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July 5, 2009
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Outdoor treats and camping delights for kids
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Kid's Camp Gear Belt
Little campers ready for anything!
This waterproof belt bag comes with a rain cape, a synthetic alarm whistle (in case of trouble, but may drive you crazy when they are not) and a screw-top box for treasures found. The cape is polyurethane and comes in a neoprene bag. The belt bag has reflective strips to more easily see your child in the dark. Fun camp- like colors of orange and green. www.warmbiscuit.com
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Sleeping Bags and Nap Mats Too cute yet practical
If your child is doing an overnight camp soon, check out www.annabean.com for too-cute camping gear, including 100% cotton flannel sleeping bags that include a travel pillow. The collection also includes a children's duffle bag, lunch box and backpack, all with the same adorable pattern of bears and moose and little orange tents. Another product we love, especially with school approaching, is Anna Bean's collection of nap mats: all-in-one pillow, comforter and attached poly-filled, flannel blanket. Check em' out.
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Camp Board Game
Explore the Great Outdoors Game
Getting ready for a camping trip? What better way to teach kids about all that camping has to offer than a fun board game! A roll-the-dice game, players answer questions about the great outdoors, including animal identification, as they try to make their way back to “camp” to be named the winner. There are four levels of difficulty in this game so it can be tailored to most children ages 4 and up. www.growingtreetoys.com
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Be a Camping Expert with These Books
Camping Out with Kids & Beach and Coastal Camping Guides
We like “Camp Out! The Ultimate Kids' Guide from the Backyard to the Backwoods” by Lynn Brunelle because it covers everything...cooking on a stick, purifying water, outdoor crafts and activities, nature guide and most basic skills required for camping. Everything is neatly compiled in a book that is friendly enough for older children to read on their own and for younger children to share in the reading with an adult. Parents will enjoy “Beach and Coastal Camping in Florida” by Johnny Molloy, which has been thoroughly revised, and includes practical spots to travel for camping in tents, vans or trailers on the sandy beaches throughout Florida. Both books, and a large selection of other camping guides not mentioned here, can be found at Inkwood Books on S. Armenia Avenue in Tampa. www.inkwoodbooks.com
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To access the Florida Online Park Guide, which details all of Florida's great natural resources and campgrounds, go here:
http://www.floridastateparks.org/default.cfm
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Here is a link to an article that ran recently in the St. Pete Times about The Top Ten Beach Camping Spots in Florida
http://www.tampabay.com/features/travel/florida/article1006630.ece

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