If you grew up in the ’90s, summer meant three things: sunburn, hose water, and coming home covered in dirt. No one checked you for ticks. No one had a “tick protocol.” You just… existed outdoors and hoped for the best. Fast-forward to now and parenting looks a little different. We’re still sending kids to camp with sunscreen and snacks, but now there’s also a quiet post-outdoor ritual that feels mildly scary: the tick check. Let’s make that feel less scary. First: are ticks something to panic about? Short answer: no. Longer answer: they’re gross, but manageable. Ticks in both the US and Canada are more present in grassy, wooded, and camp-heavy areas, especially in warmer months. That’s why summer tends to bring more awareness. For reliable public health info (without the spiral), here are solid references: CDC – Ticks and Lyme Disease Government of Canada – Lyme disease &…