FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com MAY 12, 2016 • CAMPS • THE COURIER SUN 33 CAMPS s Camping Supply list BY DON FROST Though most camps will provide you with a list of necessary items to bring along, it makes sense to ask if special items should be added for specifi c programs. The following is a checklist that, in many cases, applies both to day and overnight camps. • Physical Examination – Camps generally require an exam or health history. • Medicines – Be sure to label all medicines and give them to camp medical personnel to administer. Correct time intervals and dosage should be clearly noted. • Insurance – Some camps provide accident and health insurance. Find out if there is an additional charge for this coverage. • Nametags – Everything brought to camp should have a nametag on it. When possible, use a permanent marker so clothes and other items are not lost. • Transportation – It is a good idea to have camp costs itemized when possible. Bus transportation may be included or it could be an extra expense. • Laundry – Find out how often clothes are washed at camp. This is a very important consideration when packing begins. An extra pillow case or heavyweight bag will make a fi ne laundry bag. • Clothing – Camps will have lists of recommended clothing. Very comfortable, informal wear is appropriate. In addition to shorts, shirts, underwear, socks and swimsuits, special clothing for certain sports and recreational activities should be packed. Shoes must be durable and one or two extra pairs is a good idea. • Toiletries – Keep in mind that sleeping and bathroom facilities are frequently at different locations. Here’s a checklist: soap • toothpaste/toothbrush/ fl oss shampoo • comb/brush • deodorant insect repellent • lip balm • sunscreen • Bedding – Some camps do provide linens. In most cases, campers bring their own sheets, blankets, pillows or sleeping bags. • Towels – Campers must have their own towels for swimming and showers. • Camp Store/Souvenirs – If camp souvenirs or tee shirts will be available, camp directors will let you know how much money your child should bring. Spending money is sometimes suggested for the camp store or canteen. Money is frequently held on account by the camp and deductions are made as children make purchases. The balance is returned at the end of camp. • Home Sweet Home – Encourage your child to bring an item from home to make them feel secure and comfortable while away! Reprinted with permission of Frost Publications, Inc. and www. gocamps.com. Safer, Faster Camp Cooking BY TRESA ERICKSON You’ll be taking your family camping soon, but this year, you’re going to use a camp stove rather than cook over an open fi re. You have far too many little kids going with you to take a chance on building a campfi re. A camp stove will make the trip, and the cooking, much safer. As with building a campfi re, though, you will have to be careful to use your camp stove properly. Whether over an open fi re or on a camp stove, cooking outdoors can be risky. You should keep this fact in mind always and use your camp stove with care. If this is your fi rst time cooking with a camp stove, read the owner’s manual and do a trial run at home beforehand. That way, you’ll be more familiar with how the stove works and be more comfortable using it once at the campsite. Make sure you bring all of the supplies you’ll need to cook with the camp stove. If your stove does not have a stand, you will need a small table or wooden blocks to set it on at the campsite. You will also need some pots and pans, oven mitts, wooden matches, safety equipment, a fi rst aid kit, some extra fuel and a funnel for refi lling, if using a gas camp stove. Stock the extra fuel in high-quality, airtight, metal containers and mark them so that anyone who comes into contact with them will not mistake them for something else. Once you arrive at the campsite, set up your camp stove in a safe, level spot outdoors away from areas of activity. Do not set up your camp stove indoors-the stove will release carbon monoxide. Clear all debris away from the area around the stove and put up a windscreen to break the wind. Finally, store the extra fuel in a cool, dry place far away from the cooking area. Before you start cooking on the camp stove, make sure it is full of fuel. You don’t want to run out of fuel in the middle of cooking and have to wait for the stove to cool off before you can refi ll it. Tie back your hair, slip on some tight-fi tting clothing and light the stove according to the operating directions, holding the match so that the fl ame burns upward. Adjust the fl ame for cooking, keeping in mind that the blue fl ame is the hottest, and set the pots and pans on the appropriate burners. When cooking on your camp stove, keep youngsters away and don’t reach over the camp stove. The intense heat could burn you. Instead, pick up the pots and pans using an oven mitt, stir the contents quickly and put them back onto the burners. Should you need to leave the cooking area, fi nd an adult to watch over the stove until you return. Do not leave it unattended. When you have fi nished cooking, turn off the camp stove and let it cool completely before cleaning it. At the end of your camping trip, give the camp stove one fi nal cleaning and make sure the gas valves are turned off tightly before packing it away. Cooking with a camp stove is not only safer, but faster and more convenient than open fi res. For trips with several young kids, these three factors alone may make it a viable option for many.
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