Field Report: Tales of a Novice Camper
Guest Blogger
Shalonda Anderson
Oakland, California
I actually went camping once when I was in the 4th grade -- it was one of the best and worst experiences of my life. My class won a trip to Malakoff Diggins to live like miners of the Gold Rush. I recall my excitement to camp outside, make food from scratch, and mine for gold. Daytime was fantastic, but this sheltered city kid didn't count on the dark nights and the bugs! At night I was afraid for my life and was kicked out of every tent in the campsite for my hysterics. And because of that experience, I decided camping was not for me.
But after hearing about the good experiences of others recently, I decided to give camping another try as an adult. A friend of my family hosts an annual camping trip at Lake Don Pedro in California, so I decided to come along, and knew this trip would decide the fate of my camping future! However, I vowed it would not be like last time. Luckily, I was going with experienced campers, and I told myself to get used to the idea that I would see some bugs!
The lake was simply breathtaking. And our campsite was nice, clean, and inviting. Our set-up crew consisted of my husband, best friend, nephew and God son. We let the boys put up the tents. It was their first time and we were pleasantly surprised by the excellent job they did…but camping did give us a few challenges. Our first night we realized we forgot our Tiki torches. We had just a few citronella candles, which did little to light our site and deter the bugs that get fierce at night!
Another moment of discomfort came when a fellow seasoned camper warned us not to turn over any rocks or step in any holes.
“Why?” I asked.
“Because of rattle snakes,” he calmly stated.
"Excuse me?!" I screamed. "Are there really snakes here?"
“Yes,” he said. I turned to my husband shrieking "You didn't tell me I'd have to deal with snakes!"
"I didn't want to you to be afraid," he shrugged.
Right then, I wanted to pack up my family and run like hell! But I quickly calmed down, and resolved to be extra careful.
On a brighter note, the showers and restrooms were very clean and close by, which was a plus. And without the torches, we noticed how absolutely beautiful the night sky was. We could see stars for miles, although it was still a challenge to keep our millennium children entertained without TV and video games. The constant question from them was, "Now what?" But we assured them we would go swimming the next day and they settled for the night in anticipation.
The next morning we got up early, cooked breakfast, and set off on the day’s journey. We enjoyed a day full of swimming and boating in Lake Don Pedro in 103 degree weather. The children did back flips off of the boat into the cool lake, which was a big hit. Our day ended with a delicious BBQ and sound sleep. We rose early the next morning, packed up and headed back home.
Overall, did I enjoy camping this time? Absolutely. Will I ever camp again? Yes I would. It was a great experience and a fun way to bond with my family -- and my husband and I have decided to make this a tradition for our family for years to come.
How did an Oakland girl like me come to love getting her camp on anyway? Pt. 3
After getting married and starting a family of my own, camping took on a new meaning. For just a short drive and little money, I found camping was one of the most economical ways my new family could take a vacation. During these years I collected essential camping gear, like our first family-sized tent and propane stove from local garage sales and eBay -- my family still uses these items today.
But as my family grew, so did the effort of camping. Thus the city of Oakland's Feather River family camp, situated about two- hundred miles north, became a very attractive option for us. For about $75 per day back then, our family could camp at their beautiful developed site where: three delicious meals a day were prepared (and announced with the toll of a bell), a kind nurse dispensed an endless supply of band-aids, platform tents and cots were already set up, and a refreshingly cool swimming hole was observed by attentive lifeguards. Another bonus of family camp, were the many fun, organized activities and special relationships we developed with the other Oakland families we joined each summer.
Now my children (ages 12, 7, and 6) love the outdoors and every February they begin humming camp songs around the house and double check with me to make sure we are registered for the upcoming summer season!
Aside from our annual Family Camp, we also venture out on local hikes or family bike rides at least monthly. My eldest son is a Boy Scout and he is now developing outdoor skills and going on camping trips with his peers just as I did at his age. I recognize that the fun my kids have now in the natural world is the foundation for a love and engagement with nature that lasts a lifetime and is likely to be shared with their own children.
I still do enjoy tent camping sometimes, but I find that as I approach the big Four-O, I more frequently choose to balance comfort with my outdoor fun -- nights of sleeping on just a tarp under the stars have passed me by. I now fantasize often about a future of creeping along the highways in a well-equipped RV, enjoying each state of the Americas, one campground at a time.
Catch-up!: Part 1, Part 2
Easy Tent Camping Sites for Everyone!
Now is the time for Outdoor Afros to plan a summer camping trip! While some popular sites may have been booked up since last winter, it’s never too late to secure a spot at a scenic developed site. One local favorite of my family is the Samuel Taylor Park, which fills up quickly during the peak season!
You can drive right up to your camping area in the developed sites, which are either privately owned or a part of a regional parks system. In either case, you’ll find showers, some electricity or lit areas, occasionally platform tents, easy hikes nearby, and common space for campfire shows or outdoor movies.
Developed sites are ideal for families, occasional campers, or those new to camping because they not only provide some of the basic amenities, but also are a ready-made social environment. Hundreds of families pour into these camps in peak months, so there is always a playmate, or someone to lend a hand to pitch a tent. State Park Rangers or campground managers often provide an evening program that provides both entertainment and outdoor education.
To browse the many developed campsites in California, check out their website here
Next: Your List of Tent Camping Essentials
Photo: Samuel Taylor Park campsite, Courtesy of h3h.com
5 Concerns That Keep Black Folks Out of the Woods
Photo Courtesy of LWA-Sharie KennedyWhen I mention to some people that I go camping...
it's not uncommon to hear why others won't do it themselves. Here is a list of the most frequently heard excuses for not heading out to the woods, along with some real facts to consider:
1. Sleeping in a tent is an elaborate form of back torture
Fact: Just because you sleep in a tent doesn't mean you have to sleep on the ground. REI portable cots and mats are the way I go nowadays because comfort is important. Sure, a cot won't feel like a Sealy Posturepedic, but it’s not the ground either. Tip: be sure to get a tent that is sized for one person more than your party to allow more space for comfy sleeping gear.
2. No showers
Fact: Family campgrounds DO have hot showers, and the availability of this amenity is no shocker if you do a little homework on your selected campsite in advance. In fact, the outdoor camp showers are some of the best I have had as some are opened on top for a terrific view of the sky or stars.
3. No Music, TV, or Video Games
Fact: These days wireless is becoming more common for family camp sites, but the point of camp is to connect with the environment or with those in your group. Play a board game, tell funny family stories, go for a walk – it’s these activities that are the source of great memories to last a lifetime.
4. Animals and Bugs
Fact: Yes, wonderful wildlife is a reality in the outdoors, but critters don’t have to ruin your trip. Use bug repellent (or swallow a clove of raw garlic, I am told) for the worst flying offenders. Keep food and other smellables away from where you sleep. You actually have a much greater chance of being hurt by a domestic dog than by a bear!
5. It's dirty
Ok, let's make a distinction between soil and filth. Campgrounds are not the place to wear new Air Force Ones. Dirt is inevitable, but filth you won't find at a developed camp site nor at the more "primitive" areas. Developed camps are maintained to ensure sustainability and safety for all creatures who inhabit them -- even the temporary ones!
Bottom line: abandon the scary, non-factual ideas about camping and give it a try!
Got more reasons why you don't camp? Post them here!
How did an Oakland girl like me come to love getting her camp on anyway? Pt. 2
Part 1
So every other weekend, until I became a teen, was spent in the country. And while I now see the value of my time there, I distinctly recall lots of boredom in an era that pre-dated ubiquitous cable TV, video, and phone technology. But boredom was what actually propelled me and my playmates to invent games, songs, and dances against the backdrop of the country during the day. Nights were often spent around a large fireplace with family members; swapping tales, playing board games, or a producing "talent shows" for the adult's amusement.
Back in Oakland, I received a more formal outdoor education with the Girl Scouts and loved our frequent retreats to the many local parks and youth camps. However, as a too-cute-for-the-woods teen, I abandoned my commitment to outdoor activities and did not reconnect with the natural world until I was a young adult living in San Francisco.
In the City, parking limitations and aggressive ticketing practices made owning a car impractical. So bicycling became my primary form of transportation and at the same time my outdoorsy room mates introduced me to extended bike treks to camp or to hike along the coast. I even tried out mountaineering for the first time with Outward Bound (see title photo), where I learned the fundamentals of mountain climbing and the life lesson to “trust my feet”.
Part 3
Feather River Camping
Some people feel that the hard work of camping doesn’t translate into a real vacation, especially if you have young children. I want to point families to Oakland’s Feather River Family Camp, which has been around for about 80 years. The camp is situated in the Plumas National Forest located 5 hours away by car, north of the bay, and outside the darling town of Quincy.
Yes, tarp sleeping and outdoor food preparation can be tough, especially for parents. And while I want people to get outdoors, they need not be martyrs for it. Feather River Family Camp does all the hard work for you. There are platform tents with cots (so no pitching!), or cabins with electricity, and a dining room that produces hot, delicious, all-you-can eat food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Each morning, small children can go to the “Tot-Lot” for childcare until lunch while older kids can do hikes or crafts.
There are theme weeks throughout the summer season and this year, they have added an African Dance theme week with dance instruction each day and night. In addition, there are regularly scheduled outings off site, or you can stay and cool off in the swimming hole. What I like most are the relationships my family developeds with other families as we all return year after year. We have already signed up for Folk Dance Week and will overlap with the African Dance week for a couple days. Registration is per day and is less expensive for more then 5 days or Oakland residents. Overall, it’s a terrific value and a lot of fun. Hope to see you this summer!