Scouting + Summer = Stay Hydrated!

With the first day of summer arriving this week, it’s important for all of us to remember to keep the canteens and water bottles full as we head out for summer camp and other outdoor activities.

A study released this month notes that more than half of all children and adolescents in the U.S. are not getting enough hydration — probably because they are not drinking enough water — according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Appearing online June 11 in the American Journal of Public Health, the survey found that boys were 76 percent more likely than girls to not get enough hydration. And I was surprised to learn that nearly a quarter of the children and adolescents in the study reported drinking no plain water at all.

Many of us have seen the signs of dehydration among our Scouts, including:

• Dry, sticky mouth
• Fatigue
• Thirst
• Dry skin
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

As you might expect, the study’s solution to this public health problem is to focus on helping children drink more water.  We know our kids will scramble for “bug juice” from camp coolers, flavored energy drinks and soda as they get thirsty on the trail this summer, but we need to balance their hydration with good clean water.

That should be at the top our summer prep list as we take our Scouts to explore new adventures under the guidelines of our Outdoor Program, whether it involves local council camps, one of our four High Adventure bases, a local bike trip, or an afternoon hike. Here are some great healthy hydration tips from the American Heart Association to keep in mind.

We want our Scouts to come away from summer activities with a new sense of leadership, confidence, and personal character development — let’s also make sure they get plenty of water in the process!

Thanks, Wayne