September 30th, 2009
You might agree that the whole point of family camping is to make memories — to have fun spending time together as a family. In this final installment, we’ll explore ways to make the memories count, and to preserve the very best memories from each camping trip.
Part 5: Making Memories Last
For smaller children:
- Take lots of photos
- Shoot video and “interview” the kids about what they like about camping
- Encourage each child to collect leaves, twigs, etc. for a collage
- Consider investing in a toddler camera (learn more about Kids Digital Cameras here)
For school-age children:
- Give each child a journal for the trip
- Encourage each child to write about their experiences
- Give each child a disposable camera to use as they wish during the trip
- Offer journal questions to help them get started (e.g., what was your favorite part of today? what about camping has been totally different than you expected? What would you like to do next time we come camping? Who in our family do you think would love to come with us next time and why?)
- Invite them to draw pictures of their camping experience
For teens and adolescents:
- Encourage them to keep a private journal of their thoughts, feelings and experiences
- Create an outdoor photo adventure journal
- Let the kids use the camera and video camera to capture special moments
Once you return home from your camping trip, why not create a picture DVD to share the highlights? A photo/video montage would look great on a LCD projector rental from Projector123.com.
Have you found this series to be helpful? If so, please share with a friend and post your comments below.
September 28th, 2009
Hopefully this checklist will assist you with one of the most daunting parts of the family camping trip: packing. You might even want to modify the list to make it your own, and then laminate a copy and store it with your tent or other camping gear — that way, you always have the list handy and you’ll know what to pack.
Part 4: What to Pack
1. Clothing
Kids will be kids, and you can count on your kids getting extra dirty during a camping trip, so extra clothing, socks and shoes are essential items to pack. Be sure to also pack swimsuits if swimming is an option, and towels if showers are provided. Warm pajamas and layers are a good idea, as it can get chilly at night, depending where you are camping. Rain gear is also a good idea in case of inclement weather.
2. Sunscreen
3. Insect repellent
4. First aid kit (especially with antibiotic ointment, calamine lotion, bandaids and simple meds like children’s Tylenol)
5. Games, activities or toys (just a few should cover it, and while they’ll likely prefer playing with rocks, sticks, bugs and dirt, you’ll be glad you brought the toys if it rains and everyone is confined to the tent)
6. Loveys and other bedtime items (stuffed animals, blankets, pillows, etc.)
7. Favorite snacks
8. Food
9. Cooking utensils
10. Camping stove OR lighter fluid, charcoal, firewood, etc.
11. Water and water bottles.
12. Sleeping bags, blankets, tents, stakes, rain fly, dining fly
13. Camera and film or memory sticks, batteries
14. flashlights, batteries
15. glow sticks (for fun and safety at night, and can also double as a nightlight after the kids turn in for the night)
16. deck of cards
17. graham crackers, chocolate and marshmallows for s’mores
You are likely to think of other things you wish you’d packed once you arrive at the campsite — it helps to make a list while camping of “things to bring next time” and you can add it to this list to ensure you travel with everything you need.
Join us in the final installment of this series, where we’ll share some tips for making memories last.
September 25th, 2009
One of the greatest benefits of camping with children is the chance to pass along a love of nature and a great respect for our earth. Camping is a marvelous series of teaching opportunities disguised as fabulous fun, so consider conversations like these during your camping trip.
Part 3: Respecting Nature
1. A Word About Safety.
While it’s true that kids can get into mischief most anywhere, camping seems to provide ample opportunities for just that. From a roaring campfire to a swiftly moving stream, to unusual species of bugs and insects, to woodland animals, to other campers and their dogs, children require quite a bit of guidance and instruction in order to enjoy a safe and fun camping experience. It’s best to begin these conversations long before arriving at the campsite, and continue throughout the trip.
Don’t be discouraged if you feel like the safety police during the first family campout — remember, this is an entirely new experience for your children, and it’s your first experience parenting them through it. Just do your best to be watchful yet patient, and remember that each subsequent campout will require far less policing from you.
2. Respecting Nature.
 Children who have the opportunity to participate in camping and outdoor activities tend to have a greater respect for the earth and its creatures. Camping provides a great opportunity for parents to talk about preservation, conservation, the symbiotic relationships found in nature, and more. Who knows? You all just might want to hug a tree while you’re enjoying the fresh, clean air.
3. Building Outdoor Skills.
Most kids love to do the activities that are required at the campsite. Hunting for wood, collecting kindling, helping pitch the tent, prepping food for the campfire, stoking and feeding the fire, filling water jugs — all these are interesting and unusual activities kids tend to love. Plus, there’s something about being outdoors that makes it feel less like a chore and more like fun. Evening walks are extra-fun with the addition of flashlights, and fishing is a special treat.
In the next installment, we’ll talk about what to pack for your family camping trip.
September 23rd, 2009
Whether you’ve taken the kids camping just once or you’re a seasoned camping family, here are some helpful hints for making your next camping trip the best yet.
Part 2: Planning the Trip (for experienced campers):
1. Get the kids involved.
Find out what the kids love about camping — and which parts they could do without. Get their input about where to go, what activities to plan, what food to bring or cook, and when to go. Ultimately, as parents you have the final say, but by listening to your kids and actively involving them, you might learn some interesting things about them — and if they know their feedback is being considered, they’re likely to have a much better time on the trip, with less complaining (which is good news for everyone involved).
2. Try someplace new.
Do your research — talk to other families, search online, or contact your local parks & recreation department. Find out which campgrounds would be suitable for your family’s interests and experience level and plan to try a new place. It’s easy to fall in love with one or two campgrounds and keep returning there, but you never know what else you might be missing.
3. Plan for a new activity.
 While the kids (and adults) are likely to have their favorite parts about camping, now might be the perfect time to introduce something new. Whether you consider adding fishing, night goggles, horseback riding, or kayaking to your family’s camping repertoire, be sure to plan ahead, choose a reputable supplier, company or guide, and talk to your children about what to expect. If the activity doesn’t go over well, you can always skip it next time, but at least everyone got the experience of being an explorer and trying something new.
4. Consider inviting friends.
If you’re feeling brave, why not let each child bring a friend? While this certainly requires extra planning, extra packing, and extra responsibility for the parents, it virtually ensures that every child has a wonderful time. If you’ve got several children (for example, 3 or more) and the thought of all these “extra” kids seems overwhelming, consider letting one child bring a friend, and rotate which child gets this privilege for each camping trip, so everyone gets a turn and the adult supervision doesn’t become unmanageable. And who knows? Your child’s friend just might return the favor at some point, giving you a whole weekend to yourself.
Stay tuned for part 3 where we will explore the many teaching opportunities camping provides to show kids what it means to respect nature.
September 21st, 2009
Considering taking your family camping this fall? What better way to enjoy the beautiful weather and explore the outdoors than from a tent in the woods. This 5-part series offers tips and tricks for creating a fun, memorable family camping adventure the whole family is sure to love.
Part 1: Planning the Trip (for first-timers)
1. Get the kids involved. Talk about the things you will see and do while camping — to small children, “camping” can seem like a foreign word or concept until they have some way to experience it first-hand. Consider pitching a tent in the backyard and letting the kids play in it, to get used to the idea. You might even want to plan a backyard camping night to let them experience what it feels like to sleep in a tent (without a night light) and to hear the crickets and outdoor sounds. Make sure everyone has a flashlight and try to make this experience as fun as possible to build anticipation about the “real deal.” You might want to start a conversation about campfire safety and begin to build outdoor awareness before the official trip begins. The more prepared children are, the better they tend to fare.
2. Don’t over-schedule. If you have very small children, choose a campground relatively close to home. That way, if the kids have a meltdown (or if it pours or gets too cold), you won’t have far to travel to get them into their own beds. Try not to plan too many activities for this first camping trip. The kids are likely to be entertained for hours by other children at the campgrounds, bugs, sticks, rocks, woods, streams, the campfire, the tent, flashlights, etc. You may even want to bring easy heat-and-serve meals and save the real campfire cooking for next time (which also means less equipment to pack this time). By all means, please do remember the s’mores!
3. Expect the unexpected. Plan for contingencies such as rain, bugs, cuts, scrapes, bites, etc. The more prepared you are, the better off you’ll be — even if you never need any of those extra items. And who knows? Your kids just might fall in love with camping, which would be the best surprise of all.
In part 2, we’ll look at trip planning tips for experienced campers. Stay tuned!
September 18th, 2009
Have you captured funny moments like these in real life? If so, maybe it’s time to create a family slide show DVD. Share your memories at the next family gathering, reunion or milestone celebration with a family photo/video montage and a DVD projector rental from Projector123.com. Weekend rental rates start at just $99 — get started today and rent a projector.
September 16th, 2009
In our prior installment, we looked at traditional scrapbooking as a way to preserve family memories. If that is clearly not a match for you, then it’s time to explore the many possibilities for digital memory preservation! Consider these options, to name a few:
- Family website – easy applications like JAlbum allow even technically challenged parents to upload their best digital photos into a family website with ease and grace.
- Digital photo frames – these gadgets have dropped significantly in price, and scroll through a series of digital pics on disk.
- CD-ROM – In many households, books of CDs have replaced photo books, preserving backup copies of the family’s most cherished photos.
- DVD - You can easily create a photo montage of favorite family pics (or pay someone to handle this for you) and set it to music.
-  Published Memory Books – A number of companies allow you to upload your digital photos online, choose simple page layouts and backgrounds, add text, and then for a modest fee, the printing company will create a bound hardcover book of your memories.
One of the coolest features of digital storage is the versatility. Having all your pictures saved digitally allows you to create slide shows, photo montages, and more — just perfect for showcasing at milestone celebrations, weddings, showers, bar mitzvahs, etc. Add a projector rental from Projector123.com to display the images set to music, and you’ve got yourself a world-class family photo presentation.
Regardless of whether you choose traditional scrapbooking or digital memory preservation, the most important thing is to get started RIGHT NOW. The longer you wait, the more pictures you will accumulate and the more daunting the task will seem.
September 14th, 2009
Whether you’re just starting out, growing your family, or settling into a comfortable family size, you likely share a nagging concern of many other families: the preservation of memories.
In this digital age, it can be tough to keep up with traditional methods of preserving memories, and new ways are frequently being introduced into our vast realm of options.
The bottom line question is this:
When it comes to preserving your family’s memories and legacy, will you go traditional or digital?
Traditional memory preservation has made a comeback in recent years with a renewed interest in scrapbooking. Ornate pages with various adornment commemorate milestones, magical moments and everyday life.
But many parents feel they simply don’t have the time to create “proper” scrapbooks. You may yourself have experienced the excitement of purchasing supplies and sitting down to create a beautiful keepsake scrapbook, only to find the project shelved soon after, put away for “when you get around to it.”
There’s no question — scrapbooking is time-intensive and many moms just can’t seem to prioritize scrapbooking as a necessity.
There are certainly ways to work scrapbooking time into your daily routine.
For example, you could set up a scrapbooking circle with some friends and agree to meet once a month. Even if you only get 1 or 2 pages done, you’ll still make consistent forward progress.
And there are additional benefits to traditional scrapbooking.
For starters, it gives you an opportunity to explore your creative side, which can reduce stress, increase overall productivity, and well, it’s just plain fun!
Creating unique scrapbooks give your family something they can’t get anywhere else — a custom-crafted visual and tangible representation of YOU, the scrapbook creator. They will cherish this book that gives them insight into your special perspective of the family.
But if even setting aside a little time each month for scrapbooking seems too daunting a task (or you’re convinced there’s not a creative bone in your body), then digital storage may be a more suitable option for you.
We’ll explore digital preservation of memories in the next installment– stay tuned!
September 11th, 2009
It may seem hard to believe that it’s been 8 years since the unforgettable terrorist attacks on 9/11. Though these horrific experiences will remain impressed on our hearts and minds, we cannot help but see the outpouring of love and support that arose amidst this chaos.
Here are some remarkable 9/11 memorial websites — feel free to share these with your friends, your family, your children.
We shall never forget those who lost their lives on that tragic day.
September 11 Memorial Poems & Pictures
http://www.9-11heroes.us/911-memorial-poems-c.php
Collection of Poems Responding to 9/11
http://poetry.about.com/od/ourpoemcollections/a/poemsafterattac.htm
Remember 911
http://www.911-remember.com/
National September 11 Memorial & Museum
http://www.national911memorial.org/site/PageServer?pagename=New_Home
The Pentagon Memorial
http://www.whs.mil/memorial/
September 11: A Memorial
http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/memorial/
September 9th, 2009
Fall vacations can sometimes be a bit stressful because typically, everyone in the family will need to return to their routine the moment vacation ends. Here are some helpful hints for transitioning smoothly into — and out of — your fall vacation.
1. Plan ahead.
 You’d be amazed what a difference it makes to come home from vacation and find a clean house and no laundry waiting except what lies in your suitcases. A little preplanning may involve scheduling bills to be paid while you’re gone (or once you’re back), checking email once or twice while you’re away, and making a list (hopefully short) of what needs to be done as soon as you return — no sense leaving details to memory!
2. Start Saving Early.
For many families, one of the greatest stressors of vacations involves the expense. By saving early, you can avoid running up credit card debt and ensure that you have plenty of funds for souvenirs, extras, and unplanned expenses. Some banks offer special vacation savings accounts that allow you to use direct deposit from your paycheck, and won’t let you touch the money until it’s time (at least, not without penalties). Consider this: If you’re planning a $3000 vacation, you only need to save $500 for 6 months to have enough savings for your trip. That’s far less stressful than coming home from vacation with $3000 in new credit card debt!
3. Prepare the Kids.
Talk to your kids’ teachers and find out what they will be missing while you’re traveling. Many teachers are required to create lesson plans weeks in advance, so there’s no need to wait until the last minute to arrange a conference. Ask each teacher if there are any materials the child could review before or during the trip to stay on track with the rest of the class. Find out if any tests will be missed, and ask about exam makeup policies. Sure, it may sound like a drag to do homework on vacation, but why not get it done during the long drive or plane ride there? It will get out of the way and your child will have an easy time readjusting once school is back in session.
If you found this article helpful (as well as Part 1 and Part 2), please share it with a friend or post your comments here.
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