In today’s world, children grow up in sterile environments where risks and true physical challenges are rarely seen. With three boys, it’s our feelings as parents to allow the children to become educated about gauging the risks they will eventually take in life.  After all, as teenagers they will make life or death decisions and we hope they can properly evaluate the risks when we can’t always be there to help.  Consider the teen who jumps in a car with a drunk friend not fully understanding the risks being taken.  Our philosophy is it’s better to have skinned knees today than serious injuries tomorrow.

Today, all of our boys are well educated about their physical abilities and while they have visited ER a number of times, none of those times had anything to do with Camp Cooley (yep, most came from the living room).  No child has had more than a scrape or bump while playing – though that’s not to say there aren’t dangers. 

We especially enjoy watching children new to the Camp (or any wilderness area). Often, they are either overly cautious and won’t enjoy many of the activities, or they take risks that are too great for their abilities.  As they gain experience, they gain proficiency in accurately gauging risk, testing each item as they go and making the intelligent decisions we would hope for.    I feel it is crucial children learn their abilities and limits for a safe and successful life. 

It’s important that the kids wear hiking or tennis shoes – no sandals or open toe shoes.   They should also wear long pants.  With all the ropes and climbing, clothing will help protect them.  Bring a blanket or sleeping bag if it’s a movie night so the kids can lay on a tarp and stay warm.  Parents also need to make sure their children are dressed appropriately for play- ground play. 

We have an active wildlife (beyond our boys) since we live on the edge of an Open Space Preserve that goes for miles (all the way to Lexington Reservoir).  Animals we regularly see in order of frequency are deer, lizards, squirrels, banana slugs, coyotes, field mice, snakes, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, rattle snakes, and bobcats.  We have yet to actually see a mountain lion but we know on very rare occasions they visit our Camp - they have also brought down several deer around the neighborhood.

Poison oak is native to the entire area and while I’ve cleared hundreds of bushes over the years (and paid the price), it can still be found further up on the hillsides or higher up in the Haunted Forest.  I suggest keeping children off the hillsides where no trails exist such as above the tree house.  The area with trails above the rope bridge is ok.  Teach your kids what poison oak looks like and they can then explore on their own.