Hey, Campers!

When looking for the right sleeping bag, people typically make the mistake of asking, “What’s your warmest sleeping bag?” But this isn’t necessarily the best question because it won’t necessarily get you the best sleeping bag—just the warmest. 

So, if the warmest sleeping bag isn’t the best one, then what is? Good question, but one whose answer is far from universal. The answer to this question relies on a number of different variables concerning location and average temperature during specific months. What will be the best sleeping bag for you?

Once you’ve determined what the temperature will likely be in the area of your camp during the time that you’ll be there, you’ll want to keep it in mind while you’re shopping. And remember: temperature ratings can sometimes be exaggerated; if you expect there to be 40° nights at camp, maybe go with a sleeping bag that has a 30° temperature rating.

In preparation for the upcoming summer camp season, Everything Summer Camp has brought on new sleeping bags from Wenzel and Kelty.

The Wenzel Temperature Control Sleeping Bag is made with layers so you can opt to bundle up or go lighter with the covers! Fluctuating from 30-60° temperature ratings, this sleeping bag is customizable. You’re in control of your sleeping bag’s layers. With a removable middle layer, you can either use it in your bag for a full administration of warmth, or you can use it as a blanket on its own.

Or go with the Kelty Tuck 22° Sleeping Bag. One warm mummy bag, this thing is filled with a performance insulation that Kelty calls ThermaPro. Designed to easily compress—despite its excellent retention of warmth—this bag makes itself easy to pack up.

Make sure to get the right sleeping bag for you and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John

Hey, Camp Preppers!

So you’ve got your camp picked out, you’re shopping for camping gear, you’re scheduling a physical; you’re on top of it when it comes to prepping for your child’s summer camp stay this season. But there’s one part of camp prepping that you won’t find on any packing list or complete with a visit to the doctor.

A major part of preparing for camp is including your child in the preparations.

Posting on Mondays throughout the month of April, I will be sharing tips and advice on great ways to involve your child in the planning processes like shopping and packing. What this involvement will do for your kid is take away the mystery that surrounds summer camp

Just the same way that it’s a big deal for kids to play a part in choosing their classes for school, it’s also a big deal for kids to feel as though they have a certain amount of control in the decision-making processes of summer camp.

The fact is that kids who aren’t involved in the planning of their own camp experience end up feeling forced to go. They are much more likely to get homesick rather than kids who, with the help and guidance of their parents, make decisions about their camp stay.

A great way to urge kids to get more involved in the planning process is simply by asking them questions about what they would like to get out of their camp experience. Encourage your kid to ask friends who have already gone to camp questions about how they liked it and what the activities were like.

Tune in next week to learn about the importance helping your kid grasp JUST HOW LONG their stay at summer camp will be. You can get even better pointers from The Summer Camp Handbook, available at Everything Summer Camp. As always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Soon-to-be-Summer Campers!

The approaching summer camp season is an exciting time for everyone. Parents, kids…doctors. Wait, doctors? Well, sure—didn’t you know that today is National Doctor Day? Doctors play a vital role in people’s lives—especially those in serious need of medical attention and care. But their important in less serious ways as well.

After all, not every doctor visit is vital to your survival (hopefully few have been!); Your doctor visits should mostly consist of quick, painless checkups along with the occasional trip when you’re sick and in need of antibiotics or other medicine. A physical examination is another easy visit to the doctor that you’ll have to make at some time or another.

Just as most schools and sports teams do, summer camps insist that children undergo a physical examination before you can sign up for their programs. A sports physical is a visit to the doctor in which the doctor makes sure you’re in good enough shape in order to participate in the intense physical activities of the summer camp lifestyle.

Odds are, you’ve got to get a physical before starting summer camp. Take today—National Doctor Day—and use it as your family’s reminder to get your soon-to-be-summer campers their physical.

If your child has already had an annual checkup, then you can probably cross this part of summer camp preparation off your list, however, you may want to contact the camp to make sure that your kid’s most recent visit meets their requirements.

But whether doctors are performing a physical exam or saving a life, the job they do is always important to the patient. Make your appointment today to get your kid in for a physical and make sure to wish your doctor a happy Doctor Day. As always, thanks for reading.

Read more about physical preparation from Dr. Thurber in this Blog post from our archives.

- John

Hey, Summer Lovers!

Okay, okay, so the summer season may be officially over at this point—but there’s still a flood of beautiful weather to soak up here in northern Wisconsin. To follow suit with the last three Mondays on the Everything Summer Camp Blog, today I’d like to give one last idea for squeezing every last drop of fun out of our fine September weather.

I’ve already mentioned great activities like apple-picking, enjoying campfires, and going on a hike. Lastly, allow me to present you with…

Idea #4: Backyard camping. Sleepovers/slumber parties are a great way to say goodbye to the summer season. Do it up in style and break out the tent one, last time—weather (and parents) permitting—to spend the night in the outdoors before it gets too cold!   

Even if you don’t end up spending the whole night out there, it’ll still be well worth it to share a spooky story or a juicy game of truth or dare before falling asleep in the backyard. It offers the thrill of camping with a fraction of the effort when there’s a clean bathroom and full refrigerator a few steps away.

Brighten up your tent after dark with the great Camping Lantern from Luminaid (available right here at Everything Summer Camp) and you can play cards, Battleship, Chess, and board game you like as long as you have enough room in your tent.

Summer may be over, but you don’t have to say goodbye to camping quite yet. Since we only sleep in them occasionally, tents are inevitably fun and exciting shelters in which to spend the night. Great memories are made inside of them! Who knew the backyard could be so thrilling?

Well, that’s the last of our ideas for summertime activities in September! Good luck wringing the season dry of its fun, Summer Lovers! And, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Hey, Parents!

It’s that time of year when your camper is coming home from camp. The season is come and gone. You spent months out of the year planning and saving for these several weeks of summer and now it’s time to hear how it went. And hear about it you will—whether you like it or not.

That’s the situation with most kids, anyway. They want to tell you all about anything and everything concerning summer camp immediately because of what a great time they had. You may or may not like some of the things you hear, but keep in mind that this isn’t necessarily an accurate account of what actually happened.

Also, you should take comfort in the realization that you’re such an important person in your kid’s life that they want to share with you the entire experience that they had without you.

It isn’t every kid that will respond this way with such expressive excitement. But if your kid is more reserved, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they didn’t enjoy their time at camp (or that you’re unimportant to them). It’s just that the camp experience hits everyone differently. Some kids are more reserved because they’re mildly depressed to see it come to an end.

Some kids are even drawn to tears when it comes time to leave camp. But you shouldn’t be alarmed by this behavior. Your kid may want to leave quickly so as not to draw the situation out or they may want to stick around for a while. Make sure to talk to your kid to see how they want to proceed.

Whether your kid can’t stop talking or if they’ve barely started, the stories will eventually come out when the time is right. However, if you don’t want to wait, Cabin Leaders are great sources to talk to. Get the skivvy from them and ask how your kid liked the camp experience.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans.

- John