Jason couldn't concentrate. He couldn't even walk. His legs were so itchy! Last night he and his dad had eaten dinner outside. By the time they went inside, Jason was covered in mosquito bites.
Itchy, horrible mosquito bites. "I can't take it anymore!" Jason showed everyone the red spots on his legs.
"Wow," said Nina. "They look itchy."
"You should have used bug spray," said Izzie.
"I can't use bug spray," Jason said.
"Why not?" Nina asked.
"Because I'm allergic to the chemicals." Jason frowned.
"Well then it's your lucky day!" said Mr. Dunn.
"Lucky?" Jason echoed. "What's lucky about mosquito bites?"
"We're making Campers' Bug Spray today," Mr. Dunn explained. "It's all-natural bug spray."
"Really?" Jason didn't believe it. "How do you make it?"
"Mr. Dunn is a chemistry teacher. So he can explain what to do. Right, Mr. Dunn?" Bobby looked at his teacher.
"That's the plan." Mr. Dunn nodded. "Have a seat."
"In some of these bottles are very strong oils called essential oils. By mixing certain essential oils, you can make a scent that will send mosquitoes running." Mr. Dunn coughed. "I mean, flying."
Nina giggled. She liked Mr. Dunn's silly jokes.
"But won't the scent make us want to run away too?" Ethan asked.
"I don't think so. But you can decide for yourself in a minute," Mr. Dunn said. "Everyone, take one of the spray bottles and write your name on it. This will be your bug spray bottle."
Jason carefully wrote his name on a bottle.
"First we have to add what's called a base oil," said Mr. Dunn. "Today our base is olive oil. We'll start with that so the essential oils aren't so strong."
"And so we won't be allergic?" Jason asked.
"Yes. Some people get a rash from too much strong essential oil," Mr. Dunn said. "So we're going to carefully measure how much we put in." Everyone poured in the olive oil.
Next Mr. Dunn held up a bottle. "See this bottle's special top? The dropper helps us measure the eucalyptus oil one drop at a time." Mr. Dunn put a few drops in his hand. Then he rubbed his hands together and held them up for the kids to smell.
"I like it," Izzie said. "It smells clean and fresh."
Ethan took a sniff. "Wow! That's strong."
"Put twenty drops into your bottle," Mr. Dunn said.
Jason squinted. "I feel like it might sting my eyes," he said.
"The oil could sting your eyes!" Mr. Dunn said. "So be very careful not to touch your eyes after handling essential oils."
"What do we put in next?" Bobby asked.
Mr. Dunn held up another bottle. "Citronella essential oil."
"We have citronella candles in our backyard," Nina said.
"Citronella keeps mosquitoes away," Mr. Dunn said. "So add twenty drops of this too. Shake it up and you're done! Next time we go on a hike, you can spray it on your arms and legs."
"Try this if you go outside tonight, Jason. I don't think any mosquitoes will bother you," Mr. Dunn said.
"I'll try it," Jason said. "But after last night, I have no skin left to bite anyway!"
Things you'll need:
-a spray bottle, about 90 ml
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-eucalyptus essential oil
-citronella essential oil
-a dropper for measuring
Do it Yourself:
1) Pour the olive oil into the spray bottle.
2) Add 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
3) Add 20 drops of citronella essential oil.
4) Shake well.
5) Spray the mixture onto your arms and legs and rub in well.
6) Wash your hands, and then enjoy being outside without getting bitten by mosquitoes!