10 Camping Lessons Learned

1. Packing and setting up camp are a LOT of work (pack an Eagle Scout if you have one).

2. No matter how deep the forest is, and how little sunlight breaches the dense canopy, if there is a major airport nearby, you WILL hear plans taking off and landing (often and very loudly).

3. Glowing magic wands (purchased by the great friends brave enough to trek out in the woods with you) make excellent nightlights for the 2 year old set.

4. Smores made over the campfire taste even better than you remember (and marshing the marshmallows is a fine after-breakfast treat as well).

5. You should check your air mattress for leaks before leaving home. (The hissing sound when you lay down is not a good sign).

6. Rorybears are natural campers.

7. Despite a long genealogy of hunting dogs in their past, beagles may be skeptical of the whole nature concept (particularly ones named Sketch who prefer couches and a/c).

8. Speaking of a/c, 90 degrees and 150% humidity is a tad hot and sticky for camping.

9. Trail maps lie. Plan for a hike that appears to be an hour long to take twice that But the aforementioned dense forest will be thick with multi-colored mushrooms, wildlife, a cool lake and the crunch of leaves under your feet and that will make it worth the trip (in hindsight).

10. Even with the bugs (did I mention those? kudos to your friends for bringing strong kid-friendly bug spray) and the flight pattern and the hot, family camping is good.

10.5 And your own bed? It feels amazing when you arrive home.