Year: 2026

How to Have a Wild—but Safe—Time in America’s National Parks

By North American Outdoors / June 13, 2026 / Comments Off on How to Have a Wild—but Safe—Time in America’s National Parks

Some of the greatest vacation destinations are our national parks, which are the envy of the world. President Woodrow Wilson signed the “Organic Act” in 1916, which created the National Park Service. Since then, the National Park System has expanded to 433 individual units covering more than 85 million acres across all 50 states, Washington,…

Silver Turtles: A Camping Delicacy

By North American Outdoors / May 31, 2026 / Comments Off on Silver Turtles: A Camping Delicacy

Like a lot of people who love nature, I’ve spent most of my life outdoors. Every chance I get, you will find me hunting, shooting, fishing or camping. We raised our four boys in Scouts, and we were on a campout every month and a week-long summer camp each year. In addition to all the…

4 Essentials for a Successful Camp Cooking Experience

By North American Outdoors / May 31, 2026 / Comments Off on 4 Essentials for a Successful Camp Cooking Experience

June is National Great Outdoors Month, and that means it is time to go camping! Getting out into the wild should not be limited to hunting season. For me, venturing into the woods is a year-round activity. One of the best parts of camping is cooking over an open fire, as everything tastes better when…

3 Pieces of “Expert” Advice New Gun Owners Can Ignore

By North American Outdoors / May 29, 2026 / Comments Off on 3 Pieces of “Expert” Advice New Gun Owners Can Ignore

If I were to give advice to any new gun owner on purchasing a first firearm and subsequent training, it would be very simple and to the point: Don’t always trust the “experts,” and look to NRA Certified Instructors for accurate information. Some of the “experts” to avoid include internet and social media influencers; workplace watercooler wranglers;…

What’s So Special About ‘Specials’?

By North American Outdoors / May 24, 2026 / Comments Off on What’s So Special About ‘Specials’?

Semi-automatic pistols are today’s reigning king of self-defense guns. When I teach the NRA Basic and Instructor Pistol Courses, most of my students—of all ages—cringe at the thought of shooting the revolvers I incorporate into the range portion of the class. But many of my students endeavor to become NRA Certified Pistol Instructors, so I must sign off…

Gun Stocks: Which Wood—You Choose!

By North American Outdoors / May 10, 2026 / Comments Off on Gun Stocks: Which Wood—You Choose!

The stock is the first thing you notice about a rifle. Here’s why the wood chosen for a particular model firearm is anything but random. Many different types of wood are used in the manufacture of firearm stocks, the most common being American walnut, Turkish walnut, Claro walnut, Birch and Figured. But here’s why the…

Terminology Wars: Seasoned Firearms Instructors vs. Younger Students

By North American Outdoors / May 8, 2026 / Comments Off on Terminology Wars: Seasoned Firearms Instructors vs. Younger Students

With each generation, archaic phrases can seem like a whole new language. If you are from “back in the day,” here’s how to handle the passing of the torch to new—and younger—instructors. There is one thing that we “seasoned” (older) firearms instructors have over younger instructors: experience. We tend to also have a broader contextual…

Houston, We Have NRA Members!

By North American Outdoors / April 26, 2026 / Comments Off on Houston, We Have NRA Members!

More than 73,000 members gathered in the country’s fourth most-populous city to celebrate their Second Amendment freedoms. Everything’s bigger in Texas, and the fourth most-populous city hosting the 155th NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Houston April 17-19, 2026 did not disappoint. The NRA show is open to all NRA members and their immediate families…

Welcome In! NRA Women New Energy Brunch Brings More Women into the 2A Fold

By North American Outdoors / April 24, 2026 / Comments Off on Welcome In! NRA Women New Energy Brunch Brings More Women into the 2A Fold

Now in its 13th year, the NRA Women New Energy Brunch, which highlights NRA’s outreach programs for women, has become a cornerstone event of the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits. With women arguably the fastest-growing segment of new gun owners, the NRA New Energy Brunch has become a cornerstone event at the National Rifle Association’s Annual…

From Hawaii To Houston: Finding Fab Female NRA Firearm Training on the Mainland

By North American Outdoors / April 16, 2026 / Comments Off on From Hawaii To Houston: Finding Fab Female NRA Firearm Training on the Mainland

Frustrated in their search for next-level instruction on the Big Island, two women journey 3,800 miles to Texas for the gold standard in training. By Heidi Rao One of the greatest things about being an NRA Certified Firearms Instructors is that you meet the greatest people. This is because individuals who specifically look for NRA…