Hudson Valley Parent

As you get ready to send kids to summer camp, the American Medical Association (AMA) is encouraging you to follow these tips to make sure your child is prepared for a safe and healthy experience: Be Sun Aware: Kids will spend a good portion of their day outside. Protect your child from damaging UV rays by applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 before camp each day. Send a bottle with them so they can reapply every 2-3 hours. Also consider UV protective clothes and hats.

For generations, students have been told a college degree is key to landing a well-paying job and building a stable future. Long treated as the gold standard for post-secondary education, albeit an expensive one, the four-year degree is no longer the unquestioned path to career success. New research from the U.S. Career Institute, an online career training provider, suggests many Americans are rethinking what education and long-term job security actually look like.

Most people don’t set out to ignore their health. It usually slips down the list somewhere between the morning alarm and the last email of the day. Breakfast gets rushed or skipped. Exercise is postponed until tomorrow. Sleep is cut short to catch up on everything else. By the end of the week, healthy intentions are still there, but the follow-through feels harder than expected. For many, the challenge is not motivation but finding habits that fit into real life.

There’s just something timeless about a summer cookout with friends, family or neighbors. Whether it’s the sound of burgers sizzling on the grill or the smell of your favorite seasonal sides, the event invokes nostalgia and camaraderie. While the spotlight may land on the burgers and barbecued fare, seasoned grill masters know the supporting cast matters, too.

In the past decade, temperatures have reached record highs, according to NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, resulting in hotter summers that last longer and put increasing strain on home HVAC systems. As heating and cooling systems are pushed to run for extended periods, energy use, especially for cooling, is increasing in demand and costing homeowners more.

Whether you’re grilling in the backyard, at a picnic or simply relaxing poolside to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this summer is sure to be filled with special celebrations. Throughout those 250 years, food has brought people together – and continues to do so. From barbecues to patios, fresh foods are at the heart of American celebrations. Healthy, fresh ingredients help elevate classic recipes with sweet corn taking center stage in many iconic summer dishes.

Gardening is a simple way to bring families together while simultaneously teaching kids hands-on lessons about nature, responsibility and healthy living. Whether you have a backyard garden, a few containers on the patio or are looking for a starting point, getting your children involved in planting and caring for plants can spark curiosity and create lasting memories.

Diabetes and kidney disease are major risk factors for heart disease, yet many cases are undiagnosed. In fact, most people don’t realize their heart, kidney and metabolic health – how the body creates, uses and stores energy – are connected. Understanding these connections can help you take steps toward protecting your long-term health. Cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome is a health condition that includes heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes and obesity.

The threat of heart disease and stroke is growing substantially among women and girls as rates climb for health factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, with 6 in 10 U.S. women projected to have at least one type of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by 2050.

READ MORE: Don’t let your child be a financial failure 3. Museums and other cultural institutions. Summer is the time for big shows and large crowds. Museums are always looking for energetic, enthusiastic and affordable help. Teens provide the perfect fit for these unique opportunities. 4. Restaurants. Because of high turnover, the restaurant industry is always hiring.