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There are few things my brain and body love better than a campfire + the night sky + zero internet coverage. I totally get why non-campers screw up their faces in bemusement at the thought of sleeping on the ground, forgoing running water and being at the mercy of mozzies, flies and weather, but for me the simplicity of bush camping is a tonic like no other. The last ten weeks of the working year are always pretty crazy in our household. Two teenagers at different schools, each celebrating a birthday in November. A primary school teacher husband knee-deep in concert rehearsals, report-writing and graduation preparation. End-of-year conferences, program wrap-ups and 2025 (😳) planning for me. If I want to show up at work, at home and *for myself* in the coming months, a brief period of withdrawal from the freneticism of modern life is a great start. How do you prepare for periods of unavoidably busy-ness? And are you in the 'love it' or 'loathe it' camp when it comes to tenting in the bush?

Summertime is here! The question is: what to do with all that free time during the summer months? How about summer #camp? Continue reading this article to discover the opportunities for #MilKids this summer.

Exciting News! 🌟 We're packing up and moving to the adventure capital of Oregon—Bend! 🏞️ Whether it's outdoor escapades, vibrant arts, or the tight-knit community, we're ready to soak it all in. To all the families making the move or just curious about life here, we’ve got some tips to help you feel right at home: Outdoor Adventures: Bend is your playground! From hiking at Pilot Butte to paddleboarding on the Deschutes River, there’s no shortage of family fun in nature. Don’t forget your bikes—this town is a cyclist’s dream! Local Eats: Food trucks are where it's at! Check out The Lot for a variety of delicious bites that everyone in the family will love. Education & Community: Bend has top-rated schools and plenty of community events to keep the kiddos entertained and learning. Keep an eye on local parks for family-friendly festivals and concerts. Winter Sports: Ready to hit the slopes? Mount Bachelor is just a short drive away, offering some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the region. For anyone else considering the big move, Bend Relocation Services has been a lifesaver! They've got all the info you need to make the transition smooth. Check them out at Bendrelocationservices.com. Can’t wait to start this new chapter! If you have any tips for us, drop them in the comments. #BendOregon #FamilyAdventure #RelocationJourney #BendLife #OutdoorLiving

Can you believe we're halfway through July? If you run a summer camp, this is the perfect time to do mid-summer evaluations for your counselors and staff. Use our guide and template to plan and run your mid-summer and end-of-summer evaluations. #sawyer #summercamp #summercampcounselor #evaluation #template #camp #campowners

Exciting News! 🌟 We're packing up and moving to the adventure capital of Oregon—Bend! 🏞️ Whether it's outdoor escapades, vibrant arts, or the tight-knit community, we're ready to soak it all in. To all the families making the move or just curious about life here, we’ve got some tips to help you feel right at home: Outdoor Adventures: Bend is your playground! From hiking at Pilot Butte to paddleboarding on the Deschutes River, there’s no shortage of family fun in nature. Don’t forget your bikes—this town is a cyclist’s dream! Local Eats: Food trucks are where it's at! Check out The Lot for a variety of delicious bites that everyone in the family will love. Education & Community: Bend has top-rated schools and plenty of community events to keep the kiddos entertained and learning. Keep an eye on local parks for family-friendly festivals and concerts. Winter Sports: Ready to hit the slopes? Mount Bachelor is just a short drive away, offering some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the region. For anyone else considering the big move, Bend Relocation Services has been a lifesaver! They've got all the info you need to make the transition smooth. Check them out at Bendrelocationservices.com. Can’t wait to start this new chapter! If you have any tips for us, drop them in the comments. #BendOregon #FamilyAdventure #RelocationJourney #BendLife #OutdoorLiving

"If your child is [only] doing a doggy paddle, they’re one step away from drowning,” Shawn DeRosa, DCR's director of pool and waterfront safety, tells me in my latest piece on the importance of swim instruction and access in Globe Magazine. One of the many things I learned during the course of my reporting is that we, as a society, have simultaneously relaxed our definition of what it means to be able to swim (not just keeping our head above water) AND often incorrectly define drowning as something that always results in death. Drowning is something we experience and the outcome varies, that's why data is collected on fatal and non-fatal drownings. Even when we survive, there can be lasting physical and emotional damage, as I discuss in the piece, so I encourage parents to do whatever they can to seek out public, private, group and/or individual instruction, especially when we have a tendency to overestimate our own swim abilities. Read via the link or in this Sunday's print edition of Boston Globe Media. https://lnkd.in/eN5p-6cF

Who said adults can't go to summer camp? 😉 Here are our 10 favorite details from a recent incentive trip turned summer camp! #eventdetails #detailsmatter #eventplanners #eventplanning #incentivetrip #corporateretreat

Starting Point: Rogers Camp Trailhead Ending Point: University Falls Hike Type: Loop Distance: 8.0 miles Elevation Gain: 1275 feet High Point: 1910 feet Difficulty: Moderate Seasons: All year Family Friendly: Yes, suitable for older kids Backpackable: No Crowded: No Embark on a Memorable Adventur

Looking for fresh ideas to take playtime outdoors? 🕵 Turn your outdoor space into a learning wonderland! List natural treasures for children to find (leaves, flowers, specific coloured rocks) to encourage exploration and observation skills. 📦 Transform simple cardboard boxes into magical playhouses, rockets or even a whole city! 🧗🏼♀️ Set up a simple obstacle course using cones, hula hoops and jump ropes. Let the kids race, climb, and crawl through, promoting gross motor skills and teamwork. 🎨 Provide children with paintbrushes, buckets of water and a canvas (concrete patio, fence) to create vibrant masterpieces that disappear with the sunshine. 💃🏻🕺🏽 Sing action songs, play instruments (tambourines, shakers), or create a movement game that incorporates nature elements (skip like a bunny, hop like a frog). Want more outdoor play inspiration? Share your favourite activities in the comments below! #OnRatio #earlychildhoodeducation #ece #outdoored #playbasedlearning #teaching #australia #sunshine 

Primitive camping is one of my favorite ways to recharge — which also means being away from cell service. In good risk mitigation fashion, I just completed a wilderness first aid course by NOLS. What a confidence builder. And what a surprise to learn of the inadequacy of my backpack first aid kit! How do you recharge? What skills do you acquire to pursue your hobbies? #learning #growth #recharge #hobbies