop on Bob’s Bucket List when I visit the village of Shungopavi on the Hopi Reservation to take part in a race that honors tribal member and 1912 Olympics silver medalist Louis Tewanima. The 10K follows some of the trails Tewanima ran upon growing up near Second Mesa. There are 5K, 2-mile and 1-mile options, too.

Details: 6 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 6. Shungopavi baseball field, Second Mesa, Hopi Reservation. $15-$35. tewanimafootrace.org.

Camping 101 with Arizona State Parks

Sept. 26-27: Lyman Lake State Park, St. Johns.

Oct. 3-4: Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction.

Oct. 17-18: Kartchner Caverns State Park, Benson.

Oct. 31-Nov. 1: Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction.

Nov. 7-8: Catalina State Park, Tucson.

Nov. 21-22: Homolovi State Park, Winslow.

March 19-20: Lost Dutchman State Park, Apache Junction.

April 2-3: Patagonia Lake State Park, Patagonia.

April 16-17: Catalina State Park, Tucson.

April 23-24: Buckskin Mountain State Park, Parker.

May 7-8: Red Rock State Park, Sedona.

June 4-5: Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood.

Details: $70 for a family of four ($5 for each additional person). For age 6 and older. azstateparks.com/family.