Travelling and Photography

March 1, 2010

American Summer Camps – What They Offer

Filed under: Camping — Tags: , , , , — arkan @ 4:33 pm

The typical scene of the traditional American summer camps involves a beautiful natural locale, enthusiastic children and proficient trainers from all over the globe. This article revolves around some basic aspects of camps in general.

However, the concept of the camping venture was first put forward by Frederic William Gunn in America in 1861; it has now blossomed in full bloom. As a result, there are host of full-fledged summer camps arranged in all over the world covering diverse topics and subjects for kids, teens and elders. The main intention of all the camps, however, remains the same – to develop skills, peer relations, and self-esteem in the campers.

As the times goes by, the number of summer camp attending students are getting increased remarkably. And more surprisingly, only in America, you will find more than 12,000 camps. This shows that such camps are proving to be rewarding for the students in many ways.

American summer camps serve as of huge varieties. You have amazing options like traditional summer day camps, overnight camps, high school and academic camps, adventure and sports camps, summer fun and computer camps for kids and teens. All these are specially designed to meet the needs of the students.

When it comes to making a right choice of the camps, make certain inquiries to make your decision easier. Suppose, you wish to join sports camps, you will learn something like horseback riding, ice skating or hockey, football, volleyball and so on. If you choose academic summer camps, you will have great exposure to various topics like astronomy, arts, creative writing, journalism, math, and science, robotics, and so on. It is up to you what you wish to learn.

Some of the best American summer camps are iD Tech Camps, Supercamp, and University of Illinois Summer Sports Camps. Make sure that the fee-structure varies from one location to another. Therefore, decide properly when it comes to choosing a location for the camp.

Matt Baumel is the key member at iD Tech summer Camps which offers best summer computer camps across USA. Let your child have some fun with education this summer with American summer camps.

February 9, 2010

Has Your Child Outgrown Traditional Summer Camp? Try An Extreme Sports Camp!

Filed under: Camping — Tags: , , , , , , — arkan @ 4:28 pm

Remember camp when you were a kid? You spent your days horseback riding, petting farm animals and shooting bows and arrows. Your nights were filled with skits, s’mores, and singing songs around the campfire.

You can still find summer programs like these. There will always be a market for the tradtional camp experience. But today’s youth often demands more stimulating camp activities. Extreme sports camps are where it’s at!

Extreme sports camps run the gamut from surfing camps to wakeboarding camps to dirt biking camps and more. Though extreme sports camps are often viewed as “riskier” than traditional camps, the risks or dangers are often more perceived than actual when the camp takes proper precautions.

What are the “proper precautions” needed to keep kids safe at extreme sports camps?

In general, the camp staff requires additional training and expertise in the activities being offered. New, modern, and well-maintained equipment must be utilized. And weather conditions (such as at a surf camp, for example) must be just right; you don’t want your child learning to surf on a 5 foot wave when a 1-foot wave is more than appropriate for a beginner.

Since extreme sports camp activities are typically more challenging than traditional camp activities, your child’s potential for personal growth and development is enormous. It is not unusual for parents to report a dramatic increase in their child’s self-confidence and esteem after participating in an extreme sports camp. Imagine your son or daughter’s sense of pride and achievement after conquering the biggest wave at surf camp!

The thrill and fun of attending an extreme sports camp can’t be beat. But remember, the necessity for proper safety provisions, supervision, equipment, and personnel cannot be overstated. Assuming these important variables are in place, your child could be in for the most amazing camp experience of their life.

Eric Naftulin is the owner/operator of Aloha Beach Camp, an extreme sports, beach and surf camp for kids and teens ages 4 to 15 in Los Angeles, California. Try Aloha Beach Camp and learn to surf, boogie board, wakeboard, jet ski and more.

October 8, 2009

Camping Tent – Factors in Purchasing the Right Tent

Filed under: Camping — Tags: , , , , — arkan @ 2:01 am

Are you planning for a camp and want to spend time in the outdoors? Then camping tent is the most important item that you need to carry with you. Here the most important thing is choosing the right type of tent and its color, quality and the size.

You can find the camping tents which are really useful for sub zero temperatures whereas some others are excellent for tropical forest atmospheric conditions. It is better to select camping tents based on the climate that you will be camping in.

Here are the things that you need to consider while buying camping tent:

In order to select the right type of tent, the first thing you need to do is decide the dimensions of the camping tent that you need. Mainly tents are prepared to protect you and your family.

In the market you will find the tents with labels telling their capacity, or for how many campers it is made. There is no need to choose various tents with different capacities. So, think carefully and decide cleverly on the biggest number of campers that you predict camping together with you.

Basically every camping tent consists of four components. They include: tent body, the poles, the trap and the rain fly. The trap is basically a material that you set on the ground which helps to keep your tent floor last longer.

Tips to choose camping tents based on your needs:

Just think what you require. Before going to purchase, consider the below factors:

• Your camping place or spot

• The season

• Whether you will be backpacking or not

Also consider if you have any other requirements and then decide the type of camping tent that you need.

Decide your budget and how much you are going to spend on the camping tent. Once you have decided your budget you will not spend much on it.

• Decide on the size and weight of the tent. If you prefer car camping, the size of the tent doesn’t matter.

• If there are many campers to sleep in the tent it is better to pick a large camping tent.

• If you want to go on backpacking then it is suggested to invest in a lightweight camping tent.

Search for the available aspects of the tent. It is suggested to select a durable fabric tent. Test how the tent shade spreads the light within the tent. Some colors make the interior of the camping tents brighter, whereas some colors make it dim and gloomy.

If you are planning for a summer camp, it is better to choose light color tents. For cold seasons, pick dark colored camping tents, as they absorb the heat from the sun and keep the interior of the tent warm.

Also, check the coating of the tent. Look for a water proof and shiny coating inside the tent. If you don’t observe these features then the tent might not be durable enough for heavy usage.

The most popular tent makers include: Great land, Coleman, Eddie Bauer, and Wenger. Select the manufacturer whom you trust most. With the wrong type of tent you can’t enjoy the camping experience to the fullest. It leaves it as an unpleasant one.

So, think carefully and choose wisely while you are purchasing the camping tents. Just remember that the tent you have chosen will be the home away from your home for fewer days. Visit Camping Tourist

Camping Tourist blog helps you learn everything you need to know about camping. Know more about various aspects related to camping such as camping tips, camping equipments, camping spots, and many more things. Visit http://www.campingtourist.com

September 18, 2009

Are Specialty Summer Camps Giving Traditional Camps a Run for Their Money?

Filed under: Camping — Tags: , , , , , , — arkan @ 7:30 am

Could this be the end of summer camp as we know it?

Have traditional summer camps — where kids enjoy horseback riding, archery, take nature hikes, sing songs and make s’mores around the campfire — seen their final days?

Probably not. But given the way specialty camps are gaining traction among today’s youth, traditional camps may be losing their foothold.

According to Theresa Torrone, a volunteer for the American Camp Association and the owner/operator of her own beach and surf specialty camp in Los Angeles, California, “Specialty camps appeal to kids with very specific interests. Rather than participate in a wide variety of general camp activities, they’d rather spend their summer focusing on just one specialty activity instead.”

Torrone cited cooking camps, dramatic arts camps, and surf (also known as surfing) camps among some of the fastest growing genres in the specialty summer camp field.

“As a volunteer for the American Camp Association, I visit various types of camps each summer, and I’m intimately familiar with many others. I can tell you that the specialty camp sector is growing like gangbusters,” Torrone said.

Given the fact surf camps – where kids learn not only how to surf, but also about surf etiquette, wave judgment and selection, ocean science and water safety – are becoming more prevalent, is Torrone concerned about the inevitable added competition for her own camp?

“Nah,” she said with a smile. “The more kids who experience camp at the beach, the better. If they come to my camp, great. But the most important thing is that they get to experience the ocean environment somewhere. I’m glad there are so many available opportunities for kids to learn to surf at camp.”

 Most likely, the traditional camp experience will last forever because many parents feel that sending their kids to a traditional summer camp is a virtual an American pastime.

But specialty camps are gaining ground fast…of that there is no doubt.

Copyright Eric D. Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.

Eric D. Naftulin is the owner/operator of Aloha Beach Camp, an aquatic sports summer day camp for kids and teens ages 4 to 15 in Los Angeles, California. Try Aloha Beach Camp and learn to surf, boogie board, wakeboard, jet ski and more.

September 15, 2009

Camping Gear – Choosing the Right Camping Gear

Filed under: Camping — Tags: , , , — arkan @ 7:28 am

Choosing camping gear is not about buying the latest, most popular or even the most expensive equipment. Camping equipment should be affordable and suitable for your needs.

The key to choosing the right gear is to know what you will encounter on your camping trip. How long you will be camping also influences what camping gear you would need.

Consider which gear is essential based on the terrain and weather conditions. You can still have many choices of gear which are still practical and functional even if you are on a tight budget.

It’s easy to get distracted by all the gear you see in camping stores but you need to focus on the camping gear that you will definitely need and would later prove useful to your needs.

You also wouldn’t want to carry too much gear and equipment if you can. The rule of thumb is to carry not more than a third of your body weight.

The strongest camping and hiking gear may be too heavy or lack the features you need so evaluate the conditions of the terrain and decide if you really need gear that may be overkill. Contact the local tourist office to find out about weather conditions and terrain before you start buying new equipment or before you pack what you have already.

Sometimes you will go through a variety of conditions and terrain in the same camping trip so make sure you take this into account when choosing camping gear. For example if you go on a mountain hike, the conditions and terrain would be different at the top of the climb than at the beginning.

If the weather is unpredictable bring rain gear and pack your gear in a waterproof enclosure so that it remains dry.

Making Your Own Camping Checklist

A camping checklist is something that evolves as you gain more experience camping. It not only makes sure that you carry everything that you might need but it also can be used to make sure that you don’t carry too much camping equipment.

To make a dynamic camping checklist that you be useful for different occasions make a note of which camping gear you did or did not use and alter you list accordingly.

The camping list may change from each camping trip as you encounter different conditions. This is the trial and error method for choosing the right camping equipment for you.

As you take notes on which equipment works best for different situations and which gear you wish you had or how much of the camping supplies you had used up in your camping trip your list will become better, more useful and more customized to your individual needs.

Making your backpack lighter

While the camping gear checklist can possibly make your backpack lighter by reducing the number of camping, it may take a few camping trips to get it right.

With new technology camping equipment are increasingly lighter and smaller with new designs and materials. Choosing a lighter alternative to the same piece of gear can significantly reduce your overall load. It is not necessary to sacrifice certain essentials just to make your backpack lighter.

A lighter backpack will help you travel more quickly and cover more distances in a day and put less stress on your knees, shoulders, neck and back.

These 5 tips will help you reduce the weight of your backpack.

? Get rid excess – Don’t bring extra changes of clothing more than one. Don’t bring more than one cooking pot.

? If you are hiking in a group or someone else try to share some of the camping gear that can be conveniently shared like camping tent, camping stove, insect repellent etc.

? Replace camping equipments with lighter versions of it. Lightweight components and simple designs can almost maximize function while minimizing weight.

? Use camping gear that can perform different functions.

? Use travel size versions for consumables like soap and toothpaste and try to reduce packaging.

Traveling with a big load on your back is not fun and most times unnecessary. If that’s what you’ve been doing you’ll appreciate how easy it is to travel with a lighter load. Keeping your body in shape can help you carry your load better still.

Jonsky is an expert in camping gear and hiking equipment with over 20 years of experience hiking exotic places around the world. Especially loves hiking in the mountains. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonsky_Sicuna
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