Mailing 2 liter soda bottle?

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

No, it's not harsh at all --- for DS16's camp in upstate NY, it's so as not to invite vermin, including bears.

??

so the food that is there to feed the kids don't attract them?

 

[Ceila]

??

so the food that is there to feed the kids don't attract them?

The food that the camp provides would be put away securely to eliminate the possibility of animals finding it. However, kids can not always be relied upon to secure their food in such a way as to prevent bears from finding it.

 

[MrsPete]

??

so the food that is there to feed the kids don't attract them?

You are well named!

Seriously, having been a camp counselor for many years, the reason kids aren't supposed to have food in their own cabins is that it invites critters in. Racoons, etc. are very capable of getting into duffle bags or trunks, and they will destroy clothing and other necessities in their drive to find their way to a box of candy. Ants and other insects are also attracted to these things.

On the other hand, the food that's served to the kids is kept in the mess hall, which is nowhere near the kids' sleeping area. The mess hall is a "real building" with walls, doors, and locks. Animals can't get into it any more than they can get into your kitchen at home.

In closing, IF your camp allows you to send food, I suggest that you send only a small amount -- something that can be consumed that very day so that it doesn't need to be stored.

 

[debbi801]

You are well named!

Seriously, having been a camp counselor for many years, the reason kids aren't supposed to have food in their own cabins is that it invites critters in. Racoons, etc. are very capable of getting into duffle bags or trunks, and they will destroy clothing and other necessities in their drive to find their way to a box of candy. Ants and other insects are also attracted to these things.

On the other hand, the food that's served to the kids is kept in the mess hall, which is nowhere near the kids' sleeping area. The mess hall is a "real building" with walls, doors, and locks. Animals can't get into it any more than they can get into your kitchen at home.

In closing, IF your camp allows you to send food, I suggest that you send only a small amount -- something that can be consumed that very day so that it doesn't need to be stored.

This is what my kids' sleep away camp required. It had to be a small enough amount that it could be consumed in one sitting (so that pests weren't drawn to the bunk) and they also asked to send enough for the whole bunk (usually about 5-6 kids).

 

[jam217]

It's funny that this is being posted now because we have a cheapskate column in our Sunday paper. People submit ideas on things they do to save money and today's suggestion was to mail items in a soda bottle rather than buying boxes. The woman cuts an x in the bottle, puts in the item then tapes the "x'' shut so it really is possible to do this.

 

[torinsmom]

How do you put postage on a hairy coconut?

The people I babysit for mailed some to friends while they were in Hawaii and the postage was right on the coconut. The one they mailed to themselves did not seem hairy.

It's funny that this is being posted now because we have a cheapskate column in our Sunday paper. People submit ideas on things they do to save money and today's suggestion was to mail items in a soda bottle rather than buying boxes. The woman cuts an x in the bottle, puts in the item then tapes the "x'' shut so it really is possible to do this.

Depending on the item, I would think this could attract thieves.

Marsha

 

[SandrA9810]

I would probably hot glue the seams shut and the reciever would just have to cut a new hole out.
coconuts are not hairy, at least not on the outside. It's a hard solid shell. Now it does tear away in fibers once you break through it, and the inner seed is rather hairy. But a coconut straight from the tree is easily decorated, stamped, and mailed.


The post about wrestling one out of the mailbox made laugh... I wonder what the postman had to do to get it in there.

 

[MrsPete]

It's funny that this is being posted now because we have a cheapskate column in our Sunday paper. People submit ideas on things they do to save money and today's suggestion was to mail items in a soda bottle rather than buying boxes. The woman cuts an x in the bottle, puts in the item then tapes the "x'' shut so it really is possible to do this.

But the post office'll give you boxes for FREE. Still, I think the 2-liter bottle thing is cool.

The people I babysit for mailed some to friends while they were in Hawaii and the postage was right on the coconut. The one they mailed to themselves did not seem hairy.

I once saw coconuts-for-mailing in a hotel gift shop. I don't remember the details -- it was a long time ago.

 

[disneychrista]

But the post office'll give you boxes for FREE. .

Yes, if you plan to ship something Priority Mail.

 

[jam217]

Mrs. Pete, I agree that it doesn't make sense to buy the boxes when you can get them at the post offices for free. Someone who commented on the column pointed out that it'd probably be easier and cheaper to wrap an old cereal box in a brown paper bag and just mail the item in that. The cheapskate column in my paper is known for some very wacky ideas such as saving pretzel salt from the bottom of bag, using maxi pads in place of Swiffer pads etc.

 

[Imzadi]

But the post office'll give you boxes for FREE. .

Yes, if you plan to ship something Priority Mail.

The OP is not from the U.S.

I would probably hot glue the seams shut and the reciever would just have to cut a new hole out.
coconuts are not hairy, at least not on the outside. It's a hard solid shell. Now it does tear away in fibers once you break through it, and the inner seed is rather hairy. But a coconut straight from the tree is easily decorated, stamped, and mailed.

This doesn't look like a hairy/fuzzy outside to a coconut?

 

[*BTMRR*]

The OP is not from the U.S.




This doesn't look like a hairy/fuzzy outside to a coconut?

No, the ones that you mail (at least the ones I've seen) are the green ones with smooth skin, not the yucky hairy brown ones you get at the supermarket.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

The ones you can mail still have the outer shell, the brown ones in the supermarket are the inner fruit with the husk removed.


Didn't ANYONE see Castaway?

or go to Hawaii?

(yes, I mailed one home when I visited on a "cruise")

 

[Imzadi]

Umm, okay. I had to Google "green coconuts."

I guess I always thought the green ones were the young, unripe coconuts.

 

[PixieDust32]

The best way to do it is using priority mail is a 2 day deliver service, well pack it should arrive safe and sound.

 

[barkley]

i avoid the whole mailing hassle by taking everything that i want delivered to dd and ds during "mail call", individualy packaging it, lableing it with the day i want each delivered-and then putting them all in large bags or a box-and depositing it at the camp office when we do drop off. those kids that ride on the camp bus to the camp often come with boxes their parents have sent along for the same purpose (camp staff delivers the boxes to the camp office).

i guess it depends on the individual camp, and how remotly it's located, but in the case of the 2 camps my kids have gone to-neither get regular mail delivery, and the nearest post office is'nt close enough that they send someone everyday to do pick-up so rather than mailing something i can't guarantee will arrive in a timely manner, i leave it with the office and they pre-place it in the mail call bins for the date i've indicated.


the camps my kids have gone to don't want much in the way of food sent. they encourage parents, if they are sending an edible treat to keep it small or idealy something that can be shared (both ds and dd say that the boxes of red vines or twizzlers are always a big hit). what my kids have enjoyed the most have been things they can use during the trip, and items for their "quiet time" (an hour or so each day when they have to be in their cabins doing a quiet activity).

some of the better received items i've sent were-

glow sticks that bend to become necklaces or bracelets (multi packages from the dollar store)

mad lib books

small plastic spray bottle (dd said this was AWSOME when she was horseback riding, she filled it with ice water before they hit the trail)

dollar store knock off versions of travel games (like connect 4)

velvet type pictures you color with markers (ben franklins sells a ziplock bag type packaging with a few in it and includes the markers).


if my kids want sweets they can use the money i put on their accounts to use at the camp store. sure, the camp store charges more than i would pay for the identical item at the grocery store, but if i had to figure in mailing costs it would cost less.

 

[Tinijocaro]

The OP is not from the U.S.




This doesn't look like a hairy/fuzzy outside to a coconut?

That's not the whole coconut-just the part we get in the store. There's another outer shell that is smooth.

 

[Ilivetogo]

We mailed a decorated/painted coconut from the Keys when we last visited. The recipients thought that was hysterical. It was really fun to do.

.

 

[KristaTX]

The cheapskate column in my paper is known for some very wacky ideas such as saving pretzel salt from the bottom of bag, using maxi pads in place of Swiffer pads etc.

 

[Katy Belle]

OP here.... Thanks everybody!!!! You have given me much to think about! I think I'm going to send a small bottle, with a song inside! Do you know the song "Camp Granada?" Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah, here I am at, Camp Granada, Camp is very, entertaining, and they say we'll have some fun when it stops raining... etc.

My DS knows this song and I'm sure will teach it to the rest. I'm working on a personalized version and it will include a line about getting a message in a bottle.. bottah... I'm going to include all of the Boy Scouts names from his group! I'm actually pretty excited about it!

If it gets a bit crushed... it won't matter... it will still be fun, which was my only goal!

Hello Nathan, Hello Markey,
How is camping, at Louis and Clarkey?
Is the camping, Entertaining?
Has Mr. Nimmich had to listen to any complaining?
------------
That is it so far... but once I get a list of names I will be able to finish it up! I'm excited!
Thanks for the inspiration!
katy
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