> 1) It actually *is* possible to go camping (and not go insane) with four very small children, two preteens, and a very large and rambunctious black lab/retriever/collie dog called Cody. That was with our Rover scouts group of friends. I learned a couple handy knots and hitches suitable for tacking down my tent's fly, and tying up the dog and small children.

Agreed. We camped for years with four kids. Our daughter went camping with us in a 9x9 umbrella tent at the age of 4 mounths. Last week, she and her husband spent a week camping at Myrtle Beach with two kids, 2 and 5, plus a big black lab. They used a pop-up camper and had a really great time. All of my kids still love to camp.