tipsandsolutions : trailers

Camping With Kids

katie — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 18:32:00 GMT

Round 'em up and move 'em out!

Camping can be a great family activity. It’s an opportunity to get away from it all, spend some one-on-one time with your kids, and teach them about the great outdoors. But beware! Camping comes with some unique challenges (besides figuring out how to set up that new tent). How are you going to keep the kids entertained if you can’t just turn on the TV, pop in a movie, or send them next door to play? Here are some ideas to keep everyone fairly content and reasonably comfortable in your temporary “home away from home” setting.

Camp Reservations

Choose a campground nearby in order to keep travel time to a minimum and that offers opportunities for activities your kids will enjoy, like hiking, swimming, fishing, or canoeing.
Make reservations to assure that you get a site that fits your needs.Most online campground websites have a map of the campground so you can choose a site that's near the restrooms and shaded.
If you'll be camping at a beach or sandy area, it would be wise to choose a campground with shower facilities--no one will get a good night's rest in a sandy sleeping bag!

Special Camp Supplies for Kids

A Lifetime sports table is perfect for food preparation and craft projects
A baby carrier, a stroller, and a playpen are basic equipment when camping with an infant
Long-sleeved shirts and pants will reduce the amount of dirt and mosquitoes that come in contact with your child's skin.
A large, plastic totebox makes a great bathtub for infants and small children
Toys like balls, a badminton set, or a kite (if you're camping in a suitable area) are traditional favorites for outdoor recreation. You should also bring "rainy day" activities like coloring books and card games.

Camp Activities for Kids

Make A Natural Car Air Freshener- Cut out a cardboard shape the size of the average car air freshener. Punch a hole in the top to loop a piece of yarn or string through to hang it. Cover one side with tacky glue and press on fragrant plants and flowers.
Make a Leaf Tee - This is fun and easy craft for older kids that makes a clever camp t-shirt! It involves bleach so be sure to use provide adult supervision, and use a Lifetime Table, as they are bleach resistant.
Grab some binoculars and go bird watching.
Give the kids a disposable camera to "document" the family outing. When you develop the film, ask to put it straight to CD so you can look through the photos and print only the ones you want.
Go hiking. After breakfast is an ideal time to go on a hike to get everybody's blood pumping.
Watch the sun rise. Though it can be hard to get them out of bed early, nothing beats hiking to the nearest hill or lake and watching the sun spill it's light over the land. Bring a camera for some fun silhoutte or "holding the sun" photos.

Camp Snacks

Walking Tacos - A fun, filling portable snack. Everyone will need their own bag of corn chips. Just cook up some ground beef and add taco seasonings. Mix some hamburger into each bag of chips and add grated cheddar cheese, black olives, and diced tomatoes and onions. All you need to provide is the spoons!
Banana Boats - So easy!So filling! Just peel a banana and slice it lengthwise, being careful not to slice completely through your "boat". Spread peanut butter down the middle of the "boat" and top with chocolate chips.

Let's Go Camping!

Charly — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 21:00:00 GMT

Let’s Go Camping!

Aaah… fresh air, beautiful scenery, peace & quiet. Getting back to nature is a wonderful way to relax with family and friends. Whether you’re tenting it or RVing, heading for the woods, or heading for the beach, camping makes for good times and great memories. Regardless of how well you’ve planned a camping trip, one thing is for certain. Things never go as planned! But some thoughtful foresight & careful packing will make everything run more smoothly. The first rule of camping is to be flexible and go with the flow.

First, Make Camp Reservations

Make reservations at a campground of your choice. Nothing’s more disappointing than traveling many miles to get to a campground only to find there’s no vacancy, or being forced to settle for a less than desirable site. You can make reservations online or by phone. So which campground should you choose? Campground websites are an easy way to compare which amenities are available at different campgrounds.

Do you want a site that's close to the restrooms?
Are you satisfied with just toilet facilities? Or do you insist on a shower?
Are water spigots good enough, or do you need hook ups for your RV?
Do you want a shaded site, or a sunny one? (Most campground websites will also indicate which sites are shaded and which are not).
What activities are available? Hiking? Swimming? Fishing? Boating?
Do you want to have cell phone access? (Some campgrounds do, some don't)
Are dogs allowed if you should want to bring yours?
*If you make your reservations on line, print out your receipt and take it with you.

Second, Make Lists

List of Camping supplies –Be sure to include the basics like small lightweight tables, chairs, flashlights, a lighter or matches, and firewood. Firewood can be purchased in bundles at convenience store/ gas stations or supermarkets. Sometimes firewood is available for purchase at the campground itself. Don’t forget garbage bags for trash and dirty laundry, and a bucket for hauling water, if necessary.
List of Groceries - what you plan to have for each meal of each day, as well as snacks.
List of Cooking Equipment - what you’ll need to prepare those meals (don’t forget the can opener and seasonings!)
List of Hygienic and Medical Supplies.

Third, Pack

To cut your packing time in half, pack up all of your camping equipment and non-refrigerated foods the day before departure.You'll want to include:

A large Lifetime table for food preparation or as a wash-up station for pots and pans, faces and hands.
A Camp Stove (propane)
Sufficient bedding (remember, it gets cold at night even in the summer if you’re at a high altitude)
Gather the refrigerated items you’ll be taking and bag them together in plastic bags in the refrigerator so they’ll be ready to just grab and go the next day.

Time to Go!

On the day of departure, all that should be left to pack is the refrigerated items. Fill ice chests half full with ice and pack the refrigerated items in them. Be sure to bring plenty of drinking water. Give yourself enough travel time so that you will not arrive at your destination too late and have to make camp in the dark!

Tips

Use containers with snap tight lids to keep out water from the melting ice, curious wildlife, and insects.
Keep your ice chests in the shade or set them in a shallow creek if your site has one.
Once you've set up camp,relax.Camping is an adventure, not a military execution.Time for spontaneous fun and quiet meditation.

10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

katie — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:49:00 GMT

Some fun activities for you and your family to enjoy and preserve our beautiful Earth

It’s time once again to celebrate Earth Day by appreciating our world’s beauty and fighting pollution. The first Earth Day was held April 22, 1970 as a nationwide demonstration, petitioning the government to put environmental issues on the political agenda. Thousands of schools and about 20 million demonstrators participated in the original Earth Day. Earth Day was such a success that it is now celebrated annually.

People everywhere get involved in community events or honor family traditions that build our environment. What? Your family doesn’t have an Earth Day tradition? Well it’s never too late to start! Below are 10 examples of Earth Day family traditions to get you thinking.

Ideas

Plant a tree in your back yard: Besides being a fun activity for your family, planting trees help to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and they provide a habitat for a variety of other plants and animals. Go to your local nursery, and pick out the perfect tree for your yard. Lifetime trailers make it easy to haul the tree home. More trees in your yard can actually lower your cooling bill by providing shade over your house.
Make pine cone birdfeeders- Bring birds right to your yard and watch them as they enjoy a healthy snack. Making pine cone bird feeders is a fun and easy activity for children, click here for instructions.
Visit a nearby recycling facility- Recycling processes are fascinating and fun to watch. If you save up recyclable materials to drop off during the visit, you’ll earn some extra change you can use to pick up ice cream cones afterward.
Sit with the family and set specific goals to recycle and save energy- It’s often as easy as changing your light bulbs, adjusting the setting on your fridge, or making a routine trip to a nearby recycling bin.
Plant or renew your vegetable garden- April is the perfect time to plan your garden. Section off an area of your yard, and decide what you’d like to grow this year. If you don’t have a yard, window boxes and large pots work just as well. Home grown vegetables are pesticide-free and help you save money. Let the children choose new types of fruits or vegetables to try out each year, and give them responsibilities in the garden.
Plant flowers at a local non-profit organization or church- Contact the organization prior to planting. Most are thrilled when someone offers to beautify their grounds.
Go on a nature hike- Nature hikes are a great way to appreciate the details of our beautiful earth. Pick a park or nearby trail, or visit a new place every year on Earth Day.
Clean up litter at a local park- Parks provide places for everyone in the community to enjoy nature. Unfortunately, litter detracts from their beauty, and can be dangerous to people and animals. Bring some large bags or a Lifetime Yard Cart and gather up trash to revive your park. Use sticks to pick up the litter you don’t want to touch.
Attend an Earth Day event- Earth Day events are held across the nation, and are full of fun activities for both you and the kids. Pick a place close to you, events can be seen at www.earthday.net.
Cook a special Earth Day meal using all non-processed foods- Invite the friends and family over to share a healthy, home-cooked meal. If you have many guests, set up extra tables and chairs to accommodate them. Get creative and decorate in an ‘earth day’ theme using leaves or potted plants, and let each guest take a plant home to add to their garden. See table decorating tips at “Going Green Dinner Party.”

10 Steps to a Total Yard Makeover

katie — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 18:01:00 GMT

The most important element of your yard is the feeling it creates.

Whether you go outside to relax, work, entertain, play, or pursue your hobbies, you want a yard that sets the right mood and is easy to care for. Sound at all like your current patch of land? Don’t worry, there’s no better time to start than now, and most can be done in ten easy steps! So cuff your sleeves, break out gardening tools, and prepare to create the ultimate lawn.

Checklist

Lifetime Trailer
Lifetime Shed
Lifetime Yard Cart
Rake
Shovel
Garden spade
Soil
Grass Seed
Lawn mower
Broom or Hose
String trimmer
Long pruning shears
Black spray paint
Compost or fertilizer

Steps

Clear the Clutter: Your kid’s sun-bleached plastic wagon, the forgotten patio furniture, rakes from last autumn—you’ve got to either move it or lose it. Look at all the “stuff” taking up residence in your yard, and then decide what to keep and what to get rid of. Make 3 piles: one to keep, one to throw away, and one for the local charity or thrift store. When it’s time to haul a load to the dump, or donate those larger items to charity, you might purchase a trailer that suits your needs. We recommend the Lifetime Fold-in-half trailer, built to handle big loads and it folds to 29” for easy storage.
Organize: Now that you have everything you want to keep, it’s time to assign it a home. Storing summer toys, rakes, and additional patio furniture against the house not only looks bad, but it’s also dangerous and these things can take up lots of space in your garage. If you need extra space, we recommend a Lifetime storage shed. Choose the best fit for your yard: 8x10, 15x8, 11x13, or any size in-between. These polyethylene plastic sheds are easy to care for, and have shelves and pockets great for storing rakes, shovels, and your other important “stuff.”
Break out the Lawn Mower: Mow the main lawn area, cutting off about 1/3 or less of the grass blade. Grass blades, like any other plant need their leaves to take in sunshine. Mow while the lawn is dry, and try not to go the same direction every time (which makes the blades grow at a slant.) If you took our advice and purchased a storage shed, try using it to store your mower. In the future, you can pull out right onto the grass to start cutting.
Even things out: Rake up fallen leaves, twigs and other debris so nothing stands between you and the lawn. Next, get a garden spade or shovel and level the high and low spots in your lawn by cutting down bumps and filling in holes with topsoil and grass seed. To remove bumps, use a garden spade to cut an “X” shape into the raised area. From there, use a shovel or garden-hoe (if it’s small enough, your hands will do) to peel the back the sod and dig out enough soil to let the area lay flat once again. Lay the sod back in place. While you’re at it, sprinkle grass seed mixed with soil into any bald spots. Break out the Lawn Mower: Mow the main lawn area, cutting off about 1/3 or less of the grass blade. Grass blades, like any other plant need their leaves to take in sunshine. Mow while the lawn is dry, and try not to go the same direction every time (which makes the blades grow at a slant.) If you took our advice and purchased a storage shed, try using it to store your mower. In the future, you can pull out right onto the grass to start cutting.
Edging: This is a simple but important step that gives your lawn a clean, manicured look. Use a string trimmer to cut tall grass along the edges of your lawn, and grass shears around trees. Use a broom or hose to brush clippings into piles, you can either throw them out or use them for nutritious mulch somewhere else in your yard. Eliminate weeds- Like party crashers; weeds are uninvited guests that rob your plants of nutrients and sunshine. You can pull out weeds with your hands or use a shovel to dig them out. Taking loads of weeds to the compost pile can be laborious. Use the Yard Cart from Lifetime to save time and effort. Various chemicals will kill weeds without harming your other plants. You may also think about laying down a weed barrier mat in real problem areas, keeping weeds from even breaking through the soil.
Lighten up: Now, go pour yourself a tall glass of lemonade, and take a few minutes to relax. Once you’ve taken a load off, do the same for your trees and shrubs. First, find out the best ways to prune each of your trees. Each type of tree reacts differently to pruning; there is much information to be found online. First, with black spray paint, mark the places you should cut. Then use long pruning shears or a saw to cut the branches down and up, forming a point in the direction you’d like it to start growing again. Finally, spray all the clipped edges with the black paint to keep away wood-eating bugs. Haul off your clippings to the dump, or rent a mulching machine and turn it into nourishment.
Check your Watering: One of the primary causes of brown spots is improper watering. If you have a sprinkler system, check suspicious areas for a blocked sprinkler head. It’s often as simple as identifying a shrub or tree trunk that’s blocking flow to a certain area. The best times to water are in the early morning and late evening when water does not evaporate as quickly in the sun. Also beware of over-watering. Watering too much can leach nutrients and cause fungus or runoff.
Get Flower Power: Nothing lends beauty quite like the color and versatility of flowers. If your yard already has a flower bed, revitalize it by pulling out weeds and replanting your favorite flowers. If you’re starting from scratch, decide where you’d like flowers in your yard, and start digging (call a locator service to be sure you’re not digging into cables or pipes.) Dig down about 1-2 feet, and as wide and long as you’d like the area to be.
Remove any chunks of sod or unwanted plants: Mix in compost or a good fertilizer, and rake the area smooth. Finally, pick out what plants you’d like to have. A good rule of thumb is to choose a bush, some medium height flowers, and ground cover, so that your plants vary in height and are more visually interesting.
Make a maintenance plan: Now that you’ve got your lawn right where you want it, it’s time to draft a feasible plan to keep it that way. For most of us, yard work is not a welcome chore. But by breaking down the upkeep into small steps, and setting a simple schedule, you can enjoy a beautiful lawn year round. One great system is to assign each family member one chore, and get together every Saturday to work. (I.e- mom-weed, dad-mow and prune, son-rake, daughter-edge.) Be sure to keep the seasons in mind. So the chore of raking becomes snow shoveling in the winter, and clearing out sticks and rocks before mowing in the summer, etc.

Tips

Looking for additional ways to add color and varitey to the yard? Check out our potting and planting article.