Don't let falling temperatures stop you from camping

As the leaves are transformed into vivid colors and fall to cover the streets and sidewalks of Bloomington, some students search for an alternative to the bar scene. The cool, brisk autumn air pitter-patters against windows and the longing for some peace and quiet overrides other thoughts. So what is one to do? One answer is to pack a tent, a sleeping bag and enough food for the weekend and set off to go camping.\nBut to successfully and enjoyably camp the weekend away, such things as clothes, food, cookware and accessories need to be arranged.\nFrank Flaser, assistant manager and buyer for J L Waters & Co, says what is worn, cooked and prepared to entertain are based on personal preference and are different for everybody.\n"There's so much out there," Flaser says. "Not everybody can agree."\nJ L Waters & Co sells lightweight, titanium, non-stick cookware, ranging anywhere from food dryers to food vacuum sealers to EcoCuisine, targeting those vegetarian and vegan advocates. With reliable name brands such as MSR, GSI and Coleman, stews, pasta, steak, chicken and hamburgers are prepared in minutes. \nFlaser also advises that campers stay away from cotton because it's so lightweight and if damp, takes a while to dry. But he stresses layering and making use of jackets. \n"Everything you own is on your back, self-contained," Flaser says. "You don't want to be cold or hungry."\nSenior Mitch DePoy, an employee at the Outdoor Outlet, 1200 N College Ave., says that for a long camping trip, packing lightly is essential even for food.\n"Depending upon how long you're staying and how far you have to hike to get to campsite, I'd recommend for a long trip, backpacking food -- dehydrated food -- that you can boil in water," DePoy says. "We have seafood chowder, lasagna, pastas, and it is actually very good, doesn't taste that bad. But just for a night, I'd take a lot more things, especially because you can take a cooler with you. I always like to have s'mores, and hot dogs are also good. A lot of people who are vegetarians or who want to eat more healthy will take stuff they can eat in tortillas."\nBesides rummaging through old pots and pans and skewering through piles of clothes to find the perfect camping gear, Flaser mentions some tips for the beginner and expert camper.\nFlaser says beginners have the habit of believing everything they initially read and settling on specific notions, but campers must compare all brands and store-test items before purchasing.\n"Ask experienced friends or family," Flaser says. "Keep an open mind and buy the best your money can afford."\nFlaser advises buying personal items first to ensure comfort and warmth, and then focusing on the odds and ends.\n"Clothing and items are becoming more gender-specific now," Flaser says. "There's something out there for everybody."\nIn contrast to beginners, experts hold pre-conceived ideas of what they're looking for, leaving Flaser and fellow employees to simply act as guides through the store.\n"(Experts) already know everything," Flaser says. "They don't listen for that reason."\nSo now that cookware, food and clothing have been covered, where does one go to fulfill the camping experience? Simple. Camping resorts and retreats are located on all over Indiana, providing acres and acres of open land, forest and even peace and quiet.\nLake Monroe Village, with 100 acres of fall foliage and 60 acres of grounds for rustic camping, also offers cozy log cabins, volleyball, playgrounds, hay rides, bonfires and a recreational facility.\nPresented as an alternative to the rough-and-tough camping experience, manager Sandy Cicchitto says that Lake Monroe Village aims to be more of a relaxation getaway, enticing every kind of camper.\n"(Lake Monroe Village) is the best-kept secret in Indiana," Cicchitto says.\nLocated on the other side of the lake lies Valley Branch Retreat, a family-built 1,000-acre camping resort with access to 25 miles of hiking and mountain bike trails, paintball and 10-person cabins.\n"It brings about all types of people -- reunions, boy scouts, church groups and dorm floors," Gary Bartels, owner and builder, says. "Basically just all different walks of life."\nBartels suggests that campers bring high-top tennis shoes or hiking boots and easy-to-prepare, filling meals, such as hot dogs, s'mores, burgers and potatoes. He advises completing the experience by taking along a friend with a guitar.\n"People like the stars, fresh air and the smell of the woods and campfires," Bartels says. "But you definitely need a guitar."\nAdditional resorts to keep in mind range from Star Hollow, Hoosier National and Morgan Monroe for beginners and Knobstone for the expert camper.\nDePoy adds that the best advice he could give is to go to one of the local shops in town and ask what are the most essential items that you need to maximize your camping trip.\n"I always like to tell people that they're very lucky to be students at IU," he says, "because there are so many places around IU that are really nice to spend time outdoors"