Daily writing prompt

Have you ever been camping?

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Yes, many times. We started with my parents and grandparents, heading to places in New Hampshire, Vermont, Cape Cod, the Berkshires. It was pretty rustic, as I recall– a big old canvas tent, Coleman stove. Nothing fancy.

We did quite a bit of camping when I was in Boy Scouts, and I got to go to Philmont Scout Ranch, in Cimmaron, New Mexico, in 1968. On occasion, we’d head to the White Mountains and stay at different camp sites, which usually included a climb of one mountain or another.

And we did a bit of camping with our own kids, most often at places in New York state–Watkins Glen State Park became our favorite. And there was one multiple-night stay at a KOA in Canada, near Niagara Falls. No wild treks, but enough to create a few memories.

Daily writing prompt

Have you ever been camping?

View all responses

Yes, many times. It started when we were kids. We’d go to Vermont or New Hampshire, use my grandfather’s vintage, old, musty, square, heavy canvas tent. We’d cook on the Coleman stove, swim in a brook, and generally enjoy being outside for extended periods of time.

Then I joined the Boy Scouts and we of course learned the finer points of preparedness and really got into equipment and cooking and all things camping. There were many overnighters and mountain trips to New Hampshire, along with hiking and camping in the Sangre de Cristo range of the southern Rockies at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.

We’ve since been with our own kids, but not for a while now. Watkins Glen State Park was a favorite spot.