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, Friends!

Do you have any idea how important you are?—each and every one of you. How can you say that through a Blog post? you might ask. We’ve never even met! But I assure you, if you are reading this Blog, then, whether we’ve met before or not, you are certainly a friend of mine. And friends are incredibly important!

Friends are a lot of things. Sometimes they’re plentiful, sometimes they’re hard to come by. Sometimes they’re the best and sometimes they’re not. But most of all, your friends are the people who accept you for who you are and enjoy your company.

Today is Make a Friend Day (though, in my opinion, it should just be called Friendship Day). Make a Friend Day is all about appreciating the people you consider to be your friends. Whether it’s your best friend since the first grade or somebody friendly that you met today, friends are important to have in your life.

All too often we’re stuck living the busy side of life that demands that we work, work, work!!! But when you finally get a break, you’re definitely going to want to bend somebody’s ear. And not just somebody, but somebody who’ll listen and care about what you have to say. Somebody you can call a friend.

When you are blessed with the gift of friends, you don’t need anything else because your friends are there to help you out.

It’s just as that good-hearted angel, Clarence Odbody from It’s a Wonderful Life says, “Every time a bell ri—” wait a minute! …That’s not the right quote. *AHEM* “No man is a failure who has friends.”

So, with those very true words, go celebrate your friends today and let them know what they mean to you! Thanks for reading, Camp Folks.

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, Blog Readers!

You may recall some time back when there was a Blog post in which yours truly made his introduction. That’s right. It’s me, John, your humble blogger. I’m the guy whose words you’ve been reading on the Everything Summer Camp Blog posts. I’m the Writer for Everything Summer Camp.

I’d say that the majority of the words you read on our Web site come from me. I work hard; but I’m not gonna lie: I get a lot of rest. Sleep is very important to me. And when I don’t get the right amount—LOOK OUT!

I’m only half joking here. But in all seriousness, sleep really is rather important to me. That’s why I’m a big fan of the AirChair Plus. I feel like Crazy Creek went and outdid themselves with this camp chair. It’s the ultimate sit/sleep combination. Happy camping requires a good night’s sleep and a good night’s sleep requires some sort of mattress.

The AirChair™ is far superior to any other chair that’s ever existed simply because of its easy conversion to a full-length mattress pad when you need to catch some Z’s. Just unzip the shell and pull out the attached pad extension. This chair has got air for cushioning in its dual-chamber air pad so you can adjust the firmness of your seat as you please.

Aside from camping, this chair’s great for sleepovers at friends’ houses and family visits at a relative’s house on an uninviting couch. The AirChair Plus is proof that camping doesn’t have to be uncomfortable! Get some good sleep.