Walk This Way
Bears are shy animals who tend to hightail it out of the vicinity when they hear you and your brood approaching. Experts suggest wearing bells and jingling down the trail to give bears time to vacate the premises.
If you do bump into one, don't run away; instead, stand your ground and talk. If the bear should charge, however, drop to the ground, assume a tight fetal position, and play dead. (Adults should use their bodies to cover young children.) Most bears will check you out, then lose interest.
Lost Kids
Watch your kids with the same attentiveness as you would watch them at the mall. Kids old enough to venture off on their own should wear fanny packs equipped with water, a polarfleece pullover, a garbage bag (with head and armholes cut out), snacks, and a whistle.
Tell kids to hug a tree if they get lost, since stationary objects are easier to find. Teach them to blow their whistles loud and often. The fleece in the pack will keep them warm, the bag will keep them dry, the food and water will keep them sated; the tree will keep them grounded. Parents should go for help immediately.
--Lisa Twyman Bessone
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