A camping trip is, for me, the definition of summer vacation. I grew up under canvas and next to campfires, spending my days on sun-warmed beaches or in the rain-soaked screen tent.
My parents took us camping every summer, usually in the Highlands of Cape Breton, but sometimes in other parts of the Maritimes.
My husband, however, did not grow up in this great camping tradition. When we got married, he couldn’t quite understand my insistence that we pack our little kids into the car, drive for several hours, then set up flimsy tents and light a fire into which our newly walking toddlers could fall.
As we had more children, tenting became a necessity. Taking a trip with four kids is expensive; staying in a campground cuts down on the cost of accommodation by as much as two-thirds. Still, it was something Clayton endured rather than enjoyed (especially when it rained), until this year.
Our only daughter, Naomi, is obsessed with surfing. So this summer, we went to Tofino and Uclulet for our family vacation.
We stayed at a private campground, just to save money — but the camping became one of the best parts of the trip.
For a start, everyone in the family had to unplug. No TV, very little radio, almost no Internet. The batteries on the cellphones and the portable video game croaked after the first day.
Once we turned off the world, we had to tune into each other. Clayton taught the kids to play several card games. We got down in the dirt and played with Eddie, the youngest, and his trucks. The kids all kicked a ball around and explored the campground together.
We all talked to each other, and we all listened. I learned why Alex is both nervous and excited about starting middle school. Isaac identified several birds of prey flying overhead, and rhymed off facts about them. They all told me funny stories about their friends.
Living in tents for a week teaches you what is essential, and what is not. Good food, lots of water and ice for the cooler were necessities. I definitely need a better camping mattress and pillow. But a shower is not a daily need, and neither is a flush toilet.
My kids learned about bear safety, and why it’s important to never bring food or toiletries into a tent. They became experts at making sure every scrap of food was in the car at night.
The campground we stayed in had a hot tub and sauna, which helped soak away the aches and pains of sleeping on the ground. I didn’t want to get out the evening after we took a family surfing lesson from the famous Surf Sister surf school in Tofino.
My oldest three kids took to surfing immediately, popping up on the boards and standing on their very first waves. Naomi even did a small shred on one wave, steering the board back and forth an inch.
Clayton made it to his feet several times, whooping as the kids cheered.
As for me, I spent most of the lesson helping the kids with their surfboards, or falling off mine.
After surfing, or hours playing on the beach, I didn’t have to worry about covering a hotel room with sand. We just hung all the wet and dirty towels and suits on a rope line at our campsite.
On the last day at the campground, Clayton sat back in his canvas chair and sighed contentedly. “I love camping,” he said incredulously. “Do you think we can stay an extra night?”
“Yeah!” the kids all chorused. “Another night! Another night!”
That didn’t end up happening, but we are already planning a long weekend under canvas for later in the summer. My family has caught the camping bug at last.
