What I'm Going to Miss Most About Summer Camp - Teen Tuesday Post by Rebecca Elspas

Teen Tuesday
by Rebecca Elspas, Teen Blogger

It's already August! Where has the summer gone? That's what everyone is thinking, I bet. I know it's on my mind right now. As regular readers know for the last six weeks I've been working at a sleepaway summer camp near San Diego. However, exactly a week from today I will be going home. Don't get me wrong, I miss all the comforts of home like my mom's cooking and I can't wait to be in my own room again. At the same time, though, when I leave this beautiful area I know I'm not only going to miss my friends -- both old and new, fellow counselors and campers.

L to R: My sister, 2 friends & me, all camp counselors 

When I head back to smoggy Los Angeles, I'm also going to miss all the nature and fresh air I've been enjoying for the past month and a half and the camp memories it all created. Keep in mind that it is very hot and sunny here most of the time in July and August. The mountains above San Diego are especially dry right now and the hills are still scarred from the tragic fire that burned here for weeks in 2003. In fact, even though ten years have passed since that massive blaze, the landscape is only now starting to come back to life.

California wild flowers, MommyBlogExpert.com

The hills near camp, MommyBlogExpert.com

One day this summer I was really surprised when out of the blue it suddenly became very overcast and a few minutes later, started drizzling. Then we heard a loud boom of thunder and saw a bolt of lightning flash, immediately followed by a huge stream of heavy rain pouring down. So in our t-shirts and shorts my friends and I ran joyfully around camp in the lukewarm summer rain. We were yelling and ended up dancing in the rain because we were so happy that we finally would have some grass growing in our grassless camp!

Storm clouds, MommyBlogExpert.com

From the night nature here -- like the raccoons who scare us by coming near our bunks at night, the random bat that lives in one of the rooms, and the starry planetarium-like sky-- to the day nature that includes blue jays, cottontail rabbits and crazy squirrels prancing around all day, it's going to be hard going back to urban life at home. But hey, L.A. still has nature too, right?

Being outside so much every day among the hills, trees and wildlife over the past weeks has been amazing. I just hope I don't suffer from too much nature-withdrawal come this time next week when I return to the city. But then again, I'll have all these fond camp memories of wild creatures, mountains, grass and dancing in the rain to draw some positive energy from!

New grass after the rain, MommyBlogExpert.com

Shoutout to all other teens who are heading home from working at summer camps this summer!

Comment & Connect
Have a question for me about my back to nature camp experience? Even better, I hope you'll leave a comment on this post or Tweet me @RebElspas and share some of your own summer experiences outdoors. If you're not already, I invite you to follow me on Twitter and on Pinterest.

FTC Disclosure: No payment or other compensation was exchanged in association with this post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Life Reimagined $10,000 Sweepstakes What's Next Contest - What are Your Dreams & Goals?

Sweepstakes
Contest ends 10/26/13

This is a compensated post

As we go through life everyone has dreams both big and small. Sometimes our dreams remain just dreams but other times our wishes and hopes become realities. Here's a fun contest that will really get you thinking introspectively -- if you're lucky you could even win a really great cash prize of $1,000 or even $10,000!

I dream of skiing at resorts around the world, MommyBlogExpert.com

What goal or dream have you always wanted to achieve? Tell us to be entered in the Life Reimagined What's Next Contest. One lucky winner will receive the grand prize of $10,000 and three finalists will win $1,000 each to help make their next moments a reality.

Enter by Clicking on
The What's Next Contest Graphic Below

FTC Disclosure: This is a compensated post. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

Vote for Zorbits Math Contest Winners for Chance to Get $100 Giftcard Just for Voting

Giveaway
Voting ends 8/9/13

This is a compensated post

The big news is that early education specialists at Zorbit's Math Adventure have selected the finalists for the Zorbit's Home Learning Ideas Contest. There were so many creative entries received for this competition elaborating on ideas on how to teach math to preschoolers in fun and innovative ways.  Activities like counting, identifying shapes, recognizing colors and comparing amounts that are truly out-of-the-box and inspiring toddlers to learn.  The concepts submitted are definitely the cream of the crop. Which is where you come in -- Zorbit's needs your help to pick the winners by voting for the entries you like to best.

My kids when they were toddlers, Vintage Family Photo

What's cool is not only are you going to be picking your favorites who will win great prizes like an iPad (First Place), iPad Mini (Second Place) or $200 giftcard (Third Place). YOU also have a chance to win one of three $100 gift cards just by casting your vote so this is a win-win for everyone! Vote daily until the contest ends on August 9, 2013 to increase your chances of getting one of the $100 GCs that will be given away chosen at random from all who cast their ballots.

How to Vote

You are invited to vote daily (once a day maximum) from now till the Zorbit's Home Learning Ideas Contest ends on Friday, August 9, 2013 to be entered in the random drawing to win a $100 gift card. A total of three voters who participate will each win a $100 giftcard.

Image from ZorbitsMath.com

Click HERE to Vote

Don't forget to help spread the word about voting for the winners by Tweeting to share the opportunity with your own following:

Pick most creative #ZorbitsMath #Contest winners & YOU will be entered to WIN $100 giftcard JUST for Voting! http://tinyurl.com/l7l4cmh

Image from ZorbitsMath.com

About the Contest and Brand

The purpose of this contest is to get those with kids thinking about the importance of early childhood learning.  Best Boy Entertainment, will be introducing an iOS app for children age 3 - 5 in mid-August called Zorbit’s Math Adventure and will be posting the best ideas on creative home learning as part of the contest as well as sharing ideas from real moms for encouraging learning all year long.

You can learn more and stay up on the latest news about Zorbit's Math Adventure on the official site and by following the brand on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

FTC Disclosure: The content for this post was sourced from Best Boy Entertainment, onlineresources and family traditions and I was compensated for this post. However, opinions here are my own. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.