School Bus

Long before children are old enough to ride a yellow school bus, they long to be a passenger in this intriguing vehicle. Toddlers and preschoolers will especially appreciate this nylon, pop-up bus that measures a whopping 50 inches tall, 36 inches long, and 25 inches wide and is shaped just like a real bus. Once the freestanding bus is set up (it literally pops out of a sack and snaps into shape), children can set up chairs and walk about inside, dreaming up all kinds of imaginative school stories and bus-driver dramas. The yellow and black bus comes with a built-in crawl-through divider between front and back. Park a chair in the driver's seat and children can turn the built-in steering wheel. Folding takes patience and practice, but it will all fit--amazingly--into a small storage sack.--Gail Hudson
Customer Review: Tons of fun!
I had wanted to get my 17 month old daughter a play tent or something that she can go in and out of. I had found this school bus and thought I would try it out since it was so affordable. My daughter loves it! She loves to run in and out of the door flap and crawl through the hole in the back of the bus. She thinks it's hilarious when we stick our heads in through the windows when she is in there. This school bus is very light and can be knocked over and moved around but that is all part of the fun as my daughter even likes to move it around while she is inside of it. The best part is that it folds up easily in seconds to be put away and unfolds in seconds for play time.
Customer Review: Fun for everyone
This is one of the best inventions ever. A HUGE toy that my son loves and when he's done with it will EASILY fold up to fit under his bed. The whole family can get into it together - and we do. It has an inflatable steering wheel that clips onto the tent and sunroof windows where you can stick your head out. What more do you want for this price?

A canopy technically refers to any covering that serves as a shade (much like a tent) that is used either for protection against weather elements or for decorative purposes (as in canopy beds). Canopies can be made of any material such as transparent plastic, sturdy cloth, and even light fabrics, depending on what they are intended for.

People use canopies for a variety of reasons. Tradesmen, for example, use canopies to protect their merchandise against the harsh effects of the sun or the rain during exhibits. Canopies are also very handy for almost any outdoor event, such as weddings, funerals, birthday celebrations, and anniversaries.

Canopies have likewise been used in interior dcor since the early days. Palaces and mansions were the first to use canopies to add style and drama to their rooms. Now that there are interior design innovations and canopy beds have become easier to copy, even modern-day houses now use them. Canopy beds are fairly easy to make and bring instant elegance to an otherwise plain room.

Canopies are available in different types, sizes, and price ranges. Depending on your needs, you can either invest in one or just rent one. Measure your need against cost if you think you would be using it often (if you want to participate in outdoor exhibits or frequently have guests in your backyard, for example), then it might be wiser to invest in a canopy. Sturdy, tent-like canopies can go for as much as $1,500, but there are also cheaper versions that go for as low as $15 (dont expect these less expensive types to withstand heavy rains, though). Rental rates can be quite steep, too, but if you plan on using the canopy only once or twice a year, this is still your best option.

Canopy provides detailed information on Canopy, Canopy Beds, Canopy Tents, Canopy Rentals and more. Canopy is affiliated with Patio Enclosures.

Texsport Cumberland Vestibule Tent

Suitable for six campers, vestibule-style tent accommodates a family during three seasons. An awning over main door adds extra weather protection, and a removable mud flap outside the door helps keep the tent clean. Three D-style doors and three windows with zippered storm flaps and large roof panels let in lots of light and air and are made of fine mesh to screen out insects as small as no-see-ums. Measuring 58 inches high at its tallest point, the 11-feet x 9-feet tent provides 99 square feet of space. It sets up on a hub-cap pole system with shock-corded fiberglass poles. Durable steel clips secure tent to frame. Heavy-duty taffeta walls are flame-retardant. The rainfly is rip-stop press print. The floor is rip-stop polyethylene. Stakes and a carry/storage bag come with the tent. Setup instructions are included.

Amazon.com Tent Guide
Selecting a Tent
Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Expect the Worst
In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.

Three- and Four-Season Tents
For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.

For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.

Domes and Tunnels
Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.

Size Matters
Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.

Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.

Typically, the thought of war conjures up images of "killing" the enemy. While this is the primary activity that happens while engaging those who would do us harm, there are other behind-the-scenes activities that can bring victory. The following anecdote comes from my classmate at Denver Seminary who is a Navy nurse aspiring to become a military chaplain.

...we routinely scooped up and medically treated seriously wounded Iraqi insurgents that became injured in their own offensive attacks against us, whether rushing us in a road check point in a car that was armed or accidentally setting off one of their own (improvised explosive devices) IEDs while planting it on the side of the road in darkness.

...taking these Iraqi guys back to our hospital tents or ships for lifesaving and costly treatment is not typically popular with much of the American public, nor many of the U.S. fighting troops that would sometimes be receiving medical treatment only feet away from their attacker. (However,) it seemed the right and biblical thing to do to help the helpless if we could..... (Some might ask:) "Why spend our valuable supplies or the last of our morphine on him?"

My classmate, Chris, shared this anecdote while we were studying Philippians 1:27-28a:

"Whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then whether I come and see or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for faith of the gospel, without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you." The Philippians had vicious enemies who were maligning and putting many of them in prison. The Apostle Paul told them to stay focused on Christian living even in the midst of persecution.

Showing mercy to an attacker is not a flippant act. Grace, forgiveness, and strong sense of calling is required. Those who do are fighting a battle just as those who wield fire power on the field. Mercy is simply another kind of power -- it is a spiritual sword that can pierce hardened hearts on both sides of the conflict. May this medical ministry continue, as it will teach forgiveness and peace and yield results over time in that part of the world.

Lisa is a Christian writer who explores the joy and pain of the human experience. Whether at home or on international travel, she loves to study and write about interesting people and lessons gleaned from their examples. For real income she writes Bible study curriculum that is also linked to her people study. She resides in Denver, Colorado.