Welcome to all the visitors in our area this weekend! The USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Drake University, Iowa Corn Indy 250 IZOD Indycar Series Weekend at Newton, US Youth Soccer Region II Championships...so much going on!  Stop by while you're visiting...it's going to be hot and we're a COOL place to be!

Conservation Connections with the Pella Wildlife Company!

Saturday, June 22, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.:  Stop by and visit with the Pella Wildlife Company about the importance of taking care of our wildlife and habitat. This week they are bringing a gray fox! They'll be located indoors by the main aquarium.

Family Summer Camp Continues!

Activities start at noon, unless otherwise noted.

Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June 23, Noon-5 p.m.

Daisy BB Gun inflatable shooting range - Outside
FREE wildlife carousel - just inside the front entrance turnstiles.
Casting Buckets
Soft Foam Shooting Arcade
 

12-2 Crafts (while supplies last)- This week color your own slap bracelet! 

Saturdays only through July 13  - Homemade Ice Cream! -  5-6 p.m - Stop by for some red, white, and blue sweets treats!

Kids' Workshops - Our workshops are designed for children 6-12 years of age. Each child will receive ONE free lanyard (while supplies last) and then earns a FREE pin at the end of each workshop they attend. Workshops on Saturday and Sunday are:

Saturday
Noon - Fishing
1:00 - Water Safety
2:00 - Hunting & Shooting
3:00 - Outdoor Discovery
4:00 - Bird Watching

Sunday
Noon - Hunting & Shooting
1:00 - Archery
2:00 - Wildlife Adventure
3:00 - Camping
4:00 - Backyard Adventure

Remember - Family Summer Camp workshops and activities continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays, too! For a detailed schedule visit www.facebook.com/bpsaltoona.

Every day we see more pink products coming in to the Hunting Department. When it comes to shooting and archery, pink is hot.  Check out these two hot items in our gun case!

SIG SAUER Mosquito

• .22LR
• 3.9" barrel
• 10 round mag

From www.sigsauer.com - "Chambered in .22LR, the Mosquito is the ideal choice for hours of shooting fun. The slide features adjustable sights, and along with the rugged blowback system, fixed barrel and superior ergonomic grip, the SIG SAUER Mosquito delivers traditional SIG SAUER accuracy."

DPMS Package

This DPMS MSR was spiced up a bit by our hunting team. The package includes:

• Tapco 4-piece kit
• Blackhawk! Storm Sling
• Ambi Sling mount
• EoTec Holographic Site

.

It's always fun to try some of the interesting rubs, shakes, and seasonings we have on our shelves. But, many people also have a go-to general seasoning, like seasoning salt, at the ready. I like to have something I've thrown together always on hand and with all "natural" ingredients. This is going to have to be my next ammo in my cooking arsenal. 

Thanks, once again, to Chef Kevin from our friends at Hy-Vee in Altoona, Iowa, for another quick, easy recipe - his not-so-secret Seasoning Salt!

Chef Kevin’s Seasoning Salt

2 tablespoons salt

2 teaspoons white sugar

½ teaspoon paprika

¼ teaspoon dry mustard

¼ teaspoon onion powder

¼ teaspoon garlic powder

¼ teaspoon corn starch

¼ teaspoon black pepper

Combine all ingredients, mix well.

Chef Kevin says the corn starch is to help keep the rub from clumping together...and the seasoning will work great for any type of meat!

Make a batch up and store it in a sealed container in a cool location and season away!

_________________________________________

Like us @  Bass Pro Shops Altoona or Tracker Marine Center

Tweet us @bassproaltoona

Pin us @ pinterest.com/bpsaltoona

Find Altoona Hy-Vee on Facebook at www.facebook.com/hyveealtoona

Friday, June 14 - 6-9 p.m. - Outdoor Rewards Night!

The first 100 people get a Tony Stewart Mug!
(Mugs are only for Outdoor Rewards Customers and will be given out after 6 p.m.)

Family Summer Camp Continues

Activities start at noon, unless otherwise noted.

The Catch and Release Bluegill pond is here Saturday and Sunday only, noon-5 p.m.! We supply the poles, you supply the kids who want to try to catch a fish in our indoor pond by the main aquarium. PLUS - they can get a free photo taken with their catch, with dad, grandpa, or just themselves!

Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16, Noon-5 p.m.

Daisy BB Gun inflatable shooting range - Outside
FREE wildlife carousel - just inside the front entrance turnstiles.
Casting Buckets
Soft Foam Shooting Arcade
 

Saturdays only through July 13  - Homemade Ice Cream! -  5-6 p.m.

12-2 Crafts - This week make dad a bobber key chain!  A different craft each week.

Kids' Workshops - Our workshops are designed for children 6-12 years of age. Each child will receive ONE free lanyard (while supplies last) and then earns a FREE pin at the end of each workshop they attend. Workshops on Saturday and Sunday are:

Saturday
Noon - Fishing
1:00 - Water Safety
2:00 - Hunting & Shooting
3:00 - Outdoor Discovery
4:00 - Bird Watching

Sunday

Noon - Hunting & Shooting
1:00 - Archery
2:00 - Wildlife Adventure
3:00 - Camping
4:00 - Backyard Adventure

DON'T FORGET!!! - The workshops and ctivities continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays, too! For a detailed schedule visit www.facebook.com/bps

By: Lance Baker, Bass Pro Shops Altoona Pro Staff

Brushy Creek has been one of my favorite lakes in Iowa over the past five years. Any time I get a chance, I try and fish a few opens a year up there with a few of my good buddies. The weather this year has been up and down with the water levels and conditions taking a toll on the lakes, just like it has on the Mississippi River where Kary and I fish, so Brushy has seen a lot of crazy things this year!

My friend Keith Kulow gave me a call back in May and asked if I would like to fish with him in an Iowa Bass Stalkers event on Brushy Creek. Keith has made a name for himself on that lake over the past years and I always enjoy getting to jump in the boat with him and have an awesome day of fishing. 

Tournament day came on May 18 and we were once again faced with changing conditions. We found fish that were in the pre-spawn and spawning stages and tried to focus on pre-spawners to try and sack a little bit more weight with them.  What was very interesting about that day was the water was actually really stained compared to what we are normally faced with on that lake and it had fish holding very tight to cover. We found an area that the fish were staging in and began to have a blast of a day! 

The fish in the 2.5 to 3 lb range are really plentiful this year at Brushy. The hardest part seems that right now 4+ lbrs are hiding somewhere!  Keith and I managed to catch a really nice limit of five for 15.14 to take 7^th place. It was great to see a 19+ & 17+ lb. bag to take 1^st and 2^nd and four more bags between 15 and 16!  Congrats to the guys who won that one for an awesome bag!

On June 2,^, Keith and I went back to Brushy to fish the Second Annual Big Bass Bash, along with a lot of my good friends that I haven’t seen in a while and let me tell ya'…IT IS AN ABSOLUTE BLAST!  The format is different than most regular tournaments - you can weigh one fish an hour to win the big fish of the hour and then they crown the largest of the day Big Bass of the tournament!  What is nice about this is if you win an hour you get paid very well, and if you are on them good then you can possibly win each hour and really winning a nice pay day! The strategy of fishing this tournament is very different and planning really revolves around your best chances to weigh in at a good time and possibly weigh one an hour if you're lucky!  Keith and I ended up winning the first hour with a small 2.66, but it still paid great!  My buddies Tony Steverson and Bill Heverly ended up winning the third and fourth hour with a 2.70 and a 3.40.  It is really cool to play that game and hope you can succeed!  Big Bass for the day was a nice 4.28 female that earned the team a nice check and HUGE TROPHY!  It pulled really good numbers with around 40 guys competing this year.  I would recommend everyone take a look at this tournament for next year, it is one that if you have a friend wanting to experience the thrill of tournament fishing, this is the perfect start! Entry fees are very affordable and they even feed you after as well!

Kary and I are back up at the river on June30 and hoping the water levels finally come back down and we can finally see some normal conditions.  We are currently sitting in third  for Anglers of the Year behind a few of the best guys in that pool, so we have our work cut out for us!  I will be down to Bass Pro Shops on June 14 to help anyone with any Lowrance questions you may have!  I really would like to show you hands on how the new technology can put more fish in your boat and make it more enjoyable!  Hope everyone is enjoying the early summer and hope to see you on the water soon!

Lance Baker

BPS Pro Staff

By: Lance Baker, Bass Pro Shops Altoona Pro Staff

It has been a little while, with Kary's and my busy schedule, since I've had time to sit down and update everyone on our season! The summer is starting off normal with a lot of driving and adapting to different areas...the high water and endless rain has shown us that preparation and studying is the only way to survive this game we all play.

Kary and I set off for our second Bass World Sports tournament of the year on May 23 for what would end up as one of our toughest tournaments to date. We had three solid days to put our game plan together and knew that every minute had to count due to the stiff competition and absolutely terrible water conditions.  We spent time on two different pools and probably put in an easy 100+ boat miles searching for what we thought it would take to put us towards the top of the leader board on Sunday the 26. We managed to find a very small area with a good number of quality fish that were guarding fry and seemed aggressive enough to give us five bites to succeed.  The only problem was...these fish were a LONG ways from take off and we had a difficult decision to make. If we made the decision to go after them we would have to dedicate our entire day to this one area and make a risky move of making it in AND out of the lock on time. 

Sunday 5:30 a.m., 27 teams took off in an effort to conquer the tough conditions. It was raining and absolutely miserable! We headed towards the lock with everything my boat had and just about a mile before the doors we passed an early morning barge heading that way as well.  I pulled in and thought, "Man we made it." But, I was very wrong. 

The lockmaster informed us that the barge was on its final approach and we would have to wait until they were done locking before any of us could go through. MY HEART SANK & PANIC SET IN. We turned around and headed out watching a big group of the field coming to the same problem.  I had made a huge mistake of not scanning the river the night before to see where barges were located before we trailered.  I honestly was in a panic………this is where FAITH AND TRUST in your partner comes in. Kary looked at me and said, “Lance, I promise, buddy, if you will just stay focused, we will catch 'em.”  We knew we had at least two hours of delay before we could get to where we needed to be. It seemed like an eternity, until we finally got back in and through the lock and made our LONG run to our fish. We finally arrived and had just a few hours time to put five in the boat, head back to the lock, make it through, and get back to weigh in. 

Now here is where the fun begins. :) In the process of preparing the night before, I had filled my boat with ¾ of a tank and did the approximate math on mileage to make it there and back and not be too heavy; to make sure we could succeed in outrunning what part of the field we needed to.

BIG MISTAKE! What I didn’t plan for was the extra running around waiting on the barge to get through and the gas that was burned at that time. On our way back with about 20 minutes to spare it happened. 

One mile from the ramp the boat said she didn’t wanna let her horses sing anymore! OMG, I JUST RAN OUT OF GAS!  In shear disbelief, we quickly went to work. Kary jumped on the trolling motor and I started flagging down any of our competitors to PLEASE help us in any way possible. We ended up having a team stop, sacrifice their last few fishing minutes of the day, load our limit in their spare side of the livewell and high-tail me back in to weigh our five fish on time and try and save any points that we could.  (Yes, you can do that if it happens to you...just make sure you check the rules and with the tournament director.)

Because of that team, Kary and I managed to weigh in just shy of 11lbs and finish 13^th to save points for the Angler of the Year race. Folks, there are a few lessons to be learned from this..,here are my thoughts:

1. Always fill up your boat no matter what…speed doesn’t catch fish, trust me on that one.

2. Your fishing partner is your backbone for everything from catching fish to helping you stay calm and focused in all situations….take time to make sure they know how much you appreciate them. 

3. Never, and I mean NEVER, count on making it through the locks without ALWAYS having a backup plan. 

And last, but certainly not least,

If you ever have the chance to stop and help a fellow angler/competitor out, or have one help you, remember the sacrifice they made that day. 

TRUE SPORTSMANSHIP is something that is earned not given.

Kary and I would like to say "Thank You" again to Team 19 DAVID GIESE & SCOTT ANDERSON and Glen Sunken and Keith Kulow.  You, my friends, are what we all strive to be - True Sportsmen.  Thank you so much and we will always be in debt to ya’ll!  

On a final note, I want to take a minute and wish ALL fathers out there a Happy Father’s Day! We are truly blessed to have the opportunity to pass on our traditions.

Thank you, Dad, for always letting me tag along - my little girl is learning what you took time to teach me!

This is Flag Week and June 14 is forever celebrated as Flag Day in the United States.  Our Nation's symbol of freedom and strength...the Stars and Stripes...was adopted as our flag by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation officially establishing June 14 as Flag Day. An ACT of Congress in 1949 established June 14 as National Flag Day. It is not an official federal holiday...however, the President typically proclaims the week containing Flag Day as Flag Week and encourages everyone to fly the flag during the whole week.

Take a minute to review your flag etiquette - here are basic rules for displaying Old Glory outside from the web site www.usflag.org:

• When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting from a window, balcony, or a building, the union should be at the peak of the staff unless the flag is at half staff.
• When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another flag - of a state, community, society or Scout unit - the flag of the United States must always be at the top except that the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for Navy personnel when conducted by a Naval chaplain on a ship at sea.
• When the flag is displayed over a street, it should be hung vertically, with the union to the north or east. If the flag is suspended over a sidewalk, the flag's union should be farthest from the building.
• When flown with flags of states, communities, or societies on separate flag poles which are of the same height and in a straight line, the flag of the United States is always placed in the position of honor - to its own right.

The other flags may be smaller but none may be larger.
No other flag ever should be placed above it.
The flag of the United States is always the first flag raised and the last to be lowered.

• When flown with the national banner of other countries, each flag must be displayed from a separate pole of the same height. Each flag should be the same size. They should be raised and lowered simultaneously. The flag of one nation may not be displayed above that of another nation.
• The flag should be raised briskly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. Ordinarily it should be displayed only between sunrise and sunset. It should be illuminated if displayed at night.
• The flag of the United States of America is saluted as it is hoisted and lowered. The salute is held until the flag is unsnapped from the halyard or through the last note of music, whichever is the longest.

Whether on your house, boat, pontoon or business, display your flag correctly and proudly...and while you're at it thank a member of the United States Army. Congress adopted the "American continental army" on June 14, 1775, so it's celebrated as the birthday of the Army, too!

Sometimes the resources aren't always there...time and money...for a lengthy vacation. I love to travel and have had the opportunity to see a lot of our great country. However, I also know that there are many sights to experience right in our own backyard. 

More and more couples and families are experiencing staycations...checking out the highways and byways of their own state and area. As a born and raised Iowan, and someone who also lived outside the state for a few years, I also know that there can be many misconceptions and just general lack of knowledge about what Iowa has to offer...even from those who live within its boundaries!

So, let us introduce you to some pretty incredible outdoor places that you might like to explore...in Iowa, of all places! Let's start with our next door neighbor.

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

Much to the surprise of many, Iowa is blessed to have six national wildlife refuges. One lies just a short 20 miles to the east of Bass Pro Shops Altoona.  Ladies' Apparel Lead Jen Ladehoff highly recommends the Refuge, as a great place to take kids, especially because of its Prairie Learning and Visitor Center.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the over 8,600 acres of land, authorized by legislation signed by President George H. Bush in 1990, were "designated to be preserved and restored to pre-Euro-American settlement conditions, to the greatest extent possible." This took land previously targeted in the 1970s to be a nuclear power plant and turned it into what is believe to be the largest restoration and reconstruction effort ever attempted in world history.

The refuge is a major environmental education, volunteer and outdoor recreation hub for everyone to enjoy. The learning center has an exhibit area, bookstore, classrooms, and movie theater. There's a five-mile auto tour that takes you through the bison and elk area, plus four trails (1/2 to 2 miles) for those who'd like a brief hike.  Portions of the land are open to hunting - special regulations apply so you need to check with the refuge. 

From bison to wildflowers to birds to the song of the prairie winds, experience the beautiful Iowa prairie the way it used to be.

From tripadvisor.com:

Reviewed May 7, 2013

Family Summer Camp returns, along with many other activities this weekend! 

Family Summer Camp

Activities start at noon, unless otherwise noted.

Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 

Noon-5 p.m.

Daisy BB Gun inflatable shooting range - Outside
FREE wildlife carousel - just inside the front entrance turnstiles.
Casting Buckets
Soft Foam Shooting Arcade
Workshops (See schedule below)

12-2 Crafts -

A different craft each week, starting on Saturday!  This week's craft for kids - a compass!

Workshop - Our workshops are designed for children 6-12 years of age. Each child will receive ONE free lanyard (while supplies last) and then earns a FREE pin at the end of each workshop they attend. Workshops on Saturday and Sunday are:

Saturday
Noon - Fishing
1:00 - Water Safety
2:00 - Hunting & Shooting
3:00 - Outdoor Discovery
4:00 - Bird Watching

Sunday

Noon - Hunting & Shooting
1:00 - Archery
2:00 - Wildlife Adventure
3:00 - Camping
4:00 - Backyard Adventure

DON'T FORGET!!! - The workshops and activities continue on Tuesdays and Thursdays, too! For a detailed schedule visit www.facebook.com/bpsaltoona!

Saturdays only through July 13  - Homemade Ice Cream! -  5-6 p.m.

Free Seminars for Adults - Saturday, June 8

1:00 - Canada Fishing Trip Essentials - Free Seminar with our fishing experts

2:00 - Water Sports Safety and PFD Seminar

My husband is a devoted fisherman.  He fishes (and hunts) for subsistence and puts this awesome food on our table. However, we are always looking for NEW ways to cook crappie and walleye...I found this recipe in the April 2013 Midwest Living magazine and it is also online.  Looks like Cindi Rockwell from Michigan won a contest they had with this recipe.  Good job, Cindi and we can't wait to try them!

Walleye Wild Rice Cakes

8 ounces skinned walleye, sole or Tilapia fillets, thawed if frozen

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 cup panko (Japanese-style bread crumbs)

1/2 cup cooked wild rice

1/4 cup finely chopped onion

2 tablespoons finely chopped red sweet pepper

2 tablespoons canola oil mayonnaise or regular mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon-style mustard

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

2 tablespoons canola oil

Mixed greens (optional)

Directions
1.Rinse fish; pat dry with paper towels. In a 2-quart baking dish, pour wine over fish. Bake in a 450 degrees F. oven, uncovered, 4 to 6 minutes per 1/2-inch thickness of fish, until fish flakes when tested with a fork. Drain and break into pieces.

2.In a medium bowl combine fish, egg, panko, cooked wild rice, onion, red sweet pepper, 2 tablespoons mayonnaise, the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Shape mixture into six 3/4-inch patties (about 1/3 cup each). Place patties on a baking sheet, cover and chill 2 hours.

3.In a 12-inch skillet, heat canola oil over medium heat. Add patties to skillet and cook 10 minutes, or until golden brown, turning once.

Cindi included a Wasabi Dressing to serve with the cakes. Being a Wasabi nut myself, I look forward to making this, too!

Wasabi Dressing

1/4 cup canola oil mayonnaise or regular mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon prepared wasabi paste

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon soy sauce

Salt and ground black pepper

In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, the wasabi paste, sugar, and soy sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

__________________________________

Like us @  Bass Pro Shops Altoona or Tracker Marine Center

Tweet us @bassproaltoona

Pin us @ pinterest.com/bpsaltoona

To say it has been raining a lot in many areas of Iowa and the rest of the Midwest is a bit of an understatement.  The ground is saturated and water is looking for a place to go. The Pella Wildlife Company was at our store again recently with some critters, one of which is directly affected in his home location by how much water, or lack of water, occurs in Iowa. Here's Ron DeArmond from the PWC with this installment of Conservation Connections in which he explores water quality.

The Pella Wildlife Company will be at Bass Pro Shops coming up with more animals and topics for our Conservation Connection!  Keep an eye on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bpsaltoona, store web site, and the Pella Wildlife Company web site for future dates!

The Pella Wildlife Company, in Pella, Iowa, works to educate the public on this type of situation. The non-governmental organizations's founder and CEO Ron DeArmond has worked with mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds for many years. PWC works with such groups as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, wildlife education centers, zoos and through its own Academy of Wildlife Education, to focus on three areas of animal welfare – education, sustainability, and conservation.

_________________________________

Like us @  Bass Pro Shops Altoona or Tracker Marine Center

Tweet us @bassproaltoona

Pin us @ pinterest.com/bpsaltoona

I never went to summer camp when I was young. Not complaining, just stating a fact. However, my family camped every summer, which made up for it in my book.

Now I'm catching up on all those lost summer camp opportunities by being a part of Bass Pro Shops' Family Summer Camp every year. But, this is not your father's summer camp...

Bass Pro Shops' Family Summer Camp combines learning with a dose of fun and rolls them into five-weeks of free activities for young people and their caretakers. At Bass Pro Shops Altoona we see large numbers of day care groups, babysitters and nannies with their young charges, dads, moms, or grandparents with the kids on weekdays, and on weekends, it is often a family outing.

Workshops geared towards children ages 6-12, free crafts, and activities are offered every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, starting June 8 through July 14.

From bird watching, to archery, to exploring wildlife around the world and the creepy crawlies in your backyard, our workshops introduce and enlighten children on the outdoor world around them, along with conservation and how they can play a part in preserving the great outdoors. Children also receive a special pin for each workshop they attend. 

As a workshop presenter, this is one of my favorite aspects of working at Bass Pro Shops. To see the same children coming back each week, eager to catch the workshops they may have missed and earn their next pin, excited to be here, and enthusiastic about learning. Likewise, I have learned from them that:

1. A pin is very important.
2. Fake scat has an "e-e-e-w-w" factor of 10, but it's funny at the same time and a great way to gross out your little sister.
3. Apparently, there are an enormous number of robins outside bedroom windows that wake up little kids way too early in the summer.
4. Change your socks after hiking - So your feet don't stink and your bedroom doesn't smell.
5. Don't wear new shoes when hiking - NOT because you'll get blisters, but because they'll get dirty.

I can't wait to find out what I learn from them this year!

At our summer camp, kids learn basics of archery, how to shoot a BB gun in our Daisy BB gun range, and get to ride on a wildlife carousel.

At our summer camp, you beat the heat, nix the sunburns, and dodge the mosquitoes.

At our summer camp, the wild animals are all around you, but won't hurt you.

At our summer camp, you can have homemade ice cream every Saturday at 5 p.m. for five weeks...and you don't have to be the one cranking the handle.

At our summer camp, parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers, cousins, and caretakers are welcomed. The more the merrier!

At our summer camp there is no pre-registration. Walk-ins are welcomed and we have visitors from all over the country!

In this world of seemingly ever-growing expenses, especially when you have children, Family Summer Camp provides another opportunity for free, family-friendly fun in a comfortable environment. So, take a look at the calendar and plan your visits to our Family Summer Camp...and we'll see you at the workshops!

For a detailed listing of the Family Summer Camp events at the Bass Pro Shops nearest you, visit www.basspro.com and select your store location.

For a detailed listing of the Bass Pro Shops Altoona, Iowa, Family Summer Camp events, visit www.facebook.com/bpsaltoona or our store page.

____________________________________________________

Like us @ Bass Pro Shops Altoona or Tracker Marine Center

Tweet us @bassproaltoona

Pin us @ pinterest.com/bpsaltoona

The sun is due to make an appearance in our area this weekend!  Yea!!  Time to think sunny, tropical thoughts - try this Grilled Pineapple Mango Salsa compliments of Chef Kevin and our friends at the Altoona Hy-Vee! 

Grilled Pineapple Mango Salsa

1 pineapple

2 mangos

1 green bell pepper

1 red bell pepper

1 jalapeno

¼ cup cilantro

2 freshly squeezed limes

1 star fruit

Take the rind off the pineapple, quarter it, take the core out, then grill it.  Use a carrot peeler on the mango, slice it to remove the seeds, then grill the slices.

Slice the peppers, clean the seeds out. Peel the onion, then grill all of them.

Dice all the ingredients, except limes. Squeeze in fresh lime juice. Chill and serve. Don't forget the chips and frosty beverages of choice!

This weekend we are taking a deep breath and getting ready for Family Summer Camp!  But stop in while you're out enjoying the much-needed sunshine...on your way to or from Adventureland? Dam to Dam Run?  The Principal Charity Classic?  Sotp in while you're out and about because we have great sales going on for Father's Day!

This Saturday we have our regular fish feeding on Saturday at 3:00 on Saturday.  Immediately following the fish feeding, Jay Green and his K9/Hospital Therapy dog Scout will be conducting a dog obedience demonstration in front of the aquarium.

WHAT’S COMING UP NEXT? 

 Family Summer Camp - June 8-July 14 - Noon to 5 p.m. every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday

Free crafts, special workshops for kids, and activities!

The Catch and Release Pond will be back for the first two weekends!

Check out the full schedule on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/bpsaltoona or our store page.

Two daughters of an Iowan recently brought Bass Pro Shops Altoona a special gift.

Ed Morello, an avid fisherman, passed away in Ogden, Iowa, in April. His daughters, Cindy McNeil, who works in the Gifts Department at Bass Pro Shop in Mesa, Arizona, and Dawn Meadows of Ames, presented our General Manager with a 7.5 lb largemouth bass mount their father caught 35 years ago. The lure he caught it on hangs from the fish's mouth.

McNeil and Meadows said their dad made it very clear that when he died he wanted the fish to go to Bass Pro Shops Altoona, so his fishing buddies, family, and friends would be able to see it and remember him. Morello’s favorite saying was,

“Fishing may not add years to my life, but it adds life to my years.”

The bass was caught at Bull Shoals, AR, in May 1978.

How about you? Have you helped someone add life to their years by taking them fishing?  June 7-9 are free fishing days in Iowa for Iowa residents.  Other states around the country also have free fishing days. It's a great way to introduce a child OR an adult to the sport and enjoyment of fishing and to enjoy the outdoors.

So, pack a picnic, pray for sunny skies, grab a rod and reel and take someone fishing. It could add life to their and YOUR years.

For more information on various free fishing days and event around the country, visit www.takemefishing.org/downloads/FreeFishingDays.pdf.

Recently, I had the wonderful experience of representing Bass Pro Shops Altoona has a judge for a Dutch Oven Cook-off.  The gathering was sponsored by the Iowa Prairie Rose Dutch Oven Society and was held in Pella, Iowa. Given Pella's Dutch heritage, the cook-off was officially called the "Go Dutch Dutch Oven Cook-off and Gathering." A lot of words for "GREAT FOOD!"

I've never experienced an official Dutch Oven gathering and was more than honored to be a judge. The nine competing teams could make three Dutch Oven dishes each - a bread, main dish, and a dessert. There were a couple of teams that had two dishes, instead of three. Oh, and let's throw in the two dishes made by two young ladies (Team Double Dutch Duo) who were first-time cookers, but not competing. That's a total of 27 dishes we sampled. Yes, 27...over about three hours.

Yes, they were small bites, but you have to eat more than one bite to experience the dish. Then there are the saltines and grapes in between to cleanse the palate...and let's not forget the bottled water, since it was 90 degrees in the shade. Needless to say, I was filled to the rim with great food when I left, with what I was sure was a 20 pound weight gain. But, the memories of the amazing dishes linger on and it gave me even more desire to go deeper into Dutch Oven cooking...and to judge again next year.

I discovered that many of the recipes and methods used were created by the cook. Some were from regular recipes (anything you can cook in an oven CAN be cooked in a Dutch Oven), and some where from actual Dutch Oven cookbooks.

Here is a very simple rub used by one of the competing teams.  Boy Scout leaders from local Troop 373 out of Pella. They used this moist rub on a Turkey Breast and it was NOT too overwhelming with basil...at least in this judge's opinion! Thanks to the leaders for sharing this recipe.

Kamela's Sweet Basil Rub

Mix together:

1 Tbsp Salt

2 tsp Sugar

1/4 tsp Onion Powder

1/4 tsp Garlic Powder

1/4 tsp Paprika

1/2 Tbsp Lemon Juice

Then Add:

1/2 tsp Black Pepper

1 Tbsp Whole Basil

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

Enjoy and watch for more of the great dishes enjoyed at this cook-off! 

S'mores are great, but how about some variations on a theme? Try these new and improved ideas from the folks at Hy-Vee. Yes, everything can be improved...even S'mores!

Brownie Smash

1/2 Graham cracker

1 Chocolate fudge brownie

Toasted marshmallow

Chocolate bar

1. Top graham cracker square with prepared brownie, toasted marshmallow and chocolates.

Granola Goodness

2/3 Granola snack bar

Toasted marshmallow

Chocolate bar

1. Top one half of bar with toasted marshmallow and chocolate bar. Top with remaining half bar.

Grasshopper

2 chocolate covered graham crackers or

3 chocolate covered mints

White chocolate chips

Toasted marshmallow 

1. Top 1 chocolate-covered graham cracker square with mints, white chocolate chips and toasted marshmallow. Top with remaining graham cracker square.
2. Test Kitchen Tip: For a quick and easy substitute for the chocolate-covered graham cracker squares, use 2 Hy-Vee Fudge Mint cookies.
3. *To make chocolate-covered graham cracker squares, melt dipping chocolate according to package directions. Dip graham cracker squares, place on parchment-lined cookie sheet and allow to cool to set.

For more great recipes from Hy-Vee visit, www.hy-vee.com/meal-solutions/recipes/default.aspx

Celebrate Memorial Day holiday with us as our Go Outdoors event continues -- this weekend is just for the kids!

First, and most importantly, we remember those who have died serving our country. Our local VFW members will be in front of the store Friday and Saturday with poppies, the official memorial flower of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. VFW Buddy Poppies are still assembled by disabled and needy veterans in VA Hospitals and the proceeds from their sales are retained locally to provide for veteran services and welfare. Your donation for a poppy counts - show your support in this time-honored tradition.

Saturday and Sunday, May 25 & 26

11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

• Bass Pro Shops/Daisy Shooting Range - Kids, test your skills in our new BB gun shooting range!
• Metal Detector Treasure Hunt - Search for zinc arrowheads with our metal detector.
• Adventure Scavenger Hunt - Hunt and find conservation or wildlife items throughout the store. Find them all for a FREE prize! (While supplies last!)
• Free Photo Download - Plus, kids who complete activities get a Go Outdoors Certificate of Completion, too!
• Free Giveaway - Get a FREE Flashing clip after completing activities! (While supplies last)

Kids’ Seminars

• 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Safe Passage - In cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Tips on being safe around the water!
• 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. - Kids’ Geocaching - Learn the basics of geocaching for fun - indoors or out!
   

Noon - 4 p.m.
Kids' Craft - Decorate a water bottle! (While supplies last)

Also, this weekend:

Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. - Conservation Connections with the Pella Wildlife Company is BACK!  This time they'll have an alligator and tiger salamander and will visit with guests about water quality and wildlife!  Come check it out!

Saturday - 2:30 - Spinnerbait Tank Demo - Main Aquarium

Featured in the current Go Outdoors Event and Sale is the BioLite CampStove™!

This eco-friendly gear is perfect for no-muss, no-fuss campers and backpackers! Leave the fuel and electronics chargers at home - this wood-burning stove lets you cook a meal and charge your gadgets at the same time. You can use twigs, sticks, pine cones, etc., to burn, so there's no fuel needed.  Here's how it works - patent-pending thermoelectric technology allows the CampStove to convert heat into electricity, which runs a built-in fan for a more efficient fire AND powers a built-in USB charger for small electronics. 

Here's another idea - This is a great piece to add to your emergency preparedness gear, so you can cook without power. You can boil one liter of water in about 4-5 minutes. Make sure you have some dehydrated food in your stash, too, like the Mountain House freeze-dried line!

Find the BioLite CampStove in the Camping Department at Bass Pro Shops Altoona or online at

www.basspro.com/BioLite-CampStove/product/1302140541184/#desc-tab.

Bass Pro Shops Altoona fans live all over the world! From South America to Canada and United Kingdom to Australia, fans from around the world have joined our Facebook family!

Meet one of our fans from Colorado, who is also international with her "Girls in the Outdoors" Facebook page and blog.  Red is her favorite color, so...

Featured Fan - Hilary "Girl in the Outdoors"

What are Your Favorite Outdoor Activities?

I participate in fishing, camping, ATV riding and target shooting. I went fishing and camping as a kid, but my family got busy with other things and we didn't go much as I got older. In 2003, I met my husband and he reintroduced me to fishing and camping. He also introduced me to shooting and rock crawling, which led to ATV riding.

Fishing, camping and ATV riding are pretty equal when it comes to what I enjoy the most. Riding an ATV to a fishing pond during a camping trip is even better! Camping next to a lake, fishing from a boat and fishing from the bank are all relaxing to me, because I love being around the water and it is also a great place for some family time. Fighting a large fish and going through an obstacle on an ATV is a fun adrenalin rush and also a confidence builder.

I started "Girls In The Outdoors" in April 2012 to help encourage and teach other females, and even guys, in multiple outdoor related activities. I was trying to find a website that already did this and couldn't find one that wasn't just hunting specific, fishing specific, etc. When I told my husband I was thinking about starting the blog, he was excited, too, and started helping me come up with ideas. It's been a lot of fun for both of us coming up with ideas.

Go-To Gear?

I always have some red spinners, Bass Pro's Tail Spin lures, Gitzit tube baits, red marshmallows and a bee sting kit with me!

Words of Wisdom

Have fun! Choose lures because they are your favorite color, choose shooting targets because they are fun, and choose activities you are comfortable with. If something is frustrating or you get bored, try something else, because you aren't going to have fun. Just because everybody else you know fishes with lures, doesn't mean you will have fun doing the same thing. Fly fishing might be your "thing."

Girls in the Outdoors blog - http://girlsintheoutdoors.blogspot.com/

On Facebook - www.facebook.com/GirlsInTheOutdoors

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