Yahaira Arevalo

Do you enjoy camping and hiking, well backpacking is a combination of both of these. To start we’d need to begin with collecting our gear for the trails. In this instance, we shall say we are backpacking at the Punch Bowls in Santa Paula.

1. Backpacks

We will have to start off purchasing our pack before we start buying anything since this will be where you put all the gear you need. It’s important to have a backpack that feels comfortable for you. This means all the weight from the pack should be put on your hips. You can always go to a store where you can get fitted for a pack by someone who has backpacked before. A weekend pack will be ideal for a starter pack.

2. Backpacking Tents

Now we need to look for shelter these tents aren’t the tents you typically use when camping these are going to be lighter. These tents are intended to be lighter because we will have to carry our tent in our pack. Typically the lighter the tent the more expensive they will be. You can also do a two-person tent with your friend or significant other if you are trying to split the costs. There’s a variation of tent brands from Nemo to REI, MSR and more.

3. Sleeping Pads

Sleeping Pads are needed to keeping you above ground to sleep comfortably and not constantly cold from your body trying to absorb the cold ground. There are different lengths and widths to buy from which depends on how tall you are. They have the mummy shape, I have and bought it from the resupply from REI. You also don’t want to forget to buy a pillow so you can sleep comfortably.

4. Sleeping Bags

Sleeping bags have two different types of insulations synthetic being affordable but also heavy and bulky since they won’t compress done as small as down will. Down sleeping bags are made from goose feathers, very lightweight, compressible and will be on the pricier side. There are four different shapes to choose from mummy, semi-rectangular, rectangular, and quilt. It’s all preferences to how you want to sleep because a quilt will feel like sleeping with a blanket. As for a mummy sleeping bag, you might feel restricted especially if you are a crazy sleeper. Temperature wise getting a three-season sleeping bag would be ideal.

5. Water Filters

Having a water filter is ideal, especially when you are near water streams. Having a squeeze filter is practical at least for me because I can use the bag they give for my dirty water. Then squeezing the the clean water into my Nalgene. There are different types of of filters like bottle filters, purifiers, straw-style filters and squeeze filters.

6. Chairs

A backpacking chair is ideal for being comfortable when sitting down near the campfire. You can also use a stump or a rock but you might not find one near your campsite you can use. Backpacking chairs have different varieties of materials to choose from the lighter they are the more expensive they will be. Having lighter gear will only make it easier on you but will also me you can pack more in your backpack as well.

7. Camping Cooksets

It’s essential to have a spoon or spork with you which makes it easier to eat your dry food. There are different types of materials that cook sets are made from that are lighter from each other. This is typically what you use on your backpacking stove.

8. Backpacking Stove

Backpacking stoves are what you are going to need to cook your water for your dry food, and water for your coffee or tea. There’s also different sizing which depends on how big you want them especially if you are going with more people or if you are going solo, something smaller would be ideal. You’ll also need your propane.

9. Insect Repellent

Insect repellent is more important when it’s hot out and the mosquitoes come alive looking for their next victim to attack. There are different forms of insect repellent from the spray to the wash and the lotion. The lotion seems to be the most effective for me.

10. Camp Trowel

Second to last, you will need a poop trowel just in case you need to go in the woods. Make sure to have some handy toilet paper as well as digging a proper hole.

11. Packing Your Pack

Finally, we have all that we need it’s time to pack your pack, the lightest things will go at the bottom like your pillow, and sleeping bag that should be put into a compression sack and sleeping pad. The heavier things will go in the middle which is closer to your body like a tent, backpacking stove, or cook set. The top can be filled with any things left over, like your dry food, base layers, first aid kit, headlamp, portable charger, hygiene items (toothbrush and deodorant), snacks that can be put in dry sacks with your water filter and your poop trowel should be in a Ziploc bag. On the outside side pockets, you’d want to put your poles for your tent and your Nalgene’s.

Are you planning to go backpacking or have you done so already? Let us know what your backpacking essentials are, as well as any tips and tricks for backpacking, in the comments section.

When asking students around the VC Art department what professor has had the most impact on their education, it all points towards one direction. This professor has a great way of teaching his students because he takes his time with everyone individually to help improve their art. He provides useful critique as well as demonstrates how easy it can be to draw certain things that many people find themselves struggling with, like a foot or a weird angle of something.

Introducing David Young

To those who may not recognize him, David Young is one of the art professors who has given his students useful advice when they are looking to improve their art.

David has over 40 years of drawing experience, and he has had several jobs involving art since he was 16 years old, like sketching caricatures at Six Flags for 4 years. He studied at Trinity University, receiving a Bachelor’s in Art and Math at age 21, for which he would get an illustration job after his degree. He worked at this job for two years, and he quickly realized he didn’t like the people working around him; the job itself wasn’t challenging, which ultimately made him bored. This motivated him to go back to school for his master’s, and he landed at Georgia University for free.

He studied Italian for 6 years, which allowed him to travel abroad for a summer and teach in Italy for a year. He would go backpacking across Europe, paired with his school, and would return home once his money ran out. He taught at the University of Tennessee for 10 years and moved to New York to teach there part-time. When he married, he had his first child, and he decided it was time for him to get a full-time job, which he landed by teaching at Ventura College.

Working at Ventura College as a professor has not only allowed him to spend time with his children during the holidays but has also given him the opportunity to impact the future of students who are looking to pursue art as a career. Students who have had him as a professor would say that he gives honest critiques about their work, and David will then demonstrate what improvements are needed. Honesty in art can be a great way for many students to grow, especially when told why and how they can improve their skills.

Want to learn more about the Art Department at Ventura College and its various pathways? Click the link below:

https://www.venturacollege.edu/departments/academic/art