First Aid Fundamentals During Summer

Photo Credits: Stuart Miles of http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

Summer is here, and along with the happy days of sand, sea, softball and soft ice cream you may encounter cuts, scrapes, bee stings, tick bites and heat stroke. 

Don’t let summer time bumps, bruises and bites get in the way of your good times; be prepared to treat your family quickly and efficiently. 

Everyone should have some basic knowledge of summertime first aid, and even kids in overnight summer camps are taught how to deal with warm weather emergencies. Following are some summer first aid basics.

The All-Important First Aid Kit

Always have a well-stocked first aid kit on hand, whether in the car, your beach bag or on the boat. Standard items like Band-Aids, antiseptic wipes, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream, over-the-counter pain relievers, tweezers, cold packs and calamine lotion are some important essentials.

Bee Stings

As long as you’re not allergic to bee venom, a bee sting is painful if basically harmless. Push out the stinger as soon as possible using a blunt-edged object, being careful not to squeeze any venom back into the area. Clean the stung area with soap and water and apply a cold compress. Afterward, relieve any remaining discomfort with a bit of calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream. Hives or difficulty breathing may indicate an allergic reaction and you should seek immediate medical attention.

Tick Bites

With the increasingly common incidence of Lyme disease, parents have become more vigilant about tick bites. Although only the tiny deer tick is thought to carry the disease, any tick should be immediately removed. If possible, avoid tick problems by dressing kids in long-sleeved shirts and long pants when they’re playing in the woods or tall grasses. Hot days call for insect repellent, and you should have a tick check at bath time every night, remembering to examine the scalp as well. To remove a tick, grasp lightly with tweezers near the head and pull it off gently, trying not to leave the head in the wound. Clean the area and apply an antiseptic cream.

Poison Ivy

If you think you’re youngster’s been exposed to the notorious plant Poison Ivy and that it may be the cause of miserable summer rashes, wash all exposed areas with soap and water as quickly as possible. As an extra precaution, pop your child into a cool bath with baking soda or oatmeal to prevent spread of the plant’s rash-spreading oil, and be sure to wash all exposed clothing and sheets. Calamine can ease the itching, but call the doctor if the rash starts oozing or affected areas start swelling.

Jellyfish Stings

As the water gets warmer, jellyfish seem to multiply dramatically. If you have a run in with one these seaside stingers, soak the wound in vinegar water; this will help ease out the tentacles. Once tentacles are at the skin’s surface, gently scrape them off with a flat object like a credit card and rinse the affected area with salt water. If the jellyfish stingers are on the face or in the genital area, seek professional medical care.

Heat Stroke

Hot, sweaty, active kids don’t always remember to stay hydrated. Make sure your little one drinks lots of water and watch out for heat stroke symptoms like leg cramping, rapid pulse or hot, dry skin. In extreme heat stroke, sweating stops and the body can no longer cool itself off. A person affected with heat stroke can be cooled down by being immersed them in cool water, put cool wet cloth on the back of the neck and forehead while sipping on water, or  in a cool shower or wrapped in a damp, cool blanket.

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.

The Best Way to Scope Out an Overnight Summer Camp for Your Kid

When the time comes to pick a summer camp for your child, the choice may seem overwhelming. 

Overnight summer camps have sprung up all over the United States, and the mind-boggling array of choices range from traditional summer camps to those with a specialized focus, from one-week stays to summer-long experiences. 

How big of camp do you want? Do you want fancy amenities? Horseback riding? Single sex? Co-ed? Religious? Air conditioning? How much can you afford to pay? Most importantly, where do you think your child will have the best and happiest experience? There are various ways you can winnow down the choices for your youngster’s sleepaway camp experience.

Summer Camp Visits

Many parents choose to visit several camps and get a first-hand look at what lies behind the glossy brochure and pretty website. During tours or open house weekends, you can get a look at the facilities and a general feel for what a day at camp would be like. 

If possible, it’s best to go when camp is in session to get a better idea of the overall vibe of the camp, how well supervised the kids are and how they interact with each other and the counselors. Your youngster will also get a chance to chat with kids his own age about camp. Talk to your child after each visit to get an idea of his impression and level of enthusiasm; after all, this will be where he’ll be spending a big chunk of his summer!

Ask Questions

You’ll probably have a lot of questions for the camp staff. Ask what the camper retention figures are, what percentage of counselors return each summer and what percentage of counselors were once youth campers?  What can kids do at camp that they can’t do at home? 

For many parents, the hope will be that it will be unique experiences like canoe trips, multiday games and just “roughing it” without their usual plethora of techy gadgets. Ask what makes the camp unique and what sort of reunions takes place; this will give you an idea of the variety of friendships that are forged at the camp over the years.

Get Some Phone Numbers

If you can, it’s a great idea to get a few phone numbers to talk with others  about the camp; you may be able to get this information from the camp director. Talking person-to-person gives you a lot of first-hand knowledge about the camp, and many camps will be happy to give you some references. 

If you know of any local kids who attend summer camps that interest you, give their parents a call and get a truly unbiased opinion. Depending on whether the camp is popular in your area, your child may also have friends who attend, and these families can be a great source of information.

Google

Ah, Google; we use it for everything. Go on-line and check out reviews posted of camps on your list of potentials. 

Though you can take some comments with a grain of salt, you can get a pretty reliable overall view of kids’ and parents’ feelings about a particular camp by reading reviews. YouTube videos posted from camps are another good choice. You may find clips posted by the camp administration or by campers themselves.

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.

Sleepaway Summer Camp Tour

Deciding on which of the hundreds of overnight summer camps is best for your youngster is a big decision. From camp fees to activities and camper-to-counselor ratio, there’s a lot for you and your future camper to consider, and one of the best ways to find the best fit for your child is to go on a few summer camp visits.

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.

How to Make Summer More Meaningful to Your Kids

How to Make Summer More Meaningful to Your Kids from Kay Frenzer-Zeeh

 If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.

Overnight Summer Camp Tour

Deciding on which of the hundreds of overnight summer camps is best for your youngster is a big decision. From camp fees to activities and camper-to-counselor ratio, there’s a lot for you and your future camper to consider, and one of the best ways to find the best fit for your child is to go on a few summer camp visits.

First Hand

Ideally, you’ll be able to visit when camp is in session. This will give you more than the standard tour of facilities, fields, waterfront, bunk houses and dining hall. It’s great to check out the layout of the place, but wandering through when other campers are there gives a far better feel for the overall vibe of the camp. Your youngster will get to meet kids his own age who attend and get a taste of the summer’s activities. Many camps hold camp fairs to meet with representatives and take a tour, while some hold prospective camper sleepover weekends.

Camp Ladies

If you find the whole decision a bit overwhelming, you can seek out the assistance of a camp consultant, a sort of recruiter who provides services free to parents and is paid by the camps themselves. These “camp ladies” can help you sort through the type of camp you’re interested in, distance, fees and the specific needs or interests of your child.

Life Changer

More than just the best sports facilities, canoes and overnight camping trips, choosing the right summer camp can actually be a life-changing experience for your child. Think about it this way: When you send your kid off to college, it’s for four years, while returning summers at camp can span more than twice that time. Life-long friends and cherished memories form during those magical summers; just look at the alumni sites and gatherings from summer camps! It’s like boarding school or college – only more fun!

Listen to Your Child

Go with your instincts and listen carefully to your child’s comments during or after a camp visit. After all, it’s your youngster who will be summering there, not you! Get to know the staff a little and ask what’s special about each camp.

The Legacy Connection

For parents who attended sleepaway camp as a child, the decision is often a no-brainer. If you have an attachment to your childhood camp, you may have brought your kids along with you to reunions and they may already be excited about attending.

Putting Your Mind at Ease

Many parents find that visiting camp with their kids ahead of time eases a lot of that separation anxiety (for you!) when kids are dropped off for one or two months out in the wilderness. Once you’ve met the director, the staff and some of the kids, you’ll have a much better feel for what the upcoming summer months would be like for your little camper. Ask as many questions as you want, and you’ll find most camp personnel more than helpful in addressing your concerns.

The Other Green Stuff

With some camp fees topping the price of college tuition twenty years ago, you’ll want to get the most bang – and fun – for your money, and summer camp visits can give you a first-hand look behind the glossy brochure and website photos. It’s only sensible to investigate any possible investment!

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.

Important Life Skills Summer Camp Teaches Kids

Summer sleepaway camp is mostly known for being just plain fun with friends in the great outdoors. However, along with all the swimming, canoeing, crafts and campfires, a lot of valuable life lessons are learned at camp, and kids will use these skills long after the end-of-camp song has been song.

Persistence

Campers at overnight summer camp learn that even the seemingly impossible can be achieved with persistence. Whether they’ve set a goal of swimming across the lake, making it across the suspended bridge on the high ropes course or designing and building the perfect mini Ping Pong table, kids get the right combination of help and support at camp to meet their goal - or at least come close!

Safe Risks

Kids get the chance to take risks in a safe, supportive environment. Maybe a youngster has always wanted to try acting, singing a solo or learning to wield a hammer and saw. Sure, there’s always a chance of failure, but it’s important throughout life to learn from your mistakes and keep trying.

Personal Achievement

The joy of personal achievement is a big gift of overnight summer camp. Away from parents, kids face challenges and beat them all on their own, savoring the joy of independence and personal victories. Maybe a child is a little afraid of the water and doesn’t really like swimming class or canoe trips, but they do it anyway, on their own or with help from friends and counselors. For kids who struggle with a tough mountain hike, dare to try out for the camp musical or overcome a bad bout of homesickness, that independent victory is sweet.

Living Cooperatively

Summer camp kids get used to living in a different community. For a lot of kids, camp is the first time they’ve had to share sleeping quarters, take care of their own things or even do their own laundry. So, they loads of get valuable life lessons in organization, respect for other’s property and maybe even laundry!

The Value of Teamwork

Kids at sleepaway camp learn to interact as a team rather than just individually. Everyone works together for the common good, whether pitching a tent at a camp-out, participating in a relay race or working to put on a campfire skit. With the increased emphasis on teamwork in the workplace, kids in summer camp are getting an early start on a skill that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Love of Nature

For many kids, summer camp is the start of a lifelong love of nature. Particularly for campers who hail from the city, the world of the woods and the lake are like a foreign land, full of fascinating sights and intriguing nighttime noises. This connection to the natural world can lead to a lifelong respect for nature and interest in environmental protection.

Leadership

At school, the same kids may seem to be class leaders year after year, but at camp every kids gets to try on the leadership hat and many who never knew they had the chops find they do a great job at directing the camp skit, navigating a hike in the woods or organizing the completion of a special project. Camp gives everyone a chance to try on new roles, and some kids are delightfully surprised at what they can do when given a chance.

Value of Perseverance

Many parents give kids a little slack on getting a job done, settling for less than a best effort. At camp, however, counselors will encourage youngsters to try harder, make that final attempt that leads to success and find the inner exhilaration of completing a difficult task.

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com. 

Checklist of a Happy Summer Camper

Are you planning to send your kids to summer camp? Sending kids out on a camping trip isn’t easy not just for the kids but also for parents. This is especially true if this is the first time that the kids are away from home.

If you’re looking to let your kids out to an outdoor camp for the summertime, you’re going to need a checklist. You need to know what things you need to pack as well as how to ease their apprehension or anxiety, if there’s any. But first, you need to assure them that this excursion will be fun and enjoyable. They will be meeting new friends there and do a lot of fun stuff.

To start off, simply go over their schedule of activities and events. Explain the items they are unsure about. You and your kids also might want to try out some of the featured activities. For example, if they are afraid to swim, you can build their confidence by bringing them to a swimming class that offers a crash course where they can learn the basics. There’s going to be campfire sing-a-longs too; you might want to teach them a couple of camping songs so they’ll be ready.

Most summertime campsite usually provide beddings or meals. But to be sure, it is best to ask the camp administrators in advance. For a regular week-long encampment, most children will need these following items in their backpack:

• Emergency contact information
• Sleeping bag and pillows (if they are not provided by the camp)
• Soap, shampoo, and other toiletry supplies
• Towel, swim gear, and raincoat
• Sunblock and bug protection spray
• Flashlight
• Medications and accompanying instructions
• Extra set of clothes like T-shirts, shorts, pants, undergarments, etc.
• Sweatshirt and pajamas
• Water bottle
• Sunglasses and sun hat
• Book or video game

For an added delight and surprise, slip in a handwritten note with a funny family photo, telling them to enjoy while they are out on their fun adventure. You could also pack some candies in their gear, which they can share with their new friends at the camp.

Don’t forget to send them off with a big hug with lots of excitement and hope. Your enthusiasm will rub off, making them more eager to go to summer camp.

Safety Checklist for Preschooler-Campers

For parents of preschoolers heading out for this summertime adventure, we understand your concern for their safety. If you are among these parents, to be appease your concerns, here’s a simple checklist as well just to be certain that your kids are well cared for while they’re out of the home.

Is there a playground in the camp? Do the kids have access to the pool or lake? Is there a medical personnel at the camp? Are they CPR-certified? Do they have adequate first-aid training? Is adult supervision adequate at the camp?

As they say, seeing is believing. If you have the time, make a visit to their camp site. For your peace of mind, you could ask the camp administrator to let you in and inspect the facilities. You can ask them what precautionary measure they have to ensure the children’s safety.

If you're considering sending your child to an overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site to learn about Camp Walt Whitman. Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing environment in a beautiful mountain setting. Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate areas for boys and girls. The kids have a blast, and make friendships that can last a lifetime. http://www.campwalt.com.