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Getting back to Nature

© Mike Gowen

As a parent I am just as guilty as my kids in getting caught up in technology. I can't deny it. I like toys. Microwaves, satellite television, pagers, cell-phones, email, etc., the list goes on and on. It's hard to fault my own children when I myself get caught up with all these wonderful gadgets. I think there needs to be some balance. It's too easy to become so dependent on technology to get through the day that we almost can't survive without it. Sometimes you need to leave your toys behind and slow the pace of life down a bit. I can't think of a better way to do that than camping with your kids.

When I suggest camping however I am not talking about the motor home on wheels with all the amenities of home and then some. We're talking basics here. A tent, sleeping bag, and if you must have it, an air mattress. Now, you may be sitting there reading this asking why on God's green earth you would want to camp? Well, I'll tell you why.

Some wonderful things happen when you go camping. Think back. Have you ever lost electricity for some period of time? Remember how the normal distractions of television, VCR's, and Nintendo games disappear? Another metamorphosis begins to occur. Families talk to each other, work puzzles, read and play board games. These are some of the same benefits you gain from camping.

To make the most of the experience camping needs to be a team effort. Don't let the kids run off and play while you kill yourself doing everything. Give everyone a responsibility, whether it is gathering firewood, setting up the tent, or helping with meals. Working together toward a common goal will also help open lines of communication with your kids. It's a lot easier to talk to a child when they aren't trying to break their last Super Mario Nintendo score or they are lost in a television show.

Another benefit of camping is it gives one an opportunity to take in this beautiful world around us. Particularly since I have grown older I have such a rich appreciation for nature. My kids don't always share my enthusiasm for simple things such as the leaves changing color in the fall, a mountain landscape, or the waves rising and falling at the beach but I am not discouraged. There are a few basic life lessons that I stress to my children that they may not embrace now. Eventually, they will. Having a respect and appreciation for nature is one of those lessons.