Hey, Hunters!

While you may find this activity among the options for your summer camp itinerary, right now is the perfect time of year to go over some tips and advice on Hunter Safety. While hunting seasons may vary among all the different game and regions, now is a very popular time that marks the beginning of hunting in our area here in the north woods of Wisconsin.

In preparation for this popular season, let’s hit on some very important points concerning your safety when you head out for hunting.

Wear to Blare
Sure camouflage plays a strategic role in the sport of hunting. But wearing colors that blend into your surroundings can also be very dangerous. Instead, dress with the strategy to stay safe. Wear blaze orange so other hunters know you’re you.

Law of the Loaded
It’s a good idea to act as though all firearms are loaded. Accidents are less likely to happen when you use this kind of caution.

Muzzle Management
Simply put: Don’t point a gun at anything you don’t want to shoot. Always keep your muzzle pointing in a safe direction.

Undeniable Identification
Until you’re able to identify your target without question, it’s a good idea to keep your finger off the trigger. Do not shoot at movement. Do not shoot at assumptions. Only shoot when you know for sure what you’re shooting at.

Where Ya Goin’?
Before leaving home to go hunting, always tell somebody where you’re going, what you’re doing, and when you expect to be back—no matter how experienced you may be.

Stock and Load
Be sure to bring safety supplies that you may need in survival situations such as food rations, fire-starting kit, cell phone, rope, flare gun, space blanket, axe, and whistle are some good suggestions. Maybe you have more.

Use these points of caution and preparedness to avoid accidents and stay safe when you go out on your hunting adventures. Enjoy your time in the wilderness and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans! Bullseye!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

It was well over a year ago that I covered one of the greatest Chess players of all time here on the Blog: Bobby Fischer. Named the ‘grandmaster’ of Chess, he was a clear pick for the Pioneers and Record Setters post when it comes to the world of Chess. Today, we’re not talking about any Chess player in particular, but simply the game of Chess itself!

Chess is an old game. History shows us that it’s been around for the last 1500 years. Of course there are much older games that preceded Chess. One of Chess’ origins is an Indian game from the 6^th Century called Chaturanga. Even older than Chaturanga is the still-popular Checkers. Checkers has been around for a whopping 5000 years!

While pieces in Checkers all move the same way, Chaturanga developed different pieces that moved in different ways. Chaturanga also moved a step closer to Chess with the objective of the game resting entirely on the fate of one piece. You can learn about some other older games when you check out this previous Blog post I wrote.Along the way, Chaturanga eventually evolved into the game of Chess that we all know today. The different Chess pieces are comprised of Pawns, Rooks, Knights, Bishops, the Queen, and the King. Each different piece has different powers of movement and attack.

See if your summer camp offers Chess as part of their activity program and you can pick it up in the following summer. Or you can bring your own set if you own one along for your next camp session and see if anyone else knows how to play. My dad taught me when I was very young so I always had family members to play with. Maybe you do too!

Enjoy learning this very old and very strategic board game if you decide you want to pick it up! You can find a travel set to go on top of your camp trunk at Everything Summer Camp. And, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!


- John

Hey, Football Fans!

American Football is the only sport I know where the offense and the defense collide like on a medieval battlefield. Our nation’s most popular sport, Football is likely to be offered at just about any summer camp where you stay. If you’re fanatical over football, then you likely already know the ins and outs of the way the game is played. But what about the history of the sport? How did it develop into the National Football League that we know and love today?

The earliest traces of Football go all the way back to a popular sport in Ancient Greece called Episkyros (Eh-pisk-ear-roce). This game involved throwing a ball past a scrimmage line and avoiding being tackled. Football was first developed as a hybrid sport that sort of combined Rugby and Soccer. Both of these games have their origin in medieval sports which may explain where Football gets its resemblance to medieval warfare.  

Beyond Ancient history, townsfolk of the Dark Ages started developing a number of archaic forms of football. In general, they involved teams lining up against each other in scrimmage formation and moving the “ball” (which was traditionally an inflated pig bladder) toward a goal.

Old versions of football—typically referred to as the blanket term of Mob Football—would be played between an entire town or village against the folks of the next town over. Games of Mob Football allowed for an unlimited number of players who would clash in the streets and highways with the objective of moving the ball to the markers of each town.

Players were allowed to move the ball by any means necessary short of killing other players. This was a much more brutal game than our modern televised events. Deemed too dangerous for civilization, versions of Mob Football were put to bed with the Highway Act of 1835 which banned football from being played on public highways.  

However, in order not to throw out the baby with the bathwater, protective helmets were brought to the scene and the game was played in designated areas. More protective measures were slowly introduced as this much tamer version of football was established and it soon became an organized sport that drew audiences. Check out a previous Blog post to learn more about the history of the NFL by clicking here. And, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Fans!

Closely resembling swordfighting, Fencing is an awesome, adventuresome activity that your camper could have the opportunity to engage in possibly during their summer camp stay or private courses. Fencing participants are dressed in padded gear which is loaded with sensors which are marking points scored by your opponent.

Despite the similarities to swordfighting, Fencing has an incredibly low injury rate when compared to other sports such as soccer or gymnastics. Participants are protected by a ton of padding and a full facemask. Also, the blades are not sharp and come to a blunt end. With no risk to injury of the eyes or face, the rare Fencing injuries are ones you would expect in any other sport.

A Thinker’s Sport
You’ll hear Fencing referred to as a physical game of Chess from time to time because of how much thought is involved in this active activity. Fencing will teach you to read subtle clues and react quickly to them. Benefiting both the brain and the body, Fencing is one sport where you need to perform mentally just as much as you do physically!

Sweatin’ to the Swordplay
Fencing gets the heart pumping! There’s a lot of back and forth involved along with lunges and quick recoveries. It builds lung capacity and gives you endurance. It’s also and exercise in strength training because holding the correct form, while holding your sword, and lunging, and striking, or avoiding a hit builds muscle and core strength.

Feels Good to Fence
Whether you win or lose, Fencing is fun! You can always look back at your performance and feel satisfied for doing the best you could! It’s easy to learn from your mistakes when you examine your game! And, like a team sport, kids are constantly practicing against and alongside each other, building friendships and bonding through a shared experience.

Look into your camp and see if they offer Fencing for your next season of summer camp! And look into taking a class if your interests are that high! Have fun with Fencing and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Fans!

- John

Hey, Soccer Players!

Wherever you end up attending summer camp, you’re likely to find Soccer as an offered activity. Not quite as popular here in the U.S. as it is elsewhere, Soccer is actually the world’s most popular sport. And, originally, it didn’t go by ‘soccer’ either; it was called Football. How was the sport invented? How did it arrive at the name Soccer? And what do kids get out of this hands-off sport?

A slew of other sports involve throwing, catching, swinging, swatting, and all sorts of other actions that require your hands. Soccer is the one sport where the use of hands is not permitted—that’s why they called it Football. By historic record, its origin spans over 2000 years back, coming out of ancient China. There are, however, other areas that claim the sport’s invention: Greece, Rome, and Central America.

But it wasn’t until the late 1700’s that the sport arrived in England where the rules of the game were polished and refined. The British are credited with turning the game into the sport we see today with such rules as ‘No Use of Hands’ and ‘No Tripping Opponents’.

While everyone called it Football, the British found the name Soccer, or ‘Socker’, was useful to distinguish the sport from Rugby Football in an official capacity. But it wasn’t until American Football that the name Soccer really started sticking across the world by mouth (though it’s still commonly referred to as ‘Football’ outside the USA).

But a sport by any other name would still be just as sweet! And it’s a great workout too! Check out some of the awesome benefits you can earn from participating:

Cycling through a walk, a run, and a sprint, Soccer is great exercise for cardiovascular health and improves flexibility. It also develops strength and coordination. Being a part of a team and playing a sport like Soccer builds confidence too and nourishes self-esteem.

Have a great time playing Soccer this summer and, as always, thanks for reading, Camp Folks!

- John