HEADLINES:
Protect Your Eyes From Summer Skies
Area Scouts Earn Eagle Badge
Rewarding Summer With Your Teenager
4-H Club News Dimock Community

Protect Your Eyes From Summer Skies

Warm weather is right around the corner. Children and their families will be enjoying more outdoor activities and planning family vacations to the beach. Parents and children are becoming more accustom to applying sunscreen to your skin, whether it’s a cloudy or sunny day, to protect themselves from the harmful UV rays of the sun, but what are we doing to protect our eyes from these same harmful rays?

According to Gregory W. Good, O.D., PhD, optometric and American Optometric Association UV Protection Expert, “overexposure to UV rays has been linked to a variety of eye problems, including age-related cataracts and degeneration of the cornea.” Similar to skin sunburns, UV rays can cause abnormal growths on the eye surface, and even sunburn of the eyes that may cause temporary vision loss, or even blindness.

That is why the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind and North Central Sight Services are encouraging these 5 ways to prevent eye damage from exposure to UV rays.

Wear protection eyewear any time the eyes are exposed to UV rays, even on cloudy days and during the winter.

Look for quality sunglasses or contact lenses that offer good protection. Sunglasses or protective contact lenses should block out 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation and screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light.

Check to make sure sunglass lenses are perfectly matched in color and free of distortions or imperfections.

Purchase gray-colored lenses because they reduce light intensity without altering the color of objects to provide the most natural color vision.

Don’t forget protection for young children and teenagers, who typically spend more time in the sun than adults and thus are at greater risk of damage.

For more information on protecting your eyes from UV Rays, visit www.pablind.org or call the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind at 717-766-2020.

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Area Scouts Earn Eagle Badge

The fundamental cores of Scouting - building character, citizenship training and developing personal fitness - are the same today as they were 100 years ago.

Boy Scout Troop 81 of Susquehanna is not only celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, they have recently had the privilege of seeing four of their scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Eagle Scout is the highest attainable rank in Boy Scouting and requires years of dedication and hard work. Scouts must demonstrate proficiency in leadership, service, and outdoor skills at multiple levels before achieving the Eagle rank. Fewer than 5 percent of Boy Scouts earn the Eagle badge.

Scout Master Rich Cottrell, Assistant Scout Master Chris Herbert and the other scouts of Troop 81 would like to congratulate Jordon Boerner, Donald Cottrell, John Herbert, and Brad Weaver on their achievement. These scouts represent everything that the Eagle badge stands for: character, integrity, leadership, and service to others.

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Rewarding Summer With Your Teenager

Humorist Erma Bombeck once said, “Being a kid at home in the summer is a high-risk occupation. If you call your mother at work thirteen times an hour, she can hurt you.”

As summer beckons in the near distance, the thought of your teen being home for 10 weeks can raise feelings of excitement or trepidation in both of you.

Some things may not be in your control as a parent - for example, your work schedule, the economy, or whether your teen will find a job or a hobby.

But some things do remain within your control. The difference in how you feel - and what your teen recalls - about summer 2010 may depend on how you approach it as a parent.

“There’s an old saying - if you fail to plan, then plan to fail,” says Malcolm Gauld, parenting expert and co-author, with his wife, Laura, of the parenting book “The Biggest Job We’ll Ever Have” (Scribner) and The Biggest Job parenting seminars. His advice: “Parents, think ahead - plan to make a difference in your kids’ lives this summer.”

“Many parents will be working,” adds Laura. “So time spent together can be limited. Still, you can make sure that this time is enriching and memorable.”

Summer programs and camps are ideal for social and intellectual stimulation and simple carefree fun. While there are a lot of great programs out there, not everyone is able to afford them. Don’t despair.

The Gaulds offer these 5 simple things that parents can do to make the most of family time as well as boost their kids for their return to school:

Take time out every week to create and build upon family traditions. The big picture of raising children is done with the actions, routines, and practices that make up a lifetime of memories and habits. Often, the value of these actions is seen looking back at one's upbringing. Whether it's a weekly walk on a trail or to the park, sharing the preparation of a special meal where everyone has a part, or a family visit to the local animal shelter to volunteer, these activities will make lasting memories and add to your kids’ positive attitude.

Hold weekly family meetings where everyone is invited to share ideas, thoughts, fears, challenges and stories. Regular communication that touches upon deeper issues than where the socks are, or when dinner will be served, remain very important throughout the relaxed summer months. It brings the family closer together and also helps to teach kids to communicate in group settings, an important ability throughout life.

Assign family jobs. Everyone in the family needs to own a part of the responsibility of creating a clean, welcoming, and organized home. And, as a member of the family, teens are no exception. One of the best lessons in life parents can teach their children is that being a member of a family or group means being a contributor to the betterment of that group. It also gives teens an opportunity to learn what they enjoy - painting, repairs, the garden, etc.

Mandatory Fun. Determine a time when the family comes together to do something downright fun and silly. Sure, teens may be resistant to this at first, and may even act as though the whole thing is a waste of time, but in truth, teenagers still need and yearn for deep connections - and the positive effect of laughing for 30 straight minutes cannot be overestimated.

Remember not to take things personally with your teenager. You’re probably going to hear it this summer… the comments about your hair style, your swimsuit, your high rise tube sox… It’s all right. Demand respect, but let the comments your teenager makes rolloff. “Maintain a sense of humor about yourself and remember to take things lightly,” says Malcolm. “Focus instead on the principles of good parenting - honesty, good attitude, flexibility, responsibility, and sharing.”

Family Meetings. Take time out every week - even if for only 15 minutes - to give everyone in the family a moment to talk about what’s working well - in life or in the family - and what isn’t.

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4-H Club News Dimock Community

In May we had an Officers Training Class. It showed all of the officers how to run a meeting correctly and what were each officers responsibilities. Members did skits on certain areas of a meeting and we had to guess if they were doing it right or wrong. There was also a mock club meeting held to show the order of procedures.

On Memorial Day weekend the Dimock Community 4-H club held a yard sale at the Dimock Township Building. There were many things for sale. We would like to say thank you to Mr. George Baker for letting us use the building.

There was a pre-camp meeting held on June 1 for all that are going to Camp Brule'. Camp Brule' is located in Sullivan County near World's End State Park. This year there are over 70 4-her's going just from Susquehanna County alone. Camp is held from June 16 to 20. Camp staff and counselors go the day before. There will be lots of fun for club members, like day themes, such as spirit day, tie dye day and super hero day, just to name a few. There will also be workshops. Anything from archery to shooting sports. It will be a 4-H variety fun pack. They tell us the food is good too!

News Reporter: Andy Swetter

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