DEAR READERS: Have your kids been asking to go to a summer camp? Summer camps can be great experiences for kids. They can try new things, make new friends and create memories to last a lifetime. Here are some things to think about when choosing a camp:
• First, pick which type of camp you want to send your child to -- a sleep-away camp, day camp, specialty camp, etc. There are many to choose from.
• Once you have narrowed down your choices, look into whether the camp is licensed or accredited. There are different standards for each.
• Ask questions! What training does the staff have? Do they go through background checks? How are medications handled? What is the ratio of campers to staff? If it's a sleep-away camp, are campers left unsupervised?
• Most important, you have to feel comfortable sending your child there. So ask any questions that concern you, and find the best fit for your family.
DEAR HELOISE: Here's my travel hint to research a destination while planning your trip. Preplanning a general outline of what you want to do is very helpful. But leave room in your schedule to try things you come across while out. Ask around, too. Locals often know the best off-the-beaten-path places to visit.
-- Kathy in Florida
DEAR READERS: Here are a couple of reader responses to the hint about leaving your windshield wipers up to help you find your car in a parking lot:
• "I try to park facing away from the store. Cuts the rows to search in half."
-- Donna L.
• "I park next to a cart-return area. There are a limited number of them to search if you really lose your car, and returning the cart is simple."
-- Sarena B.
Thanks for the great ideas. Keep those letters coming.
DEAR HELOISE: I like to use the calendar on my phone to remember appointments, birthdays, etc. My favorite part is that I can set an alert to remind me ahead of time. All you have to do is look at the options when you input something into your calendar. Choose "alert" and then decide when you want a reminder: a day, a week, etc. An alarm will go off at the specified time to remind you. No more forgetting things.
-- Patrick in San Antonio
DEAR HELOISE: My hint for reusing zippered sheet bags: Use them instead of boxes for wrapping Christmas gifts, such as clothing, when mailing them out of state. The clothing stays folded, it's squared off enough to wrap nicely, and the bag weighs less than a cardboard box, which helps to keep the shipping cost lower.
-- Diane S., Reading, Pa.
Send a money- or time-saving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000; fax to (210) 435-6473; or email
MovieStyle on 05/23/2014