I had the privilege this past weekend of volunteering for a fundraiser at the same camp that I attended as a camper, with my Camp Fire group, and with my family at weekend “Mix-N-Fix” weekends.  The camp is located in Holly, Michigan and is called “Camp Wathana” (the middle “A” is a long “A” pronunciation) which means “Beautiful Place.”  

It was a rather rainy, drizzly day and I said that I would help out with old-fashioned games and relay races.  We set up for the old-fashioned games by having an assortment of activities available on the lawn in front of one of the cabins.  The kids and adults would come by and try one, or in most cases, all of the activities.  I didn’t hear a single child say, “I’m bored” or “Where is the T.V.?”  The kids didn’t complain about the rain or the mud.  They jumped in and tried new things.  Here are a few of our activities:

• Hoops: This game dates back to the 1800’s and is played with a large hoop (ours were wood), about three feet across, and a short stick or dowel (about six to eight inches long).  You run alongside the hoop while keeping the hoop moving with the dowel on the top of the hoop. 
• Graces: This game also dates back to the 1800’s and was a favorite of the participants.  Normally played with two people, each person has two dowels which are pointed at the end (18-24 inches long).  There is a small hoop, about six inches across that has ribbons wrapped on it.  One person starts with the hoop encircling both of their dowels and the dowels crossed in an “X”, pointing the ends of the dowels toward the other person.  That person opens the “X” like scissors and thrusts the hoop across to the other person who attempts to catch it with both of the dowels then return it as quickly as possible.  When you get good, you can add a second small hoop so each person throws at the same time.
• Stilts: There was a pair of “starter stilts” that were about four inches off the ground and had a nice wide base to walk on.  For those who conquered the easier stilts they could graduate to the stilts that were about eight inches off the ground and had about a two inch square post to walk on. 
• Pick Up Sticks: While you don’t normally think of Pick Up Sticks as an outdoors game, it really went well when we played it on a brand new garbage bag so we could kneel on the ground without getting wet.  Most of these kids had never played Pick Up Sticks but they really enjoyed the challenge.

One key to the kids having such good spirits was the encouragement and good spirits of the adults.  If the adults hadn’t been willing to get out there and be active, take photos, and participate as well, the kids would not have had as great of a time.  We all would do well to remember how contagious our attitudes are.

Another key to having the kids participate was the cards they were given upon check in.  The cards had a list of the activities available and as the children participated, the adult at the activity would use a hole punch to denote that they had tried the event.  At the end of the day the kids turned in their punch cards and were awarded a ribbon according to how many activities they tried throughout the day.  That extra reward gave some kids the push to try something new so they could get another hole punched on their card. 

At the relay races we had to deal with slightly damp earth so we modified some of our plans.  We also did a tug-o-war which the kids really got into and I found the toughest time balancing the teams so they were equal in strength.  They did a three-legged race, a sack race, and a balancing race (they had a rubber ducky they needed to keep balanced on a serving spoon while they went up and down the course).  All in all it was a great time.

Consider the next time you are with kids and you all could have some free time, encouraging everyone to go outside for a game of catch or do some impromptu relay races.  Try taking your kids outside in all kinds of weather, not just on the sunny days.  The first step to enjoying and appreciating nature is actually being IN nature.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who credits her days at Camp Wathana as her earliest inspiration for her Shaklee business, a company that protects the earth and provides all natural supplementation and green cleaners.  You can learn more about the Shaklee products at: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com

Flu season has started with a bang and it sounds like the southern states are being hit pretty hard.  I heard of one school district that closed for a few days because there are so many absences.  I hope everyone is on the mend soon.  The best thing we can do to prevent the flu is to make sure our bodies are strong enough to not allow the bad guys to take hold and make us sick.

Before I go into my tips on flu prevention, I want you to know that I practice these tips year-round.  Viruses, germs, bacteria are all out there year-round so it makes sense to me to look out for my health 365 days a year.

Donna’s year round natural flu (and other illness) prevention:

• Get eight to nine hours of sleep per night.  For children it is significantly higher, up to 13 + hours for the youngest (and maybe more with naps).  In my opinion, this is the number one thing you can do to prevent illness.
• Drink lots of pure water (get a filter for your tap water, please avoid bottled water for all the environmental considerations).  You should be drinking about 60 oz of water each day (don’t count anything with caffeine or sugar or artificial sweeteners or alcohol).  Add slices of citrus fruits or fresh herbs to soak in the water and add flavor if you don’t care for plain water.  I also would not count carbonated water.
• Take an excellent multi-vitamin made out of food, not synthetics.
• Get plenty of fiber in your diet (25+ grams for woman 30+ grams for men) and be sure to balance that with the water.
• Eat regular and balanced meals out of food that a farmer would recognize.
• Take a coated probiotic that GUARANTEES the delivery of the ”good guys” into your digestive system.
• Take sustained release B-Complex and Vitamin C as these both boost our immune systems.
• Wash your hands well with REGULAR soap (avoid anti-bacterials – they are terrible for the environment and they are contributing to “super bugs” being created).
• Take pure alfalfa to cleanse the body of toxins, help the kidneys work better, and a whole host of other wonderful things.
• Take garlic complex as a natural anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and overall health-supporting nutrient.  The odor-less garlic has NOT been proven to have the same effectiveness as the garlic that still has it’s scent.  Eat it at the beginning of a meal and pile the food on top of it so your friends and family are less likely to notice.
• Get plenty of Vitamin D, I would say at least 1,000 IUs as this provides all sorts of protection in our bodies for health and wellness.
• Boost your body’s interferon naturally.  Interferon occurs naturally in our bodies to fight for our health.  You may recognize the word “interferon” because a synthetic version is often given to certain cancer patients and patients with HIV.  This synthetic version has lots of side effects, similar to chemotherapy.  Certain herbs have been shown in combination to naturally boost our bodies ability to produce interferon – with NO side effects.  The only clinically proven supplement I know of that does this is Shaklee’s Nutriferon.   I take it every day.

If you feel an illness coming on, you have been under stress, or you know you have been exposed to someone who was ill, do the following:

Overall, make sure any supplements you purchase are from a company that proves that the nutrients actually get into your blood stream.  Otherwise, what is the sense of taking them if you don’t know that they are doing their job?

I know it takes some effort to take care of ourselves and be consistent on our nutrition, sleep, and stress.  Remember that you are worth it and there is nothing more valuable than your health.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who depends on the Shaklee supplements to maintain health and wellness in her life.  You can find the Shaklee supplements she uses at: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com

‘Tis the season for people to be sniffling and to be unsure if they are having the start of a cold or allergies.  One way that I was told you can tell is if you nose is itchy…If it is – allergies; if it isn’t – a cold.  Either way, it can be miserable to be sneezing and blowing your nose all the time so let’s look at ways we can decrease our allergy symptoms naturally and maybe even eliminate them.

I used to have moderate seasonal allergies and my husband, Keith, used to have severe seasonal allergies.  While he was still working in a factory a friend of his suggested two things: 1) a good multi-vitamin and 2) chiropractic care.  Keith did those two and experienced a significant decrease in his symptoms. 

Let me back up for a minute and talk about how much information people need before they move into action.  Some people need to know how and why everything works before they will try something new.  Other people are more content to make sure that whatever they are doing is safe and then they will give it a try (they don’t need to know all the inner-workings).  I am more in the second camp.  I don’t need to know how electricity works to flip a lightswitch or the one that really boggles my mind is the telephone (and TV too). 

So, if you want all the science, the whys and hows, contact me and I can give you some places to look.  If you are content to know that what I am suggesting won’t hurt you so give it a try…then carry on…

In addition to a good multi-vitamin and looking into chiropractic care, the most important thing we can do for seasonal allergies is to increase our immunity.  A strong and healthy body is better able to battle molds and pollens that are in our environment.  Try the following:

• get plenty of sleep (8-9 hours/night)
• drink lots of purified water (please don’t buy bottled…get a purifier for your home tap water)
• eat a balanced diet with fresh veggies, fruits, fiber, and protein
• try a “Neti Pot” to flush pollen and other contaminants out of your nasal passages

My top Shaklee supplement picks for avoiding allergies:

• Vitalizer (multi-vitamin + + +)
• Nutriferon
• Alfalfa

If I start to feel a bit run down or that I might be coming down with something I give myself a big boost by adding:

• Defend and Resist (Echinacea and zinc + more)
• Vitamin C (sustained release) – extra
• Vitamin B complex – extra
• Garlic complex – extra

There are many things in our control to support our own health and wellness.  They do require choices each day and a commitment to do what is right instead of what is easy (and this is especially important for our children).

If you are interested in looking into chiropractic care, check out www.newerasaline.com (they have a variety of methods to choose from).  Whatever you choose, make sure you know you are making a choice.  Happy choosing!

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor.  You can find more information on the supplements she suggests, or look into the Shaklee Business Opportunity at: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com

It is that time of year again and the students (pre-K through college) are either excited, apprehensive, or depressed; the same could be said for parents.  Regardless of how the student is feeling, they are probably being outfitted for “back to school” including school supplies, clothes, and a book bag. 

Here are some tips for reducing waste and saving money as you prepare for back to school (some tips are for waste reduction and others for saving money, some are for both):

• Buy recycled products – The more times we manage to reuse an item before it ends up in a landfill, the better place we are leaving for future generations because we are reducing our use of resources AND keeping trash out of landfills.  (And please do your own recycling too.)
• Connect with parents or older students and purchase their old supplies – Many times in a particular grade a student needs a special calculator or in college, certain textbooks.  Find people who have already completed that requirement and buy their supplies for a significant saving, plus, again, fewer resources used.
• Buy quality – I remember having a book bag in elementary school that was in shreds about halfway through the school year.  In college I managed to get through all four years with one bag because I paid a little more but got a bag that would last. 
• Pack lunches at home – Not only will you/your child get a more nutritious and balanced lunch from home, you have the opportunity to save money (depending how you shop), AND reduce waste (especially if you do the next tip).
• Use re-usable containers – Instead of packing a sandwich in a plastic bag to get thrown away every day, use a washable container; instead of a juicebox, use a thermos; instead of a paper napkin, use cloth; instead of an individually packed bag of baby carrots, use a washable small container.  Mark your child’s name on the bottom of the containers and on the lunchbag so they are less likely to be lost.  You can also use the thermos in the winter to pack a nice warm meal of soup or stew.
• Shop secondhand stores – You can find some very cool clothes and bags at secondhand stores for a fraction of the price.  I once took my teenage stepdaughter resale shopping and I wasn’t sure how she was going to respond to it.  She loved it!  I told her to look around and see if anything appealed to her and told her that there aren’t the options of, “I like this but can I get it in a different size or color” like there are in regular stores but that you could find some really fabulous things.

The fabulous thing about these tips is that they can be used year-round in your home, whether or not you have anyone in your family going back to school.  You can switch to cloth napkins (which I find as a great bargain at resale shops) and pack food in reusable containers; you can buy recycled-content products and choose quality so you get a lot of life out of your purchase. 

Here’s to the start of a great school year!  (Check out my posts on boosting immunity so you have fewer sick days.)

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who enjoys sharing healthy living tips for all ages.  You can find wonderful supplements with a guarantee of purity and potency at www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com

Over the past several years I have had quite a few twenty-somethings approach me for information on eating healthy.  As I talk to them about their daily diets it amazes me that about 90% + of them don’t know how to cook.  Maybe it shouldn’t amaze me but it does.

I’m not talking about making a meal fit for a five star restaurant, I’m talking about following a simple recipe and making a soup or casserole or a pan of brownies.  Cooking, to me, is one of those lifeskills that everyone should possess, regardless of gender, race, or economic background.  Even if you have a houseful of servants, there may be a day that you need to be able to make a meal for yourself that is relatively nutritious.

Okay, I’m off the soapbox and I will move on to share HOW to help kids (and adults) learn how to cook.  Cooking is something you DO so it is important that you learn it by doing.  I like to have people join me in preparing a meal and starting with choosing a couple recipes, then inventory the kitchen to see what you have and what you need, then shopping, then cooking, and then, EATING!  That is the best part of cooking, in my opinion.

For children, start them with their interest level.  When my step-daughter was three we had her standing on a chair by the stove flipping pancakes.  She was quite good.  By the time she was 12 she could prepare eggs all on her own (and better than I do, I might add).  She doesn’t care much for baking so we focused more on cooking “real” food.

As a role model it is important to allow mistakes to happen and accept that preparing a meal with a newbie is going to take about three times as long.  This is a community service!  Give yourself plenty of time and help them to keep it simple.  For children, the exercises of halving or doubling a recipe is excellent for math practice and helps them to follow a sequence.  Give them as much free reign as you can in the kitchen to allow them to problem solve and work through the issues (for example, the recipe says “softened butter” but we forgot to take it out of the fridge, how do YOU think we can fix that?).

If you don’t like to cook, find a friend (like me) who does and ask them to apprentice your child.  This year thousands of teens will be heading off to college and I would wager that many of them don’t know any more about cooking then operating the microwave.  That practically forces them to eat highly processed foods. 

We are hurting our children in so many ways by not fully preparing them for the world.  Learning how to cook raises a child’s self-esteem and confidence in their own abilities.  Let’s work together to put an end to handicapping our children.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who believes that health begins in the home.  Along with a balanced diet, 97% of us will benefit from added nutrients that we are not getting from the foods we eat.  You can find those nutrients at: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com

I went to a really interesting meeting last night with a group called “Holistic Moms” in Livonia.  It is a nation-wide organization with chapters across the country.  Each month they have guest speakers on various topics of how to raise children more naturally.  You may know that I don’t have any children of my own but I thought it would be a good place to connect with people who are interested in the same things I am.  By the way, in case you are wondering, there was one dad there last night.  There is no discrimination and men are very welcome.

Anyway, the topic last night was on “babywearing” which is the action of having your baby or small child secured to you using a wrap, sling, or baby carrier.  Many of us are familiar with the image of people from developing countries “babywearing” because they need to in order to get their day to day tasks done.  In the U.S. it is more frowned on with some pediatricians and other child-rearing specialists being adamantly opposed to the concept.

The presentation was really interesting and one of the points that I came away with was that those professionals who are so against babywearing do not have scientific data that shows that there is harm to the child that comes with being that close to one of the parents for a large portion of the day.  However, there are lots of scientific studies that show a lack of physical contact between the child and caregivers DOES create some very real developmental issues including attachment disorders and reduced brain development.

Some of the interesting studies that have been done on babywearing show:

• Both parent and child release endorphins when the child is close and this enhances the child’s sense of well-being and immune system.
• Children who are kept close have better brain development.
• Carried children have less emotional stress and cry significantly less.
• Children learn to communicate better because they are an optimum distance of about 12 inches away from the parent’s face as their eyes and brains are developing.
• Using a carrier allows for the caregiver to have hands-free for other activities.

One of the things I enjoyed about the presentation was that it wasn’t a “militant” or opinionated soapbox that you “must” carry your baby for so many minutes throughout the day.  It was more about, here is why you might want to carry your baby or small toddler (some of the carriers can hold up to 65 pounds!), and here are some of the pros and cons of various styles of carriers.

There is more information (and a very interesting read) in a book titled “The Vital Touch” by Sharon Heller.  The suggestion is that if you are looking for a baby carrier for yourself (or someone you love), go to a natural parenting store or, better yet, see if there is a local “babywearing” group.  They often have an assortment of carriers that you can try first so you can figure out which style suits you the best before you make your purchase.  Carriers also come in a variety of fabrics and sizes so if both parents want to participate you will likely end up purchasing two.

For more information on the holistic moms organization, you can go to www.holisticmoms.org. Thanks to Karen for the great presentation and to Andrea for leading the meeting.  Also, thanks to Tonya for introducing me to Holistic Moms in the first place!

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who believes in finding natural ways to stay healthy for the whole family.  You can find more information about Shaklee and Donna’s favorite products at: www.Shaklee.net/DonnaCopeland There is a free membership offer for the month of July so be sure to check that out if you are not already a member.