Monday, September 24, 2012

Memories of Camping

This is a picture Daughter #2 drew on one of our family camping trips. It depicts our three daughters washing and drying the dishes after a meal. There are two basins on the picnic table for the dishes--one for soapy water and one for the rinse. The big green shape is the big old canvas tent we slept in our our camping trips.

Aside from being economical, camping was a good way for all of us to learn to cooperate with each other and to get closer to nature. Back then, the internet and cellphones did not exist--so there were fewer distractions to miss. :^) We spent our days touring the nearby sights and swimming. At night, we sat around the campfire, toasted marshmallows, and sang songs (we brought the guitar).

Our expeditions were made more memorable because as the girls grew, our vacation journals became more elaborate. They drew pictures and I typed in explanations to go with the drawings.

This picture was drawn by Daughter #3. You can see where I typed in the description--using my daughter's words.

As nice as it is to stay in a fancy hotel, camping is an experience children never forget. For parents who want to foster great creativity and imaginations in their children, I suggest you take them camping instead of going to Disneyworld.

4 comments:

MarkD60 said...

I always enjoyed camping WITHOUT the family. I remember the tent in the backyard and that canvas smell you don't get any more.

Penelope Marzec said...

That canvas smell was strong. Once, when one of our daughters needed an antibiotic, she described the taste by saying it was like a moldy orange in an old tent. Yuck!

jenny milchman said...

Those are both really good drawings, Penelope! I see an artistic pattern here :) I love camping with my family...but only if we don't have to be anywhere the next day. Camping always makes me feel grungy!

Penelope Marzec said...

Jenny,

Yes, being closer to nature also means living with dirt. :^)