Camping - My experience as a child
The idea of going camping today means something different to everyone. For some, it means packing up the RV, for others, it’s packing up the backpack. For us, going camping always meant a long drive to one of our favorite parks and setting up our campsite there with nothing but our tents and our backpacks. To me, this was always better than going to a campground because we enjoyed the “ruggedness” of being outdoors. If we were going to be spending that much time outdoors, we wanted to experience it to the fullest!
A memorable time I had as a child was going camping. It was an annual trip for us as a family and something we looked forward to almost as much as we did Christmas! When I went camping as a kid, the first thing we used to do was set up our gear at the camp. It was always fun to watch Mom and Dad set up the tent while my brother and I tried to escape off into the woods to see what kind of trouble we could get into. We never really got that far. After the tent was set up, Mom set up our eating area and then we helped set out the sleeping bags. After everything was ready and in place, we’d all set out to find some wood for our campfire. This was always my favorite part! I always loved exploring the woods and the feeling I used to have being out there. It’s something that sticks with me to this very day.
Of course, another wonderful thing about camping was sitting around the campfire, roasting marshmallows to make s’mores, laughing, listening to Mom and Dad tell us stories from the past, telling jokes, and just spending time together as a family. I also enjoyed camping because I loved getting up early at sunrise the next day after we got there and going swimming in the lake, going on hikes, and my Dad would even take us fishing, which was always great fun!
Now that we’re older, we don’t really get to do it that often anymore and it’s something I really miss. Camping is something I hope to introduce to my children someday because I feel it’s not only a bonding experience, but a learning one. You learn to appreciate nature and not take it for granted, you also learn that there’s more to the full hustle and bustle of daily life and what it’s like to not having televisions and ringing phones and that the time spent with your family on a camping trip can be wonderful and memorable for the rest of your life.