The Amazing Stuff

More than half of Estonia is covered by dense forests, all of which are open to backpacking, hiking, and camping. To celebrate the beauty and harmony of nature, as well as how forests factor into many aspects of Estonian culture, architecture students at the Estonian Arts Academy decided to create structures that would help hikers appreciate the rich tapestry of sounds — and the beautiful silence — that these forests have to offer.

What did they build? Giant megaphones!

The megaphones were assembled by students of the Estonian Arts Academy, and were designed by student Birgit Õigus.

They all worked as a team under the supervision of their advisors.

Made of wood, the megaphones have a sleek, geometrical design. They even caught the attention of popular Estonian author Valdur Mikita, who described them as being audio libraries of the forest. “It’s a place to listen, to browse the audible book of nature — there hasn’t really been a place like that in Estonia before.”

The megaphones were shipped to the Pähni Nature Center in Võrumaa, near the Latvian border.

They were installed in one of Estonia’s many thick, wild forests.

Hikers can stop and enjoy them whenever they want.

While sitting in one of these megaphones, one can hear the unique sounds of the forest, from the chirping of birds to the rustling of leaves. Each megaphone is positioned to capture the sounds of a different area of the forest, so no two megaphones ever amplify the same thing.

The wooden structures also double as small shelters for hikers.

They make perfect little seating areas for adventurers who need a break.

They may look a little odd in the middle of all these trees, but there’s something kind of magical about them, too.

(via BoredPanda)

The megaphones are free to any and all hikers, and their creators hope that pausing for a moment in these strangely beautiful structures will help people appreciate the forests of Estonia — and nature in general. The Nature Center is also pleased with the addition of the megaphones, and representatives say that they may even hold small seminars in them in the future.

Email the ViralNova team!

If there’s one thing synonymous with fall, it’s camping. Think about it: the perfect weather during the day to enjoy all the beautiful foliage; then at night, it cools down enough to make you want to sit in front of a campfire or snuggle up inside a sleeping bag. There’s no better time of year to acquaint yourself with nature, and there’s no better companion with whom to do this than your pooch! Your dog wants to spend time with you, and needs that quality time with nature, too.

Camping With Dogs (basically the best Instagram ever) will give you all the fall feels to motivate you to commit to a weekend in the woods with your pup!

You’ll never catch this view from the city.

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 16, 2015 at 6:01pm PDT

There’s no end to autumn lakeside fun when this many pups are involved.

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 17, 2015 at 4:38pm PDT

Safety first!

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 16, 2015 at 5:18am PDT

Just because you’re on the West Coast doesn’t mean you have to forego fall camping.

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 15, 2015 at 10:22am PDT

Some dogs just like to be closer to nature…no hammock required.

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 14, 2015 at 5:23am PDT

This pup, on the other hand…

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Aug 31, 2015 at 6:01pm PDT

“Time to wake up and enjoy all this nature!”

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 13, 2015 at 5:26am PDT

“MOM. There’s a stream up ahead! I can smell it.”

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 12, 2015 at 6:35pm PDT

Can’t forget those cute fall vests.

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 2, 2015 at 7:55pm PDT

Cozy, fellas?

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 8, 2015 at 5:24am PDT

It doesn’t really get better than this, does it?

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 6, 2015 at 5:48pm PDT

Nope, it definitely doesn’t.

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 5, 2015 at 5:44pm PDT

“You’re not hoping we’ll help…are you?”

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 3, 2015 at 5:29am PDT

Summit high five!

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Aug 8, 2015 at 8:06pm PDT

This is the most serene photo I’ve seen in a while.

A photo posted by Camping With Dogsâ„¢ (@campingwithdogs) on Aug 5, 2015 at 5:11pm PDT

This makes me want my flannel…and to go buy hundreds of dollars worth of camping equipment.

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Aug 1, 2015 at 6:07am PDT

You know what? I don’t even care about the morning breath.

A photo posted by Camping With Dogsâ„¢ (@campingwithdogs) on Jul 24, 2015 at 11:24am PDT

A quick break to take in that fresh air.

A photo posted by Camping With Dogs™ (@campingwithdogs) on Jul 22, 2015 at 5:38am PDT

The best part of fall, obviously.

A photo posted by Camping With Dogsâ„¢ (@campingwithdogs) on Sep 16, 2015 at 11:10am PDT

(source Camping With Dogs)

To be honest, I can’t wait to shake this summer and welcome the turn of the season…all that crisp air and shedding foliage. Who has a dog I can borrow for a weekend?

Camping With Dogs also has an online store with some pretty cool gear. So go ahead: pack up and get outta Dodge!

You’re often greeted with a look of horror when you tell people you’re going camping, as they imagine shivering on the cold ground while doing unmentionable things with possibly rash-inducing leaves.

Calm down, guys. Camping isn’t actually that bad if you do it right. And be honest with yourself. Don’t pretend like you’re Les Stroud and then end up miserable for the next few days. Once you’ve decided where you’re going, there are still lots of little things you can do to make your trip easy and comfortable.

1. Make a list before you go.

This seems obvious, but write down every single thing you’re going to need before you start packing. This way, you’ll be sure not to forget anything.

2. Learn to make a proper fire.

No, dumping out a bunch of charcoal brickettes and dousing them with lighter fluid doesn’t count. You’ll look like an idiot. Many campgrounds will actually sell bundles of wood complete with a starter stick and instructions on how to build a stable fire that will last you all night.

3. Cook with tinfoil.

Cooking in tinfoil is perfect for grills and fires because it keeps moisture and flavor locked in. It can also double as a serving tray.

4. Put pancake batter in a plastic squeeze jar for breakfast.

You will need a pan to cook said pancakes, but pre-made batter in a squeeze bottle makes preparing breakfast easy and neat.

5. Pack frozen bottles of water in coolers.

Plastic bottles only, please! These blocks of ice will keep your food cold and cut down on the amount of bagged ice you’ll have to buy and transport. Once the water melts, you can drink it. If you have a decent cooler (like, not a Styrofoam one), the jugs should stay frozen for a few days.

6. Make a reading light from a headlamp and a water jug.

A headlamp strapped around a jug of water will give you a pretty decent lamp. Just remember that when a light’s on in a tent, other people can see your silhouette. So turn it off before doing anything weird.

7. Keep toilet paper in a coffee container.

If you’re really roughing it and there are no outhouses or bathrooms on your campground, this is a good way to keep toilet paper clean and dry before use.

8. Make toothpaste dots if space is an issue.

Squeeze out dime-sized dots of toothpaste on a paper plate and let dry for about two days. Then sprinkle with baking soda, pop off the plate, and store in a Ziplock bag. Now you don’t have to carry the whole tube.

9. Make one-time-use soap leaves for bathing

These little wafers of soap are great for camping because you don’t have to lug around a soggy soap bar in a Ziplock baggie, which is gross. You can buy them, or you can even make your own by slicing soap into thin wafers. They’ll dissolve after one use. If you’re going to be bathing in a natural body of water, use a biodegradable soap like Ivory.

10. Make an acorn whistle.

If you get separated while hiking, you can make whistles from acorn caps to call out to your friends. Or just annoy everyone else in the campground. Whatever. Here’s how.

11. Keep first aid supplies in a mint tin.

Tweezers, Band-Aids, pins, and a spare bit of tissue all fit easily inside one of these. You can even throw in a mini lighter.

12. Use sage to keep mosquitos at bay.

Sprinkle some dried sage on your fire to keep the bugs away. Plus, it smells nice!

13. Store tape on water bottles.

Instead of bringing the whole roll, just wrap as much tape as you think you’ll need around a plastic water bottle. If you want to use it, just peel some off.

14. Bundle six-pack plastic rings together to make a pan-scrubber.

These things are great for scrubbing caked-on food out of pans. Just make sure that they get properly disposed of when you’re home.

15. Avoid breaking glasses by using silicone cups.

They’re also easy to pack, since they’re collapsable.

16. Three words: Bailey’s-dipped marshmallows.

Yeah, you’re going to want to try this.

17. Make your own sangria.

Get the recipe here, because drinking while camping is a thing.

Remember, as with any trip, planning is everything. You can enjoy camping, stay safe, and remain (relatively) clean if you take time to plan and have the right equipment.

While enjoying a nice hike, this Seattle resident noticed something a little strange in the woods: a baby owl out in the middle of the day.

At first he thought it was simply a great opportunity to observe the nocturnal bird in its natural habitat, but then he realized the anomaly could signify something was wrong.

(source Reddit)

While at the shelter, they explained how they’d received a call about the owl the day before, but that the person on the other end wasn’t willing to get up close to the wild animal. The tough bird held strong for over 24 hours before this kind stranger found him.

He called the shelter the next day for an update and received good news: after being treated for dehydration and the wound to his wing, likely caused by falling from a branch, he is expected to be back flying high in no time.

It just goes to show that the kindness of a Good Samaritan can go a long way in helping a furry friend out.

There’s nothing quite like hiking to make you appreciate nature in all its glory. All that fresh air and sunshine can make even the most diehard office worker feel human again. However, being in nature carries its own set of risks. Most of them can be mitigated if you take proper precautions and don’t needlessly put yourself in harm’s way.

For example, if you come across a pit full of angry, deadly rattlesnakes, what you shouldn’t do is stick your camera inside the pit to make a memorable video for people online. But this guy went ahead and did it anyway.

Live Leak

(via: Reddit)

I really, really hope this guy was using a selfie stick or something to get that close to those snakes. None of them look very happy with his intrusion. It seems like a miracle that he didn’t get bitten.