The women of today are venturing out and traveling more globally then at any time in history. Female travelers, whether traveling alone or as a group, are encountering different cultures, religions, and societies. With this freedom comes some risks that men may never encounter. It is therefore a good idea for women to learn how to handle themselves when vacationing, studying abroad, or traveling on business.
Here are some things you can do that may help you have a safer as well as a more enjoyable travel experience.
If you are traveling, or on vacation, your best protection is to understand the local culture and customs of the country you are visiting. What you observe when you watch how the local women behave and dress will give you valuable clues on how to avoid sexual harassment.
When the local women cover their hair and their arms and legs then you should do that also. Don’t wear bikinis, swimsuits, or short shorts in towns where the local women are all covered up. It’s prudent to dress conservatively.
Be sure to avoid direct eye contact with men as they might think you’re flirtatious. Do not speak, smile, or wave at strange men who may smile or say hello to you. If a man begins to follow you, cross to the other side of street. If this tactic doesn’t work, find a policeman, or go into a store and ask for help.
When you need to ask directions, always ask a woman. And, if you are traveling by bus or train, you should always sit with other women.
A great idea is to always carry a versatile head scarf in your handbag just in case you need to cover your head and arms.
You may want to wear a fake wedding ring to help ward off and discourage any unwanted male advances if you are not married.
Don’t forget to wear a referee’s whistle around your neck under your blouse. It might come in handy.
Consult guide books on the countries and areas that you are traveling to or through to give you a heads up on what to expect. Also, carry a foreign language phrase book with you to help you communicate with people when you get there.
It’s not a good idea to wear expensive looking jewelry, watches, carrying cases digital cameras, or even designer handbags. You don’t want to attract any muggers or robbers. Pack a conservative outfit to wear in case you need one for certain occasions.
If you are going to travel alone, it’s better to travel light. For one thing you will be more mobile if you aren’t loaded down with luggage. If it’s not too small for your belongings, a wheeled, carry-on bag, or a backpack may be you best bet. It is important to try and have one hand free at all times. Having two hands free is even better. You should take a shoulder bag that has a strong, wide strap that can fit over your head. Wearing the shoulder bag in this way can help prevent a thief from grabbing the bag and running away with it. Also, the bag should have secure, zippered pockets.
Choosing the right summer camp for your child can be a challenging and sometimes overwhelming task. Since there’s a seemingly endless variety of choices to consider, matching the ideal camp to your child’s interests, personality, and busy schedule can be daunting. Furthermore, as a parent, you have the responsiblity of ensuring the camp you choose for your child is operated in a safe and appropriate manner for your child’s age and skill levels.
The following is a camp selection checklist for parents to consider when considering summer camp opportunities for their kids:
1. Identify the camp’s program emphasis.
Every camp has a different philosophy and program emphasis. Some camps promote structured group activities, while others give campers more individualized freedom to pick and choose the individual activities that appeal to them. Some camps offer strictly traditional activities, while others may focus exclusively on sports, drama, or surfing. Or, maybe your child would flourish in a competitive camp environment whereas another child would be better off participating in non-competitive camp activities. By knowing your child’s personality, interests, personality traits, and learning style, you can better identify the right camp for you.
2. Confirm that the camp is accredited by the American Camp Association.
In order to earn accreditation by the American Camp Association (ACA), camps must comply with up to 300 best-practice industry standards relating to camper health, safety, supervision and activity planning and execution which are crucial to a camp’s operation.
3. Ask about the camp director’s background.
To ensure that the camp director is qualified, make sure he or she meets the minimum standards set forth by the ACA. Such standards recommend that camp director holds a bachelor’s degree, has in-depth experience in camp administration, performed in-service training during the last three years, and is at least 25 years old.
4. Camper-to-counselor ratios. To make sure your child is getting the individual attention and supervision he or she needs for his or her age, compare the camp’s counselor-to-camper ratio to ACA standards. For day camps, the general ratios range from 8:1 for 6, 7 and 8 year olds, to 10:1 for 9 to 14 year olds, and 12:1 for campers ages 15 to 17. For sleepaway camps, the general recommended ratio is 6:1 for 7 and 8 year olds, 8:1 for 9 to 14 year olds and 10:1 for campers ages 15 to 17.
(Please note, the above-cited child-to-counselor ratio standards are only ACA’s general, MINIMUM recommendations and may vary depending on various situations and/or conditions. Moreover, there could be additional standards relating to specific programs and/or activities where more supervision may be prudent, if not required. Accordingly, you should use your own judgement and conduct your own research to decide what is appropriate for you and your child.)
5. Inquire about camp staff: Your child’s counselors can make or break a child’s camp experience.
In addition to facilitating camp activities, counselors serve as role models and should be dependable, trustworthy, and show enthusiasm for their job. For safety reasons, counselors should also be CPR and First Aid-Certified and have undergone criminal background checks prior to employment by the camp.
6. Accommodation of special needs.
If your child has special needs due to an allergy or other medical condition, be sure to ask if the camp is equipped to handle these requirements.
7. Find out about how the camp handles discipline.
As in any organization, rules need to be followed and the camp’s disciplinary approach should be fair, reasonable and openly communicated. Positive reinforcement, a sense of fair play and assertive role-modeling are important things to look for. If penalties apply to certain violations, camp staff should apply them fairly, calmly and without unnecessary criticism.
8. Check the camp’s references.
References can provide you with a glimpse of the experiences others have had at a camp, and they are an important way of checking out a camp’s track record and reputation. Before you choose a camp, the camp director should be willing to provide references upon request.
Good luck choosing a camp and have a great summer!
Copyright Eric D. Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.
Posted in Camping | 
Tags: Camp Environment, Camp Selection, Program Emphasis, Skill Levels | 
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If you’re a parent considering summer camp opportunities for your child, you might consider a day camp rather than (or in addition to) a sleepaway camp experience.
Parents often view sending their kids to day camps as a “stepping stone” to overnight camp. They might think day camps are for “younger kids” and sleepaway camps are for older ones. In some cases this is might be true, but not always.
In fact, some day camps actually specialize in meeting the unique needs of older kids who don’t want to go to sleepaway camp, but who still require worthwhile activities and adult supervision during the summer.
Activities at such day camps are often designed for the teen or “tween” age group.
One of the advantages you have as a parent when comparing day camps to overnight camps (or even day camps to day camps) is that a day camp’s customer base is generally restricted to its local geographical area. This makes things easier for you to learn more about the camp.
For example, you can contact the camp’s current or former customers for references, and you can even visit the camp before making a decision.
So how do you know you’re picking the right day camp for your child? We’ve indirectly touched on a few points above. In particular, though, we recommend following 4-point checklist to help ensure the day camp you choose is the right one for your child.
1. Make sure the day camp is ACA accredited
If the day camp you’re considering is accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA), then you are assured it meets or exceeds up to 300 best-practice industry standards relating to camper health and safety, program quality, camper supervision, activity planning, transportation and more. If the day camp you’re considering is not ACA-accredited, ask the camp director why not.
2. Check references
Since day camps primarily serve local customers, it should not be difficult to find a few families who’ve attended the camp before. Talk to them about their impressions of the program. If you hear good things, you might have a winner. Mixed reviews, on the other hand, could be a “red flag” alerting you to research the camp further. But if everyone you speak with has only negative things to say, then rule that day camp out, pat yourself on the back for taking the time to conduct a thorough investigation, and keep looking for a different camp.
3. Involve your child in the decision making process
Research shows that kids enjoy camp more when they’re included in the decision-making process. Since there are so many different types of day camps to choose from, it’s important to match your child’s interests and personality with the activities the day camp offers. Accordingly, it’s advisable to take a tour of the camp and/or attend an open house together with your child. After you’ve toured the camp, ask for your child’s opinion. This can be a much better approach than unilaterally deciding which day camp your child will attend without consulting them ahead of time, as asking for their input means they’ll probably have a more positive camp experience in the end.
4. Tour the camp and meet the staff
Most day camps hold open houses or organized facility tours during the prime camp enrollment season (generally springtime). These events are great opportunities for you to meet the staff, ask questions and see how the camp operates on a day-to-day basis. You might even decide to attend several camps’ open houses for a point of comparison and to see where you get the best “vibe.” In this author’s opinion, attending a day camp open house or touring the facility is the single BEST way to see what you’re getting into ahead of time.
Camp is such a personal experience. You want your child to connect with his or her counselors on a personal level and admire them as leaders and role models. You owe it to yourself and your child to pick a day camp that your child will look back on later in life and say, “I remember that camp, and it was the best experience of my life!”
Your child deserves the best. It’s your responsibility as a parent to put him or her in an environment where they can thrive, and choosing the right day camp can make this happen for you.
Happy day camping!
Copyright Eric Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp. All rights reserved.