Social media could be killing your chances at real love; although, the death could be a slow and subtle one. It's like someone adding a dash of arsenic to your orange juice every morning, and you can't figure out why you have headaches until you just keel over one afternoon.

The blessing of the real world is immediate feedback. Say you're talking to the man of your dreams and you blurt out, "I can't believe I forgot to brush my teeth this morning! Ugh!" He clears his throat, and then asks his friend about that brilliant touchdown in the 4th quarter. You might die of embarrassment, but hey, you wise up.

With social media, you don't know that the guy you met in the library is looking you up on Facebook and wondering why you like to cross your eyes so much. You don't know that your aunt told her young doctor that she has this "wonderful niece." You don't that the young doctor checked you out on social media, and he wonders why you're snorting milk out of your nose. Since you don't know you are losing opportunities, you don't know what you need to change. You just know that your weekends are kinda slow.

So take it from someone who has seen her matchmaking career take a serious nose dive. Here are a few rules you might want to follow:

1. You are only allowed to post one picture of your cat and that's pushing it

We know you love your cat, but we don't love your cat. In fact, loads of cat pics are a major red flag. Dogs have a bit more leeway. If you are running or camping with your dog, then you are allowed up to three pictures. If your dog is small enough to fit into your purse, keep him there and don't even think about posting his picture in any kind of public space. Parakeets? Absolutely off limits.

2. Don't post so many pictures of yourself

It seems like y'all have about 600 pictures of yourselves on social media. It gets a bit tedious looking at so many pictures of YOU. And your dad. And your roommates. Guys will often look at more pictures of you than they really want to because it's easier to keep clicking than it is to load the dishwasher or tackle their physics assignment. By the time they're done, they are bored, and you haven't even gone on a first date yet.

Keep a sense of mystery. Make the guy ask, Who is this girl? Unless you are a member of the British monarchy, ten to twenty pictures of yourself is truly enough. Oh, and make sure you un-tag any obnoxious pictures your "friends" post of you.

3. Post only your best pictures

You've got to take a hard look at each of those 600 pictures and ask, "If people judge my IQ based on this picture, will I be able to clear 65?"

We look good in only 5% of our pictures. We look intelligent in even fewer pictures. Even your typical supermodel must submit to thousands of pictures at her photoshoot. It doesn't matter if her hair was done by a British chap who styles killer bangs. It doesn't matter if there are 15 high-powered fans blowing her gorgeous hair six feet up into the air. The camera man is just snapping like crazy because only 5% of those pics look good.

4. Get a second opinion

You may think it was really funny when you and your best friends took a bunch of selfies at your latest hot dog eating contest, but the rest of us just don't get it. You are biased and so you've got to get a second opinion. Don't ask your roommate- the one who's crushing on the guy that took you out last weekend. There is only one person you can absolutely trust, and that is your mother. She'll give you the cold hard truth. If you two are in a bit of a tiff because sharing the cold hard truth is a bit of a habit with her, then get the help of a professional.

5. Don't post pictures where your tongue's hanging out of your mouth

You are not a puppy, so there's really no excuse. Your mouth is perfectly capable of "holding" your tongue and so please, please keep your tongue parked in it.

6. Don't post so many cruise pictures

Do you think we dig your sunburn and flip flops? Do you think we want to meet your waiter, friendly Harry from Indonesia? Do you think life is just one big party? Do you live by the song, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun?" For goodness sake, you must cut it out.

Instead, post a picture of yourself at an event where you could wear a string of pearls- somewhere where people might take you seriously.

7. These subjects are also off limits

Whatever you do, do not write a post about these subjects: your pet's health problems, your digestive problems, your ex-boyfriend's problems, or your ex-boyfriend's recently slashed tires. Your latest mental breakdown. (I know, we're all having them, but still.) Your current status on "FarmVille." A request for some dating advice, your attempt at giving dating advice. Or, the high that comes from robbing a 7-11.

Oh, and the weather.

Sorry to be hard on you, but then again you weren't taking the cold, hard truth from your mother.

The post If you ever want to find real love, never do these 7 social media sins appeared first on FamilyToday.

The set was a tube of dried-up mascara, some goopy eyeliner, and a nearly empty lip stick, but I put the makeup on and eagerly accompanied my grandma to the grocery store to show off my new look.

As we parked, she said to me, "I think it's about time you think about getting a boyfriend."

Yes, she was certifiably crazy, but grandmas have a sixth sense when it comes to their progeny's social life.

Or lack of one.

She seemed to know even then that I would need 15 years of coaching before I would kick my romantic life into gear.

But as a teenager, I thought her tips were ridiculous. Tilt my head when I talk to a guy? Lick my lips? Seriously?

Gross.

It all seemed so artificial to me. Turns out my grandma was right.

One of the most fascinating studies on flirting was completed by Monica M. Moore; she studied what behaviors get a man's (positive) attention within 15 seconds.

Moore had two incognito observers observe a woman for a half hour. When the woman exhibited a nonverbal behavior that resulted in a man approaching her, "talking to her, leaning towards her, asking her to dance, touching her, or kissing her" within 15 seconds of her behavior, the observers took note.

The researchers observed 200 women and catalogued 52 behaviors that got the man to up the ante within 15 seconds.

And my grandma's advice to tilt my head and lick my lips? They both made the list!

Here are 11 of the 52 behaviors that got the attention of a man within 15 seconds:

1. The room encompassing glance

The woman takes five to 10 seconds to look over the room. She's not making direct eye contact with anybody. She's just checking things out. Sometimes the woman stands up so she can get a better look.

2. The short darting glance

The woman looks directly at a man and then quickly looks away. She looks at the man again and looks away again. On average, she does this three times and the length of the glances are less than three seconds long.

3. The prolonged glance

The woman looks at a man for more than three seconds. This approach may seem bold but research by James Douglas Laird shows that sustained eye contact for two minutes increases feelings of affection and attraction.

4. The hair flip

The hair flip involves the woman "pushing her fingers through her hair" or running her hand over her hair. Some women would touch their hair several times within 30 seconds.

5. Nodding the head, presumably in agreement

Nodding the head was less common, but it can be really powerful. Researchershave found that a head nod encourages a man to talk more.

This is better than truth serum. You keep nodding your head, and you might learn that he wants his future wife to cook meatloaf like his mother. He might even reveal his obsession with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. All good things to know.

6. Neck presentation

This was my grandmother's favorite! This is where the woman tilts her head sideways at a 45 degree angle. Sometimes she even strokes her neck. Wowsers!

7. The lip lick

While it may sound tacky, there were 48 lip lick displays among the 200 women. One woman even made eye contact with a man and then slowly put on her lipstick. She took 15 seconds to apply it, circling her lips over and over again.

But given that lipstick application made it on the list of the 52 behaviors, and she was the only one who applied lipstick in front of a man, we can only presume that the man approached her within 15 seconds.

Consider this approach for especially clueless guys. Keep an entire collection of fruit-flavored glosses in your purse. While you're nodding your head, implicitly agreeing that Michelangelo is the baddest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle ever, you quietly interrupt his monologue with "What's your favorite fruit?" When he mentions raspberries, pull your raspberry flavored lip gloss out of your purse and take forever to put it on your lips. If he's too dense for that, then really, you should just move on.

8. The coy smile

The coy smile is similar to the short darting glance. The woman smiles a half-smile and looks downward, or she smiles a half-smile while she looks briefly at a man. When she's "caught" looking at him, she quickly looks somewhere else.

9. The smile

Moore found that more women used direct eye contact and a full smile instead of the coy smile.

Studies confirm that men are most attracted to women that smile. In one study involving over 1000 people, men found smiling women more attractive than other women. Another study confirms that "attraction is strongly influenced by the intensity of a smile expressed on a face."

10. The laugh

The woman usually laughs in response to something someone said. Often the woman tosses her head before she laughs. Apparently guys like it.

The results of the second part of Moore's study were even more astonishing. Another 40 women were observed for an hour each and were then classified into two groups. This is what the researchers found:

Group 1: High display subjects

Emitted over 35 nonverbal solicitation behaviors an hour.

On average, they were approached over four times in one hour.

Group 2: Low display subjects

Emitted less than 35 nonverbal solicitation behaviors an hour.

On average, they were approached less than .48 times in one hour.

The post 10 proven secrets to attract a guy in 15 seconds or less appeared first on FamilyToday.

I have to say that I feel for you guys. Research is not on your side. The fellows in the ivory towers have shown that when it comes to girls, guys often misinterpret friendliness for romantic interest. In other words, you might think she's into you, but she's really just being nice.

Fortunately, there is a lot of research out there that tells us what signals women send when they are interested. It also means you'll need to put your phone in your pocket as the signals are brief and easy to miss.

ResearcherKarl Grammer published two papers on courtship signals and laughter. These papers identified which courtship signals signify that a woman is actually interested.

In both studies, he put two strangers of the opposite sex together in a room for ten minutes. He and his team observed the body language of the female as she interacted with the male. Afterwards, she was asked whether or not she would give her phone number or go to a movie with the man she had just spent ten minutes with in the room.

Obviously, the researchers were especially interested in the behaviors shown by women who said they would give the guy her phone number or go on a date with him.

Here are the signals or "non-behavior courtship behaviors" Grammer found were highly correlated with a woman's interest. These behaviors were defined and catalogued by another researcher, Monica Moore.

1. She primps

If she's primping, that's a good sign. Primping means she's straightening her clothes even if they look just fine. Maybe she's pulling down her skirt, tucking in the back of her blouse, or pulling up her sweater. Grammer doesn't indicate whether her behavior is conscious or not, but he did find that a woman that primped in front of a guy was more likely to be interested in him.

2. She gives a coy smile

If she's giving you a coy smile, that's also good news. What's a coy smile? It's a smile where she smiles at you and then turns away or lowers her head. Better pay attention or you'll miss it.

3. She gives a short glance

Short glances are a good sign. She looks at you for less than three seconds, so again you need to pay attention. On average, a girl will direct three shortglances at you. So for those of you with ADHD, there's hope.

4. The look through

The look throughcan be a bit more complicated but again it has to do with eye contact. She's looking in your direction even if she's not exactly looking at you. However, she's looking in your direction longer than the three seconds a short glance permits. It doesn't hurt to look back at her and smile. If she returns it with a coy smile and a sweater adjustment, you are in luck!

5. Her postures are open

If her stances are more open, that is a good sign. Are her arms crossed or open? Open is good. Are her legs crossed or uncrossed? Uncrossed is good. However, you have to be looking at her for these open postures to signify interest.

6. Neck presentation

Neck presentation is when the girl tilts her head sideways at a 45 degree angle. She's basically tilting her head as if she were talking on the phone. If you say something to her and she tilts her head and laughs, that's good. Very good.

7. She tosses her head

That means that she flips her head backwards and lifts her face upwards for less than five seconds. You'll often see her toss her head when she's laughing at something you said. This also is a good sign.

8. The hair flip

The hair flip just means that she brushes her fingers through her hair or even smooths down her hair. If she does this while you two are interacting with each other, then she's likely interested.

9. She straight up tells you she's interested

This would be nice if it happened all the time. Sometimes this might happen at the end of the date. One young mansaid he was elated when a girl said, "Yeah, you're awesome, I like you. Let's go out again."

This direct approach doesn't happen often. While guys often complain about the games girls play, there are reasons why girls aren't more straightforward. For one, they often don't know how seriously interested they are in you until they get to know you better. Grammer explains,"Non-verbal behavior is, unlike verbal behavior, non-binding." In other words, if she changes her mind later, she's not on the hook with you.

It's also less risky to use non-verbal behavior because she reduces her risk of rejection by you. A cautious girlwill express her interest in a more subtle way. A coy smile from across the room can still send the signal without making it awkward for either one of you. One she sends the signal, it's up to you to act.

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Tinder has taken the dating world by storm, but it still lacks the human touch.

Here are 7 reasons why your friends trump Tinder when it comes to finding love:

1. Friends are good at introducing friends

Friends introduce each other to other friends and according to one study, they are far more effective than dating apps.

A 2,373-person survey conducted by Mic, shows that nearly 39% of couples met each other through friends. In contrast, slightly less than 10% met each other through an online service or dating app. All of the couples surveyed were between the ages of 18 and 34, which means that they all likely had the opportunity to use dating websites or apps before they met their significant other. Still, far more of them found success through friends than through technology.

2. Friends are often good "coaches"

Studies show that people need mentors and coaches to develop expertise in fields such as sports, music, and chess. But people often overlook the value of a good mentor when it comes to dating.

Cheryl Mloch of Aurora, Colorado, has a knack for setting up her friends. She has set up 15 couples, and 14 of those couples have dated each other long-term. Several of them also married each other.

Her background as a mental health counselor could explain her high success record. While she only sets up friends, (not clients) her support and insight are invaluable.

She calms her friends down and builds up their confidence. She tells them that's it normal to feel nervous on a date, and that there's nothing wrong with admitting that they are nervous.

She also helps her friends develop a strategy. She helps them think of questions they might want to ask. She helps them figure out what they want to share about themselves. She even practices role playing with her friends to get them feeling more ready and more confident.

3. Friends aren't afraid to ask tough questions

A good friend isn't afraid to ask tough questions.

Mloch also isn't afraid to ask her friends what went wrong on a date.

Once her friend tells her what happened, she prods further with questions such as "So do you feel that that's definitely a no go?" or "Are you overreacting a bit?"

She also helps them recognize when they might need to be more open-minded. She tells them things like, "Some people aren't going to have it (attraction) right way. Do you demand it? You never know. You could develop an attraction."

While she lets her friends think for themselves, she questions their assumptions. She helps them examine their reasons for giving up so quickly. Often these reasons are unfounded.

4. Friends pay attention

Friends pay attention. Reed Wilson served in a church congregation of single people. He'd observe a situation and then say to a girl, "Hey, I've been noticing that this guy has been checking you out. You might just want to go talk to him." Wilson's tips have paid off. He has put together 26 couples that eventually married.

Rachel Webb of Sonoma County, California set up a couple of her friends. They decided to double date and while they were all at the restaurant together, she and her girlfriend slipped into the bathroom. Webb was surprised to hear her friend gush on and on about her date.

"Well that's funny," said Webb. "Because you are certainly not showing him that you are interested."

Her friend was surprised to hear that she was acting so cool towards her date, especially when she liked him so much.

Later Webb told her friend's date that her friend really liked him. He was also surprised because Webb's friend hadn't given him any signals that she was interested at the restaurant. However, after learning that Rachel's friend found him attractive, he decided to ask her out again. She was much warmer with him on the next date, and they dated for several months.

5. Friends know what their friends want

Mloch takes the time to ask her friends what kind of person they want to date. Not only does she ask them what they want in a relationship, but she asks them about the people they've dated in the past. Because Mloch understands what her friends need in a relationship, she's able to set them up with people that meet those needs.

Webb also wants to know about past relationships before she sets her friends up on dates. She even asks her friend for a picture of his last girlfriend. She also asks her friend about potential deal breakers. This protects her and her friend from potentially awkward situations.

Suzanne Merrill, who has also set up several couples asks, "What kind of person attracts you?" She even keeps a little database in her phone and lets her single friends look through it to see if there's somebody that they might want to date.

6. Friends give friends a push

When Wilson would walk into his church, he would stop a friend and say, "Hey I need you to do me a favor. Go and sit by her."

Sometimes he would see a boy and a girl sitting a few seats apart from each other. He would stoop next to them and say, "Hey would you mind scooting over?" After they scooted next to each other, he would say thanks and then walk away.

7. Friends offer reassurance

Wilson says that when a guy seemed worried about asking a girl out, he'd just say, "What's the harm in going out once? Go out and have a good time."

Cheryl Mloch also tells her friends, "You're not going to get married. You're just going to meet the other person. If you don't like them, just blame me. All you're going to do is meet."

The post If you really want love, have your friends set you up appeared first on FamilyToday.

1. We are really nervous when we ask you out

Stephen talked about how nervous he feels when he asks a girl out. Coming up with a plan isn't easy, either. "Sometimes we have a hard time coming up with ideas." He loves a girl that isn't afraid to offer a few suggestions.

Jeffrey says that girls don't realize how hard it is for guys to ask them out. A guy "doesn't know the girl that well, he's got to plan everything, spend money ... look nice, use deodorant ... it's a big deal."

2. We don't want you to read too much into a first date

Several guys suggest not reading too much into a first date. Michael says, "If I go on a date, even if I go on a second date, I'm interested in finding out more about you. It doesn't mean I'm ready to commit. I'll be clear about when I'm ready."

Lee and Edgar share this frustration. "They act differently on dates," he says. "They act more formal. That mentality changes the whole date and creates awkward moments," says Edgar.

3. We like it when you smile

Stephen explains, "If they don't smile, it's hard to judge how your relationship is." But a smile is "like a green light that I can ask you out."

Josiah adds, "If they're open, they're talking, they're smiling, that makes it easier."

4. We are attracted to women with goals

Michael likes girls with "some kind of passion they are pursuing" while Jeffrey is engaged to a girl who wants "to go places" and "has an idea of what she wants to do with her life."

Kyle adds, "When a girl actually cares about herself, and cares about others, it's just so attractive." Kyle listens carefully when girls talk about their goals because he wants to know that his wife could take care of the children if something happened to him. He wants the relationship to be an equal one. "I want to be the best person I can be for her," he said.

5. We may feel a little awkward on our first date

Lee says, "Don't be too critical on the first date. We might be not talking enough or talking too much because we're nervous."

Eric adds, "I wish they knew that sometimes we're a little awkward and nervous. That's not necessarily a reflection of who we are."

Francisco asks girls to give guys a chance. "Don't make conclusions about the guy right off from the first date. Get to know him a bit."

6. Once we've asked you out, the ball is in your court

The date can be tough for the guys. Lee says, "The guy already has an uphill battle. There's a lot of pressure. He's got to entertain her, have a good time." He appreciates a girl that makes some effort during the date.

Alexander adds, "Respond more. Don't make him do all the work. React positively. Don't act bored."

Francisco says he just had a great first date. "She was proactive. It was 50-50. It was not just one side." He was really happy when she said, "Yeah, you're awesome, I like you. Let's go out again."

7. We would love more cues

Jacob says he would love more cues. "Sometimes I wish that a girl I've been out with several times would give more cues. Is it a free meal, or is she really interested in me?"

Bradford has also dealt with mixed signals. He gave up on one girl only to find out later she actually liked him. The standard phrase, "I had a good time," doesn't mean much to him. He prefers something more personal like, "I really enjoyed your company."

Jeffrey adds that guys really like it when girls compliment them. Guys don't like to admit this, but they need to hear it, too.

Kyle added, "We love to be wanted and needed. I feel like it's the guys chasing, chasing, chasing. If you don't give any signs that you like us then it's not going to work."

8. We are afraid of your friends

Josiah says how hard it is to approach girls who are clumped together. "When they're all crowded, it makes it hard to single one out."

Reed added that it's difficult to get to know a girl if she is constantly "joined at the hip" with her friends. "Nobody can penetrate the circle."

9. Modesty Matters

Wade explains, "If you go on a date with a girl, and she's not dressed modestly, it can make it more uncomfortable." I asked him to elaborate. He wouldn't.

But Kyle adds that it's nice when a girl "gets ready" and tries her best to look attractive.

10. We really think you're something

These guys love girls. Kyle says, "I feel like girls know us better than we know ourselves. That's why we go crazy. We can't handle it sometimes."

Francisco loves it when girls wait for him to open the door. "Women are to be treated like queens. Most girls do not realize how beautiful and loved they are."

It's apparent that while these guys are sometimes afraid of girls, they still really respect them.

What do you really think about dating?

The post What single guys really think about dating appeared first on FamilyToday.

As a mother, I do not get this reassuring feedback. There are piano books scattered on the floor next to dirty bath towels, dirty dishes, pillows on the kitchen table and pizza left out last night that my daughter is now eating for breakfast. We go to our doctor's appointment at 12:45, proud that we're on time, only to find out the appointment was at 11:45. My kids fight with each other and, when I correct them, they tell me, "You don't know anything."

True. Why did I even bother going to college?

It's easy for me to feel I'm flunking motherhood. Who knows? Maybe I am, but nobody has expelled me from this house yet. What I do know is that when some friend or stranger says something kind, I'm always taken aback.

A few days ago the cashier in the store said to me, "You're such a good mom."

"Why do you think that?" I asked incredulously.

"Well, you're so patient with your kids, and you're listening to them about which game table they want."

"Well, thank you," I said.

Never mind that, 30 minutes later, I was back in the store, panicked, looking for one of those children with the rest of the mall's security staff. But hey, she didn't take the compliment back!

Before motherhood, I was used to getting pats on the back. I would do well in a tennis tournament, get encouragement from a professor or win an award, and these experiences helped me feel good about myself. But now I've had to search deeper to feel that sense of worth. I have had to turn more to the Lord who continually reminds me that I am His. When I feel closer to God, I'm gentler on myself and those around me. He helps me see the good I'm doing, and He comforts me when things go wrong. He helps me remember to tell my children that I love them and point out when one of them did a good job cleaning the kitchen or helping their brother with piano. I tell them how blessed I am to be their mother.

Turning to the Lord also makes it easier for me to reach out to other moms. This provides even more revelation because I learn that others are also struggling with challenges and dealing with feelings of inadequacy. In encouraging them, I feel strengthened, realizing that I also am doing better than I think I am.

I was recently riding my bike, worrying about something, and then the thought came very clearly to me, "You bear no fault in this problem. Yes, you still have to work through the situation, but there was nothing you did wrong. Don't be so hard on yourself." A feeling of peace and sweetness came over me, and I knew it was true.

Sometimes, while saying my prayers at night and thinking about all of the things I didn't get done, I think about the things I did get done. I called a friend. I read a story to my children. I made a good breakfast for the family. Again, that reassurance comes to me that the Lord is pleased. I'm not perfect, and there is always more to do, but the Lord recognizes that my efforts are sincere.

And when others give gentle forms of encouragement, it means the world to me. A few years ago, my family attended a big church event. My husband couldn't get work off and wasn't going to be able to go, so I decided to go with the kids. It was a struggle to get my children ready and get them loaded in the van. They fought on the way. When they got out of the van, their hair wasn't combed, their pants looked too short, and their shirts looked wrinkled. I struggled to keep my kids reverent and felt frustrated that we looked disheveled.

I felt the tears coming when an older gentleman approached me. "Look at you bringing all of your children with you!" he said. "And they look so nice in their white shirts and ties! What a good mother you are!" I wanted to both argue with him and hug him at the same time but managed a quiet "thank you."

He was an angel sent to me. He beamed like he was proud of me even though he hardly knew me. I left feeling like the Lord was pleased with me. While the execution of our outing hadn't been perfect, my heart was in the right place and that was enough.

So can I ask you a favor? Pray for all those mothers out there that you know. Especially the ones that you think are probably flunking motherhood. And next time you see a mom, tell her that her daughter's hair looks darling or that her boy has such good manners. Chances are you'll make her day.

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Camping can be a great way to get some downtime, enjoy nature and bond with friends and family, but not being prepared can make your trip frustrating and stressful. Here are 10 tips that will make your trip run smoothly.

1. Make a list of things you need and give yourself plenty of time to gather them.

Making the list a few days prior to your trip gives you time to get laundry done and go shopping so everything is ready to be packed.

2. Research your campsite ahead of time.

Know if your camp requires reservations. If you don't need reservations, know what time to get there in order to find a good place to set up camp. What kind of access will you have to clean water? Does the camp have bathroom facilities and what do those facilities include? Remember to bring extra toilet paper and a five gallon cooler of water.

3. Give yourself enough time to pack.

Remember that, unlike other vacations, camping requires you to bring everything with you. You can't call room service for towels or soap or garbage sacks. Not only do you need to bring everything with you, but chances are you won't have a store nearby where you can pick up the things that you forgot. Giving yourself time to pack will help you leave in good time so you won't be setting up camp in the dark.

4. Leave early.

It's difficult to find a campsite when you get there late not only because it's dark but because many of the campsites will already be taken. It's also difficult to set up a tent, unpack, arrange bedding and put on dinner if you can't see what you're doing. This can be especially frustrating if you have young children who are tired and hungry. Getting there early will not only help you get your children fed and ready for bed but will also give them time to explore before settling down.

5. Have a simple plan before you get out of your car.

The first few hours of camping can often be the busiest and the most stressful. However, if everyone knows what is expected of them once they step out of the car, the set up can go quickly and smoothly. If you have young children, it will help if you have little activities they can do while you are setting up camp. A coloring book, a Frisbee, or a juice box can make all the difference. Assigning responsible older children to watch over the younger ones will also help.

6. Be thoughtful of others around you and understand basic camp etiquette.

Be friendly with those that are camping near you. Bring your own firewood, and don't walk through other people's campsites. Teach children to be respectful and polite.

7. Make sure you bring enough warm clothing and sleeping bags.

It often gets cold up in the mountains especially after dark. Bring plenty of layers. A dry pair of socks, decent boots, or a sweatshirt can make all the difference.

8. Keep food away from animals.

Know what critters might frequent your campsite. Keep all food locked in your car or in bear boxes provided at your camp. Animals will get into anything that has a scent so make sure to lock up things such as toothpaste, deodorant, and sunscreen.

9. Have some good campfire stories ready to share.

The campfire is the perfect place to share a good joke, a scary story, or a family memory. Encourage others to share stories too. These experiences can be bonding and
research showsthat sharing family memories increases our children's resilience.

10. Have a good clean-up plan.

Remember the scouter's plea to Leave No Trace

Give out assignments to your campers so that you can get out quickly. You will know if your trip was a success if everyone still wants to stay. Here are some camping rules that carry over into life.

List of things commonly forgotten:

• Hats
• Sunscreen
• Bug Spray
• Eating Utensils such as spoons and fork
• Cooking utensils, especially cutting knives and serving spoons
• Firewood
• Medications. Always a good idea to include some allergy medication
• Marshmallow or hot dog roasters
• Five gallon cooler full of water
• Trash bags
• Napkins and other paper goods
• Hand sanitizer
• Pillows
• Glove for getting food out of the fire
• Can opener, if you have canned foods
• Toilet Paper
• First aid Kit
• Soap
• Towels
• Wet wipes
• Dry socks
• Decent boots or shoes
• Layers such as sweatshirts and jackets
• Creams and lotions
• Long pants

For a complete list, go to REI.

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