Posts Tagged ‘outdoors’

Best Teen Camps

Friday, February 5th, 2010

While choosing the right Teen Summer Camps may be more complicated than selecting a general interest camp for a younger child, the rewards can be even richer. A teenager is in the midst of an incredible growth spurt. There is a literal physical change that you may see when your teen arrives home, but equally important are the emotional, spiritual, intellectual, and social changes that a challenging summer program can produce in a child in this age group.

Finding the right summer program for teens is not all that different than that of a ten year old. It is important to find a safe, secure, and appropriate environment. Yet, teens need and are ready for new challenges and increased independence. Yearly, as interests expand and your child matures, reexamine your choice.

Remeber, interests, and abilities of a 13 year-old are quite different from that of a 17 year-old. So, when thinking programs, you should always keep in mind your child’s maturity. Supervision in many of the programs designed for teens is less than for younger children, so be sure to ask. One great resource is Summer Camp Advice, a free website that offers all sorts of information on how to select a summer camp.

As you know a teenager is part kid and part adult. So planning way in advance may be difficult. Yet, good programs may fill-up fast. Early registration will give you the widest range of selection.

The best way to start is to sit down and listen to your child. Often you can strengthen your relationship with your teenager. Discuss with your child his interests, concerns, and values. You need to talk with your teen about what each of you want the summer to be. Look for opportunities for personal growth as well as just getting better in a sport. Be ready for ” I don’t want to do anything.”

Their are many teen programs available and its important to try to find the right one. As a parent do not give up right away. Sometimes you have to really look hard to find the right answer. The internet is a very useful tool for this. But it is helpful to know what kind of program you are thinking of. Is it: serving, traveling or adventure or a little of all. One great resource is Summer Camp Advice, a free website that offers all sorts of information on how to select a summer camp.

One of the best ways to reconcile your goals with your child’s is to piece together the summer with activities from both of your lists. Although it is more difficult and figuring things out may be more time consuming, your teen will get a broader experience for your work.

Rules for the Summer are extra important If you decide that your teenager doing local programs for the summer. Expectation, chores, and schedules need to be laid out in advance. This will be especially important if this will be the first summer in years that your youngster is spending at home.

Swift Nature Camp may be the perfect fit for your teenager. Swift Nature Camp is unique among teen summer camps in that we provide teens a special opportunity to make friends in a relaxed and fun-filled environment, to build self-esteem and independence, and to challenge themselves with new physical and creative activities. We realize teenagers want to do things for themselves and are bored by a “normal” camp. So we provide an Adventure Camp program with loads of opportunities cabins often leave camp and go out into the big open wild and see the Apostle Islands, go to the International Wolf Center or find themselves canoeing down the Mississippi River.

Last and most importantly remember youth is limited and no adult ever looked back and recalls the good old days of just watching TV all summer!

TO learn more how to select an Summer Camp visit Summer Camp Advice. Summer Camp.

Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, Coed Summer Camp for teenagers. Campers enjoy Adventure trips along with in camp activities: Scuba, Sailing, Skiing and more. To learn more click Minnesota Summer Camps

Picking a Northwoods Summer Camp

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Sending your child to a Wisconsin Summer Camp is a great idea if you have done your homework. The American Camp Association suggest you try these top questions.

What’s the camp’s ideology? Are you comfortable with this ? Is it a good fit for your child? Is competition or cooperation emphasized? What religious observances or practices are part of the program?

What does camp do with staff? First aid training? Drug Testing? Do counselors have criminal background checks? What’s the training all about?

What about return rates? How many counselors are returning this year? The ACA says at most camps, 50 percent of the staff returns. If the number you’re given is lower, ask why. How many campers return? Fifty percent is good, and more is better. Still looking for that perfect camp Check out this Wisconsin Summer Camps

What’s the ratio of staff to camper? Guidelines for overnight camps are for a 1:6 ratio for ages for younger children, and 1:10 for older teens.

How old are the counselors? The ACA recommends that 80 percent of the staff be 18 or older and that all staffers be at least 16 and a minimum of two years older than the campers they supervise.

Is a Nurse at hand? The ACA recommends that an sleepaway camps have a physician or nurse on the site daily. If your camper has medications, food allergies or a medical condition, be sure you ask all your questions and are comfortable.

How does the camp Punish and Discipline? Know what your camp’s rules are and what breaches would send a camper home. You should be comfortable with these.

What does a camp Day look like? This will help you decide if your child will be happy with the level of physical activity or the amount of time devoted to arts and crafts. Ask how much freedom a child has to choose activities.

Will the camp be transporting the children? What vehicles are used and how often are they inspected? Who drives them and what training do drivers have?

Ask for references. Finally and most important, get the names of parents with children the same age who have attended the camp.

Still need a resource to help you figure out all about summer camps? Try Summer Camp

About the authors: Swift Nature Camp, a non-competitive, traditional coed Wisconsin Summer Camp. Boys and Girls Ages 6-15 enjoy nature, animals and science along with traditional camping activities. Swift specializes in programs for the first time camper as well as adventures for teens. Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz have been the owners since 1996. Kids Summer Camp Wisconsin

categories: Wisconsin,Wisconsin summer camp,Summer Camp,Camp,Overnight Camp,Kids camp,Youth Summer camp,Kids,Children,Vacation,Leisure,Outdoors,Families,Parenting

Cuba A World Of Adventure

Thursday, December 31st, 2009

Cuba Beaches with white, grey, black and golden sand contrast with blue or aqua-green seas; the calm water near a mountain peak hides the inner beauty of its seabed. Some of its coasts are on the Caribbean; others, on the Atlantic. In both cases, its shores tempt you to give yourself over to the sensual, magical movement of the waves.

Choose any of the large tourist resorts or an intimate, virgin, uninhabited spot for enjoying the beach. Take a cruise on board a pleasure yacht or catamaran, go deep -sea fishing or surfing, take out an aqua bike, warm up with snorkeling and then launch yourself on a real adventure with aqualungs among tropical fish and beautiful coral formations in some of the most amazing and best preserved underwater scenery in the world.

The Cuban archipelago, which is 42,854 square miles (110,992 square kilometers) in size, consists of the main island of Cuba-a long and narrow island measuring 744 miles (1200 kilometers) from east to west, the largest island in the Antilles-the Isle of Youth and around 4195 other cays and islets.

It has over 3560 miles (5746 kilometers) of irregular coastline, including more than 200 bays and over 300 beaches whose sand is of different colors and textures. It is common knowledge that the Cuban sea is of excellent quality.

Cuba has 36 scuba-diving centers, which are related to over 500 carefully selected sites in lush underwater seascapes. The show begins just a few feet from the coast, and it keeps expanding as you go out, climaxing in a slope or sharp drop.

This peaceful, silent world-whose water is so clear that you can see for from 65 to 130 feet (from 20 to 40 meters) around you teems with fish of many colors, shapes and sizes, whose world consists of forests of coral, sponges, gorgonians and algae.

Caves, profusely decorated vertical walls, tunnels, cliffs and channels offer endless options for scuba diving both during the day and at night…. Experiences go from simple observation to swimming near large fish in complete safety.

Cuba without a doubt is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in the Caribbean. Combine that fact with a super rich history and you have the perfect formula for an unforgettable holiday.

Jose Maurette is the Director of Quest World Travel Ltd and a specialist in organizing holidays to Cuba. Visit www.quest2cuba.co.uk for further information on the best Cuba Holidays.

The History Of The Hybrid Vehicle

Thursday, October 29th, 2009

Just where did a hybrid car get it’s origins? Read on to find out. Hybrid cars are very popular to modern car buyers and there are many reasons why that should be. But before you even think about choosing a hybrid vehicle to purchase, you might want to know a little bit about the history of the hybrid first.

It is surprising, but hybrid cars were around even before gas-powered cars. In about the year 1665, a Jesuit priest by the name of Ferdinand Verbeist began making plans for a new type of vehicle. That vehicle or cart would be very simple, nothing complex. Simple was all he was interested in.

So Ferdinand designed a car that would have four wheels and would run only on steam. It took about fifteen years of work for Ferdinand to go through with his plan. He laboured to perfect his dream car. But no one knows if he ever finished because there is no evidence that his concept ever came into existence.

Then in 1769, a man by the name of Nicholas Cugnot developed a carriage that was driven by steam. This carriage did in fact work, and it could go at six miles per hour. This project was great, but it was difficult to get the amount of steam needed that would allow the car to go any significant distance.

A break through in hybrid car design finally came when Robert Anderson developed an electrically powered car in 1839. It was the first of its breed and was built in Scotland.

This type of electric car was a highly applauded innovation of its time. But, the only problem was that it was very difficult to replenish the car’s battery. Some pioneers did come after Anderson, but they had the same problem of getting the battery recharged easily.

Eventually, in the year 1898, Porsche developed an electric and fuel combination combustion engine that was the first of its kind. The car was called the Lohner Electric Chaise and it could go for up to 40 miles just using its batteries.

Within a short space of time, pioneers combined both gas and a battery powered engines to become what would turn into today’s hybrid car. In 1999, Honda made a leap into the US market. It brought out the Honda Insight, which was a lightweight two-door hybrid vehicle. Since then, hybrid vehicles have been evolving and improving into what we see on the market today. Hybrid cars are no longer just for the techies who think it’s nice to combine battery and liquid fuel to get them where they need to go. Hybrid cars started out simple, and they still are quite simple today.

Nowadays hybrid cars are becoming more and more popular as people are getting to understand them better. In the 21st century, hybrids saw a big boom in sales after the Toyota Prius came on the streets. It was the first hybrid with four doors that was marketed in the USA.

Then, Ford’s Escape hybrid became the very first SUV hybrid ever made. So there, you have it, the history of the hybrid vehicle, today’s modern car.

If you are interested in the insides of New Hybrid Vehicles, just visit our website on http://new-hybrid-vehicles.com

categories: hybrid vehicles,automobiles,trucks,SUV,environmental,technology,hi-tech,oil,fashion,science,innovation,leasing,outdoors,other

Spitting Cobras

Sunday, October 25th, 2009

The spitting cobra is one of the most peculiar species of snake as it not only has a deadly bite but it also sprays venom into the eyes of prey and aggressors alike. Contact with the eyes can be very painful and even blinding, therefore, if you accidentally get cobra snake venom in your eyes, wash them out immediately so as to prevent permanent damage to the tissue.

The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is also unusual in this large family of snakes (elapidae) because it feeds almost exclusively on other snakes with mice and small birds also making up part of its diet.

The King Cobra is also a record-holder because of its size – it can reach almost twenty feet (585 cms) in length, which makes it the largest poisonous snake in the world. The most recent discovery of a new species of cobra was made in 2003 as part of an illegal shipment of exotic pets at London Zoo.

Going by DNA reports, this new species of snake is similar to the red spitting cobra but differs in genes. It apparently originates from an area between Sudan and Egypt and it has been named the ‘Nubian Spitting Cobra’.

Although they are highly dangerous when threatened cobras will rarely attack if you keep your distance from them, although the spit can travel very accurately for two meters. Compared to the strike of a rattlesnake, the cobra is rather slow in its attack and besides that, many bites prove to be non-venomous.

Statistics of a study conducted on Malaysian cobra snake victims indicate that only 55% of the bites involved poison release and the same statistics indicate a mortality rate of only 10% for people bitten, since the poisons injected into the blood of the prey destroy the nerves (neurotoxins), which induces respiratory failure approximately half an hour after being bitten, so you have 30 minutes to seek help.

Their colouration varies from light green-grey to black, although juveniles are yellow and black banded.This snake is widespread throughout south-eastern Asia.

Do you care for Cobras? To learn more about snakes visit Caring for Snakes our new web site.

Deep Sea Fishing

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

Even though this term might make you think of ocean fishing, deep sea fishing refers to that which is performed in waters as large as or larger than lakes. Rivers and ponds are not “deep sea fishing” as the water is usually too shallow. Deep sea fishing is carried out in coastal waters where lots of large fish species make their home.

Deep sea game fishing does require a larger boat in order to achieve open sea manoeuvres and store the catch conveniently. Such a boat should have enough room for the crew meant to actually do the fishing and also for the equipment needed in order to catch and store these larger scale fish. It should be the type of boat intended to withstand sea storms and bad weather and to gain easy access to the fishing areas in a fast and safe manner.

The wide range of fish that are caught in deep sea fishing includes marlins, swordfish, sailfish, large tunas and various types of sharks. There are also smaller species of fish captured at the same time with these large ones. However, the former are not part of the plan. These come as by-catch or, if caught intentionally, they are meant to be turned into bait for the larger fishes.

Open sea fishing became a basic occupation in coastal areas, allowing people to earn their living. Later it became a proper business. California, Nova Scotia, Hawaii, Florida, New Zealand are among the most common locations. A big advantage of those areas is that the possibility of catching big fish along the coasts is triple that of other regions where the various large species live in far deeper waters.

Deep sea fishing involves several techniques out of which the most common is trolling, that is a form of angling performed by drawing a baited line on the bottom of the ocean. The bait usually is squid or other smaller fish caught for baiting purposes and it is cast behind the boat. The stabilizers behind the boat also called outriggers work great in spreading and enlarging the area for catching the fish. Another technique is the chumming or chunking which requires that large pieces of bait fish get thrown overboard in order to attract the desired larger species.

So, as to be expected, deep sea game fishing has reached unparalleled proportions in terms of its extent because of people’s demand for large fish in their kitchen or restaurant. These days, various fish food diets have actually become first-class aids to healthy living and many people are giving up red meat for this lite-fat, white kind.

If you are keen on fishing and would like to read more, please pop along to our website called Gone Fishing

Gay Tourism Guide: Hot Spots to Travel in Mexico

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

When people think of Mexico they tend to think of this country as traditional, macho and Catholic. Nothing is further from the truth. Just like everywhere else there are places where there is homosexuality in Mexico.

In fact, the state of Coahuila and Mexico City itself have legalized civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, with Michoacan, Veracruz, Puebla, Guerrero, Colima and Jalisco being well on their way to doing the same.

Despite the impression people have of Mexico as a conservative and religious nation, in some regards it leads its neighbors. However, many Mexican gays and lesbians are not out about their sexuality. Even though homosexuality is largely accepted in Mexico, a lot of gays and lesbians in Mexico would rather not proclaim their sexual preferences to the world.

One cultural difference between the US and Mexico is that Mexicans generally keep their private lives a little more private than we tend to in our country. However, Mexico is a very welcoming place for gay travelers, which led Planetout out to name Mexico as their 2007 travel destination of the year.

So, let’s take a look at the Mexico’s top gay destinations.

Cancun. On top of the list is Cancun. Is the newest hot spot for gay visitors. Traditionally it was Acapulco, or Puerto Vallarta. This even though it has an image that it is a place for straight people on Spring Beak.

Situated in the Yucatan Peninsula state of Quintana Roo, the city has a subtropical climate with average temperatures averaging between 81 and 95 degrees. Downtown Cancun is home to a lot of gay nightlife and is located only fifteen minutes from the Hotel Zone.

Cancun’s oldest and most popular gay club is the Karamba. For more than 30 years, this club has been packing its dance floor with a lively throng which includes many international tourists as well as locals. The Picante is also worth a visit. A little smaller than the Karamba, this club draws a mixed crowd of gays and straights, tourists and locals, transvestites and really, everyone.

Unofficially the gay beach is the Playa Delfines. It has the longest and widest beach. The Villas Tacul is geared towards homosexuals. There appears to be about hundreds of gay-friendly hotels to choose from.

Mexico City. As Mexico’s largest city (and in fact, Mexico City is even larger than New York City), Mexico City has a large gay and lesbian community and has even legalized same sex civil unions. Mexico City offers a lot of gay nightlife and culture, with many gay clubs, including a few dozen in the Zona Rosa alone. There are gay theater groups and an annual Gay Pride Parade.

Guadalajara. Mexico’s second city also has a large gay and lesbian population and is a great place for gay tourists to visit. Cultural amenities here include a popular gay radio show, a gay cultural center and a more atmosphere about homosexuality than seen in many other Mexican cities. Guadalajara has a particularly large lesbian population.

There is a long list of gay bars and clubs. But here is just a couple. The Angel’s bar that plays electronica. Monica’s Disco plays Latin rhythm disco. To locate other clubs and bars for a bit of nightlife look for La Guia Rosa or Zona Gay.

We really know the significance of your presence. You will find the best attendance, fun, entertainment and all your needs in this event. We have structured a perfectly-done plan covering all elements of your attendance’s main objective: to enjoy this unforgettable Latin Hot Party experience! Without a doubt these will be your best lesbian vacations.

See Anglesey Coast from Menai Straits Bridge, Road Link to Anglesey Built by Telford

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

When you approach Anglesey in North Wales you will see the enigmatic Menai Straits Bridge, designed and constructed by Thomas Telford, the famous 19th century engineer. The strong tidal waters crossing to Anglesey from the mainland has been a challenge for centuries and finally Telford and his team managed to come up with an innovative design which was up to the task. You will enjoy the coastal views from this bridge as you cross to the island for your vacation.

A step back in time suggests that Menai Bridge may have been a small Roman settlement and at this point of the Menai Straits there was a ferry crossing, as it is where the island and mainland are nearest. Further north monks, visiting the Augustinian Priory at Penmon a few centuries ago, would cross the Lavan sands north west of Bangor at low tide, and made for the shore at Llanfaes, north of Beaumaris.

So what events led to Telford being commissioned with the task of constructing such this impressive Menai Straits Bridge, an innovative example of civil engineering for the early nineteenth century? Following the Act of Union between Britain and Ireland in 1800 pressure grew for a far more efficient transport link between London and the Irish capital, Dublin.

When you think how the famous composer George Frederick Handel struggled to reach Dublin from Holyhead in 1742, it shows you how difficult it was travelling between England and Ireland. After getting through the challenging Snowdon Mountain range, there was still the Menai Straits crossing and then the voyage to Dublin itself.

A bridge crossing to Anglesey island was the key improvement in the London Dublin transport link, with a ferry from the port of Holyhead already in service. Building work began across the Menai Straits in 1819 after much political negotiation and pressure. The two huge towers which you see are a key feature of the bridge and they are made from limestone from the nearby island quarry. Sixteen wrought iron chain cables supported the bridge across the 175 metre gap, but they were replaced with steel cables before World War Two.

Travel times have been transformed dramatically since the early nineteenth century. Just consider that before 1826 it took 36 hours to travel by coach from London to Holyhead. After completion of the Menai Suspension Bridge journey times reduced to 27 hours for the same route. Contrast that with a car journey today between Holyhead and London taking about 6 hours, such are the benefits of Telford’s Menai Straits Bridge, modern roads and the internal combustion engine.

On Anglesey you will discover some stunning coastal and woodland walks close to this enigmatic bridge, which are well signposted with relatively easy access. Looking north from the bridge you will see the small harbour at Menai Bridge with small yachts and fishing craft moored nearby. In what are strong tidal waters you, you may see yachts and motor craft passing under the bridge, heading for Beaumaris and Puffin Island.

As you stand on the bridge looking south west, see how the strong Menai Straits currents flow towards the dual rail and road Britannia Bridge and on past Caernarfon Castle to the open sea. Off the Anglesey Coastline to the south is a small island, Ynys Gorad Goch, while on the shoreline a Statue of Admiral Nelson stands, and nearby is the former Indefatigable Sailing School. You can indulge your senses in all these experiences from the high vantage point of this enigmatic Menai Straits Bridge.

The author, David Phillips, writes from beautiful Anglesey, North Wales, and owns a helpful website focusing on local news and features about the island. Find out more about Menai Straits Bridge, a remarkable attraction and example of 19th century civil engineering achievement.

How Hybrid Cars can Reduce the Energy Crisis

Monday, September 7th, 2009

It has been said that not enough people are doing all they can do to fight against the energy crisis. Hybrid cars can help, but definitely not enough people are driving them. Here are a few issues related to the energy crisis and how hybrid cars can help.

The U.S. isn’t doing enough really. The United States consumes more fossil fuels than any other country in the world. However, most people think that all of our energy problems can be solved if we would only look further into the oil deposits in Alaska or if we made full use of the recent oil discovery in the Gulf of Mexico.

Hybrid cars can result in us not having to consume other sources of energy to keep the economy afloat. Hybrid cars won’t cause Americans to consume more fossil fuel. Rather, hybrid cars make Americans use less fossil fuel.

Petrol consumers just accept increasing fuel prices. People used to care that petrol prices are much higher today than they were a few years ago. Now, however, people just take the higher prices in their stride. Furthermore, in the meantime, cars are getting bigger and bigger. Car manufacturers are making trucks and SUV’s, which consume more petrol at the higher prices.

These vehicles use more fuel, but you would never believe just how many people will not give up their petrol-guzzling SUV. Hybrid cars do eventually cost their owners less to own than conventional vehicles do. So there is no need to be concerned about settling for being swindled by the oil companies.

Soon there will be an end to the “cheap oil period”. Soon, we could all be in over our heads, because not only will we be in an fossil fuel crisis, but in a peak oil crisis too. During this peak oil crisis period, there will be petrol shortages and natural gas shortages too. The major countries will need to compete against each another for whatever small amount of oil is left.

Therefore, everyone may have some problems, and countries may have to fight for who gets oil and who does not. The peak petrol crisis can be staved off, if more people just purchased hybrid cars. Hybrid vehicles ensure that people are not always having to be looking for petrol. Additionally, there are advances being made to hybrid vehicles all the time.

The plug-in hybrid cars, for instance, might not even need oil whatsoever one day. So, just in case we do have an energy crisis one day, Americans ought really to be spending the intervening time to finding a answer to the coming oil crisis in the U.S. Hybrid vehicles are the way to avoid the energy crisis, and if countries still want to compete with each other over gas, at least America will know they tried to slow the impending crisis by investing in hybrid vehicles.

So, there you have it. America’s mass use of hybrid vehicles would ensure that Americans need less gas. But Americans also still have yet to gain from the large amount of money being made from hybrid cars. The majority of popular hybrid vehicles come from Japan. Therefore, Americans need to bring that money back into the country by making hybrids at home and do something about the current energy crisis at the same time.

If you are interested in the pros and cons of New Hybrid Vehicles, please visit our website on http://new-hybrid-vehicles.com

Camping Trip Essentials

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Camping is an activity that in most cases requires a lot of planning. There is an old saying that goes like this “planning the trip is half the trip.” This might be a stretch, but not as far as you might think. It is very important to have everything planned before going.

To make the job easier for you, I will try to give a few pointers on what you cannot forget in this article. I have focused on the most important things, the things you can’t afford to forget. Things like tooth paste i have chosen to ignore.

When I am packing, the first thing i always pack is my cooking equipment. I prefer to use a cooking device that runs on gas, but it is entirely up to you what you want to use. You can of course also choose to rely on dry wood and a camp fire, but I have learned that it is good to at least bring my gas cooker.

For me, a camping tent is one of the most important things that i pack for a camping trip. A lot of people say that if the weather is good enough, you don’t have to bring a tent. Well, you never know when the weather will change. It doesn’t hurt to have the tent in your backpack just in case the rain will start pouring.

When you have the tent safely placed in your backpack it is time to find your sleeping bag. Just as with the tents, I know that a lot of people say that they don’t need a sleeping bag. For me, a sleeping bag is extremely important as i have problems sleeping without something around my body. I also use a mattress, primarily an inflatable mattress.

My best friend when camping is without a doubt my GPS. The problem is that they are quite expensive. For just about anyone a map and compass will do just fine.

All the things that I have talked about here is the most important the gear category. There is another category that is maybe even more important; the supplies. The supplies category consist of things like food, drinks, tooth paste, etc. I know that a lot of un-experienced campers have problems finding and preparing food in nature, and will be much better off with food that they bring from home. Remember that camping should be enjoyed, it should not be a pain.

If you want to know more about camping equipment, you can visit this blog with Camping Chairs info, or you can see this post about Choosing camping chairs.