College Campus Safety Tips
January 27, 2012 | 
Author While out on a date
The unfortunate statistic is that 90 percent of rapes occur between people who already knew each other and that approximately half of rapes happen on dates. This is commonly known as “date rape” or “acquaintance rape.”
While sexual assault and rape by an attacker is never the victim’s fault, there are a few things women can bear in mind:
Take your time in getting to know your companion or “date.” Don’t spend time alone with someone who makes her feel uneasy or uncomfortable. This means following your instincts and removing herself from situations that you don’t feel good about.
Stay with a group of people. Avoid risky areas, such as deserted areas.
Avoid excessive alcohol. According to the Journal of Studies on Alcohol, more than 70,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 have been victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
Be alert for possible use of “date rape drugs” such as Rohypnol, which is illegal in the United States. Someone can slip it into a drink. It causes drowsiness, a loss of coordination, dizziness and memory loss. Never take drinks from other people and don’t leave your drink unattended.
Tell someone you trust your date’s name, destination and planned time of return.
Take money for a phone call and taxi fare with you.
More campus safety tips: While walking around campus
Survey the campus after dark to see that buildings, walkways, quadrangles and parking lots are adequately secured, lighted and patrolled.
Avoid walking alone if possible.
Walk with an air of confidence and stay alert.
Walk in lighted areas.
Keep your hand free, not overloaded.
Have your keys ready.
If you are being followed: cross the street, scream, run to an occupied residence or store, or flag down a car.
At dorm rooms
Doors and windows to your residence hall should be equipped with quality locks. Room doors should have peepholes and deadbolts.
Do not loan out your key. Never compromise your safety for a roommate or friend who wants the door left unlocked. Replace locks when a key is lost or stolen.
Use caution admitting strangers.
Have good lighting around entrances.
If you are a woman and live alone or with other women, use only your first initials on your mailbox and, when possible, in phone directories.
Report suspicious activity to campus police–or to the police if you live off-campus.
While in your car
Keep windows up and doors locked.
Park in well-lighted areas and travel on populated, well-lighted streets.
Never pick up hitchhikers.
If you have car trouble, signal for help by raising the hood or tying a white handkerchief to the door handle.
Preparation and awareness are the keys to safety in any situation. Non-lethal self defense and personal protection devices are proven to deter most attackers. Consider carrying self defense devices such as pepper sprays, stun guns, or personal alarms. Learn the correct way to use these types of devices and be committed to using them should a dangerous situation occur. A variety of products are available to meet the needs of most everyone. Through preparation and awareness you will enjoy increased “peace of mind” and confidence knowing you are protected!.
Creative Ideas For Gift Exchange Games to Play With Your Family at Christmas
In days gone by, there were no real rules about family gift buying. Basically everyone purchased a gift for everyone else. The gifts were all exchanged when the family gathered somewhere during the holiday season.
Changing Times
Nowadays, traditions have changed. It is more common for people to be assigned a specific person to buy for, often by drawing a name out of a hat. Other families have a “white elephant” exchange rather than having family members buy for certain individuals. Whether families exchange “white elephant” gifts or give a gift to a designated person, all families want a fun way to exchange the presents.
Hunting For Christmas Gifts
There are several fun ways to enjoy yourselves if family members drew names. Hide the gifts and give out clues to the location of the presents. If you get to grandma’s house with a gift for Uncle Harry, tuck it away in the refrigerator. Make up a series of clues so Uncle Harry can find the gift. You may want to say, “It’s a milky situation” or “It’s cold”.
Looking For Christmas Clues
Clues can be serious or silly, depending on your mood. The clues can easily lead to the gift in a minute or may involve a series of complicated clues to actually find the present. For small groups or large homes, turn the game into a hunt. Leave clues that lead to another clue and then another. Have several leading clues to different places in the house until the gift is finally located.
Themed Christmas Gifts and White Elephants
Kids aren’t the only ones who want to have fun. Make up whimsical gift exchange ideas for the grown-ups. Whether your family decides to have a name draw or not, a white elephant gift exchange is always a good time. The white elephant gift exchange can be themed to coincide with your family’s favorite things. For example, families who love camping can choose that as a theme. All the family members must bring a gift related to camping. From army knives to backpacks to compasses, all the gifts must relate to camping in some way.
Other white elephant exchange themes include cooking, fishing and music. The theme should please as many family members as possible and be something they can relate to. Create fun games for the white elephant exchange. Have everyone draw a number and choose their gifts from the pile based on the number they pick. You can start the game this way then let people ‘steal’ someone else’s gift if they want.
Stealing Christmas Gifts
To ‘steal’ someone else’s gift you can have the gift recipient study the gift, shake it up and down and then make an educated guess as to the contents before they open it. If the recipient is correct, they can ‘steal’ someone else’s gift and if they are wrong, they keep the gift they have.
Cards and Christmas Gifts
You can also build up gift giving anticipation by playing cards. Play fast card games such as rummy or poker. Tell everyone they cannot get their Christmas gift until they win a hand in the card game. Everyone gets to play games, open their gifts and have a good time.
When you exchange gifts with your family, you should also enjoy each other’s company. Feel the Christmas spirit when you play engaging, enjoyable games with the adults and children in the family. Exchanging gifts is more than opening presents, it’s sharing time with the people you care about.
Make a Home Made Kid Race Car
Get ready for racing fun with this Home Made Kid Race Car!
MATERIALS
Rectangular Boxes – apple boxes, xerox paper boxes or similar
Colorful plastic or paper plates
Spray paint
Construction paper in assorted colors
Heavy ribbon
Staple gun
Brad fasteners
Craft knife
Glue and Masking tape
Markers
Foam letters and numbers to decorate
INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare the Box – Start with one rectangular box for each party guest. If the box has flaps, cut them off with the craft knife. Turn the box upside down and cut out a square area on one side of the bottom (now the top of your race car) big enough to accommodate a child.
Paint Your Race Car - Spray paint your box a bright color – red, blue, green, yellow, or orange.
Attach “Suspenders” - Using the staple gun, staple heavy ribbon from end to end on either side of the box as “suspenders” to allow kids to wear their cars.
Add Wheels – Choose four plastic plates to make two wheels on either side of the box. Use a contrasting color to the color of the race car box itself. Fasten the plates with brads so the wheels will turn. Add another plate on top of the box to make a functioning steering wheel.
Add Headlights and Tail Lights - Cut two circles of yellow construction paper and glue to the front of the car for headlights. Cut two smaller circles of red construction paper and glue to the rear end of the car for tail lights.
Make an Exhaust Pipe - Make an exhaust pipe from a toilet paper tube with crepe paper streamers. Attach the tube to the car by making a series of cuts around one end of the tube, flaring it out against the back of the car, and securing with masking tape.
Personalize Your Race Car - using colored construction paper shapes, markers, foam numbers and letters.
Now make a race track in your yard using caution tape, old tires, hay bales, or whatever. For great ideas on incorporating this craft into a party, visit our Race Car Birthday Party page.
How Knives Created the World We Live In
Knives provide some of the greatest benefits to mankind, yet in the wrong hands the greatest of curses. We cannot ignore them; because every society has them. They exist in their billions as everyday items. They are the most trusted of tools we know; yet they can be the source of formidable threat. Their use in combat is as prolific as their use in the medical world. Whatever situations we find ourselves, combat, ceremony, cure, cuisine or survival, the knife has played a key role throughout our history. We owe a lot to knives.
Knives have taken on mystical properties for many cultures. Sikhs are required to carry the Kirpan (a religious weapon) as a symbol of their faith. The North American Indians used them for blood brother ceremonies, however, many cultures, Asian, Chinese, ancient Greeks, European countries, such as Bulgaria, Albania; even the Chinese have used this ceremony of joining men in covenants of loyalty. The respective parties ‘bloods’ made to flow by the use of knives. Wherever you go you’ll encounter knives.
Knives, are multi-functional. Their use in the preparation and eating of food is the perhaps the most obvious we can relate to on a day-to-day basis. From the carving of meat, right down to opening oysters, the vast majority of food preparation will involve a knife.
Virtually every country uses knives and forks for eating. In those places where other techniques are used: they are a primary tool for in the preparation of food. In fact, until quite recently the knife was the primary cutlery piece used in eating throughout Europe.
Everyone carried one to eat their food with. This progressed to using two knives, one knife to hold the food the other to cut it. After years of experimentation somebody decided to split the knife blade. This forked blade, a lot like a carving fork today, had only two prongs. So bear in mind next time you pick your fork to eat, it started life as a knife. Forks came into existence, long after the discovery of knives.
Knives and knife shapes, are as varied as the cultures and individuals who use them. Everyone has an opinion of what makes the ideal knife. What the right balance, weight and material should be. There are as many different materials and ways of sharpening knives as there are knives themselves.
No knife, however good, is perfect for all situations. The selection of a good knife is a matter of intense personal likes and dislikes. So whatever your need or interest, survival knives, combat knives, kitchen knives, ceremonial knives or collectable knives. One thing is certain, the humble knife and its amazing versatility has forged who, and what we are… as much as we have forged them. We would not live as we do today, for good or bad, if it were not for knives.
Cleaning and Oiling a Hunting Knife
Hunting Knife Maintenance
A hunting knife is an important survival tool and an investment. With extended use your knife can become worn and will require maintenance to keep it working like new. Clean and oil your knife to achieve top performance over the life of the knife. Some of the main concerns for an overused knife are rust and corrosion. Rust can lead to corrosion of the blade and deterioration of the blade metal. Rust is causes by metal oxidation and is one of the repercussions of not cleaning your knife.
Any all purpose oil such as WD40 is good to use on the knife, but excessive application can cause the blade to collect more dirt, so don’t apply too much. A thin layer to protect the blade is enough to prevent the blade from corrosion. In order to keep your knife rust free you should clean and oil your knife regularly. Cleaning and oiling your knife regularly should be a quick task that when done will extend the life of your survival tool. Keep a clean dry cloth handy when cleaning and oiling your knife to avoid getting dirty finger prints on the blade and to prevent slippage while handling your knife.
In general a the best way to keep your knife clean is to perform maintenance on it regularly and you will avoid problems before they begin. Cleaning a knife can take some time to finish, but if you clean your knife regularly then it really becomes a much simpler and quick task.
Family Camping Checklist
The family camping trip is one of the most important traditions of all time. It takes a great deal of planning to make sure that your family has an enjoyable trip. The best way to enjoy your trip is to start your planning with a camping checklist of all the things you’ll need so you are sure not to forget anything. I hate the nagging feeling I get, that I’ve forgotten something, after leaving home on my trip. You know what I mean. Here are some things to consider that will help you build a “Forget Me Not” list for your camping essentials.
The first thing that you should plan to take is of course your camping tent. If this is your first outing for a while, go through your gear and make sure it’s in good condition and in proper working order. There’s no fun in arriving to find out your tent is damaged or the camp stove will not fire up. You will want to take a steel grate if you plan to cook over the campfire or a small gas grill if not. You also need to make sure that you have all the cooking utensils that you need to prepare your meals. This means plates and bowls as well as knives, forks, spoons, fry pans, pots and cooking utensils. And remember to bring the right supplies for washing up!
Next you are going to want to plan on the food that you are going to take with you on your family camping trip. Planning each meal will also help you remember what cooking gear you’ll need. You’ll enjoy your meals much more if the food you take along is simple to prepare.
If you’ll be camping by a lake, add fishing gear to your list. Fish are really easy to prepare and there’s nothing like fresh fish from the grill! Of course, you’ll want to take a cooler or two to keep your food and drinks fresh. It’s also very important to bring an ample supply of water for drinking and cooking, in case there isn’t any at the campground. Also, remember to keep your food stored safely away to keep hungry critters from helping themselves.
Next on your list of things not to forget on your camping adventure are some basics like bug spray and a well equipped first aid kit. You will also need to make sure that you have lanterns, flashlights and batteries. If you are camping near a lake be sure to bring along swimsuits and plenty of towels. You will also want to bring along some type of rope or cord which always comes in handy. If you plan to grill or start a campfire don’t forget your lighter or matches. Yes, I’ve done that! And, before starting a campfire, have a plan for putting it our properly in an emergency or when you leave to go home.
It really does take a lot of work and planning to coordinate a successful camping trip. The best advice I can offer is to sit down with your family a week before and create a camping checklist. Give everyone a copy and challenge them to improve the list during the week leading up to the trip. This simple exercise will help you enjoy a family camping trip you will remember for years to come. Oh, and don’t forget the camera!
Posted in Camping Knives Articles | 
Tags: Camping, Checklist, Customize, Driving, Experience, Family, Speakers | 
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Which Is the Most Comfortable Folding Camping Chair?
If you’re someone who’s had enough of squatting around a camp fire, or sitting on wet grass then you probably can already guess some of the reasons folding camping chairs have become so popular over the last few years.
But some people have been put of camping chairs by the old fashioned deck chair or folding wooden chairs that were about as comfortable as s sitting on a brick.
Wow, how my butt used to hurt after sitting down for a meal on one of those. Luckily that is no more. A modern folding camping chair comes in a huge variety of styles, sizes, shapes and price. You can get them with beer holders, foot rests and even canopies to keep the Sun (or maybe even rain off).
The big question that remain s is just how comfortable are modern camping chairs?
Well, that’s an easy one to answer modern folding camping chairs are very very comfortable. — If you get one that fits you.
After all if you’re a 19stone guy, and your wife is an 8 stone 5′ foot tall petite women, then you wouldn’t expect to fit in the same clothes, would you? So how come people expect to be comfortable on the same camp chair?
It really makes no sense to be uncomfortable.
The good news is that if you’re average weight and height, then most adult chairs are going to be absolutely fine for you. But if you’re a really big guy or gal. Or alternatively a petite guy or gal then you may need to be a little more careful in choosing the perfect chair for you.
Also, modern chairs come in designs that are suitable for kids too, and one of the great things about these is the fantastic designs that these chairs come in – kids love them!! And happy kids mean happy parents, right?
So if you’re planning a camping trip, a car picnic or even just planning to use you new folding camping chairs in the garden when you have a barbecue and you’re out of the norm in terms of size or weight just make sure you get a chair that actually is designed for you.
Having a chair that fits you will make you so much more comfortable. Almost like you’re being supported and cuddled by a big friendly teddy bear, as you sit, drink in hand enjoying time with your friends and family.
Here’s a review of the features to pay attention to.
Size – getting the right size chair is crucial, because as I mentioned above, it’s easy to get a chair that fits if you’re around average size. But if you’re outside the norm, go for something bigger, or smaller to suit you and your body. The pleasure you get in your chair will be worth that little extra effort.
Material - Having strong durable materials of manufacture is important, but to be honest, almost all chairs nowadays come with these as standard.
Weight – If you’re only going to be using your chairs in the garden the weight isn’t going to be an important factor. But, if you’re going to want to move a chair around, then avoid really heavy chairs. Luckily almost every modern folding camping chair is lightweight.
Portability – It’s important that your chair is a folding design so that you can pack it away easily when you’re through with it, giving yourself extra space at home. This is also important when you’re travelling as you want to be able to pack it away easily.
Price – You don’t have to go for the most expensive. Personally, I’d say get one that suits your budget, but avoid the very cheap folding camping chairs; it’s just not worth the risk.
Having said all of that there are so many great chairs out there, the final decision might just come down to which chair looks best to you.
All the best,
D.
How to Protect Yourself From Insects While Camping
Although you may not plan to run into biting and annoying insects while camping, you will regret not being prepared. You do not want your vacation to be ruined by unwanted visitors. Planning ahead with insect deterrents can make a camping trip much more enjoyable.
And actually, preparation does not take a lot of work. Being aware of your surroundings and having solutions on hand to potential problems will solve most of the issues that you may encounter.
Insect Repellant:
What first comes to mind when keeping insects at bay is insect repellent. DEET is one of the most popular insect repellents, but it also works the best and the longest. DEET is sold at most camping and outdoors stores.
There are also other insect deterrent alternatives that are not as well-known. The product ingredients you want to look for are permethrin, lemon eucalyptus oil or soybean oil. I personally use lemon eucalyptus oil, and it works extremely well and I like the smell. If you decide to go with an insect repellent that is not as strong as DEET, the easy solution is to simply apply it more often.
In addition to applying insect repellent to the skin, you can also get wrist bands that contain repellent or you can burn citronella candles. Candles can work well, but only will work in your favor if you will be staying in a certain are and not moving around much.
Avoid Bad Timing and Location:
Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk. They are found more often in wet areas because they breed in still bodies of water like puddles or lakes. If water is nearby, choose a campsite further away from still water. Try to be protected either in a tent o under protective clothing and extra repellent during the hours that mosquitoes are most active.
Some tents have exterior screen rooms that attach to the tent to make the enclosed space larger and safe from mosquitoes and other bugs. If you consistently camp in an area with these pests, it may be worth it to invest in a tent with a screen room.
What are Mosquitoes and Other Campground Insects Attracted to?
Another way to keep away from annoying insects is to avoid things that attract them. For example, darker colors are known to attract these bugs. Try to avoid wearing dark clothing.
Certain scents attract insects as well, such as foods but also fragrances like those from soaps or lotions. This is an easy problem to fix – avoid deodorant, scented lotions and even drying your clothing with a scented fabric softener.
At night, light will attract certain bugs, so keep lights dimmed and to a minimum unless you are in an enclosed tent or vehicle. Some insects do not like smoke from a campfire, so this can be a “natural light” alternative.
How to Be the Most Comfortable Tent Camping
Tent camping is a good alternative to expensive vacations. However, for tent camping to be comfortable, there are some things that you need to know and bring along. If you read further below, I’m pretty sure you’ll learn a lot on how to make camping a comfortable and fun experience.
Tent camping requires you to equip yourself with the right equipment, food, clothing and other useful tools of modern life. Here is a list of camping essentials that you should never go without.
General Equipment
• Tents must have screens and windows as these allow you to see the exterior of your tent and protect yourselves from insects and other animals in the wild.
• Sleeping bags, air mattress, pump or camp pads. If you want to wake up without an aching back, you need one or more of these things. These sleeping items will protect your back from the tough surface of the ground that could lead to a miserable aching back and body the nest day.
• Lantern, Fuel, Flashlights, extra batteries. Of course you will need fuel and light. Just make sure that you keep them in safe places to protect them from getting wet or lost.
• First aid kit. You may personalize your kit depending on your needs. Don’t forget to include insect repellants and cut and scrape medicines. This is one of the most important tools that you need to make camping a comfortable experience.
• Other tent camping supplies include:
Multipurpose knife
Ground cover and tarps
Ropes or twines
Rags
Carpet for front of tent
Rain gears
Toilet papers
Soap and other bathing essentials
Kitchen Essentials
When you’re tent camping either with your friends or family, one of most important things that will make your experience a memorable one is having the right food. And the ability to cook and prepare it properly. Here is a list of kitchen essentials that you should bring with you on your camping trips:
• Portable cooking stove. Don’t forget the fuel canisters and matches that must be sealed in a plastic bag
• Camp chairs, folding tables, plates and mugs, can opener and other cooking and eating utensils.
• Water supplies (Cooler and water bottles for hiking.
• Non perishable food stored in a zip-locked plastic or plastic container.
Entertainment Essentials
Being away from civilization does not necessarily mean that you should strip yourself the right to be entertained. However, during a camping vacation, entertainment may be a bit modified to suit your environment. Here are some things that you may want to bring with you:
• Books
• Puzzles
• Wildlife identification books
• Binoculars
• Cameras
• Cards, pencils and papers
• Fishing gear
Tent camping should be fun, not boring nor should it cause discomfort. Otherwise, it will defeat the whole purpose of “enjoying” and “relaxing” on your vacation. Aside from these guidelines creativity is also a key. Think of activities that you could do day-in and day-out, rain or shine. Plan out your vacation in advance so that you will have enough time to anticipate and prepare your needs.
Car Camping Essential Equipment
Car camping is a great tradition and its important to have the right equipment. When you are at the camping and outdoor supply store, be sure to discriminate between equipment meant for car camping, and equipment meant for backpacking and backcountry camping. Backcountry camping means carrying everything on your back and puts a premium on size and weight. Car camping is almost completely the opposite: you will probably be camping 10 to 20 feet from your car, so there is no reason to pay a lot of money for a lightweight tent and stove unless you anticipate reusing them for backpacking in the future. Specialized backpacking camping equipment tends to be very expensive. Car camping equipment is usually surprisingly cheap since it does not need to be made with weight as a concern and because it is so popular so that many units can be manufactured at once. For car camping, it’s a good idea to bring as large a tent as possible. There’s no reason to get a tiny backpacking tent that you can barely sit up inside.
You will also want a camp stove with two burners. This way, you can efficiently cook much like you can at home. You may also want a camp lantern powered by gas so that you can see at night. Flashlights and headlamps are convenient to have too. When sleeping at night, it’s okay to prioritize your comfort. You can buy an inflatable mattress and bring a battery powered air pump to inflate it! This is a luxury that would never be possible when camping in the backcountry, but will help you wake up without a sore back!