Sun Protection Tips and More
Did you know that if you work for a company that has Flexible Savings Accounts I can provide my employer ID number when you’ve enrolled in Outside School so you can access those tax savings? Apparently I’ve been remiss in letting y’all know about that.
Sun Protection
We have to protect ourselves from UV rays, both in the short term to prevent sunburn and in the long term to prevent cancer. Here are my tips I’ve learned since beginning work 100% outdoors since 2007. I currently have a couple potentially pre-cancerous keratoses on my face that I need to have removed with either liquid nitrogen or a chemotherapy cream; I am in consultation with my doctor. First and foremost, take care of yourself! You know yourself and your skin best, and your doctor knows population risks the best. Please use this as tips and advice only, and discuss your individual and family needs with your doctor- I cannot stress this enough. I have more links available at Outside School (www.outside.school) and my Teach Outside Health and Safety page: https://www.teachoutside.org/health-and-safety.
General
I am not receiving any compensation or products in exchange for my recommendations; this is purely shared because I have been using these products reliably for years. There are two companies I use most frequently: Columbia and Coolibar . Both companies’ products offer technical sun protection, are machine wash and dryable, and are true to size.
Hats!
I hate wearing hats. I have to tuck my giant ears under the bands, and it makes them hurt over time. If I don’t tuck them in, hats fall off more easily and I feel like Dumbo. And, because I’m usually masking, I don’t want to wear sunglasses so my students can actually see may face and my expressions (so I go without or wear non-tinted lenses). But, one must wear a hat! I’ve heard that in Australia, there have been so many cases of melanoma that the saying at schools is, “No hat, no play!”
What hat do I love to teach in after many years of trying?
Why do I like this hat so much?
-I used it for years, washing it on gentle cycle and air drying it weekly.
-The dark underside of the brim prevents more sun being reflected onto my skin and into my eyes.
-It has a “girly” feature in the underside print. I don’t often do “girly,” but I like this one.
-It’s lightweight.
-It’s packable, although I usually try to keep it straight because so many packable hats have deformed permanently over the years.
-The brim is stiff enough that it keeps its shape relatively well so I can maintain peripheral vision.
-The brim is wider than many other hats, so it does a better job at protecting all sides of my head, neck, and shoulders. (Also, I am more protected than I was when I was obese, simply because more of me fits under the shade.)
-The chin cord is removable, so it can be brought along only to be added on extra windy days.
-The hat band itself is adjustable, so you can customize the fit and it can be tightened for days that are too windy to wear at your normal setting, but not gusty enough to add the chin strap.
What don’t I like about this hat?
-I’ve been having a swelling issue, and even though it’s one size fits all, it’s become too tight to be comfortable. I just sent it to my sister!
-For this and any hat, chin cords and sweat bands stay white even with washing when one uses mineral-based sunblocks.
Because it doesn’t have a tight hat band, I’m currently wearing this hat for work:
(But, it’s wool, so extra hot in hot weather. And, no chin strap so it’s not great for super windy conditions. Head down! 😅)
And this hat for at home/casual wear:
(It’s so light, comfortable, and good looking, but has lots of holes in the weave so more light comes in.)
At the track I wear a baseball hat with a neck gaiter pulled up as high as I can get it to go without my glasses fogging up. It’s the only option I have with the headsets we need to use.
Even with wearing long pants and shirts, applying sunscreen, and wearing a hat, my skin still is darker wherever it’s exposed to UV rays. So, my hands are almost always darker than my arms! Even being in the shade with all of the above leads to UV exposure due to reflection off surfaces near and far.
Sunscreen
I hate wearing sunscreen, too! But like hats, it must be done. One benefit of wearing long sleeves and pants is that I only have to apply sunscreen to the backs of my hands, my neck, ears, and face. My tried and true sunscreen over the years has been Badger Sport Mineral Sunscreen.
I have super sensitive skin, and it is not bothered by the ingredients. Its oils also help keep my skin hydrated and don’t run into my eyes when I sweat. To me, it offers high quality at a reasonable price. But, I admit I’m still trying out new sunscreen products for face and body all the time, trying to find products that feel less greasy and will nourish my aging skin, while being offered at a price I can afford. I highly recommend the Environmental Working Group’s sunscreen research pages so you can inform yourself and make sunscreen purchasing decisions that make sense to you and your family.
Clothing
Things to watch out for with your regular clothing is durability. A lot of SPF fabric products are for recreational rather than work clothing. Some materials will more easily run, snag, tear, or get holes.
Shirts
If you know me, you know I love wearing black! But, I’m starting to learn (finally!) how hot it is, and am branching out slowly but surely into the world of color. I only wear long sleeves when I’m teaching, and I prefer knit fabrics because they’re softer than woven and feel nicer under other layers, like sweat shirts or jackets. However, woven fabrics are more sturdy if you’re going to be working or going through snaggy bits in the woods and weeds.
Short sleeves are better than tank tops. Long sleeves are better than short sleeves. Non-SPF white shirts don’t offer much sun protection, so any color is better. SPF shirts can be pricey, so that is up to you. A trusty work shirt over a tee can be a nice look, and sturdy to boot.
Favorites include:
Coolibar Long Sleeve Coverup, which I wear alone or under graphic tees. Over a lot of time, it does become thinner with some of the elastic materials breaking or stretching out (i.e. over the boobs!).
Coolibar Layering Sweatshirt, which I wear over other shirts or sometimes just a bra-top and leave it zipped up. The material is extra cozy soft! When we’re out and about at Outside School, I zip it all the way up, use the thumb holes to cover the backs of my hands slightly, put the hoodie up under my hat, and tighten the cord so my neck and sides of may face are further covered. Over time, the palm side has developed a hole, but I am not careful with my gear, either, especially while climbing and weeding, so holes are kind of expected. I love that it has zipped pockets, too! The “lumaleo” fabric is super soft.
Pants
I enjoy Columbia’s omni-shade technology fabric while teaching. It’s super tough, like jeans, but far more cooling. It’s water repellant, but not waterproof. So, you can have water beading up on it, but if you wade in the water the elastic cuffs will remain wet for a long time- these are definitely not rain pants. Also, they’re kind of “swishy” sounding, so I wouldn’t want to wear them in my regular life. They also have a fabric called “titanium.” I have a pair of pants with it, and I finally earned myself a tiny hole in the butt- this, after TONS of hard work on hillsides with our habitat restoration projects (I just sewed the spot back together and am still wearing them. They’re stretchy, but that also means they kind of pull down if you’re wearing a bunch of tools in the pockets. That’s they’re only downfall.
Extras
Gaiters
I have a neck gaiter. The only issue is that if it’s around the neck only it scrunches up and only offers a couple inches of extra sun protection at best.
Gloves
I have a pair of fingerless gloves. They’re black, so make my hands hot. But then again, that also doesn’t show how much dirt accumulates during the day! Ew.
Enrollment
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Nature News
Outside School’s sixth year in Wildcat Canyon has commenced!
Our park neighbor found this pipevine swallowtail butterfly that wasn’t flying. They knew we would like it and would know what to do! With the promise of bringing it to sunshine and flowers at lunchtime, the neighbor and my student put it into our little collapsible terrarium for observation and safekeeping. They added sticks for it to hold onto (with my tip to put the zipper on the bottom, since animals go up- this would prevent escape. Then they added a butterfly toy because they thought it would inspire flight.
Within the hour it was lunchtime, and my student wanted to know where there were some flowers. I told them I knew there was a little native plant plot behind the bathroom. Before we knew it, we were there and the butterfly flew right out! We also found a couple pipevine swallowtail caterpillars right there, and the pipevine itself was in a dry state for the summer.
Later, when we saw an adult, my student was certain it was the same one from earlier. I really do think our local wildlife gets to know us, and that we will keep the animals safe.
Inspiration and Resources
Columbia Access
Use this image for access to the Columbia Employee Store in Richmond, California through 7/1/24:
Cam Man
I met young racer Cameron Carraway last year on the pit lane at NASCAR, and have been following him on Instagram ever since. Follow this awesome 13-year-old at @cammanraces! He and his family are so inspirational. I have no doubt that he is well on his way to being a NASCAR star! 🤩 Here we are on the pit lane at Sonoma Raceway again this year:
“Esplora la Natura”
Congratulations to my former mentee, Manuela Ruaben!!! Her new book’s title translates to “I Explore Nature: 30 Adventures for All Seasons.” I enjoyed mentoring Manu, and we REALLY enjoyed our trip to visit her and her family and school in the Dolomites!
(Book picture from the website.)
Remembering Playland
If you want to meet me live and in person, I’ll be at the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum Sunday, July 14 at 1:00. My husband and I will be showing our documentary, Remembering Playland. I’ll be selling our merchandise and my husband will be doing a Q & A after the film.
Remembering Playland isn't just for people who were lucky enough to go to Playland-at-the-Beach along San Francisco's Ocean Beach! Take a look back into San Francisco's amusement-filled history, with this famous spot that closed in 1972. Since our weather is great in Fremont, you won't even need to bring your sweater along to celebrate summer! ;)
Take care,
Heather
Heather Taylor, California Master Teacher, NREMT
Founder/Director/Teacher, Outside School (www.outside.school)
Founder, Teach Outside (www.teachoutside.org)
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