Elijah and Rae Build Bridges at Family Camp

I never went camping as a child. My love of camping was discovered well into adulthood, years after my son was born. We went on a few camping trips with our friends. I thought it was fun to plan with other people who were experienced campers, and it was helpful to spread the weight of planning for meals, weather forecasts, car-pooling, and gear. When Camp Kindred presented the opportunity to attend a weekend of Family Camp, I was delighted. It had been some time since my son and I went camping. And as he was getting older, I was finding it more difficult to find connection points in his schedule. I thought, “an uninterrupted family weekend, no cell-phone service, with my pre-teen and other families? Sign me up!”

When we arrived at family camp, I did not know what to expect. I was happy I didn't have to plan anything – except for what to pack. Everything from meals, transportation, and lodging was covered by Camp Kindred. When I saw our cabin assignment, I recognized the name of another family from my son’s school, but I didn't know they were also a Camp Kindred family. I was excited for that familiarity and the opportunity to reconnect with them.

As we settled in and prepared for our first “Kindred Time” by the fire, more families arrived. I was eager to see who else we could get to know. From my son’s solo adventures at Camp Kindred programs, I knew Camp Kindred’s approach to introductions and icebreakers was unique, fun, and inclusive. As we did introductions, I noticed that every family was different. There were some single parents with one or two kids and some families with five or more members. After introductions wrapped up, I felt less afraid of the unknown. We were provided an overview of the weekend’s activities – options included rock wall climbing, archery, swimming, arts and crafts, meals, and periods of rest.

Family Camp offered my family an opportunity to unplug and disconnect from the stressors of everyday life, while reconnecting with each other and meeting other families. It was great to see all the kids hang out with each other. If it was a game of ga-ga ball or making bracelets, kids of all ages, and races formed relationships quickly and easily. Reconnecting in our cabin with the family that we already knew was great, too. 

Attending Family Camp brought us closer together as friends. By the end of the weekend, I was sad that it was over; I could've stayed for a few more days. Returning to our everyday lives we were committed to making sure the connections we made at Family Camp would continue to thrive!

By guest writer Rae Johson, the caregiver of a long-time Camp Kindred camper