Preparing for A Day at the Park

Trees, grass, sun - all a wonderful setting for a warm summer day. Hundreds of people will be flocking to their local parks this summer to enjoy time with friends and family surrounded by the beauty of nature with all the modern conveniences of bathrooms and snack bars. To ensure that your outing is a happy and carefree success, here are a few tips I've compiled after several seasons of working in a park setting.

What to bring:

• Bug repellent such as Off! Deep Woods. Being attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes can take your hike from delight to fright.
• A roll of toilet paper. Not all park bathrooms are as well stocked as they should be. You may also want to bring a small bottle of hand soap or hand sanitizer.
• Paper towels and wet naps for those messy park picnics.
• A towel and/or blanket for sitting out on the grass or drying off your puppy who decided to take an impromptu dip in the creek.
• Swim diapers, if you have a little one. I have lost track of how many people come up and ask if I have any swim diapers. They're handy if there is a pool or lake. If there is water around, you can pretty much count on the fact that your toddler is going to find a way to get wet.
• Sunscreen! The park's sunscreen, assuming they carry any at all, will be over priced, so it is more economical to bring your own.
• A cooler. If you forget to bring a cooler for your child's birthday party and you are worried about the cupcakes melting in the sun, there is a slim to none chance that the snack bar can help you, since they have limited space in their coolers as it is. Plus, do you really want to trust that no one will accidentally drop a raw hot dog into the middle of the birthday cake when they get their mid-day rush?
• Cash. Many snack bars and other park shops do not take cards or checks. It's a good idea to always have plenty of cash on hand for things like pool admission or other such attractions.
• A trail map for any hiking trips. These can be acquired in the park office.

What to wear:

• Comfortable walking shoes!
• Loose fitting pants or shorts that will dry quickly in case you are caught in a surprise downpour while on a 5 mile hike.
• A loose fitting t-shirt or tank top.
• A long sleeved jacket or over shirt in case of chill breezes or brier vines.
• A bathing suit either under your clothes or carried along. It's always good to have one just in case.

What not to do:

• Feed the wildlife. It's a very, very bad idea. Just ask anyone who has been mauled by a bear in the Great Smokey Mountains.
• Pick the flowers. Why ruin other people's chances of enjoying the local nature?
• Drive over the posted speed limit on the roads. There are too many pedestrians and cyclists that use park roads. Keep it safe for everyone and stick to the laws.
• Throw your trash on the ground. Come on, that is just a lack of common decency.
• Leave your children unattended. That is a bad idea anywhere you go, but many people think they can leave their children in a park and they will be safe. Parks are full of dangerous animals, deep woods, and many other unsafe conditions. Not to mention, child predators can be anywhere, especially places like public swimming pools where many children congregate in the summer months. Always know where your child is, always be close enough to see what they are doing.

With a little advance planning and a knowledge of the park rules you can have a happy, safe summer of park outings, creating fond memories and a healthy respect of nature with your children. Have a great time!