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Preparing For Your First Camping Trip With Kids In Tow

There’s nothing quite as relaxing as a trip away from home to enjoy the outdoors. If you have kids, you already know that they relish in the sunlight and love exploring nature. Camping as a family is a wonderful way to spend time together doing just that. Preparing for your first ever camping trip will ensure that your children have a blast, leading the way to future trips together in this form.

Try A Practice Run

Before heading out for a camping excursion, try a trial run at home to see how your kids fare. Set up a tent in your backyard and keep tabs on all the items your family needs while you spend the night. Luckily, it isn’t too far away and you can grab things as you see fit. Write down a list of the items you used, and keep it handy for your “real” camping trip away from home.

Keep Devices Off

In today’s day and age, everyone has a cell phone or electronic device to look at. Camping should be based around nature and experiences as a family unit. Let older kids know they will need to shut down their phones while you are spending time together. Allow them an hour or so at nighttime to catch up with friends, but make it a priority that the device is shut off again for another day of fun, if applicable.

Don’t Make It Difficult

For a first camping trip, forego hiking in the woods to a remote location to set up your sleeping quarters. Instead, head to a family camping facility. Here your children have amenities available, such as restrooms with running water, electricity, and maybe even a gift shop or small store. This way you can observe what is needed and not needed for future trips out with your kids.

Don’t Overplan Your Excursion

There is no need to write up a schedule of events you wish to partake in with your kids. Instead, keep a few “must-dos” in mind and wing the rest. Spontaneity can be a great thing for everyone. You’ll see that your kids come up with unique ways to overcome boredom and creativity will abound. Refrain from writing up lists and allow nature to take its course. Another idea is to let each member of the family come up with an idea for an activity that everyone can do together. After this has been completed, another family member gets a turn. This way each person gets to experience something that they want to try.

Allow For Some Dirt To Accumulate

At home, you likely let your kids know when you don’t want them to get dirty. While camping, let this rule slide by and let your kids feel the earth without restriction. Dirt never hurt anyone and it will let your child roam around without worrying about their appearance or whether they will be scolded about its presence. Some of the best fun is to be had with dirt involved! This can always be washed off in a shower house, lake, or via a sponge bath if needed. Keep your child’s good clothing at home when you go camping so you do not worry about it becoming ruined during a time when you just want to have fun with each other.

It Might Not Be What You Expect

Don’t go into a camping trip thinking that it will be magical for all who are involved. You may have a child that just isn’t the camping type, and that is okay. You may find that your child really enjoys camping, however. You won’t know until you try!

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Brothers Rent Billboard and Start TikTok Account to Help Their Brother Find Love

Kevin Wells

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When 34-year-old Chris Cooke told his siblings he might give up on finding “the one,” his twin brother Henry and younger brother Jamie decided to step in and help. They launched the “Find Chris Love” campaign, complete with a dedicated TikTok account and even a billboard, to help Chris find the love of his life.

“Chris is an awesome guy. He’s smart, funny, charismatic, outgoing, and handsome, of course, but he doesn’t always have the best luck in the romance department, so we figured we’d step in and see if we could help him out,” said Henry and Jamie Cooke.

The brothers went all out with their campaign. They created car magnets to spread the word around their Colorado community and set up online dating profiles for Chris, all without his knowledge. They gave themselves 30 days to find Chris a match.

For those interested in knowing more about Chris, Henry and Jamie shared that he is about 6 feet 4 inches tall, enjoys running half marathons, and was a ballroom dance teacher in New York before moving to Colorado. They described him as “smart, loyal, and a blast to be around.”

The “Find Chris Love” TikTok account is gaining traction quickly, with thousands of likes and at least 180 followers in just three weeks.

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Woman Finds New Purpose Helping Hedgehogs

Jess

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Kitty Johnson was worried about feeling lonely when her son left for college. So, she found an unusual hobby – rescuing hedgehogs!

It all started in May 2023 when Kitty got a call about a sick hedgehog in a park. She rushed out with gloves and a box, found the little animal, and took it to a sanctuary. The hedgehog lived, and Kitty felt great about helping.

Kitty always loved nature, but she didn’t know much about hedgehogs before. She joined a group that helps these spiky creatures because she wanted to stay busy when her son went to college.

At first, Kitty answered phone calls about hedgehogs. But she wanted to be more active, so she became a “hedgehog driver.” Now she goes all over her town looking for hedgehogs that need help. She finds them in gardens, graveyards, and even compost bins!

In one year, Kitty has saved about 30 hedgehogs. Some were hurt or sick and needed to go to the vet. Others were babies left alone by their moms. Kitty says, “They’re not just cute but they’re also amazing animals, native to our country, that need protecting.”

Kitty made her own garden safe for hedgehogs. She put out food for them and made holes in her fence so they can travel through. She even has a camera to watch them!

Now Kitty is writing a book about hedgehogs. She says helping these animals makes her feel good and keeps her busy. Even though her son is away at school, Kitty found a new way to feel useful and happy.

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From Streets to Home: A Dog’s Remarkable Transformation

Renee Yates

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In a heartwarming tale that underscores the transformative power of love, a once “sad little street dog” found a forever home, dramatically altering its life for the better.

Initially discovered by an animal rescue center, the stray dog was in poor condition, with matted and dirty fur, and a noticeable wariness of humans. Its future seemed uncertain until a woman, moved by photographs she saw on Facebook, decided to adopt the little pooch.

The adoption marked a turning point in the dog’s life. Fast forward three months, and the shy, forlorn street dog has become a lively and joyful house pet. Photos shared by the new owner on Reddit capture this incredible journey, showing the dog happily playing in a grassy yard, grinning widely, and enjoying the company of a furry friend and a cozy bed.

The Reddit post, titled “From sad little street dog to happy housepet in three months,” quickly resonated with the community, garnering over 1,200 upvotes and a slew of positive comments. One user remarked, “So adorable. Thank you for taking care of him and giving him a lovely home and family.” Another noted, “He’s got such a personality! Shines through the photos. Thank you for saving him.” A third added, “Aww. What a darling. Glad you were there to take this honeyface in and give him the love that all the sweet pups deserve.”

The story also sheds light on the broader issue of homeless dogs. According to Dogster, around 100,000 canines are currently homeless in the UK. This poignant transformation underscores the profound impact that adopting a homeless pet can have, not just on the animal but also on the adopter. The woman who adopted the dog shared her feelings, saying, “He has done so much for us! He’s so sweet and easy to love, and he has completed our first dog’s life by being a patient and gentle best friend towards her (she can be very clingy)… It’s been awesome getting to know him and getting to see him get to be a puppy!”

This touching narrative serves as a powerful reminder of the difference a loving home can make, encouraging more people to consider adopting homeless animals. The joy and fulfillment that come with giving a pet a second chance are immeasurable, benefiting both the animal and its new family.

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High School President Expresses Gratitude with Personal Touch

Kevin Wells

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A high school class president in Massachusetts, showing a remarkable sense of appreciation, decided to honor each of his fellow graduates with personal thank-you notes. This touching gesture took center stage at their commencement ceremony.

Mason Macuch, the class president of Apponequet Regional High School in Lakeville, MA , delivered a speech on June 7, where he revealed his thoughtful plan. “I wish I could’ve acknowledged you all, but there was simply not enough time,” he said. “Instead, I want you to reach under your chairs, where you will find a personal note that I’ve written to each of you as a way to say one final goodbye and thank you for making these years that will soon pass the ‘good ole days.’”

Under the chairs, the graduating seniors discovered 5-by-7-inch white cards, each containing a heartfelt message. Macuch had spent about 10 hours crafting these notes, a labor of love that reflected his connections with many of his classmates. “I just wrote anything from farewell messages to little memories that I had with whoever I was writing to, or maybe if it was a close friend, a longer message to them,” Macuch explained. “Anything that I could think of about the person I wanted to say about them before we graduated and went on our separate ways.”

The initiative required the approval of school administrators, and on the day of the ceremony, Macuch, along with an assistant principal and a teacher, arrived early to tape the cards under the chairs. His effort did not go unnoticed; many graduates thanked him personally, and parents expressed their appreciation through social media.

Macuch’s act of kindness was not just a farewell; it was a testament to the bonds formed over the years. “Some people I hadn’t talked to in a few years were just so thankful for them. It was really nice to see that they were just so appreciative of all the hard work that went into them, and it was a really nice way to say goodbye to everyone,” he reflected.

As he prepares to start college in the fall, with plans to study biochemistry, Macuch’s gesture serves as a lasting reminder of the power of gratitude and personal connection. His mother’s advice on writing thank-you notes undoubtedly played a significant role in this memorable act of appreciation.

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Cat Reunited with Owner 12 Years After Disappearing: ‘Didn’t Feel Real’

Kevin Wells

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A family that had lost hope of ever seeing their cat again received surprising news recently. After 12 long years, their cat, Artie, has been reunited with its owner.

Artie disappeared from the home of Theo-Will McKenna, 29, after the family moved from Blacon in Chester to Connah’s Quay in Flintshire, Wales, back in 2012. McKenna, who was 17 at the time, spent six months searching for Artie, but eventually, the family lost hope.

Then, just three weeks ago, Artie was discovered after spending four days in a garden close to where the family used to live in Connah’s Quay.

“I hadn’t been able to take him with me when I moved out, and my mom moved to Connah’s Quay with him, my brother, and our other pets,” McKenna explained. “I was in college in the area, so I’d pop back to visit once a week or so.” One day, when McKenna was visiting home, his mom reported that Artie was missing. “He hadn’t come back in a couple of days — and he’d never done that before. He used to come back every night.”

McKenna immediately went out to look for Artie, walking around the entire area with a bag full of treats but found nothing. He kept an eye out for Artie every time he was in the area, but there was no sign of him. “After about six months, I lost hope. I reached the point where I thought that either, God forbid, something had happened to him, or someone else had taken him in.”

Residents at the home where Artie was found took him to the vet, who discovered a microchip registered to McKenna’s mom, with a contact number for North Clwyd Animal Rescue (NCAR). NCAR picked up Artie and shared a post on Facebook to find his owners. A friend saw the post and recognized Artie, sending it to McKenna.

McKenna explained that Artie showed up in someone’s garden near where his mom had lived in Connah’s Quay. Artie stayed there for four days, not leaving at all. The vet’s office scanned Artie’s microchip and saw that it was still registered to McKenna’s mom at their old address. When they found out that she no longer lived there, they reached out to NCAR, who reclaimed Artie from the vet.

Artie had some medical issues that needed attention. He had some teeth removed, treatment for hyperthyroidism, and had precancerous lumps removed from his ears. NCAR got him stable and then posted about him on their Facebook page. “My friend saw it and sent me the post — it took me a second to recognize him because he looked so bedraggled and skinny,” McKenna said. “It didn’t feel real. I thought there was no way it could be him. It had been 12 years — he went missing when I was 17. I thought no cat could survive 12 years on the street.”

Once McKenna picked up Artie, he took him home to his current apartment, where Artie is now getting used to living with McKenna’s other cat. “We’re still in the trial period, but he’s been completely fine. He’s purring up a storm every time I go near him. My other cat has been a little bit wary, but we’ve been doing introductory methods and getting her used to his smell. It’s a slow process, but I’m absolutely determined that he’s staying with me.”

McKenna believes that people must have been looking after Artie over the years, putting out food or taking him in. “I don’t think he would have made it 12 years without community kindness.”

Artie is now 16 years old and will need ongoing medical care, with his medicine costing about $64 per month. McKenna has started a fundraiser online to help with the cat’s medical expenses. “I want him to be able to spend his twilight years somewhere that he’s loved — which will be here,” he said.

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