Church Campout

Every year our congregation plans a camping trip sometime during the summer where a place is reserved large enough for dozens of families to come and one or two of the meals will be provided. Good wholesome fun and bonding. Almost every year we can't make it and we feel disappointed. This year we could make it!! But we were joined by only five other families - a record low turnout. Nevertheless, good wholesome fun and bonding. We went to LDS Church-owned Camp Glenwood.

Glenwood has a lot of open space, a volleyball court, a big fireside area, cabins and tent camping space, and trails and a creek running past it. In the woods were lots of wild berries, which is something a lot of the kids took advantage of while the parents were preparing dinner.

As the sun was setting, we gathered for an uplifting fireside about heroes where several people shared stories or poems. Then we froze our hands making home-made ice cream, and went to sleep... more or less (it is camping, after all).

The next morning we had a large, glorious breakfast together: pancakes, eggs, sausage, juice. Then as the parents were finishing their meal and cleaning up, some of the kids went traipsing off on their own in the woods. For a long time. Finally, we were all ready to leave but some of the (older) kids had not returned, so it was time for us to go for a little hike to bring them back. All's well that ends well!

This trip whet Mark's appetite to take the boys camping more during the good weather weeks that remain.