Further to our post about the joys of glamping, we didn’t feel we could not post something about good old-fashioned, back-to-basics camping. We realize it is not for everyone, while Mike and Phoebe love it, Raymond is less keen and prefers the luxury of a good glamping break in a yurt. However, we feel strongly that all parents should face their fears and push their anxieties to one side to go camping at least once in their lives with their family.
Camping is a great way to save money and get away from the hustle and bustle of modern living so that you can spend quality time with the people who mean the most to you in the world. Admittedly, that is a huge part of what makes it so great, but it’s also what you learn about yourselves that makes camping such a great activity for families to participate in from time to time.
You learn how to work as a team – whether that means that you strengthen an already strong bond shared by your family or you build up a newfound bond together.
We are not going over the top when we say that camping for families and individuals can be life-affirming and life-changing.
If everything goes well while you are on a camping trip and there are no major disasters, the sense of achievement that you all will have is immeasurable. On the other hand though, if things do go a bit pear-shaped and you still manage to get through your time away and don’t give up or let the problems stop you from trying to have a good time – you will all feel empowered.
Even if things don’t get better and you come home tired, miserable, wet dirty, and covered in various bites, bruises, and rashes – you still have a shared experience that will bring you closer together as a family.
The key to any successful camping trip is to plan as far in advance as possible. Although you may love the idea of just packing the car and heading out into the great beyond, this is not the most sensible thing to do if you have very limited experience camping.
It is therefore much better to make camping trips closer to home while you all familiarise yourself with what it’s actually like to be out there away from the comforts of your own house, furniture, and modern gadgets and gizmos.
Another thing that all three of us have learned has been on hundreds of camping trips, is to plan(while remaining flexible concerning the weather and other factors) what you are going to do while you are out in the middle of nowhere. Not having a plan of where you want to visit and what you want to do to entertain yourselves will leave you stuck in the middle of a field or wood, perhaps somewhere you have never been to before with very bored and restless kids.
If you plan it right though, a camping trip can be the ultimate way to spend an enjoyable few days with your family. Who needs sterile and glossy resorts that cost an absolute fortune when we have some of the most beautiful landscapes and wildlife virtually on our doorsteps here in the UK?
