Leaves of Three Let Them be
Poison-oak; it’s a bush, it’s a vine, it grows in sunlight, it grows in shade, it grows up and down the Pacific Coast of the United States and southern Canada. When camping anywhere west of the Cascades or Sierras, below about 5,000 feet, you need to be aware of Poison-oak and educate your children about how to spot it. Coming into contact with any part of the plant (leaves, stem, or roots), or just about any object that has had contact with the plant (clothing, shoes, your dog, etc.), can lead to an itchy skin rash, caused by the urushiol (ph. “you-roo-she-all”) oil in and on the plant, over the next 24 hours. Although the rash itself is not contagious, the urushiol oil is very persistent and if not washed from the skin or clothes, can lead to secondary reactions. The rash can persist for several weeks, depending on your body’s reaction.
The picture above is a fairly typical springtime example of Poison-oak; glossy dark green leaves, with lobes reminiscent of oak tree leaves. Unfortunately, the leaves of Poison-oak can take on many different characteristics; smoother edges without the lobes, five leaves instead of three and colors ranging from bright pink or red in the early spring, turning dark green in the spring and early summer, yellowing through summer and often returning to bright red in the fall. Arborist M.D. Vaden, of Oregon, has an excellent collection of photographs on their website that depict a lot of the variation that is inherent to the plant. Starting your own picture collection is a great way to learn how to spot the plant and if you camp at any of the state or federal parks, a Ranger will be happy to point some examples out to you. Chances are, you won’t have to go far to find it!
Being able to spot Poison-oak is the first step in preventing an allergic reaction. If you are hiking in an area that you know has a high concentration of the plant, you might consider wearing pants instead of shorts, along with a long-sleeved shirt. Be sure to change your clothes after the hike, and consider a cool shower with an urushiol-cleansing product like Tecnu®, which removes the oil from your skin. Soap is not nearly as effective at cutting the oil. If a rash does develop, your best course of action is to cool the affected area, which constricts the blood vessels and reduces itching. Calamine lotion will extend the relief and help dry up any oozing from the small bumps that are common to the rash.
So far, we have been successful in avoiding Poison-oak on our family camping trips in Northern California and Western Oregon – but I know that it is just a matter of time. What are some of your tips for dealing with it?
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From the "why didn't I think of that?" department and with a hat-tip to 
We began looking at camping trailers in 2005. I was the sales manager for a computer manufacturer with a focus on the defense industry, so much of my time during the week was spent on the eastern coast of the United States; a work-schedule that was cutting into the time I could spend with my family. Camping would be a way to stay connected with my family, without the distractions of our modern lifestyle getting in the way. Looking back on it now, I wish we would have grabbed a tent and some sleeping bags and just started! As it was, my time in the military had soured me on “roughing it,” which is why we were looking at trailers. I figured if we could be warm, dry and have a refrigerator, the rest would take care of itself. We had no idea what we were looking for, though, and we knew even less about what our family vehicle at the time, a 2002 Dodge Durango SUV, was capable of towing. We spent almost a year searching for the perfect trailer, which ended up being a 
When we took our first camping trip, our kids were 1, 4 and 5 years old. To say they were excited would be an understatement. The campfire, the 
Camping with the family is one of the few activities that the entire family can participate in together. Even sports, that other great American family pastime, does not provide the same kind of family togetherness as camping. Contrast the simple act of building a campfire, in which the entire family can participate in gathering wood, make kindling, build and feed the fire, etc. with the typical sports activity in which the children participate while the parents watch from afar. Not that organized sports do not have a beneficial impact on our children’s development, but it is no replacement for family-time. Camping places everyone on an equal footing, with certain responsibilities that enhance everyone’s camping experience. Kids might not initially understand the importance of keeping the campsite clean, but when everyone suffers through an ant-invasion or waking up to garbage strewn about the campsite by raccoons, it is a lesson the children will not soon forget! Fortunately, most lessons do not have such negative consequences and, the fact is, mom and dad will be learning right alongside the children – which is the best way for our kids to learn how to problem-solve. Parents and children doing things together, this is what family camping is all about and it is why camping is such a great activity for families. 
From the "whatever can go wrong, will go wrong" department, we awoke one morning on a recent camping trip to discover that the outside rear tire on our RV was completely flat. It may be a bit difficult to see in this picture, but trust me; there is no air in that tire! Normally this would not be a big issue, as I would just call 
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