Happy Camper

Last weekend, I forced my family (meaning my husband) to take our annual trek into the pseudo-wildnerness for a camping trip. He got out of it last year, becuase we did it on spring break, and he was working (The kids and I hit Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine and St. Joseph Peninsula State Park in Cape San Blas.) The year before last we did 1 night at Ft. Desoto Park in St. Petersburg.

This year's trek was to Tomoka State Park in Ormond Beach. Long story short, we had a great time. We went camping - in a tent - and had a mostly no electronics rule.

We didn't watch movies or check email or send text messages. There was no Facebook once we arrived. No PS3 or Angry Birds or any video games at all. My kids went almost 48 hours electronics free. What on earth did they do?

They rode bikes. They rode probably more than they have ever ridden before. On trails, off trails, along the water. They hiked and explored new paths through the woods. They found little hidden bodies of water that surrounded the campground. They read books. They danced. Chase helped cook dinner over a charcoal grill. Karlin recited the entire life history of Obi Wan Kenobi. They played in the surf and sand. They found a deceased periwinkle shell, named it Tommy, then buried it, and created an entire sand memorial for it. Oh - and they made up a whole back story for Tommy's short little life. They tried Lobster Rolls for the first time. They made smores.

It's so funny to me, becuase the first 12 hours or so is awful. "Can I play angry birds?" "Can we watch a movie?" Then they realize it's not going to happen, and the most amazing thing occurrs. THEY START TO FIND OTHER THINGS TO DO. They use their brains. They pretend. They explore. By Sunday morning they've all but forgotten the electronics, and they're bummed because we're going home.

It excited me to see them become old-fashioned kids again, even if it's just for a day and a half. It's good for them to go and get away from the junk. It's good for them to be free to use their eyes and ears and minds.

So, and Bart's not gonna be happy with this, but I'm thinking we need to go more often. Maybe two, three times a year. It's a huge pain in the butt to pack up all the crap and go, but I like who my kids are when we get them out there.