Greetings, Camp Lovers!

Summer camp comes but once a year so it’s important to make the best of it, rain or shine—regardless. And making the best of camp, rain or shine, means being prepared for rain or shine. So when you’re preparing for the rain, check out this reliable rainboot from Kamik that can really puddle it up.

It’s the Kamik Stomp. This rainboot’s best friend is a puddle! It’s 100% waterproof and 100% recyclable and it’s by far the best rainboot we’ve ever offered.

Sturdy, comfortable, and made of synthetic rubber, this boot’s got a removable foot bed for quick and thorough drying. The Stomp is also lightweight and waterproof, which altogether makes for very simple drying and care.

Of course, good traction is crucial to a good rainboot. Well, the Kamik Stomp Rainboot is far from lacking in that department. Its rubber sole has the sturdiest traction that will give your kid the perfect grip in the rainiest, most slippery conditions.

On that note, despite the sole’s exceptional traction, it won’t mark up the floor; you have no need to walk barefoot back to your bunk or wherever your shoes are.

The Kamik Stomp is a pull-on style boot which can sometimes be a challenging first-time fit. But after that, the boot is broken in. Every time you put on a pair you simply pull the boot on and you’re ready to go—no strings or lacing necessary.

Made of a rubber upper, synthetic lining, and a rubber sole, the Kamik Stomp Rainboot is as practical as it is attractive and it’s a very attractive. With these boots on your feet, you’ll love the rain so much you’ll be singing in it!

Put the stomp back in your rainy days with the Kamik Stomp and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hey, Camp Shoppers!

Quick question for you: What’s the easiest way to get camp gear from Point A to Point B?

Answer: The High Sierra Evolution 28” Drop Bottom Wheeled Duffel. Yes, it’s a mouthful—but its name is the only complicated thing about it. This wheeled duffel is just what the doctor ordered. It makes for extremely easy travel and very convenient storage.

Parents, let me tell you why the Evolution is a smart decision.

First of all, The High Sierra Evolution Wheeled Duffel Bag was built to last. This duffel bag is made from mini diamond ripstop and mini weave Duralite fabrics—in other words, this is one durable duffel.

The Evolution is also made with a high-density foam structure that preserves the bag’s shape over a long period of time. Along with the shape of the duffel, the foam structure helps keep the bag lightweight. However, lightweight as it may be, this bag can hold a bundle!

That’s another reason to go with the Evolution. It’s amazing how much can be packed away in this bag!

The Drop Bottom compartment is large enough for you to fit your shoes or boots inside! And the duffel’s other compartments work great for storing folded clothes and making sure they stay folded despite your travels.

Also, the zippered divider panel between the upper and lower compartments can be rolled up, to leave just one, big compartment.

Pretty impressive, huh? Well, it’s not bad to look at either. It’s sharp and brightly colored.

And last but not least—in fact, probably most important—is the bag’s practicality, the bag does more than just hold a lot and look nice—it travels like a treat too! If you’ve ever navigated an airport with a clunky wheeled duffel that you basically had to drag all the way to the plane, then you’re really going to love the smooth roll of this duffel. It keeps up.

Made of nylon and polyester, the Evolution 28” Wheeled Duffel is built well, roomy, attractive, and excellent at making traveling easier. This duffel is perfect for camp. As always, thanks for reading, Camp Folks!

- John

Hi, Camp Shoppers!

Moving along through March I’m sure that for many of you, summer camp preparations are starting to dwell heavier and heavier on your mind. There’s so much you need to get before camp starts, so let posts like these help give you a better idea of what you’re getting with our new products.

As hot as the days get at summer camp, the other foot always falls and with it, so does the temperature. Chilly nights and rainy days are inevitable; so, Parents, make sure your kids are prepared with the Fawn Grove Throw from Woolrich.

This blanket takes the chill out of a chilly night. It is as amazing as they come. You’ll have absolutely no problems staying warm when you cover up with this throw.

The great thing about the Fawn Grove Throw is its weight distribution. It’s the perfect balance between a bulky blanket and a light throw. You’re sure to fall asleep as you fall in love with this single-ply, warm, wool blanket.

Surprisingly lightweight and soft for 100% wool, there is so much to admire about the Fawn Grove Throw:

At 54” wide and 70” long, this blanket is certainly big enough to snuggle up in or use for two to share, covering their legs.

Whether it’s the stitching around the borders of the throw—a subtle and impressive touch—or simply the soft, plaid design, these beautiful blankets will likely hold you spellbound. That’s how you know the quality is real and definitely made in the Woolrich Woolen Mills.

The Fawn Grove Throw is available in a variety of diverse, dreamy colors so make sure you know in which one your camper will want to wrap up.

For a sneak peek of what you’re buying, I’d suggest using the zoom feature on our site. It’ll allow you to get real up close and personal with these throws. I think you’ll be happy to find that even extremely close up, the Fawn Grove Throw is the perfect summer camp blanket.

Dry clean for best care and, as always, thanks for reading!

- John

Hello again and welcome to our new Web site. It’s very exciting to see this finally happening after all the hard work, long hours, and dedication that has gone into making this site. But at last—the wait is over! The launch day has arrived!

In the following couple of weeks we ask that you remain patient with the new site; as with any new Web site, there are sure to be bugs that we’ll need to work out. We also would like to ask you for your feedback. Please, let us know if you find anything wrong with the way the site works or if you have any complaints.

It’s been a very long road to get to this point. A road filled with endless phone conferences, sleepless nights, re-photographed products, and rewritten product write-ups.

Now that it has all come to fruition, you’ll see what amazing changes we’ve made from our last site:

First, there’s the Compare Products tool. Let’s say you’ve been going back and forth between backpacks. The Compare Products tool will let you line up the products you’re interested in and will list the features of each one so you won’t have to flip back and forth between product pages.

Another great change we’ve made to our Web site is the Wish List tool. The Wish List is essentially a digital catalog for your kids to browse and “circle” everything that they want. Now they can still come on our site and shop around without actually buying anything. The list can then be shared with whomever you want—maybe Grandma and Grandpa (hint, hint).

The “zoom” capabilities of our new site are out of this world! Check out the stitches on a duffel bag, see the fluff on a Woolrich blanket, or inspect the zipper quality on a sleeping bag to make sure like never before that you know exactly what you’re getting.

Along with many other great changes, our site now offers Paypal and Bill Me Later as new payment methods to make sure this season of summer camp shopping is easier and more convenient than ever before! We hope you enjoy and, as always, thanks for reading.

- John

Once you and your children have chosen a camp that matches their interests and abilities, a crucial next step is getting ready physically. Following the guidelines below will help ensure a healthy, happy experience.

1. Camps are physically active places, even for differently-abled campers. Engaging in some pre-camp fun and physical activities will help your children get the most out of the summer ahead. If your children do not participate in organized sports, then go on some hikes together, join a pick-up game of basketball, play catch in the back yard, or frequent the municipal swimming pool. Anything you can do to help your children gear up to the physicality of the camp experience will be of great benefit once camp starts.
2. If you have explored a preparatory resource such as The Summer Camp Handbook, then you have familiarized yourself with the camp’s activities. Either way, you should gain a good sense of the physical demands of your chosen camp. Now is the perfect time to take your children for a physical exam or other health evaluations. Speak to your health care provider about the camp’s various activities and verify that they are fit and ready to take part in activities. You might ask questions such as:

• Does he need new glasses or sports glasses?
• Is the leg she injured this winter ready for mountain hikes?
• What can we do to prevent another bout of swimmer’s ear?

If your child has a chronic medical condition, such as asthma or an allergy, your conversation with a health care provider takes on added importance. Discuss with your child:

• restrictions or modifications to activities
• ongoing treatments or preventive measures, such as carrying a rescue inhaler or avoiding certain foods

Your goal is to make your children as self-reliant as possible, so that they can participate in the fullest range of activities.

It is essential that you complete and return the camp’s health form, and write a supplement that describes all of your child’s emotional or physical needs. At times, parents are reluctant to be candid on the camp’s health form because they are concerned about:

• the information not being kept confidential
• the camp staff unfairly discriminating against their child

Some parents are unaware of the importance of detailed health forms to camp staff who act as summer surrogate parents.

High quality camps will treat any personal information about your children with great discretion, informing only those persons who need to know (e.g., the camp nurse and your child’s counselors); no high quality camp will label your children or discriminate against them. So please inform the camp if one or more of your children take medication, have a history of emotional or behavioral problems, was recently hospitalized, or responds best to a certain kind of treatment.

Simply put: Don’t make the camp staff try to figure out what may have taken you years to understand about your children. Instead, give the staff the advantage of your parental insights and experience. This puts them in the best possible position to offer support.

Although a cornerstone of the camping experience-day or resident-is the absence of parents, in no way does it involve the absence of camp caregivers. Quite the contrary: High quality camping experiences require a trusting partnership between parents and the camp staff. For more information about physical and medical preparation for camp, read The Summer Camp Handbook.

Enjoy the summer!

Dr. Christopher Thurber

For additional parent resources, visit: SummerCampHandbook.com
Learn about high quality staff training at: ExpertOnlineTraining.com