Book Review - What Color is the Wind?

About the Book
Based on over 40 years of work (and play!) with many thousands of children in the out-of-doors, this book is Ed's inspired collection of wonder, exploration and discovery. A 'feel' guide for parents with young children, What Color Is The Wind? provides simple, backyard activities for four seasons, and along the way, opportunities for parents and children to connect with each other and with the earth.



My Take on the Book
This is a great guide for any parent looking to work on getting their child outside. It is filled with great ideas and resources at engaging children in outdoor activities. What was great was that the book is set up for usability. You can easily take notes or jot down your experiences with the different things within the book itself. I also found that the book is set to be able to give you ideas that can work at almost any time of year. Thus, whether it is summer or winter there are a ton of activities that can easily engage you and your child in fun outdoor activities!

This is the type of book that will provide hours and hours of fun for you and your child, and I for one am having a blast trying all of the things out with my own daughters and believe that you will too!


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Wildlife Federation Presents Great American Backyard Campout

Let’s Go Camping!

Great American Backyard Campout

Sponsored by National WildlifeFederation

June 23, 2012

School is out, and many kids are already spending hours inside glued to their electronic devices. To foster a healthy outdoor lifestyle it’s time for parents to boot them outside so they can benefit from some fresh air surrounded by a world of green. By Presidential proclamation,June is Great Outdoors Month so there is no better time to teach kids why it’s called the Great Outdoors.

A perfect place to start is by having your family participate in the 8^th annual Great American Backyard Campout on June 23. National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) fundraising eventencourages parents and kids alike to trade screen time for green time by spending a night under the stars.

Campers who register on NWF’s web site will have the chance to go behind-the-scenes with NWF celebrity naturalist David Mizejewski and some of his amazing wildlife friends.  One lucky camper and a guest will win a trip to an upcoming NWF TV appearance in New York or Los Angeles.

In the last two decades, childhood has literally moved indoors with kids spending more than seven hours per day in front of electronic media. A new report from Common Sense Media finds that more than half of all American children under the age of eight have access to one of the newer mobile devices at home, and nearly one-third have a TV in their bedroom. At the same time, the American Academy of Pediatrics has cautioned parents to limit their young children’s screen time.

Studies show that outdoor time helps children grow lean and strong, enhances creativity and attention spans, decreases aggression, and boosts classroom performance. NWF’s report “The Dirt on Dirt: How Getting Dirty Outdoors Benefits Kids”, highlights  how activities kids love, such as making mud pies, splashing in puddles and rolling down hillsides are actually a grubby prescription for health and happiness.

A night under the stars will help kids understand why it’s called the GREAT outdoors. Campout is a signature event of NWF’s Be Out There movement which has a goal of engaging 10 million new kids in outdoor play over the next three years. The Great American Backyard Campout lets kids explore a whole other world right in their own backyard, together with neighbors,with friends at a local camp ground, or at a large community camping event. For those looking to camp beyond their own backyard, the Campout website helps locate organized Campouts across the country.

When you register your Campout on National Wildlife Federation’s web site you get helpful information to make your camping experience a fun one including campfire recipes, nocturnal wildlife guides, campfire songs and games, nature activities and much more. You’ll also be able to fundraise for NWF’s conservation programs and win exciting prizes.

REI and the Coleman Company are proud to be national sponsors of the Great American Backyard Campout. Both companies share NWF’s commitment to getting kids and their families outdoors as part of a healthy lifestyle.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

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Worried About Using DEET-Based Insect Repellents?

Safety concerns surrounding the use of DEET-based insect repellents are fairly widespread these days. Fortunately, there’s an exciting DEET free option now available to parents who seek reliable protection from mosquitoes and other biting insects, but are cautious about applying a DEET-based product on themselves or their children. The comprehensive line of Coleman^® Repellents from Wisconsin Pharmacal Company includes a product with the highly effective SkinSmart^™ formula. SkinSmart, which contains the active ingredient IR3535, is safe for the entire family and just as effective as DEET. It provides up to eight hours of odorless protection against the most common biting insects, including mosquitoes, deer ticks and biting flies. Plus, it dries very quickly on the skin and does not leave the greasy residue often associated with many DEET-based products.

“Whether concerned about their own health or the health of their children, there are many parents who are simply reluctant to use DEET products,” said Mike Kermendy, vice president of marketing for Wisconsin Pharmacal Company, the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Coleman Repellents. “That’s why our SkinSmart repellent has proven to be such a popular option. After all, it’s odorless, safe for use on the entire family and will provide hours of effective protection against a variety of biting insects and other annoying bugs.”

The Coleman SkinSmart DEET free formula is available in a variety of user-friendly packages, including a six-ounce aerosol spray, a five-ounce pump spray, a compact Go Ready^™ spray pen, and convenient towelettes.

The Go Ready spray pens are ideal for busy, on-the-go parents. They’re just slightly larger than a typical pen, so they’re an easy addition to a backpack or diaper bag, and they offer more than 200 sprays. The towelettes are also great because they allow the product to be applied quickly and evenly without mess, and the aerosol can is very lightweight and rust resistant. Plus, with the aerosol can, the product can be dispensed at any angle – even upside down. As an added benefit, an easy-to-use Twist Lock cap is incorporated into the aerosol and pump to help protect against unintended sprays.

IR3535, the active ingredient in the Coleman SkinSmart formula, is an EPA registered additive with a proven track record of excellent safety and efficacy against a variety of biting insects. It is the most widely utilized active ingredient in insect repellents throughout Europe, where it has been safely marketed for more than 20 years.

For additional details about any of the Coleman-branded insect repellents, please call Wisconsin Pharmacal Company at 1-800-558-6614 or visit ColemanRepellents.com.

About Wisconsin Pharmacal Company, LLC:

Wisconsin Pharmacal Company is a Coleman licensee and the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of Coleman Repellents. The company’s complete portfolio of outdoor brands also includes: Potable Aqua^® water purification tablets, StingEze^® insect bite relief products, Atwater Carey^® first aid kits, and BAITMATE^® fish attractants. For more details, please visit www.PharmacalWay.com.

About The Coleman Company, Inc.:

As an international leader in the innovation and marketing of outdoor products, The Coleman Company, Inc. helps people have fun and make memories by providing the gear integral to their favorite outdoor experiences. The company’s products include its legendary lanterns and stoves, as well as coolers, tents, sleeping bags, airbeds, backpacks, furniture, and grills under the Coleman^® brand. Additionally, the company provides flotation devices, towables, rainwear, waders, hunting and fishing gear as well as safety and survival equipment under its Stearns^®, Sevylor^®, Sospenders^®, Hodgman^®, Mad Dog Gear^®, and Helium^® brands. Founded in 1900 and based in Wichita, Kan., Coleman is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jarden Corporation and can be found online at www.coleman.com.

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.
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Planters Trail Mix Promotes Great Outdoors Month

About the Nuts

In honor of the Presidential call to get outdoors, I thought it would be interesting to round up the best snacks to bring along on your outdoor adventure!


Proclaimed by the White House, Great Outdoors Month encourages all Americans to explore the great outdoors. Of course, it’s important to stay full with wholesome snacks on the trail. lanters has recently introduced two new trail mix products – Alaskan Wilderness Trail Mix and Appalachian Blend Trail Mix – both of which contain natural, wholesome ingredients to keep hikers and campers energized and ready to explore the great outdoors.

Planters Appalachian Blend Trail Mix      Inspired by the natural splendor and delights along the historic trail that winds its way from Georgia to Maine, this delicious blend of roasted Virginia peanuts, maple-hinted almonds, tangy cranberries and sweet blueberries is packed with wholesome ingredients.  Each serving provides you with on-the-go energy, wherever your everyday trails take you!Nutrition Profile [per 3 tbsp (28g) serving]·140 calories
9 grams total fat (1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams     trans fat, 3 grams polyunsaturated fat, 5 grams monounsaturated fat)


Planters Alaskan Wilderness Trail Mix From the natural berries and fruit that grow in the wilderness, we’ve crafted a delicious mix of wholesome ingredients, combining sweet blueberries and raspberries, honey roasted peanuts, crunchy almonds and granola clusters.  Each serving provides you with on-the-go energy to enjoy the flavors of the great outdoors, whether you’re outdoors or not!
[per 3 Tbsp (28g) serving]
130 calories
4 grams protein
65 mg sodium
No cholesterol
8 grams total fat (1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 2.5 grams polyunsaturated fat, 4 grams monounsaturated fat) 

My Take on the Products
I was quite impressed with this snack mix. Full of great energy boosting items, this mix provides the perfect pick-me-up whether you are out on the trail, or sitting in your office. I particularly enjoyed the dried fruit that was in the mix, as I am always interested in being health with fruits. In saying this though the nuts were great as usual!

So if you are looking for some great snack mixes that are healthy and filling, look no further than these mixes. Overall, these mixes take snack mix to the next level. With a combination of health and flavor, how could you go wrong?

All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.

   

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Get your Tyke on a Bike

TykeRider.com, the new online retailer specializing in balance bikes, believes that balance is the best way for kids to learn how to ride. As experts in balance bikes, which are wildly popular in Europe and the UK, TykeRider.com is the best source for the best in balance bike brands such as:

• Early Rider (UK): Fashioned to look like a chopper, this bike is made from eco-friendly birch wood and has flame-etched details.
• LIKEaBIKE (Germany): This bike with “big kid attitude” has a lightweight aluminum frame, rear suspension, and adjustable steering.
• Wishbone Design 3-in-1 (New Zealand): This bike starts as a tricycle and transforms into a balance bike, ideal for kids as young as 1 years old.

"No Pedals, No Wheels, No Problem.": Blance bikes don’t have training wheels and pedals.  Instead, they encourage kids to balance—a pre-cursor to pedaling!—and glide with confidence and self-reliance, without the use of stabilizers.  Training wheels provide a false sense of security and slow the eventual transition to a regular bike.  Balance bikes are engineered to get children mobile via repetitive movement, reciprocal motion and following directions.

In addition, TykeRider.com carries a wide selection of helmets from Little Nutty. Combining safety with style, these helmets not only protect little noggins from falls, they also come in a range fun designs like peace signs, camouflage, polka dots, splatter paint, and more.
 


the Martha Stewart Show - Early Rider balance bikes and Little Nutty Helmets from Turnstyle Brands on Vimeo.

TykeRider.com can offer products, as well as offer expert advice on the benefits of balance bikes, the differences in current balance bikes in the marketplace, and why balance bikes are the most ideal bikes for kids to learn on.

To view a video on balance bikes or learn more about the benefits of the balance bike please visit www.TykeRider.com.


All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by the company.  Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer or provider. Please refer to this site's Disclaimer  for more information. I have been compensated or given a product free of charge, but that does not impact my views or opinions.  
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