Give In To The Temptation, Take A Campcation!!
Weekends can be long and hard to bear when you are stuck inside with the same people who, at this point, you know too much about. Over quarantine, it was really hard to be isolated from my friends and my fellow scouts. When a unique opportunity arose to participate in a virtual camping experience hosted by National, my entire troop jumped at the chance to feel some form of unity again. The best part was that our families could participate in this fun scouting event too! We waited for days in anticipation for the big event, and when it finally came the excitement was unbearable. My entire family woke up early to join in on the fun, and it was worth it!
The National Camp-In was the best event of my entire quarantine summer. There were so many things I could do at home that were just the same as when I was on a campout. My brothers, who are both graduated Eagle Scouts, thoroughly enjoyed being able to come back to their scouting roots and camp again. Even my mom, who is not a fan of the outdoors, found something that she loved! My family and I set up tents, cooked food, roasted marshmallows, and overall had a great time! If you and your family want to have the best time ever this weekend, continue to read about basic things that are essential for a good time!!
The first essential thing you need is to set up a tent! My brother and I set up this huge family tent first thing in the morning. We call it the “Taj Mahal Tent” because it is so big! If you don’t have a tent then you can use a hammock or camp under the stars! Plan ahead to make sure that don’t get rained on!!
Another fun activity is roasting marshmallows. You can do this with a campfire, a backpacking stove, or even an oven! One of the benefits of camping at home is that you can use your kitchen. We took advantage of this by trying different types of “toppings” on our s’mores. My favorite topping was mint chocolate Hershey Kisses! Sitting around a campfire and watching the stars was a true highlight of the evening!
Another plus of camping at home is that you can eat anything you’d like! Do you have camp food that you’ve always wanted to try and never could? Well, now you can! I was able to cook all kinds of different meals that I had never tried before. I also showed off the cooking skills I had learned through scouting. My favorite part was being able to eat outside and appreciate the fresh air!
The absolute best part of camping-in is that your pet(s) can stay with you! Whenever my family goes anywhere we have to arrange for the dogs to be boarded. Boarding them is expensive and heartbreaking but, they just cannot come with us on the trip. When you camp in, they stay with you! You save money and get to go camping with your pet(s). My dogs loved staying in the tent and running around the yard!
In summary, you should take a campcation! There are so many great opportunities to learn, explore, and have fun with your family. Don’t miss out on this incredible experience!
