Camping, camping, camping!

It is impossible for me to think of anything else as soon as the temperature starts to drop (even slightly). And yes, we all know that even if there is a shift in September, it will get hot again in October. But we’ll worry about that in October!

My family and I are tent campers, much to the chagrin of my children, who have often said, “Wouldn’t it be great to have an RV?” I know this may sound strange, but I genuinely enjoy the work that comes with tent camping. RV camping certainly has its own routines and responsibilities as well, but I find satisfaction in the hands-on experience of setting up camp from the ground up.

Stay with me here for a minute…what is the work of tent camping?

So much gear! The garage is packed full of tents, sleeping bags, chairs. We have bins full of cookware, lighters, lights, propane. Baskets with toilet paper, paper towels, cutlery, dish detergent. A cute little broom and dustpan to sweep out the tent. Let’s not forget candles to keep the bugs away, toiletries to use at the comfort station (or baby wipes if we’re primitive camping). Organizing the gear, packing the gear, unpacking the gear at the site, packing it up as we leave, and the reorganizing the chaos once we get home. I love all the gear and the work it takes to keep the gear available and ready for our next adventure!

Set up! Usually arriving at the park late on a Friday night, after work, in the dark, and having to unload and set up with minimal light. Does it sound frustrating? Absolutely, but memories are made in the struggle. The struggle to feed the kids some pizza on the picnic table. The struggle to connect all the rods of the tent and get it oriented correctly. To sweep the site clean of debris so you don’t end up sleeping on a rock. Rolling out sleeping bags, securing food from critters, setting up lanterns and setting out chairs around the firepit.

Evenings! After the work of getting the site just right, falling into a deep sleep as the night starts to cool. Listening to the silence, disrupted periodically by a “who-cooks-for-who” call from a barred owl. The communal sleep with the kiddos that has long since faded at home as they have grown. The whispers as someone struggles to find sleep. The “one more” trip to the comfort station when someone doesn’t want to go alone.

Mornings! Waking up while the day is shrugging off the night’s chill and moisture. Water boiling in the kettle on the propane burner so I can sip my coffee by the fire. Kids milling about, rising way earlier than they would be from their comfortable beds at home, collecting firewood, exploring.

Rain! Yes, I said it…rain. If you have never slept in a tent under a downpour, you are missing out. It is a terrible mess to deal with in the aftermath, but it is a glorious sound inside a tent. I have rarely camped when we didn’t have to contend with rain. It is almost expected. Often we’ve had to pack up in the rain with wet soggy gear and set the tent back up and lay everything out to dry once we’ve gotten back home. That is a LOT of work, but I love it all.

I enjoy all of the work of camping, soup to nuts, but I thought I’d get the kids’ perspectives of what they love about camping and as you would’ve guessed, it’s not the work.

I like when everyone is connected and we don’t have to worry about anything. I also love that we are connected with nature too.—Eden, 11

The thing I like best about camping is the way it can make a random weekend feel so special. You can go camping any old time and it will always leave you with plenty of memories to cherish.—Wade, 16

My favorite thing about camping is when you’re on the campsite, nothing else in the world matters. When you hear the river, feel the breeze, and smell the smoke from the campfire. That is the only thing that matters in that moment.—Reid, 19

My favorite thing about camping is how it brings everyone closer together in nature! I get to spend quality time with the people I love, while enjoying a nice, relaxing time in the outdoors!—Lily, 20

And from the real organizer of all our tent-camping experiences to close it out…

The small tasks of living outdoors for several days create a focused presence that is hard to find anywhere else. Cooking around a fire, telling scary stories, letting the burdens of life melt away with family in the outdoors is always a meaningful way to connect with what really matters in my life!— Joel Raintree

 

With more than 30 campgrounds and 3,000 campsites in the South Carolina State Parks system, you are sure to find a spot this fall to enjoy the work, the connection, and the memory-making of camping! Come join us.

 

JER

 

Raintree Family Camping Trip Spring 2016, Table Rock State Park Primitive Area