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METTROCREATIVE
Schneider Saddlery Has the Right Gear for Riding Camp Submitted Planning on attending a riding camp? Schneider Saddlery is the place to find all your equestrian needs. One of the largest equestrian retailers in the world, Schneider’s offers more than 4,000 products to accommodate everyone’s budget, from camp riders to the show ring. The knowledgeable staff at their retail store, 8255 E. Washington St. in Bainbridge Township, is capable of helping you find all of your riding necessities. Helmets are a necessity for safety and Schneider’s has them starting at $49.99. Riding boots with a heel will help keep your feet in the stirrups. Schneider’s has them starting at just $34.99. Riding pants and tights, jeans, breeches or jodhpurs and half chaps protect the rider’s leg. Gloves and proper socks help prevent blisters. Schnei-
der’s has great savings on all of these items. Confused? Ask about our camp essentials when you visit the store for everything your young rider needs for a safe and enjoyable riding experience. Since 1948, Schneider Saddlery has maintained a love and commitment to the equestrian industry with a dedication to value, product quality, innovation and customer service. With our 100-percent satisfaction guarantee, you can count on us for all of your training and showing necessities. Some of the quality brands you’ll find exclusively at Schneider’s include Billy Royal, Joseph Sterling, ARMORFlex, Stormshield, Dura-Tech and Ultra. Retail Store Hours are Monday-Wednesday and Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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WGRC Camps Offer Fun, Adventure in Chesterland Submitted Since 1948, West Geauga Recreation Council has been providing residents and children of the Northeast Ohio community recreation opportunities. West Geauga Recreation Council will again host its traditional outdoor day camp for children entering grades kindergarten through fifth and also a middle school camp for kids entering grades sixth through eighth. The camp offers weekly sessions or a daily rate. This is one of the only camps in the area that offers the flexibility of registering per day. The campground, located adjacent to the West Geauga Middle School in Chester Township, offers 15 wooded acres with a huge covered pavilion, heated swimming pool, volleyball court, soccer field, basketball court, stage, an arts and crafts pavilion and playgrounds. Weekly educational themes are intertwined with crafts, nature exploration, swimming (with licensed life guards), games and other outdoor activities. Again this year, there will be field trips every Thursday for the middle school camp. (New this year, field trips are covered in the cost of registration), the Geauga County Library Fun Bus and ice cream truck visits. Special visitors to the camp include magicians, musicians and many others. There are new and exciting events every week, so there is always something different. Camp opens on June 10 and runs through Aug. 16. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK
The West Geauga Recreation Council is holding its annual day camp June 10 through Aug. 16.
through Friday (closed July 4). Additionally, morning care (7-9 a.m.) and after care (3-6 p.m.) are available. For more information and to register, visit www.wgrc.org. WGRC Day Camp is regis-
tered with the Ohio Department of Human Services as required by the Ohio Revised Code. We maintain a 6-10:1 ratio of children to counselors. The West Geauga Recreation Council
also offers several other programs including Learn to Swim, Water Acclimation and a Mom & Tot water class. Sports programs include youth and adult soccer, basketball, wrestling and volleyball.
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How to Keep Kids Engaged Over School Breaks MetroCreative Children in North America will spend, on average, more than 900 hours attending school in a given year. The average school year in the United States lasts 1,016 hours, the equivalent of 42 continuous days. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, many developed countries begin their academic years in September and end them in June. Some, like Australia, feature four terms with twoweek breaks in between each term. Others go to school for most of the year — with various holiday breaks in between — and then get the bulk of their time off during the summer. As much time as kids spend in school, there will be times when they are left to their own devices, and during these times it’s easy for them to forgot classroom lessons. Sometimes called “summer learning loss” or “summer slide,” this forgetfulness sees many students fail to retain all of their lessons over prolonged breaks from school. Studies indicate that students score lower on standardized tests at the end of the summer compared to their performance on the same tests at the beginning of summer. Anywhere from between one to three month’s worth of educational achievement can dissipate during prolonged breaks from the classroom. To help ensure that those hard-earned lessons are not so easily forgotten, parents can help children remain intellectually engaged in various ways over school breaks.
• Stick to a schedule. Try to maintain a schedule similar to school, with children waking at the same time each day and going to bed at similar hours. This will make it much easier to get back into a routine when a new school year begins. • Encourage reading. Set aside time for reading each day. All it generally takes is 15 to 30 minutes of reading per day for kids to remember their vocabulary lessons and maintain their fluency and comprehension skills. Children may enjoy picking their own books rather than having a required reading list. • Keep a math book handy. On long car trips or rainy days, children can do a few math problems to keep their skills sharp. This will help keep learning loss to a minimum. Math workbooks may be available at bookstores, or parents can look online or ask a teacher for a summer to-do packet. • Plan educational trips. Vacations and day trips can be fun, entertaining and educational all at the same time. Science centers, museums and living history locations can bring to life information learned in the classroom, even on family vacations. • Learn at camp. Many children attend camp for a portion of their school breaks. Look for camps that do not simply babysit children, but engage them through enrichment activities. • Take a class. Children and families can learn together by exploring new skills. Enroll in something educational and enjoyable, such as a music or dance class, a STEM seminar or something else that engages the mind and body. This gives everyone a
METROCREATIVE
Reading is a great way for students to keep their brains sharp during prolonged school breaks.
chance to learn something new and have a great time together as a family. Parents and educators can reduce lesson
loss over school breaks by encouraging families to remain intellectually engaged in any way they can.
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Geauga Park District Day Camps Have New Adventures Submitted Naturalist Karie Wheaton is excited about the brand new set of fishing poles the Geauga Park District received this year — just in time for summer camp. “Also, campers will be fishing and hiking at Big Creek Park this year,” she said. “They were at Beartown Lakes Reservation last year and didn’t do the hiking portion. I think it will be a popular addition.” Plus, all biking this year will begin at Headwaters Park, allowing campers to explore the newly paved section of The Maple Highlands Trail that stretches to Middlefield. Registration is open now for Geauga Park District’s 7th annual Adventure Camps. For youth entering grades fifth through seventh, camps are offered in week-long forms the weeks of June 10, July 8, July 15, July 29 and Aug. 5. The week of June 24, a Junior Naturalist Camp for this age group will also direct the focus to streams, lakes and forests for discovery of insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, astronomy and more. For teens entering grades eight through 10th, week-long experiences will be the weeks of June 17 and July 22. Both of these weeks will include the popular high ropes course fun at Claridon Woodlands. Plus, single-day “X-Treme Adventures” will be held July 1 (the all-new Wilderness Skills), July 2 (Kayak Challenge), July 3 (Natural History) and July 5 (Adventure Day, which includes the high ropes course). Every camper parent who replied to last year’s survey said their child would return this year – with the exception of three who
ABBY SMITH
Kids entering grades 5 through 10 can now register for Geauga Park District’s Adventure Camps, featuring activities such as kayaking, biking, stream exploration, sending rockets high into the sky, and for the big kids, the high ropes challenge course at Claridon Woodlands.
were aging out. “Both my kids had a great time,” one wrote. “The counselors are great with the kids and everyone seemed to have fun.”
“Great program!” wrote another. “Kept our daughter active.” “Keep up the good work.” Registration is open now at 440-286-9516
or www.geaugaparkdistrict.org. For fees and additional details, visit www.geaugaparkdistrict.org under Activities, then Naturalist-Led Experiences.
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Factors to Consider Before Choosing a Summer Camp MetroCreative Adults often look back fondly on their childhood experiences at summer camp. Camps can provide the opportunity to form lifelong friendships and discover rewarding hobbies that can enrich campers’ lives for decades to come. Choosing a summer camp is no small task, as the options at families’ disposal range from overnight camps to weekday afternoon camps to camps that specialize in certain programs, such as music or dance. Cost also is likely to factor into families’ decisions, as the American Camp Association notes that cost can vary greatly depending on which camp families choose. For example, the ACA notes that the average daily fee at a resident camp is $85, while the same fee at a day camp is $43. When looking for a summer camp for kids, families should make the decision together. Kids should be involved in the selection process, as they’re more likely to have an enjoyable camp experience if they had a say in where they will be spending their summers. The following are some factors families should consider as they look for summer camps, courtesy of the ACA.
Kids’ interests
The ACA urges parents to consider the See Choice • Page 7
METROCREATIVE
Summer camps give kids a chance to make memories that will last a lifetime.
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Six Things to Know about Setting Up a Tent MetroCreative Camping provides the perfect opportunity to get in touch with nature and disconnect from the daily grind. Camping is a timeless tradition forged by cooking over portable stoves, foregoing indoor plumbing and sleeping under the stars. A 2015 survey from Kampgrounds of America (KOA) said camping attracts people looking for an opportunity to explore the many wonders of the environment. The great outdoors affords people an opportunity to recharge in the peace and quiet of natural surroundings. Results from the 2017 North American Camping Report found an increasing number of people say they plan to camp more, and camping is helping to add more balance to a person’s life. Currently, 75 million house-
holds in the United States include active campers. Households in western Canada are likely to go camping, and data from Statistics Canada points out that camping rates increase with income. Although there are many ways to camp, tents are often key components of camping trips. Learning to pitch a tent correctly is an important part of successful camping. Here’s how to become a tent-pitching pro. 1. Purchase a freestanding tent. While there are many variations to tent designs and ultralight backpackers may prefer a tarp or another non-freestanding device, tents that are able to stand on their own are easier to set up. Many tent designs have two poles and fabric that creates a dome shape and are relatively easy and straightforward to set up in just a few minutes.
2. Practice at home. Before arriving at the campsite, learn to recognize the parts and instructions for your particular tent. Make sure all equipment is present and in working order. 3. Buy a footprint. Many tent floors are sturdy, but campers can always use a little extra protection against the ground. Footprints are essentially a tarp that fits underneath the floor of the tent as an extra layer of protection, advises REI. They should be slightly smaller than the area of the tent. 4. Scope out the tent location. Avoid sites littered with sticks, stones, roots, or branches. Stay away from low-lying areas that may get soggy in rain storms. Look for natural windbreaks, and place the tent so the side that has the strongest pole structure is facing the wind.
5. Make it a team effort. Enlist a helper or two to set up the tent. Ensure all zippers are closed when erecting the tent. Try to push poles through openings instead of pulling on them. Allow for some wiggle room when extending the poles. Guylines should follow the seams of the tent where possible, and lines should be pegged down back to front. Guylines help keep tents sturdy and also keep a rainfly away from the tent body to minimize leakage, according to the Appalachian Mountain Club. 6. Use daylight to your advantage. Set up the tent while it is light outside, and outfit it with anything that will be needed in the middle of the night, such as a lantern and other gear. Camping is easier when people can erect a tent swiftly and accurately.
Fairmount Center Offers Summer of Arts, Learning & Fun Submitted For nearly 50 years, Fairmount Center for the Arts in Russell Township has been fostering a love for the arts. Summer programs immerse campers in the arts, trying new activities, meeting new friends and growing in and through the arts.
Choice
from page 6 child’s interests and personality before choosing a summer camp. Parents might want their children to attend the same summer camp they visited as youngsters, but each child is different. Just because mom and dad liked a particular camp does not mean their children will. The ACA notes that summer camps should align with children’s interests and maturity level.
Locale
Locale may only be a consideration for families considering overnight camps. Kids will likely be familiar with the locations of local day camps, but overnight camps might be set in mountain ranges, near the ocean or environments less familiar to youngsters. Kids who love the ocean might benefit from oceanfront camps that focus on marine biology, boat-
Summer 2019 offers a variety of camps for children ages 3 through 14 years. Programs are offered from June 10 through Aug. 2. Camps include half day, full day, one day and one week options. Registration opens March 4. All the Arts Adventure Camps immerse school-age campers in all the art forms – ing or other activities involving the water. In the same vein, youngsters who like camping and hiking might be more likely to embrace camps located in mountainous regions.
Session length
Camps may last as little as one week or up to a couple of months. Session length should be considered by families looking at both local day camps and overnight resident camps. Parents who want their children to enjoy a largely schedule-free summer might not want to commit their children to lengthy camp sessions, even if those sessions are close to home. If parents think their children can benefit from the same structure they’re accustomed to during the school year, then an overnight camp that stretches for several weeks might be what they’re looking for. Summer camps give kids a chance to make memories that will last a lifetime. Choosing the right camp is an important decision that parents and kids should make together.
dance, music, theatre and visual arts – each day. Camps are led by professional faculty, include outdoor explorations, lunchtime and each session ends with a sharing day program for family and friends. For preschoolers, Early Childhood Arts Camps provide one-week, half-day camps filled with a variety of arts discoveries including music, dance, theatre and art. A snack break and outdoor play provide time with friends, too. Camps end with a sharing day for family and friends. Specialty camps in all art forms – dance, music, theatre and visual arts – provide campers with immersive experiences designed to
build skills in specific art forms. These immersive half- and full-day programs explore specific art forms. All camps take advantage of beautiful summer days by using outdoor spaces. Through a partnership with the Musical Theatre Project, a special theatre camp for ages 10-14 years, brings a Broadway performer from “Wicked” to Fairmount to take campers on explorations from the land of Oz (“Wicked,” “Wizard of Oz” and “The Wiz”). Fairmount Center for the Arts is proud to be supported by the Ohio Arts Council and 2018 Best of the East Award Winner for Dance/Theater Instruction.
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Camp for Type 1 Diabetic Children Continues Legacy Submitted Camp Ho Mita Koda, which is Sioux for “welcome my friend,” was founded in 1929 by Dr. Henry and Betty John, pioneers in the use of insulin to treat diabetes. The camp stands as the oldest and longest running summer camp for Type 1 Diabetes in the U.S. Located on 72 beautiful wooded acres in Newbury Township (25 miles east of Cleveland), Camp Ho Mita Koda is home to 400 children each summer and over 30 unique activities and programs. Campers learn lifelong diabetes management skills in a fun, interactive and age-appropriate setting. Our
lifestyle enhancing programs empower campers to manage their diabetes, make healthy choices, take personal responsibility, and build self-esteem, friendships and a life-long support network. Around-the-clock supervision is provided by experienced, licensed physicians and nurses from Northeast Ohio’s top-ranked medical institutions; trained counselors — many of whom have diabetes and are camp alumni — registered dietitians attending to menus and camper nutrition needs; program specialists at each camp activity; certified lifeguards; and a camp director in charge of all camp operations. The minimum staff to camper ratio is 1:5. Medical supplies are provided during
camp through the support of some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi. Camp Ho Mita Koda’s minimal technology and non-competitive program is designed to build confidence, grow independence, encourage friendships, empower healthy lifestyle choices and develop 21st century skills. In today’s hectic and high-tech world, we believe a back-to-basics approach to outdoor recreation and plain ol’ fashion fun is crucial to building a child’s positive self-image. Therefore, we offer activities such as canoeing, kayaking, swimming, archery, challenge course, sports, arts and crafts, outdoor sur-
vival and so much more. Camp Ho Mita Koda’s strong camp community, diabetes management curricula and traditions allow each camp the opportunity to gain independence within a healthy, active program. We believe a quality summer camp experience provides education, challenge, achievement and acceptance. Surrounded by friends and a world-class staff, every camper learns to “stretch” spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. For more information on current dates, rates, programs, events and more, visit www. camphomitakoda.org, email info@camphomitakoda.org or call 440-739-4095.
Liberty Camp Geauga: Where Kids Experience America’s Founding Submitted Liberty Camp Geauga is an educational day camp that takes place at Camp Chickagami, located on Route 168 just six miles south of Burton Square. The camp takes place July 22-26, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Registration is priced at the low cost of $50. The primary goal of Liberty Camp Geauga is to educate today’s youth in the history and values of the founding days of America. Communicating to those who are to be the future leaders of our communities and the guardians of the liberties of our great country the importance of being purposeful and productive citizens.
There is evidence of the need for American youth to understand and value the history of their own country. A study by the University of North Carolina showed that 88 percent of elementary school teachers consider teaching history as a low priority. The 2017 report by the National Assessment of Educational Progress states that only 18 percent of high school students were proficient in US history. Memorized historical dates are soon forgotten and there is little to no remembrance of the struggles others experienced that were made to gain America’s freedom that is often taken for granted today. Liberty Camp Geauga teaches history to students in grades 1 through 7 in a fun, participative and memorable way as time travel-
ers. Campers walk through a portal and are transported to the 1700s, where they live the life of a Colonist during the time of the Revolutionary War. Reenactors — known heroes and unknown heroes — share the issues of oppressive taxation, war, the hardships of surviving as Long Hunters and of being a soldier standing up to the world’s strongest army while hungry, without supplies and sometimes shoeless. Campers also will hear about the importance of virtue, faith, courage and wisdom. The cost of freedom becomes real. Campers see, hear and feel the patriotism of America’s founding citizens. They witness the value of hard work as James Madison and Thomas Jefferson struggle yet persevere to create the
documents that are foundational to America today. Patrick Henry impresses upon them that liberty is priceless and encourages them to stand strong as a patriot. Campers receive treasured copies of the Declaration of Independence which they sign with a quill and ink and the original handwritten Constitution of America. As a Patriot, campers pledge to honor God, America and family. Teen campers assist Group Leaders and Reenactors and share in the learning as they gain new confidence in leadership roles. From the games and fare of the day to the closing ceremony, Liberty Camp Geauga creates a memorable experience for all. Register today at: www.libertycampgeauga.com.