Top Outdoor Fun Related Articles & Blog Posts

When your child declares that he is bored this summer, do what I did, and alert the residents of your home that “bored” (or any derivative thereof) is no longer a part of the English language.  Not only is the word banned in our home, but the feeling is not allowed, either.  What is allowed, [...]

Being prepared is the first step to staying safe in the outdoors. Before venturing out on your trip, spend some time researching the potential hazards of terrain, weather, and wildlife that you might encounter, and pack items that will promote your safety and comfort.

What is the best thing to put on my child’s sunburn to help soothe it and promote healing?

Related concepts: External otitis; otitis externa Introduction to swimmer’s ear: Swimming can be a delight for children and for parents. Although water in the ear from swimming or bathing is not associated with most types of ear infections (even for children with tubes!), it can cause one kind of ear infection as well as exquisite [...]

Related concepts: Tanning, Radiation damage Introduction to sunburn: Even though skin cancer occurs in adults, the serious skin cancers are caused by the radiation damage (particularly the sunburns) that occurred in our youth. Similarly, adult cataracts can result from too much sun in the eyes during childhood.

Introduction to sprains: Sprains, strains, and active play…“I sprained my knee,” or “I have an ankle strain.”Ankles and sprains often go together in people’s minds, but beyond that, the distinction between sprains and strains often seems fuzzy. What is sprains? Strains are injuries to muscles, or to the tendons that connect muscles to bones. Strains [...]

Related concepts: Arthropods Introduction to ticks: The possibility of tick-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, Colorado tick fever, and other arboviruses, gives a sense of urgency to this topic. What are ticks? Ticks are a family of bloodsucking arachnids. They are related to mites, such as those that cause scabies, but are larger. They are [...]

Introduction to poison ivy, oak, and sumac: It’s Monday morning. You’ve had a wonderful weekend playing with your kids and your dog, romping through the woods. Now, as you lie in bed, you hear whimpering coming from the next room. A few minutes later, your son comes in to join you in bed, sporting red [...]

Related concepts: Borrelia burgdorferi Introduction to lyme disease: Even with our long history on this planet, new discoveries about microscopic neighbors continue to be made. In the 1970s, it was Legionnaire’s disease. In the 1980s, it was AIDS. In the 1990s, Hantavirus made the headlines.

Related concepts: Heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat prostration Introduction to heat stroke: Whether it’s a baby at the beach on a hot day, a toddler left in a sweltering car, or a budding young athlete at an exhausting practice in the sun, heat injuries are more common than people think.