"Grins" are "In" at ADAT SHALOM DAY CAMP Rx For Adventur Pediatrician Martin Levinson discusses legitimate and not-so legitimate — health concerns for children at camp. 272 YEARS — KINDERGARTEN BOUND Session June 21 - July 16 Session II: July 19 - August 6 Adat Shalom's warm, experienced staff 2 Morning 19rogram 5 Morning Frogram with Supervised Lunch 3 Full-day Frogram with complimentary lunches on Wednesday Extended Hours Available Weekly Tleme.s • Water Flay Nature & Gardening • Crafts & Cooking • Outdoor Adventures "Special Visitors": animals, puppeteers, musicians, naturalists and story tellers Also: Parent-Toddler and 'Just For Me" 0 For applicatione, call Eileen Weiner, Camp Director 551-5105 Ages 13-17 CELEBRATING OUR 17TH YEAR Ages 17-19 sr CPAS c a N 14ECTIoN FOR THE SUMMER OF A LIFETIME Canada • USA • ACTIVE TEEN TOURS OUTDOOR ADVENTURES Call Now for a Free Brochure Europe 1-800-767-0227 Israel www.westcoastconnection.com • CAMPING/HOTEL/DORM TRIPS HOTEL/DORM TRIPS ALL CAMPING OUR th YEAR EUROPE fil11MIERICAN TRABOILSWIEST USA • ALASKA • HAWAII•CANADA, • Ho nestrin tegrity• Pro tection S•Y••A STUDENT.HDLITH TILAVIL ASSOCIATION 1/15 1999 Student YouthTravel Association Accredited 60 Detroit Jewish News CALL TOLL FREE (800) 645-6260 or e-mail us at atwtours@aol.com 92 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, NY 11021 Home Visits Arranged Evenings Or Weekends At Your Convenience ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM Special to The Jewish. News r or a child, the woods at camp are paradise. There might be caves these, or buried treasure, or an undiscovered type of flower, or wild animals, or enough blue- berries to live on for a month. For a parent, the woods at camp are a nightmare. There might be angry bees there, or mosquitos, or polluted water, or poison ivy — all waiting hungrily, eagerly, for an unsuspecting child. But should parents really be worried? Dr. Martin Levinson is a pediatrician with Medical Center Pediatrics in Bingham Farms who also spends part of his summer working as a camp physi- cian at Tamarack. Be sure to take a healthy dose of his advice before you send little David or Susie off to camp with 16 bottles of anti-bug spray or 10 pairs of sweat pants to avoid poison sumac: Q Those deep, dark woods — or even the small ones filled with so much unfamiliar growth — how often are these infested with poiso- nous plants, such as poison ivy, and what can children do to avoid them? A: When you're in the woods you always face potential exposure to plants such as poison ivy. Essentially everyone is allergic to them, and when the skin contacts the oil of the plant a local reac- tion (that is exquisitely itchy) occurs. Often, this is followed by a general- ized reaction that also is itchy. The first sign is usually a linear grouping of tiny blisters. You should educate yourself as to what the plant looks like (the number, shapes and pattern of the leaves), then actively avoid it. Most camps try to teach children to recognize poison ivy — but you know many won't pay attention. Poison ivy can be treated with topical creams and oral antihistamines. While eventually the reaction will go away regardless of treatment, in severe cases steroid medicines are given by mouth to reduce inflammation. Q Some parents say their children spend half the summer in the pool. Do they need to be concerned about "swimmer's ear" or any other such ailments? A: Swimmer's ear is an infection tha occurs when a combination of water and germs sits in the ear canal for a pro longed time. It is very painful, but in most cases it can be treated with drops . Swimmer's ear begins as an ache tha intensifies when the ears are moved around. Children prone to swimmer's ear should be taught to try to use gravi, to dry out the ears (tap the head while` the ear is facing downward). They also may use the corner of a towel to remov the water. • Dr. Marty Levinson says a dirty bunk not cause for concern. Please, no Q-tips in the ears! Stagnant lake water can cause swim- mer's ear, and some lakes can carry a dis ease called "swimmer's itch," which results in the development of red, itchy and sometimes painful bumps on the skin. While not dangerous, it can be extremely annoying. If a lake does carry swimmers i tch i the water can be treated. Swimming there should be avoided until the lake has been officially deemed safe. Q: Constantly eating seems to be a way of life at camp: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack and, of