Our 2014-2015 photo contest is up and running! Enter your best pictures taken at the Canadian mountain parks for the opportunity to win some amazing prizes. Make sure to bring your camera along when you visit the mountain parks this summer. We’re offering some amazing prizes again this year.

Judges category, 1st place winner
“A Colorful Morning” – by Victor Liu

You also have the opportunity to view the submissions and vote for your favorite. The photographer of the picture that receives the most votes will win a Dream Getaway to Revelstoke, courtesy of Revelstoke Mountain Resort. The getaway includes a two night, two bedroom stay in a luxury bedroom suite for 4 at the Sutton Place Hotel, Adventure Tower Combo, 2 Full Day Paddle Board Rentals, and much more.

Judges category, 2nd place winner
Climbing Until Sunset – by Trevor Ward

We’ll also award several prizes for the judges category. The first place winner receives an HD Camera Outfit (courtesy The Camera Store) and a guided Glacier Icewalk (courtesy Athabasca Glacier Icewalks).

The second place winner in the judges award category will receive 4 Ultimate Rockies Explorer Passes (courtesy of Brewster Travel Canada).

Click here to enter and view contest rules. Enter now and enter often!

We’d like to express our sincere apologies for a technical glitch with our monthly Trivia Quiz at our sister site, Experience the Cowboy Trail.

The entries were unfortunately being sent to a nonexistent email address. To compensate for our mistake, we are not only extending the June trivia quiz deadline to the end of July, but we are also offering an extra prize. The June/July winner will receive a copy of Smoke from the Branding Fire AND a $200 gift certificate to be used towards a spectacular Helicopter Tour of the Canadian Rockies offered by Kananaskis  Heli Tours. Click here to submit your entry for a chance to win both prizes!

P.S. The monthly Experience the Mountain Parks trivia quiz will begin again in August!

Can you identify this brand?

The Camera Store provides more than top-notch equipment and classes – it also produces educational and entertaining videos. The Camera Store has been a sponsor for our annual photo contest for nine years, and we’re pleased to share The Camera Store TV with you. Its YouTube channel features everything from in-depth tutorials to funny videos.

One of TCS TV clips, titled Battle At F-Stop Ridge has already had more than 2.6 million views.

And Fuji HS20 Vs. DSLR Shootout is not only fun, but is highly educational and was shot mainly in Fish Creek!

Host of The Camera Store TV, and photo instructor at both SAIT and The Camera Store, Chris Niccolls (shown below) is also the longest running full time salesman at the store. Visit The Camera Store TV Youtube channel to view all their videos! And of course, visit The Camera Store in person or online to find quality products and helpful photography classes.

June marks the beginning of a NEW monthly trivia quiz on our sister site, Experience the Cowboy Trail. Everything about the Cowboy Trail publication has a western flair, and the trivia quiz is no exception. Each month it will feature a different brand to identify.  Can you identify the brand below? Click here to enter your answer.

A campfire is all you need to complete a perfect night outdoors – and it’s easy to make one with Campfire In a Can. You can be one of the first to own a Campfire In a Can when you participate in the kickstarter funding project.

Campfire In a Can enables you to build, efficiently fuel, and easily extinguish a campfire anywhere you go. With Campfire In a Can, you won’t hesitate to build a campfire anymore because of the hassle involved. Campfire In a Can also gives you the options of using wood, charcoal, or fire wood for fuel. You can do anything from singing around the campfire to grilling hotdogs with this portable campfire. And you can use it anywhere from your backyard to the middle of the wilderness.

The fuel burns in an upright position. Campfire In a Can produces an efficient burn because close together. The holes in the sides of the burner allow heat to radiate and also suck fresh air in, which enhances combustion. The raised stand is compliant with the “raised fire pits only” rule that some parks and camps have, and it also elevates heat.

The deluxe model includes a burner, a stand, four burner inserts for different types of fuel, a cooking grill, campfire tongs, two telescopic hotdog forks, and four shish kabob skewers. See the photo below for all the components.

This amazing product will only be produced for the public with sufficient funding. There are 43 days left to participate in the kickstarter campaign. You can choose to pledge enough money for a basic model or one with all the bells and whistles. Learn more and contribute here.

Anyone can camp this summer thanks to Banff National Park’s Equipped Campsite offer. If you haven’t yet invested in camping equipment, this is the perfect time to enjoy camping with family and friends. From July 10 to August 18, 2014, Parks Canada has designated 10 sites in Two Jack Main Campground for the Equipped Campsite offer. Each site is equipped with a tent, sleeping pad, a cook stove, and a lantern. A recommended gear list is provided, but you won’t have to worry about some of the bigger items. And if you don’t have the necessary camping items like sleeping bags and cookware, you can find them at a local retailer Parks Canada has partnered with.

Photo by-P. Zizka

It’s only $55 per night for each tent, which will be fully set up when campers arrive. Parks Canada is also offering a Camping 101 program to complete the experience.

Email email banff.camping@pc.gc.ca to book your campsite. Don’t delay – this is a hassle-free opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Banff National Park. Don’t miss out!

We’re pleased to announce that the new Experience the Cowboy Trail website is now live! This website is a companion to our guide “Experience the Cowboy Trail and Kananaskis Country.” The Cowboy Trail is a beautiful, rugged region that runs along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. The trail is over 600 miles long, and is full of beautiful scenery, outdoor activities, talented artisans, and rich history. The Cowboy Trail website serves as a guide to the area and the many attractions available. It features maps, articles related to history and areas of interest, and blog posts about upcoming events.

Like this website, the Cowboy Trail website will feature an annual photo contest and a monthly trivia quiz. Both Cowboy Trail contests will have a western flair. For the photo contest, submit a picture of an authentic western experience along the Cowboy Trail. Contestants in our monthly trivia quiz will identify which ranch a “brand of the month” is from.

There’s lots to do and explore along the Cowboy Trail. Saddle up and join us!

Whether you’re a beginning photographer or a full-fledged shutterbug, you know that the Canon brand is highly respected. Tomorrow (Saturday, May 31) you can visit the Camera Store in Calgary to experience hands-on demos of the latest Canon equipment and technology. A Canon Canada representative will be available to answer your questions and give you tips to utilize your camera equipment more effectively.

Best of all, the Canon Demo Day is free! It’s also combined with Canon’s Best in Glass Sales Event, which is only for a limited time at The Camera Store. Save on your purchase of Canon DSLRs, lenses, Powershot cameras, printers, video cameras, accessories and more! 

When: Saturday May 31st, 2014 10AM-4PM
Where: 802 11th Ave SW Calgary, AB 

Email: evelyn@thecamerastore.com or call (403)234-9935 ext. 119 to RSVP for this event!

The Calgary Area Outdoor Council has provided information on several interesting activities that are coming soon. The Council works to enhance access to the outdoors by serving as an information source and voice for the outdoor recreation community. Here are just a few of the upcoming activities they’re promoting.

Bragg Creek Trails is holding a “Tunes for Trails” concert silent auction this Saturday (May 24) at the Bragg Creek Centre. Skuzzy and the Woodticks will provide music. A few of the auction items are Nipkia Mountain Resort package for 2, Gord’s Running Room shoes certificate and $50 gift certificate, and jewelry from StoneWillows. The event will serve as a fundraiser for the association, which is a volunteer group of Bragg Creek residents that design, build and maintain trails and pathways for residents and visitors of Bragg Creek to enjoy. Tickets are $25 in advance or at the door. Doors open at 7 pm. Click here to learn more.

The Calgary May Species Count of birds is also this weekend. Registration is closed, but you’re welcome to participate in the Christmas count whether you’re an experienced birder or just a beginner. Learn more and view previous reports here.

June events include an EcoLiving Tour, Yoga in Fish Creek, a guided bus tour to Dinosaur Provincial Park. Click here for details.

The Bomber Command Museum of Canada has an exciting weekend – and summer – planned. The Museum’s purpose is to honour those who served with Bomber Command during World War II. It specifically commemorates the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.

The Museum will be holding a special program this Saturday (May 24) to commemorate the Victoria Cross flight of the only Albertan awarded the VC during World War II. The program begins at 11:30 and concludes at 2:30. Step back in time through hearing about Ian Bazalgette’s forgotten letters, watch flypasts of vintage aircraft, hear from Charles Bazalgette (ian Bazalgette’s nephew), and participate in photo ops during Lancaster Cockpit Tour.

View the informational flier here: Bomber Command Museum – Ian Bazalgette VC 70th Anniversary

There’s plenty more to learn about and experience. The other events the museum will feature are:

June 7: Nanton Celebrates History, D-Day 70th Commemoration

July 5: Bikes and Bombers

July 26: Joe English Memorial Fly-In (NO ENGINE RUN)

August 4: Nanton Parade Day

August 22: Night Run

August 23: The Great Escape – A Canadian Story 70th Anniversary Commemoration

September 19: Night Run

September 20: Sinking of the Tirpitz – 70th Anniversary Commemoration

Visit www.bombercommandmuseum.ca