You may be thinking that not much happens in August other than heat, heat, more heat, and then back to school. There are no major holidays, celebrations or national days off of work. What is there to do other than seek refuge in a cool pool, under a shady tree, or in the cold blasts of the air conditioning? Why, take part in the slew of month-long celebrations! We got our hands on a list of the countless August "holidays" and we can't wait to share a few of our favorite outdoor inspired dates with you! And if you are inspired by these national event days, there's no better place to celebrate them than at our preserves and resorts. Hurry and take advantage of our 50% All Summer Long deal at Encore Resorts. Make your stay with us the last hurrah of the season!

S'mores are a campfire staple that serve as one of the best parts of a camping trip. To celebrate National S'more Day we suggest you try out one (or more) of the s'mores recipes given to us by our Thousand Trails Facebook fans.

• Traditional S'more: graham crackers, marshmallows roasted to perfection and your favorite chocolate bar.

• Peanut Butter Perfection: replace the chocolate bar with a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup for a peanut buttery taste treat!

• Travel Friendly: instead of graham crackers and a chocolate bar, save space by using chocolate chip cookies and marshmallows. You can also replace the chocolate with nutella for a space friendly treat.

Too Many Broken Grahams? Use the broken crackers and create a crust with butter or margarine. Tear up marshmallows, break up the chocolate and heat it in the oven. Add bananas for a fruity snack!

Take advantage of the last "unofficial" month of summer by heading to the beach to dig, lay, build, burrow, bury and play in the sand! Our preserves and resorts offer some of the best beach areas around. On the west coast, visit Encore's Pacific Dunes, in Oceano, CA or TT's Pacific City in Cloverdale, OR. East Coast offers a wide selection from Encore's Sandy Beach in Contoocook, NH, Pinehirst in Old Orchard Beach, ME and New Jersey's Lake and Shore (Ocean View), Sea Pines (Swainton) or Chestnut Lake (Port Republic). After all, what's summer without a little sand in your shoes!

Did you know…The Brownsea Island Scout camp was a boys camping event on Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, England. The event was organized by Lieutenant-General Baden-Powell to test his ideas for the book, Scouting for Boys. Boys from different social backgrounds participated in a week of activities focusing on camping, observation, woodcraft, chivalry, lifesaving and patriotism. This has since been recognized as the world's first Scout camp!

To recognize this eve...Get Out and Camp!

Source: Wikipedia.com

Source: FoodNetwork.com
Recipe courtesy Alton Brown, 2007

Whether you call it Trail Mix, Gorp ("good old raisins and peanuts), or Schmogle (like a New Zealander would!), this handy, nutritious treat has become a must-pack accessory for those on the go. Here's a recipe so you can mix up your own batch in honor of National Trail Mix Day!

Trail Mix Recipe

Prep Time: 5 min /Serves: 5 cups

Ingredients

7 ounces dried fruit, approximately 3 cups
5 ounces mixed nuts, approximately 1 cup
3 1/2 ounces granola, approximately 1 cup
Directions: Combine the fruit, nuts and granola in a large bowl. To store trail mix, place in an airtight glass container. Keep container in a cool dry place for up to 1 month.

Wanna Whale Watch? Or visit Washington's awesome archipelago that is the San Juan Islands? Then our August issue of TrailBlazer is the perfect travel guide as we visit this amazing area. If fly fishing's your game, check out our feature on Fly Fishing in the Pacific Northwest. Don't miss out on this great Northwest Adventure!

These may be the dog days of summer, but our preserves have plenty of fun on tap to keep you cool. With luaus, water sports and back to school parties, there's fun on the calendar for everyone! For a full listing of events, visit TrailBlazerMagazine.net

Don't miss the Twin Elm Ranch Rodeo in Bandera, Texas. This event includes bull riding, barrel racing, calf roping, shoot dogin', mutton bustin', team roping, tie down and calf scramble. Held at the Twin Elm Guest Ranch, each Friday in August, event begins at 8 p.m. each evening. Make Medina Lake your home base for this rodeo fun! For information call (830) 796-3628.

Mark your calendar for August 27 - Market Days & Bluemont Concert where you can enjoy an open-air Market, beginning at 9 a.m., featuring arts, crafts, plants and food venders and music by "The Taters Country Rock" from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Held in the town of Colonial Beach which is home to Harbor View Preserve. For information call (804) 223-0021.

There's nothing quite like a good old-fashioned County Fair. Plan to visit the Skagit County Fair, scheduled this year for August 10-13, in Mt. Vernon, Washington. Rich in tradition, history and the unique culture of the local Skagit community, come celebrate the county's agricultural heritage with farm animal showings, a carnival, craft and hobby display, vendor booths, musical entertainment and more. Conveniently located for those choosing to stay at our Mt. Vernon Preserve. For information call (360) 336-9414.

Become a Fan!
Become one of our 6,000+ fans and participate in discussions about camping and RVing, share your photos and stay up to date on activities happening at the preserves.

Check out our June photo winner above! Congratulations to our fan, Jen Anderson-Wenger!

Submit your photo for our August Facebook Profile Photo Contest.

Want to be a Lucky Winner? Then Get Out and Camp! Exclusive contest for Get Out and Camp participants and the chance to win a $1,000 American Express Gift Card! For terms and conditions please visit ThousandTrails.com

Thousand Trails has partnered with a number of popular brands to provide you with exclusive members-only savings. Below you will find our latest special offers available to you. Please log into the member section for additional information.

Got a great idea for something we can highlight in our next issue? Send your comments and suggestions to TrailNews@EquityLifestyle.com