Back in August of 2009, the story broke about an upcoming internet site dedicated to Kansas camping. In the months since, the developer has slowly built a site containing pictures, a classifieds page, games for all ages, and much, much more. A complete list will follow.
Every once in a while something happens in life that just seems to fit, extra good. Yes, it happens for some a lot more than for others. For Jay, the innovator and developer of Camp in Kansas and also the writer of this article, one of those rare days was sometime in April of 2009.
See, Jay found an ad requesting an article writer. If that, would have been that, it would have been ignored as Jay has never considered himself a writer of any standing. But instead he saw the word “camping,” a word he knew the meaning of clearly.
Jay has used camping as a tool or maybe a medicine . . . lets just say, an escape. Ever since he can remember, nothing made him so happy as being in a creek, a tree, the woods or a field, so camping was a natural fit in his adult life.
Soon after Jay saw the ad, he was writing basic, educational and inspirational camping articles in a forum that readers were clearly finding, seeing page views as much as 900 per day. In addition, the new found hobby had him thinking beyond articles and his hated small business building signs, toward a future that incorporated his passions. So was born Camp in Kansas .com (CIK).
Not just CIK either, a new direction totally, taking Jay through the halls of academia for an education in wildlife science/biology. Though the site’s bones were published on January 7 of 2010, the mass of information will grow from new camping experiences, reviews, future pages about Kansas ecology, conservation, wildlife and YOU.
You will add to the site yourself, with all the credit you deserve. This was an addition for several reasons. For one, Jay hardly knows it all and is humble enough to admit it, for two, the site is made to inform and simplify your camping trips and third Camp in Kansas should have more techniques than just those Jay deploys in his outings. Different lamps in different camps you could say.
You will find the following list of pages at campinkansas.com:
Home - A chat room for questions or chatting about camping, links to Kansas resources, your submitted tips, tricks etc., a guest book, Google search bar, also, a map and calender for planning trips.
Campground reviews - This page will take some time to complete, but as it is growing, you can gain unique knowledge of individual campsites before you decide to attend them. Full out, detailed reviews based on a twenty question survey and a comment from Jay.
Articles - Obviously this page links to the Wichita Camping Examiner page.
Necessity lists’ - Printable lists’ for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter camping. Print them and add your own flair.
Photography - Images of Kansas camping, objects, wildlife and scenery.
Campfire stories - A collection of good old stories for different ages, some with a Kansas twist. This page will be added to occasionally to ensure your campfire time doesn’t become stale. As with anything in the site, submit your own also.
Activities - Simple games and activities to occupy the children or get a good laugh out of your friends. Again, this will grow from you the visitors and Jay.
Camp fire recipes - As the title eludes to, you will find very simple breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack recipes. These are mostly prepared at home and cooked at camp for space and mess consolidation.
Camping classifieds - It is the hope that this page will help those needing cheaper equipment and those wanting to minimize their stock. You submit your item with your phone and/or e-mail address and it will be posted for thirty days or when it sells.
Firewood page - A map that has locations of firewood dealers located in Kansas. Only dealers that Jay has spoken to are included, unlike other sites where most of their lists are obsolete. This will grow also from your recommendations.
Weather link page - Links to five top weather reports and radar for Kansas all in one place. Making planning your trip easier is a big part of CIK, and weather is a big part of planning a camping trip.
Fishing reports page - Find out what the fish are doing at your campsite or plan a trip around a fishing hot spot. Six links are provided from a variety of reporters and agencies.
Comments and contact - Have a suggestion, a comment, a like or dislike. E-mail Jay and he will address it.
Camp in Kansas is another outlet for Jay, but more importantly it is for you. Make it yours, add content and get recognition. Use the reviews, plan your trips with the site and learn from Jay and the rest of Kansas’s campers.
Ready . . . set . . . go Camp In Kansas!
Till next time, happy camp’n Kansas
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