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With school out and summer upon us, people across the country are planning family camping trips with an eye toward enjoying time together in the great outdoors. Whether bound for the seaside or mountain, historical sites or natural wonders, these outings provide a comparatively inexpensive way for families to experience the best America has to offer while creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime.
As with so many things in life, a certain amount of preparation is needed to ensure your trip goes off without a hitch. Here are a few tips to consider.
Keep Cool: Veteran campers know the importance of positioning a tent or camper to minimize the summer heat’s impact. Pay attention to the slant of your tent or camper when you orient it in a campsite; it’s ideal, in hot locations, to ensure your tent is in the shade for at least part of the day to keep it cool. If possible, leave it open during the day to allow the circulation of cooler air. Also consider portable, battery-operated fans to help you through still nights.
Banish Bugs: Mosquitoes and their like can be a real nuisance and potential health risk, particularly if your destination is lakeside. Be aware that burning sage over the camping stove provides a lovely smell and has the added advantage of dissuading any mosquitos from gathering. Remember that moths and other insects aren’t as attracted to warm yellow light as they are to bright white beams. Insect repellent is a must, mosquito nets are definitely your friend, and be sure to tote along a supply of aloe vera to help those who do get bitten.
Liquid Assets: Before you head out the door, make sure you know all there is to know about sources of water at your destination. Where are the taps? Will you need to purify the water? Bear in mind that, even if you’re just lazing around all day, you’ll want to drink more water in hot weather than you would camping in cooler seasons. That particularly applies if you’re keen on summer activities like hiking and swimming.
Keep Your Cool: You probably don’t think twice at home about the need to keep food cool – after all, that’s why you bought that refrigerator in the kitchen. By contrast, camping requires you keep it foremost in your mind. Remember that cooling things in your ice box is easier with one large ice block rather than with dozens of tiny ice cubes. Gel packs packed alongside will help maintain cold temperatures and can also be re-cooled when they warm up. Keep one food carrier specifically for cold food if possible.
Health Watch: Do you know the signs of sunstroke? Dizziness, muscle cramps, lack of sweating and rapid breathing are all potential symptoms. Whether you’ve been dancing around at a festival all day or stretching your legs in a balmy national park, sunstroke is a genuine issue after excess sun exposure. Medical ice packs should come along in your cool bag to help cool body temperature rapidly. And remember that pets suffer extremely badly in heat without proper water or shade.
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At Harmony Communities, we feel strongly that each resident has a sense of home. That they come home from work and feel pride in their environment and in their place in the greater community. That families are comfortable raising children in our neighborhoods, and that couples and singles know that they belong to something bigger than their four walls. In other words, we seek to create harmony within each community, making our communities not just passable, but peaceful, safe, functional, and beautiful.
