Camping without kids just isn’t the same
Posted
May 19, 2008 at
10:00 am by
Allison J
My husband and I went camping this weekend with a group of 20 and 30-somethings. Just adults. No kids. No dogs (mainly because this State Park doesn’t allow them in cabins!). I’ll admit I was a bit miffed about that. My dog loves camping, and it gives me an excuse to retreat when sitting ’round the old campfire gets a tad dull.
But enough about him. This was my first adult camping experience minus little ones. We always camp in a large group — about 15 adults, 10 kids, and 5 dogs. Yeah, the other laid-back, chill campers just love when we pull up. It’s usually four days of chaotic fun, complete with fully-decorated cabins and late nights. And regardless of my intentions of having a relaxing long weekend in the woods, I always end up more tired and run down.
I blame the kids. That’s right — putting all the blame on them! Even though none of the kids are mine, we adopt the “it takes a village” approach when camping. I don’t think there is any other way. You’ve got bears and greedy rabies-filled raccoons. Big bonfires with lethal ambers are burning 24/7 (you would think that an 11 year old would know NOT to pick up a glass bottle from the fire, but no!). The creek that runs around the cabins can be a deathtrap. And the picturesque, although dangerous, wooded hills and cliffs behind the cabins just scream “climb me!” Then add on the dogs. We don’t leash them, because that would be too easy, and seems unnatural in such a natural setting. They’re a good pack, but you can’t take your eye off of them for a minute.
As if keeping your eyes peeled at all times wasn’t enough, our group has this insane desire to cook meals as if we were vacationing with state-of-the-art kitchens and tools. There is fry-night, during which 3 outside deep-fryers are constantly cooking wings, french fries, blooming onions and mozzarella sticks (all made from scratch). We fully prepare all meals to meet the major food groups (which I doubt we’d do if we weren’t feeding kids). And don’t forget breakfast. Cereal doesn’t fly with us. One cabin lovingly prepares biscuits with gravy. Another tackles pancakes and bacon. And finally, eggs-McHagar and hash browns (recipe available!). The coffee is brewing while adults take turns driving kids to the bathroom, going on a quick distractionary hike, or insisting that they put on dry shoes.
What is my point? After my relaxing, kid-free camping weekend I have learned one thing. Camping is way more fun with kids around. Seriously.
Yeah, it was nice not having to say “earmuffs” every 2 minutes. Even nicer was the lack of the “ca-caw” signal, followed by a certain mommy quickly putting out her cigarette so she could play the role of the non-smoker in front of her young kids. But I missed the constant buzz, the kids running around the fire while we yell at them in unison. I never thought that this camping trip wouldn’t include a craft table! Do you know how boring the afternoon can be without a craft table? Charades wasn’t nearly as entertaining without a 6 year old acting out The Godfather. When the adults have had too much to drink, there is no one else to talk to. And when I decided to skip the mid-day nap I was totally left to my own devices. There was no excited 8 year old to play catch with, no 12 year old girl to play with my hair. Complete crap!
I have now decided that from now on, in addition to pots and pans, marshmallow skewers, tiki lights, air mattresses, and enough food for a month, I will always pack a kid or two for a weekend of camping.
Tags: camping, camping-with-dogs, camping-with-kids, group-vacations, Humor, vacationing-with-kids |
11 Responses to “Camping without kids just isn’t the same”
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1. Allison G. said:
May 19, 2008 @ 10:20 am
Holy cow, this sounds like my life! Ha!
We do the big group camp thing too (but with pull behind campers instead of cabins)
And don’t get me started on the food. While it’s all very scrumptious, it costs us a fortune in food alone. I always tell Dh, “You say I’m spoiled, but haven’t you ever heard of roughing it? How about bagles and fruit for breakfast and PB&J for lunch and dinner?”
Our friends always take care of the dinners and Dh is the Breakfast King with huge portions that would rival IHOP.
But it is fun. I don’t think I could handle camping with just my kids. They, I mean I, need for them to have friends to play with. Otherwise they’d fight with each other all weekend. But we always have an amazing time with the other families we camp with.
2. Rita said:
May 19, 2008 @ 10:21 am
Oh, man. That entire post made my skin creep and my left eye twitch. I do not camp. Under any circumstances. It’s always an eye-opener, what other people consider “fun.” Maybe you can borrow my older kids next time you go! They like camping, which proves my aversion isn’t genetic.
3. Allison G. said:
May 19, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Ooohhh, Rita. I looooove having older kids camping with us. Older girls are a magnet for my 4 yo daughter. They love being in charge, and she’ll listen to anything they tell her to do. So if I need her to do something pronto, I’ll ask the older girl to tell her to do it.
4. Rita said:
May 19, 2008 @ 11:29 am
[quote comment="164390"] They love being in charge, and she’ll listen to anything they tell her to do. So if I need her to do something pronto, I’ll ask the older girl to tell her to do it.[/quote]
And, that seems to be something that doesn’t change. My 9 y.o. has older girls who mentor her and she follows what they say like it’s written in stone. I can tell her the same thing and she just blows it off.
5. Allison G. said:
May 19, 2008 @ 11:52 am
And 9 yo’s are perfect for my Kaitlyn. The daughter of our son’s baseball coach is that age and begs us to let her take my 2 girls to the play structures during games. They love her.
6. Prescott said:
May 19, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
Call me a stickler, but to me camping involves some sort of tent-like structure and pooping in the woods.
7. Allison G. said:
May 19, 2008 @ 4:12 pm
You got me there, Prescott. My precious ass does not crap in the bushes!
8. Allison J said:
May 19, 2008 @ 5:27 pm
During my first ever camping experience (tenting) my best friend and I stole my husband’s truck and drove 2 hours to the nearest motel to shower.
I consider my ability to now use campsite “bathrooms” as a personal triumph
9. Kristy said:
May 20, 2008 @ 11:15 am
I love to camp! It is fun with kids, but it would be nice without them too once in a while. I have tent-camped with kids (with bathrooms available) but cabins are easier with really young ones.
For my bachelorette weekend, I dragged my three best friends to tent camp on a primitive campground in Natchez Trace, Mississippi, that could only be reached by boat and had no amenities of any kind. It was awesome!
10. Keith said:
July 27, 2008 @ 6:06 pm
This article is just plain silly. You simply do not have any clue what peace and quiet is. I for one thank God I do not camp with kids as they are disruptive and annoying. I found this article specifically looking for a NO KIDS campground…too bad many of them are in England.
11. Mary Beth said:
July 27, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
My kids always wanted to camp but my hubby is just not a camper. His idea of roughing it is staying in a Holiday Inn Express. But because the kids always wanted to camp and I thought it sounded pretty fun, I bought a tent for one of the kids for Christmas or bday one year with the promise that we would camp somewhere. So when nice weather came around, we pitched the tent in the backyard and camped out back there. haha! But they loved it! And I loved it! There were three of us in that small little tent!