• About
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Media
  • #outfam
  • NEWSLETTER

Outdoor Families Magazine

Where Families and Nature Unite

  • HOME
  • REWILDING
  • OUTDOOR EDUCATION
  • OUTDOOR GEAR
  • OUTDOOR FAMILY TRAVEL
  • GETTING OUTDOORS

My Outdoor Family: “The good about bad camping”

June 25, 2015 by Erin Kirkland 3 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Reddit
  • Pocket
  • Flipboard
My Outdoor Family: "The good about bad camping" - Outdoor Families Magazine
The Tustison family enjoys their outdoor experiences

by Clint Tustison

“This is camping?” I thought to myself, lying in my tent, shivering, trying to get dry from the downpour happening just outside.

I had been a member of the local community Boy Scout troop for a few months when I finally had the chance to go on a real campout. I was ecstatic. This is what Boy Scouts lived for, right? Heading to the outdoors, building a fire, sleeping in a comfortable tent. I couldn’t wait.

My idea of what a campout should be was quickly dashed that evening as we arrived to the campsite just as sheets of rain began to fall. I was getting soaked, I was struggling to put up my tent, and I remember being afraid in my 12-year-old mind that I would soon start to cry.

Luckily for me, my older brother was in the troop and did what all older brothers should do. He helped me. He taught me how to put up the tent quickly so I could store my gear. He gave me some of his clothes so I could get dry.

The next day, he even organized a game of throw-the-dried-cow-patties-at-each-other in a nearby pasture so all the young scouts could get their minds off the previous night’s misery.

Most important, though, he made me laugh. He showed me that camping could be fun, even in ugly circumstances.

What started out as a terrible experience has since grown into a deep-seated passion, all thanks to an older brother who knew that a little mirth could fundamentally change how I viewed the outdoors and completely alter my perception of what it means to love nature.

Since that day 20 years ago, I have camped hundreds of times in all sorts of weather. Now that I have my own children, I’ve introduced them to the outdoors and the excitement it holds. It has not all been easy, though. They have had their own tough times camping in less-than-ideal situations.

|RELATED: Camping Bin Storage 101: The ultimate car camping checklist |

They have learned that camping in the snow can be cold and wet if they don’t have the right gear. They know it can be hard to build a fire in the middle of a downpour. And they have realized, first-hand, that a tent not staked down in the middle of a wind storm can take on a mind of its own.

Those tough situations, however, have created lasting memories of fun times being outdoors with family. Those campouts and hiking adventures have also given my sons a sense of confidence to handle difficult circumstances, not only in the outdoors, but also in life.

As they face hard times in school, peer pressure from friends, or hard decisions, they can recall other tough situations. Outdoor experiences have taught them the value of being prepared and the importance of having a little humor when dealing with whatever life throws at them.

For that, the outdoors will always have a special place in my family’s heart.

Clint Tustison is an avid outdoorsman who loves hammock camping with his five boys. His writing has appeared in USA Triathlon, Guide Magazine, and Texas Runner and Triathlete. Connect with him at Clint Tustison

Related

Filed Under: MY OUTDOOR FAMILY Tagged With: Camping, camping with kids, June 2015, MY OUTDOOR FAMILY, scouting

Comments

  1. Audra says

    June 25, 2015 at 4:24 am

    One of our best trips to Glacier National Park (one of 16 trips) was a three-day camping trip in the rain without a campfire which meant no heat to stay warm and no hot food.

    Reply
  2. karenung77 says

    June 29, 2015 at 11:48 pm

    We’ve camped in lots of storms and somehow those are the most memorable trips where we snuggled together to keep warm, told stories, and play games. Camping is always good!

    Reply
  3. Adrenaline Romance says

    July 12, 2015 at 6:52 pm

    Great story! We are also trying to get Alexa, our daughter, to engage in camping and outdoor adventures. So far, she’s enjoying the activity. We hope she’ll get “addicted” to the outdoors like us. 🙂

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Trending Outdoor Families Articles

  • Hiking in Asheville – 15 Must-Hike Trails For Kids
  • The 12 Best Family-Friendly Whitewater River Rafting Trips in the U.S.
  • 26 Outdoor STEM Activities For Kids
  • 130+ FREE Outdoor Learning Activities For Kids Unexpectedly Stuck at Home
  • 35 Nature Books for Kids
  • 20 Japanese Botanical Garden Design Ideas To Inspire Your Outdoor Space
  • What is Wildschooling?

NATURE NEWS

A Little Nature a Day Keeps Negative Self-Feelings At Bay, Science Says

Human-Induced Climate Change Takes its Toll On Our Tallest Peaks?

Love of Nature Is In Your Genes, Research Shows

OUTDOOR FAMILIES MAGAZINE

  • HOME
  • REWILDING
  • OUTDOOR EDUCATION
  • OUTDOOR GEAR
  • OUTDOOR FAMILY TRAVEL
  • GETTING OUTDOORS

Search Outdoor Families Magazine

Outdoor Families Magazine Mission

Outdoor Families Magazine and Community strives to enrich the lives of multi-generational families internationally by providing unparalleled, award-winning outdoor and adventure related content meant to inspire a connection to, participation in and stewardship of the natural world.

Outdoor Family Community

  • View OutdoorFamiliesOnline’s profile on Facebook
  • View @outdoorfammag’s profile on Twitter
  • View outdoorfammag’s profile on Instagram
  • View outdoorfammag’s profile on Pinterest
  • View OutFam’s profile on YouTube

Privacy Policy

Outdoor Families Magazine Tree Logo - Cheryl Robertson Rosa

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...