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Things that go bump in the night are not necessarily all bad. However, I like to take a page out of the U.S. Customs book concerning this matter. 'Know before you go.' Things that go bump in the night almost always turn up as a gourmet feast at
someones breakfast the very next morning. With a little thought, they can even become a patchwork fur coat for a loved one.
Critters at camp are always a concern of mine when I am planning an outing. We have talked about taking children on trips, now let's discuss what you might find when you arrive at camp.
Part of the fun in going somewhere is the research into the various native critters that you might encounter. Each area has it's own unique attractions and ecosystems. Desert, mountain, or beach all have an abundance of living critters to delight and
vex you. Depending upon your knowledge, the delight and vexation may be equal in proportion.
When planning the outings, make sure that you have a clear knowledge of every persons health and medical needs. Children have differing needs from adults and this is particularly important with the very young. If you are taking the neighbors
children's, get a signed permission slip stating that you have permission to transport and authorize treatment in the absence of a legal guardian. Sounds crazy, but it's a very important CYA. Only a legal guardian, aka custodial parent, can
authorize medical treatment. Friends, grandparents, and neighbors don't count in an emergency room. Didn't know that? Well, how about this scenario. You are driving down the road merrily singing the latest ditty when out of nowhere comes the drunk
driver. POW!!! You are laying there with a cracked skull, your collecting buddy is banged up but coherent and the kids are bruised up and taken to the hospital in different vehicles. As soon as they find out that there are no legal guardians in the
lot, well the fat hits the fire. Social workers are called and the kids can become instant wards of the state. Sounds crazy you think. Well, it's happened before. If you take children on a trip without their parents, get a note or don't take them. No
hard feelings meant. Or, if you fall down and can't get up, do you have an I.D. on you? Does each child have I.D. on them? Not a bad idea.
Okay, back to medical conditions. Does any one have allergies to bee stings, ant bites, poison ivy/oak, or other natural vexation. I have always carried an antihistamine in my pack for my children in case of stings and such. If in doubt, check with
the doctor before going. Remember always that the outings only needs one sick person to ruin the fun of all. One bite can, and will, cancel the outing for all concerned.
There are always snakes no matter where you go. If you are hiking through the woods, kick logs before you step over them. It wakes the sleeping snake up and lets him leave so that he doesn't bite you when you step over his boudoir and scare him. Are
you going to carry a snake bite kit with you? Unless you are a trained medical person, no. Here again, unless the snake bites a very young child, or nails you above the shoulder, better to spend your time getting to a hospital than treating the injury
yourself. In most cases the venom isn't the real problem. Now don't think that a big rattler isn't a threat, it is. But the snake has so very many nasty germs in his mouth that you are in more danger from infection than poison. Don't take stupid
chances. And don't ever use a tourniquet unless you are very well trained. Only real medical personnel know how to use them. That bite on the arm or leg is no laughing matter, but using the tourniquet can ensure that you lose the limb because you were
stupid. I never carry snake bite kits. I prefer to make sure that I don't meet too many snakes. Singing is a good way to run them off and walking like an elephant will do the trick, too.
Okay, what about bears or other large predators. Well, I like knowing that they are there personally. If the larger animals are in good health, the entire ecosystem is healthy. That doesn't mean that I want to have them for digging buddies. What do
you do to prevent it? Noise is good. Remember that silly song, well it runs them off with the snakes most of the time. Now, if you have been crazy to enough to wear perfume or aftershave, then you are inviting them to come on in and get friendly...very
friendly. Never challenge one of these guys either. You are on his turf, remember it. Do not ever look directly at them, eye contact is a challenge. The best thing to do is avoid the big critters.
Don't take any item with you that is scented with flowers or food flavors. Start taking yeast tabs, or B2, before you go. The body will dispose of it through the skin and bugs don't like it so they usually leave you alone. Put flowers of sulfur in
your pant cuffs to run the ticks off and whatever else you do, leave the chewing gum at home. Raccoons love it, squirrels adore it. They'll tear up everything to get at it.
Well now, you have made it through the day without incident and you are in camp having your favorite meal. You are feeling mellow, sore, and elated over the days finds. You forget to put the trash up and leave the food sitting on the table. WARNING
WARNING WILL ROBINSON!!! INVITATIONS BEING ISSUED TO ALL AND SUNDRY! DUCK!!! Now really, if you like potato chips, how can they not like them, too? I have seen crows pick up an entire bag of chips and fly off to enjoy it Squirrels will stop at
nothing to get at peanut butter, and the raccoons in the Okefenokee Swamp will climb the ropes that you use to hang your backpack way off the ground. They will careful unbuckle, unzip, and open the pack very quietly, and then they will unpack it by
simply throwing the stuff on the ground until they come to whatever is smelling so good, usually chewing gum, deodorant, or perfume. Don't invite trouble into your camp, it usually accepts. And also don't sleep under the pack that you hung up to give
the raccoons their nightly sport.
Keep an immaculately clean camp and you will have fewer problems to deal with. Always properly store food and trash.
Things that go bump in the night can get really interesting by the next morning, too. Don't let the kiddies play with the road kill. I know, it sounds like restating the obvious, but it isn't.
Are you heading to the beach? Well, wear shoes while you stroll along looking for agates to wash up. Stepping on a stingray will make it mad and it will sting ya good.
Jellyfish can be a major hazard, especially for the young. By all means explore the tide pools, but leave the animals that live in it alone. There is a world of difference in 'touching' and 'looking'. Never take a live shell away from the beach. Look,
enjoy, and then leave it alone. Oh, BTW, don't ignore the shark warning signs either.
One more thing. Every person in the group should have a whistle on their person. Not hanging from a cord around the neck, please. Teach your children the international distress signal in case you should ever need it for medical reasons or you get lost.
You use the whistle, which is not a toy at camp. If ever you need help, blow three blasts on the whistle. Wait and listen. A car horn will do, also.
Continue to blow the three blasts on the whistle periodically. When someone hears you, they should respond with two blasts on their whistle. You continue to use the whistles in an alternating fashion until the rescuer is within sight. Now, if there
isn't a real emergency, be prepared to accept whatever verbal abuse they care to aim at you. This is not funny. Another rescue aid is to lay three branches side by side on the ground. This is an absolutely unnatural formation and a rescuer will spot it
quickly. Three duct taped kids will do in a pinch.
What I am trying to impart is that planning ahead is good sense. Plan for trouble and you will have less of it. If you want to enjoy the trip without sharing your breakfast, plan ahead. Before long, you will be doing all of this stuff without thinking,
and having great trips.
With regards to medical conditions, or taking any substance (vitamins or whatever), always consult your doctor if you have any doubts. You are in charge of your well-being. If I have helped in any way, I am happy to have done so.
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Copyright, 1997 by Jan Noble
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Writer, traveler, contract E/M designer, rockhound and Mom are only a few of the descriptions that apply to Jan Noble. When not on assignment, she lives in Atlanta with her
husband, two daughters, ten cats and two dogs.
Jan is a genuine lover of geology and enjoys taking her
children with her on field trips when ever time permits. She
always has rocks in her pockets and time to hear a good story.
Besides filling her time with rock hunting, writing and work,
she tutors her youngest daughter in home school. She's a
loving mother and talented writer.
Jan can be reached at inthewind@mindspring.com.
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