The Trothwood Forest

The Trothwood Forest Coffee, camping, relaxation and connection to nature for health. Mental health is a form of wealth.

Camping with Kids: Building Nature Connections for the Next GenerationSome of the best memories are made around a campfi...
08/27/2026

Camping with Kids: Building Nature Connections for the Next Generation

Some of the best memories are made around a campfire. At Trothwood Forest, we see families unplug: kids exploring the woods, watching for frogs by the pond, and falling asleep to katydids.

Camping with little ones can feel intimidating. Here is what we have seen work on our 43 acres:

1. LOWER YOUR EXPECTATIONS
The goal is connection. Let the kids set the pace. If they want to watch an ant trail for an hour, that is a win.

2. PACK A COMFORT KIT
Bring a favorite blanket or book. A touch of home helps settle into the woods.

3. SNACKS
Pack easy-to-grab food. Involve them in roasting fruit over the fire.

4. GIVE THEM A JOB
Let them gather kindling or help set up the tent. Ownership creates pride.

5. SAFETY, NOT FEAR
Teach campfire boundaries and trail awareness. Identify poison ivy and respect wildlife.

6. EMBRACE BOREDOM
Without screens, creativity fills the gap. Sticks become swords. Puddles become oceans.

Our sites are spread far apart so kids can be kids. Bring the family. Let the woods do the rest.

Give Your Eyes a Forest ResetDo you spend hours staring at screens? Work emails, social media, streaming: your eyes are ...
08/26/2026

Give Your Eyes a Forest Reset

Do you spend hours staring at screens? Work emails, social media, streaming: your eyes are working overtime. Digital eye strain (computer vision syndrome) affects most of us, causing dry eyes, headaches, blurry vision, and that tired, heavy feeling behind your eyes.

The 20-20-20 Rule is a simple fix: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. But here's the thing: even better than looking across a room is looking across a forest.

At Trothwood Forest, your eyes get to do what they evolved to do: gaze at distant horizons, track birds in flight, follow the dappled light through the canopy, and focus on the intricate texture of tree bark. This kind of "soft fascination" allows your eye muscles to relax and reset in a way that staring at a wall simply can't replicate.

Time in nature naturally encourages distance gazing. You're not fighting the instinct to look at a screen: you're surrendering to the wide-open views of the woodland. After a day or two at Trothwood, many campers notice their eyes feel less strained, their headaches fade, and they sleep better.

The forest is a natural vision therapy clinic. No prescription needed.

Ready to give your eyes: and your mind( a real break?) Come unplug at Trothwood Forest.

Master the Spark: Flint & Steel Fire-Starting.There is a special kind of magic in striking steel against stone and watch...
08/25/2026

Master the Spark: Flint & Steel Fire-Starting.

There is a special kind of magic in striking steel against stone and watching a shower of sparks land onto prepared tinder. It is older than matches and connects you to thousands of years of human ingenuity.

To build a fire the old way at Trothwood Forest, you need high-carbon steel, a sharp-edged rock, char cloth, and a tinder bundle. Hold your stone in one hand with the edge facing you. Place your char cloth against the edge. Strike the stone sharply downward with your steel striker. Catch the resulting spark on your char cloth and transfer the glowing ember into your tinder bundle. Blow steadily until it bursts into flame.

Prep your fire lay before you strike a single spark. A prepared campfire is a successful campfire.

There is something deeply satisfying about knowing you can make fire with nothing but a rock, a piece of steel, and a little patience. It is a skill that builds confidence and calms the mind.

Our sites are private and quiet. Perfect for practicing the old skills.

The Night Chorus: Identifying Nocturnal Calls in the Ohio WoodsWhen the sun sets at Trothwood Forest, the night shift ta...
08/20/2026

The Night Chorus: Identifying Nocturnal Calls in the Ohio Woods

When the sun sets at Trothwood Forest, the night shift takes over. Learning to identify who is calling adds a new layer to your experience.

Nighttime voices you might hear:

Barred Owl : "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?"
This eight-note hoot is unmistakable. Barred owls are common in Hocking Hills and often call back and forth.

Great Horned Owl : Deep, resonant hoots
A rhythmic call like "Hoo-h'HOO-hoo-hoo." These are the big predators of the night woods.

Eastern Coyote : Packs howling at dusk
A mix of yips, barks, and long, rising howls. If you hear a chorus, you are listening to a family reunion.

Frogs by the watering hole often join the chorus.

Listening Tips:
• Sit still near your fire with eyes closed.
• Cup your hands behind your ears to amplify sound.
• Note the direction : owls stay put, coyotes move.
• Try a gentle call-back.

The night woods are full of conversation. You just have to know how to listen.

What is the most memorable sound you have heard while camping after dark?

Peach cobbler straight from the coals. A simple way to end a day at Trothwood Forest.This campfire dessert is easy to ma...
08/19/2026

Peach cobbler straight from the coals. A simple way to end a day at Trothwood Forest.

This campfire dessert is easy to make.

What you'll need:
- 1 Dutch oven (10-12 inch)
- 2 cans of sliced peaches (in juice, not syrup)
- 1 box of yellow cake mix
- 1 stick of butter (sliced thin)
- Cinnamon and nutmeg
- Hot campfire coals

The method:
1. Line your Dutch oven with foil for easy cleanup.
2. Pour in the peaches with about half their juice.
3. Sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the peaches.
4. Layer the butter slices on top.
5. Dust with cinnamon and nutmeg.
6. Cover and place on a bed of coals. Add 10-12 coals on top.
7. Bake for 35-45 minutes, rotating the lid occasionally.
8. Let it rest for 10 minutes before eating.

The top gets golden and crispy while the bottom stays gooey and warm.

At Trothwood Forest, dessert around the fire is part of the experience. Our private campsites give you room to cook and rest.

Who is ready for cobbler?

Look Up! A Camper's Guide to Reading the Clouds. At Trothwood Forest, the sky is part of the experience. Learning to rea...
08/18/2026

Look Up! A Camper's Guide to Reading the Clouds.

At Trothwood Forest, the sky is part of the experience. Learning to read the clouds can help you predict the weather and deepen your connection to the natural world.

Cloud-spotting guide for your next campout:

Cirrus (High and Wispy)
Thin, feathery, ice-crystal clouds. Often signal fair weather, but if they thicken, rain may be 24–48 hours away. These are the highest clouds, floating at 20,000+ feet.

Cumulus (Fluffy and White)
Classic cotton-ball clouds with flat bottoms. Fair-weather clouds. They form on sunny days and usually dissipate by evening. If they start growing tall, storms may follow.

Stratus (Low and Gray)
A blanket-like layer that covers the whole sky. Light drizzle or mist is common. When the sun is behind stratus clouds, it appears as a soft, silvery disc.

Nimbostratus (Dark and Rainy)
Thick, dark gray with continuous rain or snow. This is your stay-in-the-tent-with-a-good-book cloud.

Trothwood Tip: In the morning, look to the east. Red sky at morning, sailor's warning : red sky at night, sailor's delight. If the western sky is red at sunset and the air is clear, high pressure is likely moving in. Expect good weather tomorrow.

Next time you're sitting by the campfire at Trothwood Forest, take a moment to look up. The sky is telling a story.

Book your private campsite and experience the full canopy of the Hocking Hills sky.

We recently went to Florida to do a commercial property inspection as Heartland Commercial Property Inspections. We stop...
08/18/2026

We recently went to Florida to do a commercial property inspection as Heartland Commercial Property Inspections. We stopped in Chimney Rock NC there and back. I highly recommend taking time to explore things around you.

Summer pond life at Trothwood. The small ponds and animal watering holes are active. Dragonflies. Aerial acrobats and mo...
08/13/2026

Summer pond life at Trothwood.

The small ponds and animal watering holes are active.

Dragonflies. Aerial acrobats and mosquito eaters. Robust bodies and wings held horizontally at rest.

Damselflies. Delicate and slender. Wings held together above the body at rest.

Green Frogs and Bullfrogs. Listen for the gulp and the banjo-like twang.

Painted Turtles. Basking on logs at the water's edge.

Water Striders and Whirligig Beetles. Walking and spinning on the surface.

The ponds are a quiet reminder that even small bodies of water teem with life. Bring a camp chair. Sit by the edge. The natural world reveals itself.

The Magic of Boredom: A Secret Superpower of the WoodsRemember when being bored felt like a problem? At Trothwood Forest...
08/12/2026

The Magic of Boredom: A Secret Superpower of the Woods

Remember when being bored felt like a problem? At Trothwood Forest, we think boredom might be one of the best things you can give yourself : and your family.

Here is the science behind it:

When you are constantly stimulated : phones, notifications, to-do lists : your brain's default mode network never gets a chance to activate. This network is responsible for creativity, self-reflection, and problem-solving. But it only kicks in when you are… doing nothing.

In the woods, without screens or schedules:
- Kids invent their own games : a stick becomes a sword, a mud puddle becomes an ocean
- Adults find space to daydream, reflect, and reconnect with themselves
- The mind wanders to new ideas and old memories
- Stress hormones drop as the brain shifts into a restful state

We call it unstructured wonder. And it is one of the greatest gifts of a camping trip.

At Trothwood Forest, our sites are intentionally spread out : giving you and your family the privacy and quiet to simply be. No crowded campground chaos. No planned activities. Just the forest, the fire, and the freedom to let your mind wander.

No Wi-Fi required. Boredom is exactly what we are recommending.

So next time you hear "I am bored" from the kids (or from yourself), smile. That is the magic beginning to work.

Ready to rediscover the art of doing nothing? Book your stay at Trothwood Forest.

Bannock. The original campfire bread.Simple and rustic. Baked over coals for centuries. No rising.1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp s...
08/11/2026

Bannock. The original campfire bread.
Simple and rustic. Baked over coals for centuries. No rising.

1 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1 tbsp butter, and 1/4 cup water.
Mix into a stiff dough.

Wrap it on a peeled green stick and hold it over the coals until golden. Or use a greased skillet. For the traditional way, drop a patty directly into the hot ash for 10 minutes and brush it off.

Add wild berries from the property or honey while warm.
A quiet morning at Trothwood.

Have you ever made it?



https://cdn.marblism.com/C-IGWEEJCax.webp

Address

34037 SR 93
McArthur, OH
45651

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Trothwood Forest posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category