Letter from the Editors
It's time to celebrate the great outdoors. School's out and we want to explore. Here at Momtrends we know that not everyone is going to pitch a tent this summer and head to a National Park (but it's a great time to do that--the US National Park Service celebrates a centennial birthday in 2016). Happy Campers is also a resource for staycations. We know many of you will be entertaining the kids at home this summer-and we want to inspire you to embrace the theme of play. Don't just watch the fun, join in! And finally we're here to hold your hands through the process of prepping your kids for sleepaway camps. As always, you can expect us to highlight gear that's equal parts form and function. Whether you'll be unrolling sleeping bags under the stars in your backyard or white water rafting at Paws Up, Montana, we invite you to get inspired to break from routine, get outdoors and create memories.
Nicole Feliciano My kids are counting the days until school’s out and summer truly begins. And not just because they’ll be taking a break from school. They are so excited to attend a variety of camps - both day and sleepover lined up where I know they’ll have countless adventures, new experiences and, of course, fun. My big kids are even going to sleepaway camp at the camp I attended as a kid! Happy Campers, like all of our stand alone guides, is a true labor of love. The process is long and slightly exhausting, but the end result is definitely worth it. I am so proud of how it turned out and truly hope you enjoy it.
Kate Marsh Lord
Momtrends Media LLC Nicole Feliciano Momtrends Founder & Publisher
Kate Marsh Lord The Shopping Mama Founder & Managing Editor
Sherri Schubert Momtrends Media Event Manager
Brooke Stewart Momtrends Media Sales Director
family camping
Moms Share: WHY WE CAMP
4 CAMPING GEAR FOR FAMILIES 5 OUTDOOR PROTECTION 7 IT’S TIME TO EAT 9 SNACK SMART 10 OUTDOOR FAMILY FUN 11 FAMILY CAMP STYLE 13 GO GLAMPING 15 BRING CAMP HOME 17
kids at camp
Moms Share: WHY CAMP IS IMPORTANT MINI STYLE 20 CAMP IS IMPORTANT FOR KIDS 21 CAMP FAVORITES 23 KEEPING KIDS SAFE AT CAMP 25 DAY CAMP 26
diy camp
TABLETOP SURPRISES 28 “NIRI” CAMP 30
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EXPLORE the outdoors TOGETHER
the essential
Camping Gear for Families
available in 4, 6 or 8 person tent separates into two “rooms�
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Blue Lizard delivers clinically proven, broad-spectrum UVA and UVB protection in a SPF 30+ formulation. Our patented BPA-free Smart Bottle™ changes color in the presence of harmful UV rays, reminding you to apply sunscreen. Blue Lizard is the brand most recommended by pediatricians, dermatologists, pharmacists, and moms that know a thing or two, nationwide.
A lot goes into planning the perfect vacation, from researching the best flights and hotel prices to scouting out your destination’s top eats and coolest shops. But if you’re feeling bleary-eyed and groggy when you get there, how can you enjoy the fruits of all that labor? Luckily, ZzzQuil can help you head to dreamland quickly and sleep soundly so you wake refreshed.
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Winner of the Parent Tested/Parent Approved Seal of Approval, Topricin® is great for all the “boo boos” of life— including growing pains, impact injuries, bumps, bruises, sprains, strains, bug bites, minor burns, and skin conditions such as eczema. Keep your little ones pain free the safe, natural way!
Guardian. We Beat DEET™! DEET-Free Guardian insect repellent is proven to perform as well as 15% DEET using nontoxic ingredients safe for the whole family. See how plant-based Guardian is scientifically proven to deliver an effective mosquito and tick repellent you can rely on at www.guardianrepellent.com, and find o u r 4 - h o u r a n d 8 - h o u r fo r m u l a a t Amazon.com for a bite-free adventure.
It’s time to
E AT !
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delicious CAMP RECIPES to try on your next trip
SNACK SMART
Zbar is an organic, baked whole
Busy moms drink trimino proteininfused water for its seven grams of whey protein which absorbs into the body quickly and easily to curb appetite, boost metabolism, and increase energy. One hundred percent of the RDA for B vitamins, only 28 delicious calories.
grain energy snack bar for kids. It’s an excellent source of complex carbohydrates combined with three grams of protein and three grams of fiber to help curb hunger and stabilize energy levels.
barkTHINS®, innovators of delicious snacking chocolate, has broken the mold on how consumers snack by blending irresistible dark chocolate with today’s on-trend ingredients such as nuts, seeds, fruits, pretzels and more with hints of sea salt. barkTHINS delivers slivers of goodness in breakable pieces that are perfect for anytime indulgences.
19 homemade hiking snacks
Outdoor family fun
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CAMP RULES Explore the great outdoors.
Seek adventure. Sleep under the stars. Go fishing, boating, hiking.
Roast marshmallows. Play hard. Nap often.
Enjoy one another. Watch the sun set.
Have fun!
FAMILY CAMP
e l y St
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Family Camp Style 2
super fun camp tees! 14
Let’s Go Glamping!
by Nicole Feliciano
For some of us the thought of heading outdoors is great… If it ends with a hot shower and a crisp glass of Pinot Grigio. Good news, the “glamping” trend is going strong. We think Montana is the perfect spot to try this trend. Paws Up set the bar incredibly high--with camp butlers, heated floors and an amazing array of outdoor activities. Paws Up has more than 37,000 acres to enjoy. Try your hand at bringing in a cattle herd or smooth out the rough spots at the open-air spa. This year Paws Up celebrates 10 years of being the swankest dude ranch we’ve ever seen. Think winter is the only time to head to the Mountains? Think again. Summer is the time when ski resorts attract camping fans that have a taste for the luxe. Some of our favorite places to ski also have amazing summer packages. Three of our favorites include the Lone Mountain ranch, Crested Butte, and Deer Valley.
Photo Credit: Paws Up Resort
Lone Mountain Ranch
Big Sky Montana. Book a creekside cabin for your family and sign up for fly-fishing lessons. Plus it’s less than an hour away from Yellowstone National Park. The all-inclusive package offers authentic ranch lodging, meals including BBQ’s and trail ride breakfast, and guided Yellowstone National Park tour. Keep busy with guided horseback rides, hikes, mountain biking, canoeing, wagon rides, archery, yoga and more. There’s an Outdoor Youth Adventures program for kids and live music in the Saloon to entertain. Transfers to and from Bozeman airport are available on Saturdays.
Photo credit: Lone Mountain Ranch
Deer Valley
Park City, Utah. With a great restaurant scene nearby and amazing mountainside lodging, this Utah resort is a great place to check out an outdoor concert or try your hand at mountain biking the slopes/ Lift-served mountain biking is offered from Silver Lake Express at the base, Sterling Express at mid-mountain and Ruby Express at Empire Canyon. Many Deer Valley trails connect with the Park City network of single track, providing access to 400 miles of trails. And thanks to such an ambitious trail system, Park City was recently designated as the world’s first and only Gold-Level Ride Center by the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA).
Photo credit: Deer Valley
Crested Butte
Crested Butte, Colorado. During the summer this mining town is just as busy and fun as when the snow’s falling. In addition to all the hiking, ziplines and biking, sign up for rafting down Crested Butte’s beautiful rivers. Half day and full day trips down the Taylor or Gunnison Rivers are available. Starting at $50 per person. Or, enjoy a zipline and raft package for $99 per person. Enjoy a morning zipline and afternoon rafting.
Photo credit: Crested Butte
For glamping, you’re going to want to have some seriously swank gear.
cardigan
Birkenstocks
waterproof mascara
backpack
packable raincoat
Bring the Camp Experience
Home
If you’ve got Make A Photo Album on your to-do list, let Tweed Wolf take care of it for you! Just upload your digital photo library to TweedWolf.com through our super-easy-to-use uploader (some clients give us thousands of photos!) Then our designers: (1) cull the photos down to the best ones, (2) edit each photo so it looks even more amazing, and (3) layout a beautiful album for your review. When you see your proof you can tell us any changes you want. Once you’re thrilled we print, bind, and ship your album right to your door. Tweed Wolf albums make treasured keepsakes and beautiful gifts.
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Playtime just got a lot more playful! with the Bear Wonder Tent from Sprout. Meticulously crafted from stunning blonde American maple a n d cov e r e d w i t h a b e a u t i f u l upholstery weight organic cotton canvas canopy, this wood play tent is perfect for any child's room. Best of all it doubles as a clothing rack and folds up for easy storage.
After all the fun of camp, your little one will have the taste for the great outdoors. Why not surprise them by bringing the outside in with one of Murals Wallpapers stunning and fully customizable forest murals?
KIDS AT
CAMP
Making memories to last a lifetime.
Mini Style:
WHAT TO WEAR TO CAMP
The kid's Puddletons Packable Rain Boot is a unique collection featuring bright fun prints that the kids will love. The Puddletons Packable are lightweight and foldable to they can be easily stored in a backpack, gym bag, or camp bag. These rainboots are 100% waterproof without compromising on comfort. Make sure the kids pack their Puddletons Packable for camp this summer!
Soak up the fun (and not the sun) at camp in the CWDkids Short Sleeve Rash Guard with UPF 35!  Available in 10 colors to coordinate easily with trunks.  
More Mini Style inspiration for summer 20
8 Reasons Camp Is
Important for Kids
It is no secret that many children spend too much time in front of the computer or television screen today and have little outdoors activity or interest in the natural world around them. According to research done by Psychology Today, camp makes kids resilient to daily life stresses and helps develop positive character traits in children. To encourage parents to take a more active role in getting their kids interested in and active in the outdoors, The Camping and Education Foundation created a list of reasons why it is beneficial for children to go to camp during the summer.
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Try new things – Camp pushes children out of their comfort zone and exposes them to new activities and experiences that they may not be familiar with. Campers get the opportunity to try out different things and discover new hobbies or passions. By exploring various types of activities, children have a greater chance of finding something that they excel at or that makes them happy. Unplug from technology – When kids take a break from TV, cell phones, and the Internet, they rediscover their creative powers and engage the real world— real people, real activities, and real emotions.
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Grow more independent – Camp is the perfect place for kids to practice making decisions for themselves. Managing their daily choices in the caring environment of camp, children welcome this freedom to blossom in new directions. Reconnect with nature – Camp is a wonderful antidote to “nature deficit disorder,” and to the narrow experience of modern indoor life. Outdoor experience enriches kid’s perception of the world and supports healthy childhood development. Build character – On top of making new friends, campers also develop an appreciation for the qualities required to cultivate and strengthen these relationships. Camp provides children with the core values of a strong, moral individual by teaching them about ethics, honesty, caring, respect and responsibility. Parents frequently report that after camp, their children are more kind, understand the importance of giving, are more equipped to stand up for what they know is right, and are willing to be more responsible. Learn to live in community - Camp lets children learn to live in community and do their share of the work. They experience that 80 people contributing a ½ hour towards tribe duties means one person doesn’t have to spend 40 hours doing what together they can so easily do each and every day. To slow down - Camp gives children the chance to slow down and enjoy day after day as part of the natural world. They walk the trails to the Great Lodge, to their cabins, to their activities, up and down the ridges, by the waterfront, through the beautiful woods, making the outside their home. Fail and be okay with that – Without grades or tryouts, the pressure of succeeding is removed and children can play for play’s sake. They can try something and not worry about the consequences of not doing it perfectly or being the best. Having fun is good enough and trying things is better than standing on the sidelines afraid of failure. About The Camping and Education Foundation The Camping and Education Foundation’s mission is to develop young men and women in body and spirit through wilderness experiences that celebrate a love of the outdoors. This mission is as strong today as it was ninety years ago when Camp Kooch-i-ching first opened its doors on Deer Island. The Camping and Education Foundation owns and operates both Camp Kooch-i-ching and Ogichi Daa Kwe, two of the premier summer wilderness camps in North America. For more information, visit: www.campingedu.org.
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Camp Favorites
Before you roast marshmallows… Make sure you’ve labeled all your camp gear with the Limited Edition Camp Label Pack from Mabel's Labels. It includes all the UV resistant, waterproof labels and tags you’ll need to avoid mix-ups and lost items. Perfect for clothes, swim gear, backpacks, shoes, toiletries and more!
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What if a single product under $10 could replace your child’s body wash, toothpaste, deodorant and all-purpose cleaner when packing for camp? Meet ACURE’s Castile Soap – a saponified organic a r g a n o i l t h at a c t s a s a multipurpose cleanser which can be used on everything from your teeth to cleaning your sleeping bag! Available in two scents – Tropical Citrus and Peppermint – as well as a Fragrance Free option that’s suitable for even the most sensitive skin at www.acureorganics.com.
Healthy hair for your sun catchers & sea divers. Fairy Tales Sun & Swim line contains natural citrus extracts that gently remove chlorine green and sea salt.
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s o p cute
s d r tca
Apothederm速 Acne Clarifying Treatment is a two-in-one problem solver to help eliminate breakouts and minimize pore size. This formula is packed with beta hydroxy acid and SmartPeptide速 to help reduce the appearance of blemishes and future breakouts. Oil-free, fragrance free and dermatologist tested.
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Coaching Parents on Child Safety How Directors Help Parents Help Children Stay Safe “Will my child be safe at camp?” Behold the question every parent ponders before and after the camp season. Fortunately, hiring protocols and staff training programs at most high quality camps prevent most people with ulterior or unsavory motives from ever becoming a part of your camp family. Criminal background checks have limitations, but federal law is slowly creating a more reliable system. The bad news is that every summer, a tiny fraction of the millions of boys and girls who attend camps in North America are either mistreated by a camp staff member during the season or drawn into an inappropriate relationship sometime after. I believe that even a tiny fraction is unacceptable, so I frequently coach parents on the best ways to protect their children. Here is what I share: Search carefully for the right camp. This careful search has many components but the three that most parents neglect are: 1. Finding out whether the camp is accredited and by whom 2. Discussing the director’s education and experience 3. Asking about the camp’s hiring protocols and staff training program. In these three neglected domains, here’s what I coach parents to verify: •
The camp you send your child to should be accredited. In the US, this means accredited by the American Camp Association. In Canada, this means accredited by the province in which the camp operates. There are some highquality non-accredited camps, but you’ll need to personally verify hundreds of health, safety, and personnel standards before resting assured you’ve chosen wisely. Use the ACA’s new Accreditation Standards for Camp Programs and Services as your guide.
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Your camp’s director should have years of youth development experience under his or her belt and should participate in continuing professional education—such as camp conferences—each year. Find out what their professional credentials are, what conferences or seminars they last attended, and what other camp experience they have.
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The camp should freely share with you its protocols for conducting required background checks. These could include criminal background checks, but that will only uncover whether a person has been convicted of a felony in the state or province in which the check is conducted. More meaningful is the process of religiously checking a staff member’s references. Finding people who have known the prospective hire well and who have witnessed their work with children is better than verifying whether or not they are not a convicted felon. The camp should also freely share with you its staff training program. Whatever training program a director uses should include modules on appropriate touch, discipline, and communication with children.
Finally, lest a parent’s love and concern for their child evolve into protective paranoia, I emphasize that the personal relationships that form between children and the camp staff are typically wonderful. They are what kids remember most about camp and what they crave during the off-season. These relationships are also the necessary foundation for growth. Without those caring relationships, there can be no increased self-esteem or independence, no growth in social-skills or confidence. The key to a positive experience at camp is a healthy, nurturing relationship between children and the youth leaders who serve them.
Dr. Christopher Thurber serves on the faculty of Phillips Exeter Academy, a coeducational boarding high school. He is also the father of two boys and author of the best-selling Summer Camp Handbook. In 2007, Chris co-founded ExpertOnlineTraining.com, with a vision to become the world leader in online education for youth development professionals. Additional resources for camps, schools and families can be found on CampSpirit.com. To book workshops or contact Chris directly, e-mail chris@campspirit.com.
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Let ’s go to
Day Camp Day camps offer a great opportunity for kids to experience the social benefits and adventures of camp without the overnight commitment. There’s a huge range of summer camp options and sometimes the only challenge is picking the best one. Looking for a camp in your area? The American Camp Association’s has nearly 14,000 day camps in the Find a Camp database! Search by location, cost, activities and more to find the right fit. To find more options in your area, check the following: • • • •
local attractions (think zoo, museum, etc) YMCA or athletic gym instructional lessons (dance center, music lessons, gymnastics facility, for example) schools, including colleges and universities
4 NATIONAL SUMMER DAY CAMPS WE LIKE School of Rock music camps offer performance based approach to music lessons and aim to inspire kids to rock on stage and in life.
iD Tech Camps is a summer computer camp for kids & teens. STEM programs in coding, Minecraft, game design, robotics, film & more held at more than 100 campuses nationwide.
Camp Invention inspires creativity and innovative thinking for children entering grades 1 to 6 with locations nationwide. Register before May 12 and use code SPRING for $15 off.
Apple Camp is a place where kids ages 8 to 12 bring their imaginations to life. Starting this summer, campers can create interactive books complete with their own illustrations and sound effects.
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G O O D B Y E S U M M E R S L U M P : Learning at Home by Amy Mascott
Keeping kids engaged a n d ex c i t e d a b o u t learning through the summer is not easy, but I think I found a solution. In fact, I know I found a solution. At least, I know I found a solution that really, truly works for my three kids and me, and I’m thrilled to share it. It’s called Tabletop Surprises, and for the last two summers, Tabletop Surprises have been a super-cool part of our summer, something that my kids have really grown to enjoy and appreciate. Tabletop Surprises are fun learning or creative thinking opportunities for the kids on our kitchen table. Just sitting there. All summer long, my kids swim and dive on our neighborhood team, so our days —at least a large part of our days—are packed. My kids are 11, 9, and 8 years old, and in the mix I have two early birds and one late riser. Finding time for all four of us to sit down and engage in a game or focused learning activity became difficult. Amy Mascott is the creator of teachmama.com, where since 2008, she has shared tools and resources parents can use to become the best teachers they can be for their children. Amy is a Reading Specialist and former high school English teacher who has truly expanded the walls of her classroom, sharing her expertise at local and national events and publishing her first book through Scholastic in 2016. Married to an elementary school principal, Amy resides in the DC Metro with her three crazy-cool kids, a dog, two birds, and four fish.
Tabletop Surprises prove to be the perfect solution for us because all I do is set out something fun for the kids to do in the morning, and they have all day long to find time to try it. The activity can be anything from a craft to a brain teaser, a critical thinking activity or creative writing exercise. Each day of the week is something different. My early risers may poke around with the activity first thing in the morning, while my late riser tries it in the afternoon after swim practice. Maybe one day the kids are in the mood to try it after breakfast; another day they may want to tackle it after dinner. Whatever they choose works for me. How do I get the kids to actually sit down and do the activities? A few ways: 1. The activities are fun and they want to do them; 2. At any given time, on any given day, I have been known to toss a few gems into the gem jars of people who have been spotted doing the activity. Not every day, but some days. 3. I’ll join them. Kids–I truly believe–like to hang out with their parents. Especially if their parents are kinda cool or funny or at least act like they’re cool or funny. I like to hang out with my kids, so when they sit, if I can, I’ll join them. It’s fun. And I’m already excited about what the summer of 2015 holds for us. Though there will of course be a ton of surprises, I can at least predict what will be on the kitchen table waiting for us to explore each day. Want to get in on the Tabletop Surprises fun? The great news is that you can.
Head over to teachmama.com and grab the Tabletop Surprises Summer 2015 Calendar. Subscribe to teachmama.com via email so you are the first to learn about free, fun ideas to do with your family and so you don’t miss a thing!
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A CUSTOM SUMMER EXPERIENCE YOUR KIDS WILL NEVER FORGET by Nirasha Jaganath “Niri Camp” was born in 2013 out of a need I had to address 4 areas: “Smarties”, “Build Me Up”, “the world and me” and “Just Be!”. Similar to most parents I have tried to my kids with thing and experiences that I never had but worry about my children appreciating what they have. I wanted to create a “camp” and share our journey and was shocked that so many parents (and kids) were eagerly following along. I involved kids with a suggestion box prior to the camp start date. They could make suggestions (not guaranteed to get in) on experiences not things. Let me explain each area:
Smarties Many school programs are fabulous but do not have the resource or capacity to handle every kid’s individual needs so I wanted expanded academics! I feel so many kids are limited to a level based on class curriculum (and the assumption that kids cannot do more) so I wanted to stretch this notion. Both my girls, who are no 8 and 10 years old, were part of the same “camp” and I did not want to “dumb down” anything as I covered a range of subjects. I also found that most subjects are taught in isolation and my belief that marrying subjects show kids that learning does not come in a book binder with a clearly marked label.
For example, they would read a favorite biography and then paint portraits of the subject; or they would design their own fruit or planet and write a brief writeup on hows and whys of it.
Build me up This covers a broad array of subjects from manners to debating. We would pick up a behavior and master it that summer like holding a door open and making sure they say “thank you” to anyone doing the same (while making eye-contact). Or I provide them with decisions and they have to create a persuasive essay to negotiate their point across.
The World and Me This was meant to help them understand the world is larger than our zipcode and to promote the “Think globally, act locally”. We would discuss things like the right to protest as we visited New York City and they view how a person petition their rights. Comprehending things like Fair Trade and what it means to them and people in countries around the world became a discussion as we visited clothing stores at mall as they noticed products marked “Fair Trade”.
Just Be Why yes, we did really need a focus of “stopping” or “pausing”. All too often we forget to breathe. Just because we can do everything does not mean we should. In between the shopping, working, therapy sessions, errands, appointments and well life we need to schedule time to breathe. We packed a blanket and picnic basket in the car with our “car library” (yes we really have one) and seized the opportunity to hit the “pause” button and grab some food and enjoy a stream or park. Entertainment need not be one where you buy a ticket and stand in line.
HOW IS “NIRI CAMP” DIFFERENT? You don’t need a physical camp! But if you have camps built in summer you can totally do them and work this around or into it. We went to the local lake and my kids took water testing kits to check out the water. You don’t need to be “Niri”. Your camp, your way. You know those behaviors that you wanted to work on in the year but were too overwhelmed/tired/forgetful/busy to deal with? Now’s your time. You don’t need to pay a cent. Free is always appealing but don’t assume that it is not worth the investment. The value is in tailoring it to your family and you do this best when you know your family. You don’t need to be a Stay at home parent. You create the experiences whenever you want. Quality and not quantity is more important. You don’t need to pause your summer plans. Got a vacation? Great, build it in. For example, we were in Cancun and my kids did a chart on what the resort was doing to be green/eco-friendly. You don’t have to miss the friends! We built in adventures with friends like spy dates (forensics with fingerprints) and a kiddie cooking challenge á la Food Network “Chopped”-style.
See more on Instagram at #niricamp13 #niricamp14 and #niricamp15