Last weekend we took our kids with a group of other families to Rocky Gap State Park for a weekend camping trip. I cannot stress strongly enough what a great idea it was. Camping forces you to take time just to be with one another. Electronics were allowed for the car trip up and back, but once we arrived on the campsite, all electronics were left inside the car, unused. For three days, we spent time just getting to know each other again. Despite the fact that my children are only 4 and 7 and that I only work part-time, the school year has tended to have a dehumanizing effect on all of us. Stuck in the daily routine of school, practice, homework, dinner, bedtime, it just felt as though we were all growing and changing, but didn't have time to think or talk about everything that was going on in our crazy lives.
Camping gave us the opportunity to slow down and to focus on the members of our family. Each of us had to help the others out, learn about each other, and spend time talking about what was interesting or happy or confusing to one another. I learned so many things, like that my older daughter, whom I expected to be less fond of "roughing it" in the woods, took to the whole enterprise very naturally. I learned that my usually bold and adventurous 4 year old really doesn't like the dark... it's not just something she does at bedtime to drag the whole process out. I learned that the girls really love fishing, know how beaver lodges are constructed, and like to talk about all the things that confuse them. We talked about why friends are mean and why girls and boys fight all the time. We were able to let them roam around on their own a little bit (within reason) between the campsites of families we knew and develop some independence. The kids created their own talent show, hiked 3 miles under their own steam, and learned how to hold a paddle while we kayaked together.
Rocky Gap was a great place to start. For the avid and frequent camping family, it may be too resort-like, but for those families who are just getting started, it makes a perfect introduction to outdoor lving. (In fact, Rocky Gap *does* have a resort with all kinds of amenities like a spa and a golf course, but those are on the other side of the lake...) There's a beach on a lake with canoeing and kayaking and a lifeguard on duty to watch swimmers in a special section on the lake. There's sand for sandcastles and a snack shop for those who want to have some ice cream or avoid cooking outdoor fare for a couple of meals. In the summertime, this is key. It gives everyone a chance to cool down and relax on what are easily hot and humid days in the mid-Atlantic region; however, the higher altitude (nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains) helps to keep the temperatures down, too. Each camp site (we used a tent, but there are plenty of facilities for campers and some sites even have their own cabins) has a bath house with clean showers and a dish-washing station. Additionally, the sites have a "camp host" who can sell you firewood should you run out in the evening or who can help in case of emergency.
All in all, what we discovered was that camping in a low-key way with small children gave us the opportunity to rekindle the positive aspects of the parent-child relationship. We were able to teach our children a little more about the wonders of the natural world, without feeling so far away from it that we were stressed or anxious about what could or might happen. There was plenty of time for looking for Jackolopes and chasing gnomes and enough to do to keep even the busiest of busy bodies active throughout the day. Better yet, it's inexpensive. One night on a campsite costs only $22-$28 per evening... well worth the price of admission for time to reunite, regroup, and revive family ties.
Added 7/7/2011: Here's a better review http://www.our-kids.com/static/?f=rockygap
