Community | Outdoors Starts In Here

Summer Time = Family Time!

Summer is a great time to reconnect with your family. You can break from the homework nights, unplug from the chilly movie days & get out and PLAY!

Have you taken advantage of the local family-friendly events? Do you ever have family tennis night or go on family bike rides? How about setting up the sprinkler & taking turns running though?

This list offers ten great ideas to stay active with your family. Try even one of these per week and you’ll be on your way to enjoying summer more, building bonds within your family, and being healthy & active together.

(List taken from fitness.mercola.com)

10 Top Ways to Stay Active as a Family

Going to the gym is fine for adults, but when kids are involved you’ve got to get more creative… and more fun!

1. Go on a Scavenger Hunt

Make a list of challenges (find an orange leaf, get a neighbor’s signature, snap a photo of a playground, etc.), split your family into teams, set a time limit and then head off (on foot or on bike) to see who can complete the most items.

2. Have a Water Day

Tossing water balloons, splashing in a kiddie pool and running through a sprinkler in the backyard are fun ways to stay cool and active on a hot summer day.

3. Set ‘Mileage’ Goals for the Weekend

Decide as a family how many steps, or how many miles, you want to travel over the weekend, then have fun trying to reach the goal. You can use pedometers to measure steps taken while running errands, going on hikes, playing tag and more, and can challenge the family to increase your goal each weekend.

4. Wash the Car

Washing the car uses key core muscles and can be a fun, bonding experience, especially if you take time to cool off with the hose, too.

5. Family Olympics

Get together with a group of families and compete in events like hula-hoops, 50-yard dash, relay race, basketball shoot, and an obstacle course. You can even make it an annual event!

6. Family Fitness Classes

If you like a more structured routine, try a fitness class designed for families, like stroller workouts, mom/dad and baby workouts or family yoga.

7. Do Chores Together

Vacuuming, washing windows, weeding the garden, raking leaves and even doing laundry work your muscles and burn calories while teaching your kids the value of responsibility. Make chores fun by setting a time limit and turning up the music while you work together as a family.

8. Plan Seasonal Outdoor Activities

Swimming, biking, canoeing and hiking are great in the summer, while sledding, ice skating, building a snowman or skiing are fun – and great for your fitness goals – in the winter.

9. Play Together

Tag, hide-and-go-seek, hop scotch, doing cartwheels and dancing in the kitchen are so much fun you won’t even realize it’s exercise in disguise.

10. Try Out Family Sports

A backyard game of softball or volleyball, shooting hoops or taking a trip to a golf course give you quality time as a family while staying active.

Sidewalk Sale 2014

The weekend is almost upon us: when tents cover the parking lots, when racks line the sidewalks, and deals are all around. We’ve been doing sidewalk sales for nearly 65 years & we hope you’ll join us again this year to score some of the biggest deals of the year. Prices are never lower!

We’ll have a tent, a sidewalk, and a store FULL of deals. We’re talking up to 90% off summer & winter apparel, (absolute minimum of 50% off ski & snowboard outerwear!), 30-50% off new summer clothing & footwear, 40% off snowboard equipment and 50% off alpine ski equipment, killer deals on bikes, tubes, waterskis & wakeboards, camp supplies & accessories, and more.

Join us for Wausau’s Big Weekend! Just a couple of days away!

Play Outside on the 4th of July!

What does the 4th of July look like for you & your family? Maybe it’s a sunny day on the lake or a relaxing day in the cabin, fireworks, sunshine, or cookouts. With warm & sunny weather arriving by July (this year, much sooner!), and lake temps comfortable to play in, you’ll need some summer toys. Here’s the thing: July 4th is when the party happens, so you need to prepare BEFORE then! Stop in now and get your gear!

We’ll set you up with anything you need for behind the boat: tubes for the family, wake boards, water skis, wake surfs, or wake skates; completed with life vests, ropes & accessories.

Like water, but prefer to be your own motor? This might be the year to get those kayaks (singles or tandems). Not much beats a day of paddling on a peaceful lake (or for you adrenaline junkies – a river of rapids), and when’s a better time than the present?

If it sounds more fun to spend the weekend roaming the streets of Minocqua, we can help you there too. We have dresses, skirts, denim, tanks, tees, flip flops, purses, and more that will give you something to strut about. Want to bike around? Even better! We can help there too.

If you’re a camping family, look no farther. We can pack your bags with the gear you’ll need to have the best time possible. Need a tent, sleeping bag, hiking shoes & poles, cookware or bug repellant? We have it all, and more.

And, if you’re traveling with your kayaks, bikes, water sports equipment, or just extra luggage, be sure to stop in early to talk about fitting your car with a Yakima rack to carry your toys. We’ll order each part you need for your specific car year, make, and model. It doesn’t take long for it to arrive, but it does take a little forward thinking!

Celebrate the long weekend in whichever way you choose, but be sure you’re ready to make it memorable. Our knowledgable outdoor-loving team can answer any questions you have, give their expert opinion about gear or destinations, and be sure you’re set for the fun.

Gifts for Dad

Did you come here for inspiration? A small gift or a big one? You know we’ve got Wausau’s largest selection of ski and snowboard gear, bikes, tennis, camping and waterspouts. But we’ve got other great gifts that wrap up in small packages and require only small budgets too:

Man-Cans Ahhh, the scent of Bacon. Or Grandpa’s Pipe, a Leather Mitt, Fresh Cut Grass, Sawdust, Fresh Brewed Coffee, Campfire, Gunpowder or Hot Chocolate (to name a few.) There’s nothing girly about scents that do more than just smell good.

Man-Cans are made inside a real soup can. The can is donated to a soup kitchen and when it’s been cleaned and returned, the label is removed and the can is filled with manly scented natural wax. When you buy a Man-Can you’re helping feed people who need a little extra help. All thanks to a 13-year-old with a unique idea. And dad likes good smells as much as mom. $11.50

Does dad like to hang out on the patio, do a little camping, hide in his man cave? Help him spruce up his favorite place with kitch-y cool knick-knacks from Outside Inside. Seriously neat bird feeders, games, and other fun stuff. $20-35 range.

Kuhl Clothes Does Dad like to look cool? Or is it Hot? Or even sick? Whatever, he will look and feel good in duds from Kühl®, where the passion remains to get outdoors and have fun. Kühl® is what it means to be comfortable and relaxed in the challenging environment of life and sport. For Kühl®, this dedication to original thinking translates into excellence in design and exceptional construction because they use not only innovative style and features, but exclusive fabrics with unique weaves and vintage washes that create authentic character. Articulated, gusseted, precise designs as well as the utmost craftsmanship provide a fit that is pure comfort. Wearing Kühl® not only represents the freedom of movement but also free will. Dad will love their long and short-sleeved shirts, fleece and wool sweaters and great outerwear in addition to their well known pants. Every man looks good in Kuhl. Starting at $45.

Does dad have a lot to juggle? How about a great day pack, with a lifetime warranty to boot. Dozens by The North Face, Patagonia, Dakine and Burton are in stock. Starting at $45

How about a round of Disc Golf? This is a sport everyone can love. There are usually no greens fees, you can dress down, and most courses have no pro shop, no marshal, no tee times, and feel much more like what they are: a public park where people can come, go, and do as they please. Of course ‘golf etiquette’ is practiced just like ball golf, which makes for a pleasant outing for everyone involved. Pick up a disc and give it a spin and you’re on your way. Shepherd & Schaller stocks hundred’s of Innova and Discraft golf discs each spring. Starting at $8.99

Sock it to him. Smartwool socks are a gift he’ll really love. At the heart of these great socks is the highest quality merino yarn available from sheep raised in the most amazing places on earth. Skillfully woven in the American Southeast, the world’s best performance socks are Made in the USA. Dad will like that too. Read more here and fall in love with Smartwool even more. Starting at $14.95. (By 3 Get 1 Free June 1-15, 2014)

Found his photo of a Perception paddler from NC who reviewed his boat online. Looks like he’s having fun!

Got a little healthier budget?Recreational Kayaking. If you have access to a local lake, stream or river and can sit and move your arms, you can kayak. Sport kayaking is a relaxing way to spend a day outside. The crew at Shep’s can help you decide what kind of boat is right for your goals and the water you expect to be on, and can recommend a PFD (personal flotation device otherwise known as a life jacket) that is specifically designed for paddling. Don’t forget the paddle – or dad will be up a creek in no time! Recreational boats from Perception are incredibly stable, so rolling is not usually an issue. Many models are designed for fishing, so dad wins again. Boats begin at $399. And be a sport. Get him some Sun Bum Pro sunscreen too. Starting at $3.99

Visit us in Downtown Wausau, Wisconsin or online at www.shepssports.com to shop for Bike, Camping, Tennis, Water Ski and Snow Sports departments too, along with a great selection of clothes from Patagonia, The North Face, Kavu, Smartwool and lots more. Dad’s worth it.

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.