Category: Camping & Outdoor

Insect Repellent – Avoid West Nile with Repel

Mosquito season is upon us, and this year, they’re really making themselves known. According to the Wausau Daily Herald, West Nile virus has been confirmed in our area.

This doesn’t mean you need to lock up the house and stay inside until October. You may be one who works outside, one who loves to hang at the beach, a hiker, a mountain biker, a kayaker or even a soccer league spectator or gardener. Thankfully, protecting ourselves against mosquitos & their illnesses is not that difficult.

We just restocked our shelves with some of the very best insect repellent around. Repel Sportsman & Sportsman Max boasts 20%-40% deet, which should keep us recreational outdoors-people plenty safe from mosquitos, ticks, gnats, biting flies, chiggers & fleas. If you’re swarmed constantly, spending time in the deep woods or swampy areas, you might want to consider Ben’s 100, which contains 98.11% deet. Spray it on & you’ll be protected for up to 10 hours. A third insect repellent option that might interest you contains Permethrin and is for your clothing & gear, not your skin. One application to your clothing, shoes, packs, etc., will keep you protected for two weeks. (Plus, it’s unscented!)

Preparing for the outdoors can be quick and easy. Take a few minutes, be wise, and protect yourself from the risks (think sunscreen & bug spray) so you can get out and stay out! Happy summer!

School’s Out for Summer!

Yes! School is finally out!

Wait. Now what?

We all know the feeling. So much excitement goes into the last weeks of school; countdowns are on and everyone is ready for summer vacation. But what happens three days later isn’t quite as exciting. “I’m bored.” Or worse yet: they’re not bored because they sleep until 2, grab the Cheetos and hang out in front of the TV for the day.

Summer vacation can be fun, but it takes some planning on your part as the parents, babysitters, or older siblings. We’ve put together some ideas on how to keep the kids moving, enjoy the warm weather, prevent the summer boredom, and enjoy all that Wausau has to offer. Check out these recommendations:

Wausau City Playgrounds: Wausau offers a morning playground program for children going into K-5th grade. This supervised time includes crafts, games, playground time & other organized activities. See their FLIER and register your children for the 8 week program!

If your children prefer water over wood chips, they may be interested in Wausau’s pools or even swim lessons. It’s only $1 to swim during open swim times (1-7:30pm), or you can decide to get an individual or family memberships for the summer. City pools offer swim lessons too, starting at 18 months. You can look at available lesson times & register HERE.

Soccer players in the house would love to be a part of Challenger’s British Soccer instructional soccer camp.  These week long camps take place at Brockmeyer Park and are lead by coaches that have been recruited from Great Britian. Details are HERE.

Sport lovers might also like to enroll in tennis lessons at Oak Island Park courts. Depending on age, they’ll have either one or three hour lessons which allow time for instruction, practice, and game playing. You’ll sign your children up by experience level, so their lesson will be tailored to their ability. Get more information HERE, then sign them up!

Kids & teens out of school for the summer might also be interested in the Oak Island Skateboard Park, beaches, and city parks throughout the area (a complete list can be made by clicking HERE and HERE). What about yard games, disc golf, frisbee, or water toys?

As with any outdoor activity, safety is going to be key. Consider sun safety (sunscreen, sunglasses & sun hats) and bike safety (helmets, lights & awareness of road rules) especially.

The City Pages’ Summer Fun book will include all the special events & local happenings going on this summer. Everyone should pick up a copy and have it on hand; it’d be a shame to miss out on all the restaurants, shows, concerts, and events Wausau has to offer.

We have nearly everything you’d need to enjoy the above summer activities, including swimsuits for swim lessons or looking your best at the beach, caps, goggles, and accessories; tennis racquets, shoes, and apparel; and toys and accessories to keep everyone busy on summer days. A stop in at Shep’s will have you inspired and equipped to make the most of the summer months before us and help you be sure you’re playing well.

 

 

Back to Nature – Camping in Wisconsin

Did you grow up spending every Memorial Day weekend out in the woods, or are you thinking you want to start that tradition now? It’s the beginning of spring, the weather is finally warm, the birds are out & we’re all itching to get out and enjoy nature. Get away and unplug, and while you’re enjoying the peace & quiet outside, pause to remember all those who gave their lives so we can have the freedom we love.

As with every outdoor activity, a stop at Shep’s first to get the supplies you’re missing and the expert opinion you’re needing, is the best idea. We’re a staff that loves to camp when we’re not at work and we’ll give you all the secrets we have. Until we see you in the shop, here’s some info to get yourself started. (Most of this post will be relative to car camping, but we have backpacking  experts on staff too. If that’s more your cup of tea, stop down.)

Where To Go: 

We are fortunate to live where we do; where within an hour or two hour drive, you have a plethora of great camping options. We take advantage of all the State Parks in the area, as well as local county parks. This link will give you a list of the campgrounds in the state (by region) – which can be useful to find a place you’ve never discovered before. Otherwise, our trusty Wisconsin State Park reservation listings can help you find a site too.

What to Pack:

Here is a checklist to reference when you’re packing your bags & your car for the weekend away. Keep in mind that everyone camps a little differently, so you may want to add some things to this list and may cross off some lines, too. Either way, it should be a great list to get you thinking & help you feel prepared. Feel free to print it off and use it again and again!

Food to Try:

It’s hard to go wrong with the old standby: pudgie pies. Pizza, hot ham & cheese, apple pie, and more. Besides that, tin foil dinners are big (and super easy to make on your evening campfire). Use cooking spray generously to coat the inside of tin foil, then add washed & sliced potatoes, carrots, onions, and any other veggies you like. (Some people love it with meat, too!) The kicker is adding butter squares & seasonings before you wrap the foil into a sealed package and let it cook & steam itself on the fire. If you bring a camp stove, you’ll have all the options in the world for food – do pancake and egg breakfasts, fry up burgers for dinner, or anything else your mind dreams up. A quick Pinterest search will give you way more ideas than you’ll know what to do with! Make a list, hit the grocery store & get going!

At Shep’s:

We have a full camping department stocked with tents, cots, sleeping bags, day packs and frame packs, insect repellant, quality sunscreens, first aid tools, cook sets, and so, so much more. At the shop, you’ll also find books of hiking trails in Wisconsin, the apparel you need to be comfortable in any weather, the best footwear for beaching, lounging, or hiking, outdoor games, treats, accessories, and more. Plus, we love to swap stories & show pictures. (Ask for Tony Z especially – he’s been hiking & camping all over Wisconsin and will entertain you with his experiences & pictures of the adventures!)

Hope to see you hitting the road and enjoying the woods this weekend. (There aren’t many better places to be!)

Earn Bucks, Spend Bucks. Shep’s Bucks are Free Money!

Dollars, Euros, Pounds, Rubles, Pesos, $hep’s Buck$!

Money in your pocket, in any currency, is good. Well, we’d like to give you $hep’s Buck$ to celebrate the great outdoors this summer.  “How” you ask?  Just spend $50 in store on your favorite brand bikes, water sports, camping gear, shoes, outerwear and sportswear or even on clearance clothing and our entire selection of clearance ski and snowboard equipment and we’ll give you a $5 $hep’s Buck$ card.  The extra value multiplies quickly because your $hep’s Buck$ is free money to use on future purchases.

Here’s the scoop: you’ll get $5 for Every $50 spent at Shepherd & Schaller in downtown Wausau during our $hep’s Buck$ promotion June 26-July 9, 2017. You’ll then bring your Buck$ card back to use toward a future purchase through September 1, 2017.

The fine print:  $hep’s Buck$ is not legal tender. The card has no cash value and there is no cash back. Customer will receive $5 in $hep’s Buck$  for every $50 in purchases of in-stock merchandise. Purchases may not be combined to earn additional $hep’s Buck$ and they can not be earned retroactively on previous purchases. $hep’s Buck$ is earned on the amount of customer purchases after all applicable discounts are applied and before tax is imposed.
Eligible customer purchases which earn $hep’s Buck$ include in-stock regular price, sale price and clearance price clothing, footwear and equipment but exclude, Gift Cards, Shop Services and special orders.  Use your $hep’s Buck$ to buy anything from Shepherd & Schaller in downtown Wausau, Wisconsin prior to the expiration date. Return value of merchandise purchased with $hep’s Buck$ may be subject to adjustment. Offer is not transferable and is not redeemable on purchases made on www.shepssports.com. 

Hey Mom! Let’s Go Outside and Play!

Mom probably likes flowers, perfume and candy.  But you know the gift she really wants  this Mother’s Day is time with you.  Remember when she taught you how to love playing outside?  This year, return the favor.  The Wausau, WI area is flush with great outdoor spots to enjoy.  See what mom needs to make her outdoor adventures complete (we can help if you need ideas ) and cap off a great gift with time together doing something you both love.

Gift ideas (with each photo) and a list of nearby campgrounds, boat launches, hiking and bike trails, disc golf courses and tennis courts is just a click away.  But click quick, then get outside!  Happy Mother’s Day mom, from all of us at Shepherd & Schaller 🙂