Pokémon Go is a new and free smart phone app (iOS and Android) that seems to be getting a lot of interest.   First I’ll explain a bit about what the app does, then I’ll get into why I am on the fence about it. About Pokémon Go Pokémon Go is a game.    The Pokémon […]

One thing you will find among the serious explorers of the world is an ardent interest in identifying the things they come across in their adventures.  Among foragers,  identification of things they might ingest becomes of critical importance.  Whether you are an explorer, a forager or just someone with an interest in mushrooms,  you will […]

Avenza makes a simple, yet elegant app for iOS and Android devises.  The app is called PDF Maps and it shows your position on a map.  Beyond that,  it allows you to download free USGS topographic maps for the U.S. as well as a variety of other free and paid maps from around the world.  If […]

The National Bicycle Challenge in the U.S. began on May 1 and ends September 30.  The idea is to ride your bike more miles and the challenge offers a commitment device to help you do it.  To get committed to your bicycling goals, hop on over to nationalbikechallenge.org and create an account with your email address. […]

Games for Change has developed a game for your iPhone or iPad that is designed to get you and your friends to  volunteer in national parks. “Save the Park” is available for free via the app store.  It was created through a $250,000 grant from American Express.  If nothing else,  you should download the app and try it out […]

There are a lot of state parks in the U.S. and every one of them offers some great excuses to get out and explore.  If you are new to an area it can sometimes be difficult to find nearby state parks and what they offer.  If your goal is to explore the U.S. the many […]

In the spring of 2014, the California Academy of Sciences (CAS) acquired a crowdsourcing network called iNaturalist.  iNaturalist.org is a social network and mobile application for sharing biodiversity observations.  The idea is to connect people to nature through technology. From its launch in 2008 until CAS took over, the app had been accessed by more than 1.4 million […]

When you are standing atop a mountain,  you probably know the name of the peak you are on, but what about all those other peaks around you?  Maps can come in handy here.  It’s just a matter of unfolding the map,  orienting it toward north,  finding your position on the map and noticing which peaks […]

By “recreational foraging” I don’t mean looking around for recreational activities, but rather foraging for food on public lands as a recreational pursuit.  A lot of people wonder what’s the point of walking in the woods to see the scenery, it just seems a waste of time to them.  They need another sort of motivation. […]

Chimani is busily creating a series of apps for National Parks and other outdoor gems for your smartphone. All were free when I last checked at the Apple App Store.  Apparently they are also free at Google  Play and the Amazon App Store. According to company founders, Kerry Gallivan and Shaun Meredith: “The concept was born on top […]