Outdoor Adventures The Camping Life Newsletter - March 2023
The Camping Life ANNUAL NEWSLETTER
MAY 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Grand Haven Resort. . . . . . . . . . ..... 7 Kalamazoo Resort. . . . . . . . . . . ..... 8 Remembering One of Our Family Members. . . 9 Blackstone Grilled Supreme Nachos . . . ... 10 Let’s Get Down to Business. . . . . . . .... 11 Puzzle Time. . . . . . . . . . . . ....... 13 We Camp with Care. . . . . . . . . ...... 15 The World of Pool Maintenance. . . . . .... 17
Letter from the CEO. . . . . . . . . . ..... 1 OAI By the Numbers . . . . . . . . . ..... 2 Lake Shore Resort. . . . . . . . . . . ..... 3 Saginaw Bay Resort. . . . . . . . . . ..... 3 Mt. Pleasant Resort. . . . . . . . . . ..... 4 LakeoftheNorthResort. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Benjamin’s Beaver Creek Resort. . . . . . . . . 5 Cool Camping Products. . . . . . . . . .... 6
MESSAGE FROM THE CEO As we approach our 30th anniversary, we’re immensely proud of growing from a single site in Standish to 9 resorts across Michigan, all thanks to your support. Looking forward, we’re thrilled about our plans to strategically grow Outdoor Adventures and to give you more opportunities to make memories with your loved ones. We’re on the verge of acquiring new locations in prime, exciting destinations across the northern United States. These new locations align with our vision of becoming the best private membership camping company nationwide. These new resorts are not just an expansion of our footprint, but also an enhancement to the value we offer you. Our commitment to upgrading and maintaining all of our existing locations’ facilities remains unwavering as well. Michigan will remain our beloved home base and we continue to aim to make every stay with us an exceptional experience. We’re excited about the future, and we hope you are too. We want to write new chapters together, filled with lots more camping adventures and cherished moments with your family. Thank you for being an integral part of our family! Happy camping!
I want to hear FROM YOU!
Customer service is one of my top priorities and I take all feedback seriously. Reach out any time by emailing me at dearjason@ outdooradventuresinc.com. I look forward to connecting and helping your family make more memories together! – Jason
Jason King, CEO
THE CAMPING LIFE MAY 2024 • 1
BY THE NUMBERS
All data is as of Dec. 31, 2023. Member Ratio is number of total Members per a combined campsite and rental unit total (ratio).
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Lake Shore Resort CHECKING IN JUST BECAME A BREEZE ON THE NORTH SHORE! The North Shore Clubhouse will be a secondary store location at the Resort starting after Memorial Day . It will be open for check-in services, and offer a range of camping essentials for sale like wood, ice, beverages, ice cream, and more! MORE RESORT UPDATES Throughout the fall and winter, we’ve continued making improvements to the resort. One of the more noticeable improvements is brand new white fencing all throughout the resort. We hope it brightens up your stay! We’ve also placed WiFi extenders throughout the resort to hopefully improve connectivity at campsites. We are ready to welcome you for the summer season!
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Photo taken by Member Becky B.
Saginaw Bay Resort
Last season we had the grand opening of our brand new Resort Store! You can find this new space right in between the outdoor pool and the old store. In this new facility, you’re able to enjoy all of the following services: New Laundry Facility New Arcade Scooped & Novelty Ice Cream Grocery OUR PRISTINE POOL During the winter months, we dedicated our efforts to enhancing your swimming experience by completing a resurfacing project on our indoor pool. We’re thrilled to announce that the renovations have been completed, and the pool is looking pristine! We’re excited for members to enjoy the pool to the fullest throughout this season! CONGRATULATE RESORT MANAGER MATT FOCO! This year is a special one as we celebrate Matt Foco’s 25th work anniversary at our Resort. Matt has been a part of Outdoor Clothing Toys Reservation Check-In/Check-Out Putt-Putt Rentals
Adventures since the early days, starting out on the Maintenance Team and working his way up to Manager. We’re truly grateful for Matt’s dedication to serving our members and helping them create unforgettable family memories. Congratulations, Matt, on 25 wonderful years!
Photo by member Arthur Riley.
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Matt Foco
Brand New Resort Store
THE CAMPING LIFE MAY 2024 • 3
Lake Shore Resort
Mt. Pleasant Resort At our Resort, we’re all about making sure our planned activities are not just enjoyable, but bursting with creativity and perfect for all ages. Get excited because we’re bringing you another season jam-packed with unique themed activities. Check them out here and get ready to have a blast making unforgettable memories! In 2022, we unveiled our brand-new 9-hole putt-putt course, and as we head into its third season being open, it’s looking as stunning as ever! This delightful course offers the perfect family activity, promising fun for all ages. Scan the video QR code below to check it out and start getting excited about experiencing it firsthand during your next visit!
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PUTT- PUTT!
Fitness Week 2023
Royalty Week 2023
New 9-hole putt-putt course
Carnival Week 2023
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Lake of the North Resort MAKE A RESERVATION TODAY!
Make sure that Lake of the North Resort in West Branch is one of your stops this year! This smaller, quiet resort is perfect for anyone looking to relax and unwind or bring the kids along. With a few sites overlooking the beautiful Lake George or other sites backed up against forest, you can chill out and unplug to the max. Or, if your trip will be a little more busy with kids, we have sites right along the playground or near the pool so it’s easy to keep them entertained without too much of your involvement. WEST BRANCH - WHERE YOU CAN LIVE HAPPY And while you’re staying with us, be sure to take full advantage of everything West Branch and Ogemaw County have to offer! Indulge in mouthwatering local cuisine at spots like G’s Pizza and Highway Brewing Co., or revel in beautiful natural scenery while enjoying wine at one of the most popular wine trails in Michigan. Plus, there’s plenty of family-friendly activities to enjoy, from shopping at the local outlet mall
to geocaching in Irons Park with the ORB Geo Tour to golfing at The Dream or The Nightmare (or both!) and beyond. Discover all the fantastic offerings of this booming city at visitwestbranch.com!
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Lake of the North Resort
Benjamin’s Beaver Creek Resort SLIDE ON DOWN! Last season, we gave our outdoor water slide a complete makeover. It was sandblasted and repainted, and we also spruced up the catch pool and deck with a fresh coat of paint. And NEW this year, the water will be heated so you can slide on down without shivering the whole way! Get ready for the smoothest and most comfortable ride on this favorite attraction! BOOK YOUR CABIN GETAWAY Escape to the Beaver Creek Rentals’ beautiful log-cabin vacation homes tucked away inside our very own Benjamin’s Beaver Creek Resort. These cabins accommodate groups of 6-16 people, perfect for various occasions and getaways! Plus, primary members enjoy an exclusive 50% discount on Beaver Creek Rentals stays.* Don’t miss out—book your getaway today!
Outdoor Water Slide Makeover
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“The cabin we stayed in was so cute! It had everything thing we needed for a weekend getaway. It was cozy and comfortable. The campground had tons of activities for the kids. We will be staying here again!” -Miranda M.
Beaver Creek Rentals
*Offer can’t be combined with other discounts.
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Cool Camping Products
1. CAMP SNAP CAMERA Let your kids be creative while also avoiding screen time with this cool digital camera! campsnapphoto.com 2. YETI BEVERAGE BUCKET Planning happy hour? You’ll need a hefty bucket to keep your beverages cold! yeti.com 3. Stanley Tumbler We can’t avoid the Stanley craze! Check out this 40 oz tumbler perfect for the outdoors! stanley1913.com 4. 6-Piece mess kit Reduce plastic waste and space taken up in your camper with this
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6-piece mess kit! ucogear.com 5. PORTABLE Camping sink
This portable camping sink makes it easy for you to create your own outdoor kitchen and washing space if you don’t have one on your
camper! myboxio.com 6. Heated HAMMOCK
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Love sleeping under the stars, but just get too cold in Michigan? Check out this cordless heated hammock with 3 heated zones (head, middle, feet)! sharperimage.com
Outdoor Adventures is not affiliated with any of the aforementioned companies or products. We do not receive any compensation for mentioning these products and our recommendations are based simply on our love of the outdoors! Please drink responsibly.
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Grand Haven Resort STORE UPDATE
As you may recall, the Grand Haven Resort Store was unfortunately destroyed by a fire last season. Since then, we have navigated through the insurance process and are pleased to announce that our rebuilding plans have been submitted to the township for review! We are currently awaiting approval of these plans, and once received, we will begin the reconstruction process. In the interim, we have set up a temporary store in the Information Center to serve your needs as we kick off the new season. Please rest assured that all other facilities at the resort will be fully operational! We appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this process. Like you, we are eagerly looking forward to the Store’s reopening and the enhanced experiences it will bring to our Resort! WELCOME OUR NEW RESORT MANAGER! We’re thrilled to introduce our new Grand Haven Resort Manager, Jacob Stob! With an impressive background in management roles,
and over 15 years of sales and customer service expertise, he is well-equipped to take on this new role with us! Jacob says what he’s looking forward to most is being able to serve all of YOU, our amazing Members, and to see all of your smiling faces this season. He wants all of our Members to know that he and his team will go above and beyond to make sure your time at Grand Haven Resort is one to remember.
Jacob Stob
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THE CAMPING LIFE MAY 2024 • 7
Kalamazoo Resort 76 BRAND NEW SITES NOW OPEN!
We’re thrilled to announce the completion of our Kalamazoo Resort expansion. Say hello to 76 brand-new campsites, 72 with full hookups (20/30/50 AMP, water, and sewer) and 4 with 20/30/50 AMP and water hookup. Each site features a solid cement pad, brand-new picnic tables, shiny new campfire rings, and multiple roadway lights to keep your path well-lit and safe. Tucked away at the back of the resort, these new additions provide the perfect blend of modern amenities and a peaceful, secluded camping experience. BOOK YOUR STAY NOW! Reservations can be made by calling us at
Ribbon Cutting Event Friday, June 14 Join us for hot dogs, ice cream and some fun activities to celebrate the opening of our new expansion! Look for more information coming soon about this event in your inboxes and on Facebook!
(989) 671-1125 or on CampLife. We can’t wait for you to create unforgettable memories at these fantastic new sites this summer and for many seasons to come.
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Help shine a spotlight on deserving individuals to be considered for receiving Employee of the Month and a bonus! We would greatly appreciate your support in acknowledging their hard work to make your camping experience exceptional! Simply visit our Resorts’ Google listing and leave a positive review, highlighting a well-deserving employee. You’ll find a QR code for each resort on pages 3-8 that will take you right to that resort’s Google listing or we’ll have signs up at each resort as well. Recognize an Employee!
Remembering One of Our Family Members
Marcy Olivo worked in the Member Services department from 2014 to 2022. She was an integral part of the team helping with reservations and transfers. She was a caring mother, attentive grandmother, compassionate sister, and great friend. Marcy passed away in September 2023 from terminal cancer. We miss Marcy more than words can express. In her honor, we’ve planted a tree at Saginaw Bay Resort and our deepest condolences go out to Marcy’s family, friends, and all who knew her.
THE CAMPING LIFE MAY 2024 • 9
Blackstone Grilled Supreme Nachos Recipe by “From Michigan to the Table”
Who doesn’t love nachos? Jazz up your nacho routine with these super-tasty Blackstone Nachos Supreme. Made effortlessly on your Blackstone Griddle for just your family or a large camping crowd, there’s nothing like this towering pile of crispy chips and delish toppings for an outdoor dinner! INSTRUCTIONS 1. Preheat the Blackstone Flat Top Griddle to medium heat. 2. Prepare your diced tomatoes, peppers and lettuce. 3. As the Blackstone Griddle is heating up, apply the olive oil and spread with a griddle spatula. 4. When the griddle is hot and nearly smoking, add ground hamburger wto the griddle. Cook the ground burger, breaking it up as you go, until it is in small pieces and no longer pink inside. 5. Make sure to separate as much of the ground beef grease from the cooked burger as possible before adding the taco seasoning. Push the excess grease into the grease trap. 6. Top the cooked burger with the taco seasoning. Add a squirt of water to help combine the ground beef and taco seasoning, 7. When the meat mixture is cooked, place tortilla chips on a prepared baking sheet pan or serving dish lined with parchment paper. 8. Top the tortilla chips with the hot beef mixture, and the shredded cheese. 9. If desired place the whole sheet pan with the chips, burger and cheese onto the the hot Blackstone Griddle and cover with a large dome lid for about 2 - 3 minutes to melt the cheese. 10. Choose your desired toppings. Sprinkle the toppings like chopped bell peppers, diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and of course, a dollop of sour cream. 11. Serve hot and make sure to have a variety of side, if possible, that your guests will like. Notes Try these different toppings: shredded chicken, shredded pork or shredded beef, refried beans, sliced green olives or black olives, pickled jalapenos, Pico de Gallo, your favorite salsa, hot sauce, nacho cheese sauce, lime wedges, chopped onion, different shredded cheese combinations, or fresh cilantro.
PREP TIME 5 minutes COOK TIME 5 minutes DOME TIME 2 minutes TOTAL TIME 12 minutes
INGREDIENTS Olive Oil 1 T Ground Beef 1 lb Taco Seasoning 2 T Tortilla Strips 12 ounces Water 2 T Shredded Cheese 2 cups Tomato, Diced 1/2 cup Peppers, Bell 1/4 cup Sour Cream 2 T Lettuce, Shredded 1/2 cup
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Let’s Get Down to Business Creating a Positive Environment for All Please remember that we are instituting a new policy regarding flags, displays and signs in an effort to provide a positive environment for all campers at our resorts. The following displays, flags, signs or decals are the only kinds permitted while on resort property and throughout the resorts: United States flag, state flags, flags representing a country of origin, or US Military or Veteran flags, provided they are maintained in good condition and displayed respectfully according to proper flag etiquette; officially licensed university, school or sports league teams; or seasonal, holiday, camping or birthday/anniversary celebration decorative displays, flags and signs per the Resort Manager’s discretion. We appreciate your cooperation and consideration of everyone camping around you. Thank you! We Are Listening! Loud, lewd, vulgar music and language is one of the biggest complaints that we receive. This inconsiderate behavior and accompanying attitudes and behaviors span teens to adults and the lack of respect is offensive to all. Our Resort Operations teams have worked hard to create and maintain a family-oriented environment, but it becomes more difficult every year. Our ultimate goal is to find a proper balance between campers having fun versus campers bothering other campers; many of whom JUST came to hear the sounds of nature around them. Please remember, young eyes are watching and young ears are listening (and so are we). We will continue to work diligently to enforce rules and policies that are family-friendly, while being fair, equitable, and reasonable to everyone involved. Any camper playing music too loud and causing a nuisance, even if it’s not during quiet hours, is subject to reservation cancellation and other infractions such as membership suspension or even termination. Warnings are given to first-time offenders, and we log violations on the Member account. These violations are logged for your AFMs and Guests as well. We keep track of the number of violations and multiple infractions on the account may also warrant membership suspension or termination. Lake Shore Guest Registration Reminder With another busy summer camping season ahead, we want to remind you that if you have guests coming to visit at Lake Shore Resort, you must inform Security or Member Services. These teams will add your guests’ names to your reservation and when your guests arrive, the Security Gate Agent will pull up the reservation and see that the guest is pre-approved to enter (all guests 18 years and older will be required to show their ID). If your guests arrive and they are not entered on your reservation, the Security Gate Agent will be required to contact the Member and get approval before allowing the guest to enter the Resort. This process is in place to improve your experience at our Lake Shore Resort and ensure everyone has a pleasant stay in a family-friendly atmosphere! THE CAMPING LIFE MAY 2024 • 7 THE CAMPING LIFE MAY 2024 • 11
New! Cancellation Policy and Cancellation Protection We heard your feedback! We decreased the number of days ahead of a reservation that will result in a cancellation fee and we decreased the cancellation fees themselves! Please check out the updated policy in the Member Handbook. What is Cancellation Protection? Cancellation Protection waives all cancellation costs (excluding reservation fees) that may occur within two (2) days of a reservation due to certain unforeseen circumstances. Documentation or reason for canceling will not be required to waive cancellation costs. This includes any prepaid fixed lodging costs paid at the time of reservation (excluding reservation fees). Members can purchase this protection for an additional $15 per reservation for campsites and $30 per reservation for fixed lodging. Cancellation Protection does not apply to no-show costs or free camping weeks. Any cancellations on the day of arrival are the equivalent of a no-show and will incur fees accordingly. Cancellation Protection is nonrefundable. Any reservation that is made prior to April 1 can retroactively add Cancellation Protection to the reservation as long as you’re not within the cancellation window of your reservation. Starting April 2, Cancellation Protection must be added at the time of reservation, whether by phone or online. Checking Out We’re hearing feedback on enforcing our check out time, especially on the weekend. If you want to check out after noon on the day your reservation ends, please visit the Store or call Member Services to see if anyone is checking in to that site. If no one is checking in on your site, you can stay later that day! We appreciate your understanding on this as we have an obligation to respect everyone’s vacation. Before you leave, please make sure to clean up all animal waste on the site and do not leave trash in the fire pit. Please take all trash to a dumpster. Uber/Lyft/DoorDash/Uber Eats, etc. These services have made it so convenient for our campers to just sit back, relax and enjoy vacation to the max! However, please be aware that these drivers cannot proceed past Security to your site. You must meet the driver at the Security entrance.
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PUZZLE TIME!
SPOT THE 5 Differences
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FIND OBJECTS IN THE PICTURE & IN THE PUZZLE
SPOT THE 10 DIFFERENCES
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Special Days Camps Special Days Camps provides a safe and memorable camping opportunity in a medically-supervised environment for children who have experienced cancer and their siblings. This is the second longest- running oncology camp in the world offering traditional camping activities, adapted to meet the special needs of their campers. How Can You Help Show We Care? Throughout the month of June you can round up all your purchases at every one of our Resort Stores. Those extra cents will be collected and donated directly to Special Days Camps so please consider saying “Yes!” when our staff asks you! Outdoor Driven Outdoor Driven is a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting our nation’s Heroes by providing them an outdoor adventure. They are focused on being a support system for active-duty military, veterans, Gold Star Families, Law Enforcement, Firefighters and EMS First Responders who battle PTSD. How do We Show We Care? We are helping to promote Outdoor Driven’s mission to the local community. We purchased a Chamber Spotlight sponsorship and donated it to Outdoor Driven so that they can speak in front of approximately 250 people at a Chamber event in June. Marketing and advocacy is an important way we help support our nonprofit partners! Check out their website by scanning the QR code to learn more! June is National Camping Month, and we’re celebrating by talking about how “We Camp with Care.” Outdoor Adventures collaborates with Michigan nonprofits to ensure everyone can enjoy the outdoors regardless of ability, income, or circumstance. As sponsors, we aim to highlight these organizations, raise awareness for their missions, and support them through various fundraising efforts. BE A CARING CAMPER! Participate in one of our partner opportunities throughout the month of June. And BONUS! If you participate, we have special stickers that you can proudly display to show how much you care! Thank you in advance for making an impact in our communities!
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Camp Fish Tales Camp Fish Tales provides a place for individuals with special needs to experience the outdoors, connect with peers and develop skills that enhance their quality of life. Located in Pinconning, MI, the camp was founded in 1989 to help ensure that those with disabilities have the same chance to experience camp in a safe, supportive and accessible environment. HOW CAN YOU HELP SHOW WE CARE? Purchase items for camper and counselor care packages! We will take those items to create care packages and deliver them to camp. This was a huge hit last year so let’s make it happen again this year! Give Hope RV Give Hope RV gives rest and time for families to connect that are currently fostering or have adopted. Founders, Dave and Melissa Tubergen, are a two-time adoptive family and active foster family and understand the hardships and how taking time away is difficult, but so needed. They have grown closer as a family through camping and desire to help other families do the same. Give Hope RV allows families to camp FREE of charge whether they own an RV or not. givehoperv.com or facebook.com/givehoperv How do we show we care? This summer, we’ve donated time in our rental RVs at Grand Haven and Lake of the North to families who don’t own a camper and we’ve donated time at campsites at all of our locations for families that already own an RV. We’re so excited about this new partnership and to help these families get some time away to connect with one another!
We put families first! Our values and mission are centered around our care for communities, families and people. See how our teams are making an impact in our communities. Scan the QR code below to read our 2023 Annual Report. Here at Outdoor Adventures, WE CARE
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Dive into the World of Pool Maintenance with Certified Pool Operator Russ Hoeppner
Pools, pools, pools! They provide endless fun, but maintaining them isn’t always a splash. That’s why all of our Resorts have a Certified Pool Operator (CPO) on staff to handle both the fun and the nitty-gritty of pool management. We sat down with Russ Hoeppner, one of only three CPO instructors in the state of Michigan, and the expert who trained our very own CPO’s. With over 17 years of experience in the aquatics industry, Russ brings a wealth of knowledge to the table! Russ’s journey in the aquatics industry began in
Russ Hoeppner
Frankenmuth, Michigan, where he maintained and managed multiple pools and water slides for one of the area’s largest hotels. His expertise in pool equipment, care, and repairs led him to become an independent contractor with the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance for the state of Michigan. Suffice it to say, Russ is a true pool expert. Russ has trained our staff hands-on, ensuring that they are equipped to handle all aspects of pool maintenance. While CPO classes are not mandated by the State of Michigan, we believe in going above and beyond to ensure the highest standards of pool care across all our locations.
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A Day in the Life of Our CPOs and Pool Attendants Welcome to our aquatic laboratory! Our CPO’s are akin to pool chemists, meticulously balancing water chemistry to perfection. From monitoring disinfectant, pH levels, alkalinity, calcium hardness, temperature, to total dissolved solids (TDS), every aspect of pool water is carefully examined. Balancing outdoor pools adds an extra layer of complexity, as Mother Nature likes to throw surprises our way. Multiple daily checks ensure that disinfectant and pH levels meet not only state requirements but also our own rigorous safety standards, especially on busy days when pools are bustling with activity. Beyond water chemistry, our pools rely on heavy machinery to keep them running smoothly. Regular checks and maintenance of filters, heating elements, and other equipment are essential components of our routine pool care. Of course, aesthetics matter too! Regular pool sweeping and skimming not only keep our pools visually appealing but also help prevent any algae outbreaks. This glimpse into our daily routine barely scratches the surface of the hard work our dedicated teams put into maintaining our pools. It’s no small feat! A Big Thank You to Russ and Our CPOs We extend our thanks to Russ for sharing his expertise and insights into the world of pool maintenance. And to all our Resort CPO’s, thank you for your hard work in keeping our pools pristine! After all, they’re the unsung heroes behind the scenes, ensuring that every swim is a safe and enjoyable one. Keeping Our Pools Pristine While our teams work tirelessly to keep our pools clean, there are ways pool-goers can pitch in too. We asked Russ for his number one tip for pool enthusiasts, and he emphasized the importance of showering or washing off before taking a dip. While it may not be the most exciting step, it can prevent a host of issues. Sweat, for example, introduces bacteria into the pool, which can lead to imbalances and even skin irritation. Similarly, products like deodorant and sunscreen can contribute to cloudy water and less than desirable pool. By washing off before diving in, everyone can enjoy a clean and inviting pool experience.
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outdooradventuresinc.com (989) 671-1125 wecare@outdooradventuresinc.com
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