One of the scourges of every camping trip in the history of the world is Poison…Poison Ivy and Oak and how to deal with them.

The best prevention against poisonous plants is to learn to identify these plants then avoid any contact.  Should you touch one of these plants, do not scratch, and wash the area in cold water within 20 minuets.  Should you develop a rash, use a topical solution like calamine lotion to ease the discomfort.

POISON OAK- It can make your best campout or day hike turn into a total nightmare. You really have to know what this plant looks like in all of its seasonal colors and stay away from it.  In spring it is bright green, in late summer it starts to turn red and slightly brownish-orange.  The best advice is to know where you are hiking and hike in pants and long sleeves if you think you may be coming in contact with it on overgrown trails.  Poison oak can be found growing wild all over California under the 5000' elevation.  Once touched, the oil of poison oak can spread from your clothes to your body with indirect contamination.  Never burn the plant (leaves or vines) for any reason.

POISON IVY- is not found on the west coast but is found throughout the woods of New Jersey and other eastern states.  It has leaves in clusters of three (so let them be).  If you come in contact with poison ivy, do not put your hands near your eyes or face, as the irritation spreads easily.

Watch out for this seemingly harmless little vine or shrub in the woods.  It mimics Virginia Creeper which has leaves in cluster of five.  Some variations of poison ivy leaves look like oak leaves (hence the term “oak leaf poison ivy”) but again, there is no poison oak found in New Jersey.

Myths vs. Facts about Poison Ivy
 
Myth
Poison Ivy rash is contagious.

Fact
Rubbing the rashes won't spread poison ivy to other parts of your body (or to another person).  You spread the rash only if urushiol oil — the sticky, resin like substance that causes the rash — has been left on your hands.

Myth
You can catch poison ivy simply by being near the plants.

Fact
Direct contact is needed to release urushiol oil.  Stay away from forest fires, direct burning, or anything else that can cause the oil to become airborne such as a lawnmower, trimmer, etc.

Myth
Do not worry about dead plants.

Fact
Urushiol oil stays active on any surface, including dead plants, for up to 5 years.

Myth
Breaking the blisters releases urushiol oil that can spread.

Fact
Not true.  But your wounds can become infected and you may make the scarring worse. In very extreme cases, excessive fluid may need to be withdrawn by a doctor.

Myth
I've been in poison ivy many times and never broken out therefore I'm immune.

Fact
Not necessarily true.  Upwards of 90% of people are allergic to urushiol oil, it's a matter of time and exposure.  The more times you are exposed to urushiol, the more likely it is that you will break out with an allergic rash.  For the first time sufferer, it generally takes longer for the rash to show up – generally in 7 to 10 days.

Tags: Camping, camping basics, camping with kids

Camping trips with babies rarely go perfect the first time but you can avoid a lot of serious complications with a bit of practice and planning.  In the long run, camping with babies can be a blast as they are generally adaptable and sleep more than toddlers. 

The Practice Trip
The wise parent will make the first camping trip with a baby a short two night adventure near your home.  This allows your baby the chance to become comfortable with the outdoors without over-doing it.

A longer trip can become disorienting for the baby as the little one has to adapt to the longer car ride.  This takes training and patience and you probably don't want to start off your first camping trip with a screaming baby.  Another word of advice is to pick a spot without extreme temperatures.  Even tiny babies can put up with almost anything you might expose them to, but you will have to work harder to keep them comfortable.

Heat seems to be the extreme to avoid.  You can keep a baby warm on snowy nights but it's hard to cool an unhappy baby in 95 degrees Fahrenheit and infants under 6 months of age should not wear sun screen unless your pediatrician recommends it.  Even a baby kept in the shade can be exposed to a great deal of reflected sunlight.

Remember, babies require a great deal of equipment and supplies.  If you forget something dire or realize that something you left home would really be handy you can always go home and get it if your first camping trip is close to home rather than 200 miles away. 

Camping with a baby is always entertaining, but it may be quite a bit different than the trips you are used to taking.  Give yourself a chance to get used to the changes.  Plan to arrive at your campsite long before dark as even babies need time to acclimate to their new surroundings.  You will also need time in the daylight to set up your tent and get situated.  Even if you have set up your tent 100 times you may find it more difficult with your new addition.  It is wise to have a tent that one person can set up alone if it becomes necessary.  A leisurely evening in your campsite will allow your baby to feel comfortable and secure.

When packing for your practice trip go overboard.  Pack more clothes than you think you will need.  More formula or baby food, more diapers, more wipes, etc.  You can never have too many diapers or wet wipes.  If you haven't already discovered how handy having wipes can be, you'll find out on a camping trip.  Disposable diapers aren't environmentally sound, so PLEASE throw them into a trash can or dumpster WITH a lid.  

This is your chance to see what you'll really need.  Worry about packing space on your next trip.  It is recommended that you pack lots of clothes but not too many items that are really heavy or bulky.  It is better to layer lighter clothing.
Temperatures will fluctuate throughout each day and it is easier to add a layer or remove a layer of clothing when the climate changes than to re-dress your baby five times a day.  Snap-crotch garments for your little one are a real plus here as it is difficult to change the diaper of a camping baby without them and they will stay warmer on cold nights if they don’t need to be stripped down for every diaper change.

When thinking of feeding your baby, think safety first.  Pre made formula is expensive but sterile.  Powders are convenient but can be hard to mix at campground faucets and some campgrounds have questionable water sources.  The biggest concern is keeping prepared formula cold.  If you are in an RV with refrigeration it's no problem, however, tent campers, please be careful!
Keeping bottles clean can present another problem.  I suggest a bottle with a disposable liner.  If you use regular bottles don't forget a bottle brush!

So you have had a successful first camping trip with your baby, taken notes, made adjustments and are now ready for the real thing.  For your first real camping trip away from home it is recommended to choose a campground where you have camped before.  This way you will know what facilities the park offers and there won’t be any surprises.  Plan your trip with plenty of time to spare.   Just getting to your camping spot will usually take a lot longer than you may anticipate.  With a baby diaper changes and an occasional stretch are a requirement.  The best thing about camping with a baby is watching your child's reactions to the elements.  A tree, a cloud or a flower can keep a baby happy for hours and provide great photo opts for mom and dad.  So don't plan a day full of activities and hikes, just relax and enjoy, take lots of pictures, go to sleep early and be prepared to get up at dawn.  No matter how late you put your baby to bed, they will always get up at sunrise when you camp!

Even though you try, you can't always control your baby’s moods and other campers simply don't want to listen to a screaming baby.  Do your best to be a good neighbor and try to figure out what your little one is trying to communicate.  PLEASE DO NOT let your baby cry and cry and cry.  Keep your cool and don’t get frustrated.  Sometimes the baby’s portable bassinet or car seat that they are already used to is a good and secure sleeping place for your baby and both fit nicely in the tent.

Let the little ones age 6 months – 3 years sit in their stroller around the campfire.  This will allow them be a part of the activity and also keeps them safe and in a familiar environment as long as you ensure the sparks and smoke from the fire are not blowing in their direction.  Do not let youngsters get over tired while camping.  To the best of your ability, keep them on their home routine of taking naps, eating regular meals and observing regular bedtimes.  This will help reduce the crankiness that can result in the crying/noise for those around you.

Make the camping experience fun by allowing the baby to get dirty and messy.  It is hard on everyone if everything is off limits and someone is always saying don't touch that, don't get dirty, don't, don't, don't.  Enjoy your kids when they are small, they don't stay that way long.
 

Tags: Camping, camping basics, camping with kids

ISN'T CAMPING DANGEROUS?

The things most people worry about when camping with children are wolves, bears, and the possibility of drowning.  These worries should actually be much less than the higher risk injuries such as sprained ankles on river portages, lacerations playing “Junior Woodsman”, burns caused by the campfire and so on.  The same dangers that can happen doing regular activities at home!  Try to and allay the child’s fears, and yours, with knowledge, and by all means avoid the scary stories.

WHAT ABOUT BUGS?

Yes, there are bugs in the outdoors.  Try and be calm when you explain about biting insects and remember in most cases, although uncomfortable, they won’t kill you.  Always carry bug repellant that you are sure you and your child are not allergic to.  Even if it doesn’t work it makes the child feel better.  Set a good example for your child by dealing with the bugs yourself in an adult manner and your child will probably mirror your behavior and not have a problem.

THE SCAREST THING IN THE OUTDOORS – THE BATHROOM!!

Many children will have questions and issues with where and how to go the bathroom when camping.  Toilets may be quite scary to a child.  A pit toilet may seem like a perfectly normal thing to you, but your toddler may not agree.  These toilets can smell pretty bad and it's easy to see why some children are afraid of falling in.  When you tell your child about camping, be sure to include information about the bathrooms.  Some of the flush toilets can be loud and are not like the potty at home.  If your child will still use a potty chair you may want to bring one along – just in case.  Camping trips can also be a real chance for a breakthrough in the area of potty training as there are no “accidents” on your rug or your furniture and a potty chair can be set up anywhere in your camp site so your child won't feel isolated.  You will have more time with your child when camping, and this can be the most help of all.

From your child’s point of view the toilet paper may seem yucky.  Most camp bathrooms have industrial quality (sand paper) toilet paper.  Your young bath roomer may refuse to use this stuff.  Some camps provide little squares of paper.  A parent may be able to use this stuff but a young child might have some problems.  Additionally, many of the toilet paper dispensers make it quite difficult and sometimes impossible for a small child to get the paper off of the roll.  This is actually intentional.  The harder to obtain the less paper is used.  Many former park employees think this is the silliest thing they have ever seen as the bathrooms always end up with bits of paper all over the floor and people break these irritating dispensers all the time.  Your child may not even be able to get the paper off of these rolls.  The biggest problem of all is an empty dispenser.  You will find this every busy weekend you camp.  The easy solution to the toilet paper problem is to bring your own.   

Bathing and showering can also be scary for children.  Camp showers can be a test of your patience.  The temperature may be hard to adjust (or impossible) and the water may run cold for some time before getting warm.  Most camp showers require quarters to operate – and some campers complain of running out of money in the middle of shampooing their hair.  Children who normally take baths at home will not appreciate a camp shower.  Many camp grounds do not offer bathing facilities at all.  If you plan on camping for any length of time you will have to adapt and teach your children to do the same.  Some ways to adapt are Sun Showers (a large black bag with a shower head) are great for camping.  You can use them at home a few times to allow your children to become used to the idea.  Just set up the sun shower in your back yard and let the kids try it out with bathing suits.  Most kids just think of it as an interesting sprinkler and a sponge bath can work quite well, especially if you are camping in cold weather.

Enjoy camping fun and exciting times with your children and make a life time of memories. 
 

Tags: Camping, camping basics, camping with kids

How do you get a child to be excited about the outdoors when the competition is the television and video games?  How do you prove to a child that the same success that comes from the persistence, spirit and logic put into video games and pushing buttons can also come from the outdoors?  The following tips may be helpful and will go a long way in creating a positive lasting relationship with your child. 

Camping trips with children should be to places where there is a guarantee of action. A good example is camping in a park where large numbers of wildlife can be viewed, such as squirrels, chipmunks, deer and even bears.  Other good choices are fishing, canoeing, swimming, etc.  Children want action, not solitude

Remember that enthusiasm is contagious.  If you aren't excited about an adventure, you can't expect a child to be.  Show a genuine zest for life in the outdoors, and point out everything as if it is the first time you have ever seen it.

Always, always, always be seated when talking to someone small.  Not only does this allow you to see eye to eye with the child it allows you to visually see the world from the child’s prospective.  Fishing in a small boat is a perfect leveling activity for adults and children.  No one likes others to look down at them. 

Children learn behavior patterns and outdoor skills by watching adults, even when the adults are not aware they are being watched.  Therefore, whether it is gathering sticks for a campfire, cleaning a trout or tying a knot be sure you are following a safe and proper procedure.  When possible, never tell, but always show.  A button usually clicks to "off" when a child receives a lecture. 

A good rule is to let kids be kids!  Let the adventure happen, rather than trying to force it within some preconceived plan.  If the child gets sidetracked chasing butterflies or sneaking up on chipmunks, let them be.  Many times a youngster can have more fun turning over rocks and looking at different kinds of bugs than sitting in one spot waiting for a fish to bite.

Expect a child’s attention spans to be short.  Instead of getting frustrated, use it to your advantage.  How?  Try bringing along a bag of candy and snacks.  When there is a lull in the camp activity, out comes the bag.  Don't let them know what goodies await, so each one becomes a surprise.

Make absolutely certain the child's sleeping bag is clean, dry and warm.  Nothing is worse than discomfort when trying to sleep and every parent knows that a refreshing sleep makes for a positive attitude the next day.  In addition, kids can become quite frightened of animals that go bump in the night.  The parent should not wait for any signs of this, but always play the part of the outdoor guardian, the one who will "take care of everything."

Provide each child with a flashlight.  To prevent any arguments, make sure each child one has their own.  Children love to play with the flashlights, and having one also makes them more at ease after dark.  Flashlights are also handy when making trips to the restroom, for making shadow puppets on tent walls, and for reading before bed.  Remember to bring enough batteries.

Kids quickly relate to outdoor ethics and they will develop a sense of pride that goes with it if handled in the proper way.  Bring extra plastic garbage bags and make a game out of picking up litter and building a safe campfire.  Children will long remember when they do something right, especially when it is something somebody else has done wrong.

If you want youngsters hooked on the outdoors for life, take a close-up photograph of them holding up fish they have caught, blowing on the campfire or completing other camp tasks.  Young children can forget how much fun they had, but they never forget if they have a picture of it.

Teach children to be safe in the outdoors.  Teach young children to stay within eyesight, and older children within earshot.  Teach all children to stay where they are if they discover they are lost. With young children this may seem vague so instruct them to find a nearby tree and sit down beside it and stay right there without moving until they are found.

Children over the age of four can carry a simple survival kit, or at least a whistle around their neck to call for help when lost.  The standard distress signal is three blows to indicate "I'm lost" or "I need help."

Remember that most children get cold faster than adults.  The key to comfortable camping with children is to dress them in several layers, which can be peeled off as they get warm and added as they cool off.

Bring along a familiar board game.  Playing it outdoors with a lantern or flashlights will add to the fun.

If you just have one child let them to bring along a playmate.  A child generally enjoys camping when there is more than one of them as two or more children will entertain themselves for longer periods of time. 

The least important word you can ever say to a child is "I."  Keep track of how often you are saying "Thank you" and "What do you think?  "If you don't say them very often, you'll lose out.  Finally, the most important words of all are:  "I am proud of you”.

Tags: Camping, camping basics, camping with kids