While it sounds mundane, one of the most important ways to protect your oasis is by attending to the gutters on a regular basis. Maintaining your investment is part and parcel with being able to enjoy it for years to come.
A basic function of owning a lake house is making sure you have a gutter system in place. Gutters are an indispensable part of the home’s exterior. The gutters are a shallow trough, usually made of vinyl or metal, that is fixed beneath the edge of a roof. 

Let’s say that your lake house is located where the only white stuff in sight is not the snow on the roof, but the sand on the beach. There are still hazards to be avoided.
Without gutters, or if your gutters are clogged with debris, damage can occur to your lake house foundation.
The undiverted rainwater can erode the ground next to your footings. When this happens, the water can seep down along the foundation.
If you have a basement, this can create leaks, and even if you don’t have a basement on your lake house, you risk structural instability. 

It is best to clean your gutters twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall before winter arrives.
However, depending on where your lake house is located, and if there are a lot of trees in the area, you may want to check the gutters more frequently.
Wait until it rains and pay attention to how, and if, water is running through the gutters while you are waiting for the chicken in your smoker to be done. The water should run freely out of the downspouts. 

Now that we have established that gutter maintenance is necessary and essential to protecting your lake house, how do you go about it in the easiest, safest manner possible?
While caring for and preserving our happy place at the lake house is a given, we also don’t want those tasks to become another line item in a long laundry list that eats away our precious time at the water.
Scratching gutter manintainece off your list is quick and easy when you have the right tool and you do it yourself.
Hiring someone is always feasible, but it will cost you more, and will tie up your day hanging around on shore while the job is being done. 

If you do the job yourself in the conventional way, and unless you are over 12 feet tall, you will need a ladder.
There are many types of ladders out there to choose from, and a few things to consider before using one.
A four legged step ladder would be good for a single story lake house, but you will need an extension ladder for a two story house.
A wooden ladder is not recommended as they can be wobbly and harder to balance than a metal ladder.
Fiberglass ladders are among the sturdiest, but unfortunately, they are also the heaviest. The weight will be a matter to contend with as you move the ladder around the lake house. 

Anytime you are going to be up on a ladder for any reason, the first thing to do is to let someone know that you will be up on a ladder working on the gutters.
It is better to be safe than sorry. Accidents can happen quickly, and having someone watching out for you that is able to call for help if needed can save your lif

Fortunately, there is a simple, inexpensive tool that will allow you to attend to those gutters on your own time, safely, and, the miracle of miracles, no ladder required!
That last item is a big one for me, as heights are a challenge.
I don’t mind standing on the second-floor patio overlooking the lake, or on the upper deck of a cruiser, but put me on a ladder and I can feel the entire world tilt.
This ladder phobia can prove to be a problem when the dog’s frisbee lands on the roof, or the kid's glider ends up in the gutter.
Again, there is one tool to both clean the gutter and retrieve the wayward toys with ease.
To avoid the whole ladder climbing, ladder hauling thing, this indispensable tool can be used to remove leaves and debris while standing safely on the ground.

Before you head out with your family to the lake area, do not forget to check your local weather forecast for strong winds or rain throughout the day. Bad weather is the sign you need to skip your camping trip since the water level and current become unsafe for swimming. Depending on your location, you might be experiencing thunderstorms even during the summer season. 

Wearing a life jacket is an essential safety practice whether you are heading out on a boat or going swimming in the lake. The United States Coast Guard’s (USCG) reported that about 84.5 percent of drowning victims are not wearing a life jacket. Besides saving your life, wearing an approved personal floatation device (PFD) also reduces the impact or shock when you first fall in the cold water, preventing hypothermia. Remember to choose a life vest that fits your age and body type and have it appropriately secured at all times.

When swimming in the lake, do not dare to go away from the crowd of swimmers. Only swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. If you would like to go diving, only do so in areas marked for diving. You also have to check for underwater obstacles, such as dams, rocks, and vegetation that might wrap around your feet.

Bringing an easy-to-install fence to your camping trip will not only protect you and your belongings from stray animals but will also provide extra safety for the kids. When camping by the lake, it is very common for kids to end up in the water suddenly. It could happen when you are sleeping inside the tent or busy attending other tasks around the camp. Common ways to build a fence around your campsite include bringing a portable fence or attaching strings to the surrounding trees.

Camping by the lake is not just solely an adventure; it comes with the responsibility of keeping your kids away from harm. It would be best if you made your children understand that they cannot be near the water without an adult accompanying them. The American Red Cross suggests you avoid distractions when supervising children around water. It may also help to add other camping activities, such as going on a nature walk or playing cards or board games, so kids do not think about going to the water all the time.

Never ignore the lake signs posted by the local authorities as they help provide safety for every camper. These signs warn people of the potential hazards around the lake area, such as strong currents, big rocks, and sudden drop-offs. Safety signs are often customized to be used specifically in lakes, rivers, and beaches.

Attending first aid training will let you know what to do during a water rescue operation, which includes helping someone having trouble in the water safely, call for emergency help, and CPR—American Red Cross. This can help save your life and that of your loved ones when going to water activities.

It may seem easier to purchase paper plates and then just dispose of them in the campfire. That might be right, but it does nothing to contribute to less consumption.
It takes resources to manufacture and distribute those paper plates that you will use just once. If you visit a second-hand shop, you will be able to find plates that you can use again and again.
Look for either metal or enamel dishware. You don't want glass or ceramic dishes to be used at a campsite as breakage can quickly occur when you have fun around the flames.
If you find a set of plastic dishware, that is great too. They are objects that have already been produced, and you will be able to use them again and again.

When choosing the food you will have on your lake camping trip, try to eat a plant-based diet.
That will remove the need for ice and plastic bags. If this is not a reasonable possibility, buy in bulk for your lake camping trip and prep meals at home ahead of time.
Bring all of your camping food in reusable packages. The best way to carry your food into a campsite is in a durable and reusable cooler. 

Small changes add up. Bring along bandanas rather than disposable wipes. Bandanas can be handy for any number of needs.
Soak your bandana in water and tie it around your neck to cool off while camping along the lake.
Use it to wipe away dirt and keep your hair under control.
Bring along a collapsible airtight container to store your food waste until you get home to compost it.
Take along nature-friendly hygiene products when camping by the lake. Shampoo and conditioner bars work just as well as those that come in bottles.
Use an old lunchbox to create a first aid kit.
Hit up the dollar store to fill up your lunchbox with bandages, tweezers, antiseptic ointment, and other first-aid needs.

Whatever you have brought to the lake camping trip with you, take it back out when you leave.
If you come across debris, pick it up and carry that out too.
Lake living is an inspiration to "Leave No Trace." The lakeshore should be a pristine setting for all to enjoy.
Every time you are by the lake, it is an opportunity to leave the environment better than you found it. It is the perfect time to lead by example to others around you.