Hey, Dessert Lovers!

What kind of a Dessert Lover are you? Do you love combining flavor favorites? Do you have one go-to ice cream flavor that never fails? Are you hopelessly addicted to Andes Chocolates? Yes?! Then get ready to celebrate ‘cause it’s Chocolate Mint Day! Break out the candies, cake, and ice cream!

Surprisingly, there are some weirdos out there whose taste buds actually dislike the way Chocolate Mint tastes, but for the most part, people generally love Chocolate Mint. They’ve been mixing the two since the late 18th Century.

After 1776, when the United States declared its independence and became its own country, British merchants had to find other things to tax and they made a lot of money off chocolate. While the rest of the world loved chocolate, the people of Britain didn’t enjoy straight chocolate very much. They wanted something less bitter. So they mixed it with spices like vanilla, cinnamon, honey, and…eventually…mint!

There’s just something amazing about that almost stinging coool taste of a Chocolate Mint treat. Mint is so cool, it even spawned its own slang to mean cool, as in: “Is that a Chocolate Mint Cake for dessert? MINT!”

Tragically, my recollections are too vivid and too many of my family’s Christmas tradition in which we would enjoy cookies and pie along with a side of ice cream at my grandfather’s house. We always got two flavors of ice cream—obligatory Vanilla and, of course, Mint Chocolate Chip.

To my repeated misfortune (being the slow-eater that I am), I was always the last to get my cookies and ice cream. And I was always stuck with boring ol’ Vanilla. My family had already devoured the Mint Chocolate Chip.

Don’t let what used to happen to me happen to you on a day like today. Get yourself some Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream, get some Andes Mints, and get some York Peppermint Patties and have yourself a happy Chocolate Mint Day!

Hey, Hydrators!

I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you how important it is to stay hydrated—it’s ESSENTIAL really. That’s why it’s important to have your trusty water bottle at your side during outdoor excursions. Whether you’re hiking in the summer or snowshoeing in the winter, it’s smart to have some water with you while you’re out.

People knew this a long time ago just as we know it today. And despite the fact that no plastic, metal, or glass water bottles were able to be made thousands of years ago, people figured out ways to transport their clean, fresh water. Our ancient ancestors discovered that curing animal bladders made them stronger and able to carry water for an expedition.

These crude carriers were obviously not water bottles. They weren’t really even canteens (the water bottle’s ancestor), but they moved water. It took quite a while to get to the reusable plastic or stainless steel water bottles that we’re familiar with today.

Hollowed-out gourds became trendy means of transportation for a while. But it wasn’t until the cowboys of the Wild West sewed together leather bags to use as canteens that a water carrier doubled as something from which a person can conveniently drink. Canteens made of metal and even wood became popular means of water transportation in the military.

Canteens are used as simple means of water holders on camping trips nowadays, but water bottles have really taken over in that department since the early 1970s.

It started a little over 20 years prior in 1949 with a type of plastic that was developed by a chemist named Emanuel Goldberg and his team. This plastic, Nalgene, was intended for laboratory use as bottles and storage tanks as the material is able to hold a variety of liquids (and solids) which have very low to very high temperatures.

These bottles were continuously missing from the lab as members of the team kept taking them out to use as water bottles during leisurely hikes or exercise sessions. It wasn’t long before the President of the Nalge Company, Marsh Hyman discovered that his son’s entire troop in Boy Scouts used bottles from the Nalgene lab for their outdoor activities.

So the bottles were given color and a cool style and marketed as reusable plastic water bottles—a much better alternative to buying disposable plastic water bottles. Nowadays water bottles have all sorts of features like measuring lines and built-in filters.

Enjoy your water, wherever you go.

Hey, Scouts!

If you’re a Boy Scout or you have a kid who’s in Boy Scouts, then you more-than-likely already know that today is Boy Scout Day. Nowadays, simply the name ‘Boy Scouts’ has become synonymous with resourcefulness, independence, and helpfulness.

Do you know what the definition of a Good Samaritan is? An adult who was in Boy Scouts when he was younger (that’s one definition anyway).

They must be doing something right to have achieved such a fantastic reputation! Boy Scouts have become one of America’s largest and most well-known organizations that focuses on the development of our youth. So how did the Boy Scouts get to be revered with such recognition and praise?

Well according to legend, it all started one foggy night in London when a newspaper man from America named W.D. Boyce found himself lost in the misty streets of the foreign town. Just as Mr. Boyce grew worrisome, he happened upon a young boy who was able to guide him back to his destination.

Wishing to repay the kid, Boyce offered the boy some money, but the child declined the offer. He identified himself as a Boy Scout and explained that he was only doing his duty; therefore no payment was necessary.

Struck by this amazing random act of kindness, Boyce felt compelled to contact the head of the Boy Scout Association, a General Robert Baden-Powell. Boyce was not only a newspaper man, but something of an entrepreneur as well; when he returned to America, he founded the Boy Scouts of America.

And so, using the British Boy Scout Association as a model, Boyce established the Boy Scouts of America in 1910—only two years after Baden-Powell founded his Boy Scout Association. Boy Scouts should be celebrated because of the good it does in helping to shape the future.

Happy Boy Scout Day, from Everything Summer Camp!

Hey, Sports Fans!

It’s been four years since the last Winter Olympics so it’s time to bust out the bobsleds, skis, ice skates, and other fun winter sports equipment. If you’re an Olympics fan, then you probably already know that last night Sochi, Russia kicked off the start of the XXII (22nd), 2014 Olympic Winter Games. This year’s Winter Olympic Games will stretch from last night until the 23 of February.

Ever since 1924, the Winter Olympics have been celebrated every four years. There was, however, a 12-year-long interruption as World War II, for obvious reasons, put a stop to international sports competitions from 1936 to 1948.

The first Winter Olympics were incredibly successful. Held at Chamonix which is in the French Alps, spectators of the games were held in awe at the amazing skills displayed during the Ski Jump, Bobsled races, Ice Hockey, Curling, Speed Skating, and Figure Skating.

In the first year, there were only these six sporting events as opposed to today’s 15. The Winter Games now include Snowboarding, Cross-Country Skiing, Nordic Combined (the combination of cross-country skiing and ski jumping), Freestyle Skiing, Biathlon (a combination of cross-country skiing and rifle shooting), Alpine Skiing (which is downhill skiing), Luge and Skeleton (a couple additional sledding sports), Short Track Speed Skating, as well as the original games.

They didn’t call it the Winter Olympics back then. It was originally called the “International Winter Sports Week.” It wasn’t until 1928 that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) was formed and dubbed this highly successful winter sports week the Winter Olympic Games.

Yes, quite a bit has changed over the years, but one thing that has remained all along is its own popularity and the fandom for the Olympics—winter and summer. While many countries show us amazing, gold-winning athletes, the United States is the only one to have earned the gold for each of the Games.

Enjoy the Games this year! It’ll be another four years before they’re back!

Sincerely,

John

Hey, Groundhog Dayers!

Hey, Groundhog Dayers!

As you may have heard at least a couple times today, today is Groundhog Day, so get used to things happening happening with double the pleasure and double the fun! Let me repeat that: double the pleasure and DOUBLE the fun! Happy Groundhog Day, Everybody!

For anyone familiar with the classic film, Groundhog Day, you’re already aware of a portion of the day’s history. The movie revolves around this holiday in which Punxsutawney Phil, a Pennsylvanian groundhog (also known as a woodchuck) comes out of his hole to see if he casts a shadow or not. If he does, it means six more weeks of wintry weather. If not, then he predicts an early spring.

Bill Murray also finds himself in a seemingly endless, inescapable loop of reliving the same day over and over again. But that’s a whole different story. Bill Murray also finds himself in a seemingly endless, inescapable loop of reliving the same day over and over again. But that’s a whole different story.

In any case, to get to the bottom of this holiday you have to go way back. The tradition of Groundhog Day officially started 127 years ago in 1887. Local newspaper editor Clymer Freas is credited with the creation of our current celebration.

However, this 127-year-old piece of history is just the tip of the Groundhog Day iceberg.

See, there’s actually something rather meaningful about the date of Groundhog Day, February 2. It’s the halfway point between the winter solstice (shortest day of the year) and the spring equinox (when day and night are equal length). Thus, this date (with or without groundhogs) has been celebrated for thousands of years as a show of our anticipation for spring.

Originally a Pagan celebration, Christianity turned it into Candlemas. A sunny Candlemas predicted 40 more days of chilly winter weather, or so the Christians believed. It wasn’t until the Germans put their spin on the holiday, claiming that a day was only sunny if a badger could see its own shadow. Immigrants from Germany brought this tradition along with them when they settled in Pennsylvania.

But the native groundhog (also known as a woodchuck) became the new forecaster. Happy Groundhog Day, Everybody!