Summer Camp GIVEAWAY!!! Enter NOW for a Chance to WIN a Week at Westside FUN $400+ Value!
The polar vortex has finally left us behind and this brief warm spell of weather has me craving summer. Since I’m dreaming of summer bliss, I thought I would make one parent’s summer dreams come true. So I’ve partnered with Westside FUN Day Camp to give away a week of summer camp!! This giveaway is Valued at $390+HST! So if you have a little one 4 and up, don’t wait to ENTER! #sponsored
The polar vortex has finally left us behind and this brief warm spell of weather has me craving summer. Since I’m dreaming of summer bliss, I thought I would make one parent’s summer dreams come true. So I’ve partnered with Westside FUN Day Camp to give away a week of summer camp!! This giveaway is Valued at $390+HST! So if you have a little one 4 and up, don’t wait to ENTER! #sponsored
Last summer our big kids Ben and Lucy attended Westside FUN for 2 weeks each. They both absolutely loved it! I think the best part is that this camp offers such a wide variety of activities, so kid’s get to try out some new stuff, and don’t get bored doing the same thing over and over again every day. Plus, as a mom with pretty high standards, I was very pleased with the staff at Westside FUN. The counsellors always had the kids moving and having fun, exactly as summer camp should be. The kids came home absolutely exhausted every day, as evident by this photo of Lucy last summer passed out after a long day at Westside FUN.
A few weeks ago when I asked the kids if they wanted to go back to Westside FUN again this year, it was a resounding “YES!!” from both of them. Yay! Makes my mom job at a lot easier knowing they love where they spend their summer days.
So without further ado, I give you an Epic Summer Camp Giveaway valued at over $400!! Feel free to Enter all 3 ways to increase your chances of Winning!
To Enter Via My Blog: Simply Like this post & Comment below with your name and email (you must include your email so I can contact you if you win. If you prefer to keep it private, please comment with your name below and send me a quick email so I have your contact info.)
Head over to my Instagram and Enter!! ** Unlimited entries with tags!
Head over to my Facebook Page and Enter!! ** Unlimited entries with tags!
That’s it. So easy, and if you win, you can check one thing off your never-ending parent to-do list. You can thank me later ;)
Contest is open to all Canadians* 18+ and closes Thursday February 14th at 10pm EST** A winner will be chosen at random and contacted within 24 hours. *Westside FUN Day Camp is located in Toronto Canada. No travel or accommodation costs will be covered. Camp registration dates are subject to availability and age restrictions. Updated to Note: THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
Learn More about Westside FUN's Programs & Register Here. Please note that Westside FUN only runs programs in July, so space in their programs is Extremely Limited. Don't wait to register! Use code CARE for $25 OFF Westside FUN! Multi-week and sibling discounts are available, so make sure to check those out!
Good luck and let’s hope the groundhog was right. An early spring sounds pretty lovely right about now.
- Care
*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or products/services for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I only partner with companies that I genuinely love and want to recommend.
Download My FREE Complete Family Camping List
We just returned from our annual backcountry camping trip, so I thought it was time I shared my complete packing list for camping with kids. A lot of friends and family are surprised that we can enjoy our time camping with 3 kids in tow, but it really is one of our favourite traditions. As I've said in previous posts about Camping with Kids (found here & here), preparation is key to your enjoyment. There is nothing worse than forgetting a vital piece of equipment that means you're left wet, or uncomfortable, or hungry. In an effort to make sure this doesn't happen to any family, I'm sharing my Complete Family Camping List.
We just returned from our annual backcountry camping trip, so I thought it was time I shared my complete packing list for camping with kids. A lot of friends and family are surprised that we can enjoy our time camping with 3 kids in tow, but it really is one of our favourite traditions. As I've said in previous posts about Camping with Kids (found here & here), preparation is key to your enjoyment. There is nothing worse than forgetting a vital piece of equipment that means you're left wet, or uncomfortable, or hungry. In an effort to make sure this doesn't happen to any family, I'm sharing my Complete Family Camping List.
Going camping the first time can feel a bit overwhelming due to the sheer amount of gear required. Don't forget you can save your budget by borrowing equipment from friends and family, buying gently used gear from neighbourhood buy and sells, or renting from places like Mountain Equipment Co-op. We registered for camping gear from MEC for our wedding, and have been using it for the last 7 years. It’s amazing to think how many memories these gifts have given our little family.
I really hope this list makes you feel a little more prepared for camping with a young family, but remember nothing is perfect. You will be bug bitten, covered in grime and smelling less than peachy, but seeing the look on your little one's face when they catch their first crayfish, bite into a perfect s'more, go skinny dipping in a warm lake, or drift off to sleep in your arms watching the sun set, makes it all so worth it. There will probably be tears (for everyone), but trips like this build resiliency and help connect our kids to nature and the environment. For all of those who would prefer to glamp it up in a hotel or cottage instead, have fun! Whatever you do with your littles, know you're doing an awesome job.
CAMPING GEAR: 3 Day Family Trip
Canoe, Paddles & PFDs (Can be rented at most parks and marinas)
Collapsable Wagon (Great for hauling kids or gear to walk in sites, or over simple flat portages)
Container for gear, clothes, toiletries & bedding (Large waterproof dry pacs are ideal or rubbermaid bins for car camping)
Dry Food Storage (Barrel with Harness or Rubbermaid Bin for cap camping)
Cooler (pre-freeze water bottles to save ice pack space in the cooler, and have cold clean drinking water)
Tent, Vestibule & Footprint (or large tarp for underneath tent)
Sleeping Pad (We use 1 Family Sleeping Pad + 2 Regular Size Sleeping Pads, makes perfect size bed for our family)
Large bed sheet (Or appropriate for your size mattress)
Sleeping Bags (Since we sleep with the kids all together, we typically lay out a sheet on the sleeping pad and then use the sleeping bags on top as blankets)
2 Large Tarps (for rain shelter, covering gear at night etc)
2 Ropes (for tying tarp up to create a rain shelter, hanging food, towing a canoe, clothesline etc)
2 Bungee Cords (for attaching stuff to packs or keeping gear closed etc.)
Lightweight Fold Up Chair for each person
Booster Seat (lobster style is ideal for attaching to picnic tables)
Headlamps/Flashlights (*Always check batteries and pack extra. Headlamps and handsfree options are ideal when you have to help small children. Lantern style are also handy)
Sippy Cups/Bottles for little ones
Cutlery set for each person
Lightweight Cutting Board (not a flimsy one)
Flipper, Tongs, Mixing/Serving Spoon, Bottle Opener
Sharp Knife x2 (I wrap them in the dish cloth and tea towel with an elastic around them and put them in a bag together before packing into the gear bag)
Camping Stove with Gas Canisters (Even if you love to cook over the fire it's important to pack a stove in the case of rain, or a sudden fire ban)
Ove Gloves (or oven mitts)
Lake Eco Dish Soap (not for use in lake)
Dish Cloth & Drying Cloth
Duct Tape
Tin Foil (for using on grill when cooking veggies etc)
Paper Towels (In a large ziploc bag to avoid getting ruined from water)
Ziploc baggies (a few large and small, very useful for keeping things dry if it's a wet trip, putting your map into, or putting leftovers away etc)
2 Green garbage bags + a few smaller Kitchen catcher garbage bags for collecting garbage around site and covering things to keep dry if needed.
Matches/Lighters (Packed in a ziplock bag to keep dry. I typically pack an emergency lighter and matches in our 1st Aid Kit too)
Pelican Case for valuables e.g. cell phones, car keys, permits, wallets
CAMPING TOILETRIES: 3 Day Family Trip
Eco-friendly shampoo/body wash (for shower, no soaps are safe for lake use)
Hair Brush
Toilet Paper (2 rolls, in separate large ziploc bags to avoid water damage + backup)
Portable Fold Up Potty (much easier than trekking to the outhouse in the dark)
Sunscreen, Aftersun
Diapers
Baby Wipes (for easy hand and face wipes etc)
Swim towels (Turkish towels and travel towels pack well)
2 Face Cloths
1st Aid Kit *Get My Downloadable Complete Family First Aid Kit List!
OPTIONAL ITEMS: 3 Day Family Trip
Baby Carrier (eg. mesh water sling, favourite regular use carrier *consider what carrier would be ideal if you need to rock/walk your little one to sleep in it, backpack style etc.)
Hammock
Binoculars
Utility Knife
Camera
Cards/Dominos/Travel Backgammon
Waterproof Bluetooth Speaker
Books
Picnic Blanket
Water Toys (Boats, Pails & Shovels)
Rainy Day Activities *Check out some great ideas in Part 2 of Camping with Kids
CLOTHING: 3 Day Family Trip
2 Bathing Suits & UV Shirts (or full piece UV suits)
2 Pants
2 Shorts
3 T-Shirts
2 Long Sleeve Shirts
1 Sweatshirt
2 Socks
3 underwear
Rain Coat & Pants (or full piece rain suit)
Sunglasses
Wet Shoes (eg. Keens)
Dry Shoes (eg. Running Shoes)
Hope this list helps you have a great time in the outdoors. Happy Camping!
Care
This post is not sponsored but I have linked some of our absolute favourite pieces of gear in case you're looking for some. *Please note that we backcountry camp for about 3 days eg. portage and paddle in site with no running water, no flush toilets, no electricity etc. If you're planning a less rugged trip, feel free to scale back and omit some of these items or pack in any bags or bins you have. You will need to add some items if you're planning a longer or more rugged trip.
Summertime With Kids: Let's Talk Motherhood
Motherhood is one of those things no one can ever really prepare you for. That's why a supportive mom community is so important. I love how social media has opened up my life to a whole new group of amazingly supportive women who genuinely care about one another. Although we might not all agree on everything in motherhood, we know that we all love our kids and want the best for them, and that's what's most important.
Motherhood is one of those things no one can ever really prepare you for. That's why a supportive mom community is so important. I love how social media has opened up my life to a whole new group of amazingly supportive women who genuinely care about one another. Although we might not all agree on everything in motherhood, we know that we all love our kids and want the best for them, and that's what's most important.
I was so excited to be asked to be part in this month's Let's Talk Motherhood Series with a group of awesome fellow moms. We have all answered a few questions about summertime with our littles, so check it out below. Links to each post can be found at the end.
1. What are your favorite summertime activities with your little ones?
Hands down my favourite thing to do with my kids in the summer is spend time around the pool at my family farm. As a long time swimmer and lifeguard I am so happy that all 3 of my littles love the water. Our farm is a place that the kids can run wild and have lots of unstructured time outdoors. When we're not in the pool we love to go on walks to pick wild flowers, check out the cows in the neighbouring fields, and of course enjoy bon fires with s'mores.
2. How do you help keep your young ones cool when it's hot outside?
It can be really difficult to keep little ones cool and hydrated when our heat advisory days arrive. When we're at the splash pad or poolside it's easy to wade in the water to cool off, or sit in the shade of a big tree, but if we're headed out on a long summer day trip around the city I always plan ahead and freeze water bottles or juice boxes in the deep freeze the night before. The frozen drinks stay cold late into the day and keep the rest of the food/drinks cool. The cold water bottles can also be applied to the back of the neck/wrist, or poured over a piece of fabric as a compress to help cool someone off if need be.
Stay tuned for an upcoming post on Summer Safety With Kids focusing on Preventing, Recognizing, and Treating Overheating and Dehydration.
3. How do you handle having less time in the summer, since your kids are out of school?
With all 3 kids home full time for the summer I find having a mix of structured time, and vacation/go with the flow time, is important. I want my kids to enjoy the carefree days of summer. The slow days where you get so bored you create the best game or invention ever. That's what I remember loving about summer. This year we have our big kid in Camp a few weeks scattered throughout the summer, plus I have some occasional help from local babysitters for my 2 littlest. Ultimately, I have to slow down my community offerings during the summer months, so I can keep up with the kids.
4. At what age were your kids when you started taking family summer vacations with them?
We took our first babe on a road trip to our farm when he was only 3 weeks old, and have never looked back. We try to spend about 3 weeks each summer at our farm, we also go on an annual back country camping trip (Learn about Camping With Kids Here & Here), and we always love getting away on local adventures. My husband and I love to travel, but we probably won't be going on any big fancy trips anytime soon with 3 littles in tow and a tight budget. Hopefully as the kids get older we'll be able to plan more elaborate family trips again.
5. What tips would you suggest for new moms traveling with their little ones for the first time?
Read my Travelling with Tots Series. Hahaha...no seriously. Although it doesn't contain everything you need to know about travelling it has a lot of tips that I have learned over the years. Travelling with kids isn't like a pre-kid vacation, but it can still be wonderful if you go into it prepared and with realistic expectations. When all else fails, lower your expectations ;)
Hope you enjoyed hearing my take on summertime with my littles. Don't forget to check out these 4 awesome moms to hear about their perspectives on Motherhood in Summertime.
McKell lifeasmrswilson.com (@mckellwilson) | Aurora auroramccausland.com (@auroramccausland) | Jenn whatyoumakeitblog.com (@whatyou_make_it) | Hannah mundanemummy.com (@_hannahsilver_)
What's your favourite thing to do in summer with your kiddos? I would love to hear in the comments below.
Care
IN THIS POST:
Anchor Studio: Photo with kids at top (Julia Salk Set Stylist) | Rollo Towel: Roundie Towel | Tiny Trendsetter: Chambray Bonnet & Saltwater Sandals| Diaper-eez: Motherease Swim Diaper & Swim Trainer *10% off code: Withcare | Sakura Bloom: Linen Ring Sling | I Angel: Grey Chevron Hip Seat Carrier
*This is not a sponsored post
Welcome To The West End True North Sports Camps! Enter To WIN A Week Of Free Camp + 30% OFF Registration!
It's hard to believe that it's already time to start thinking about summer, but it'll be here before we know it.
It's hard to believe that it's already time to start thinking about summer, but it'll be here before we know it. I'm typically the parent who hears about summer camp registration in the winter, but then gets busy and forgets to actually register. When I do get around to it, most programs are crammed full with waitlists or unavailable on the weeks we want. So this year when I heard that True North Sports Camps was coming to the West End, I decided to jump on it and get my big kid all signed up. Yay for checking things off my to-do list! Plus I asked them for a discount for my friends and followers, and they were super generous. You're welcome ;)
I had heard of True North Sports Camps before, from some friends in North Toronto who had sent their kids and loved the programs, but it was too far away for us. I hadn't found any comparable program in our neighbourhood for this season, so hearing that they were extending to the West End in the summer of 2017 was perfect. They offer Multi-Sport and Baseball camps for kids ranging in age from 4-14, and focus on a pressure free environment that emphasizes sportsmanship, teamwork and fair play. All things that our 5 year old could use a little help with, as I'm sure most kids can. They also offer extended before and after care, which is essential for so many busy families.
If you're looking for a great Sports Camp for your little camper this summer, check out True North Sport Camps and use Code TrueNorth57 for 30% off Registration at their West End Camps. Plus Enter for a Chance to WIN 1 Week of FREE Camp!
Simply comment below with your name and email address for a chance to WIN! (alternatively you may comment below and submit your email address to info@fifty-seven.ca for entry). Plus make sure to check out our Facebook page & Instagram feed for 2 more ways to enter!
Contest is open to all residents of the Greater Toronto Area and closes Thursday February 16th 11pm EST. A winner will be chosen at random and announced within 24 hours. *Prize must be redeemed for services at True North Sports Camps West End Location
I'm in disbelief that it's only February and we're all set for camp. I'm feeling pretty proud of myself and Ben is so excited he's started a countdown. I'm sure that won't get old anytime soon ;)
- Care
*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or product for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.