If you love what we do, please consider “buying us a coffee” to help us fund our endeavour of helping New Zealander’s get outdoors! All donations go towards the running of NZFA.
While we get to adventure alone without kids, we definitely enjoy a good family camp. If it’s loading up some big tents and yummy food and heading somewhere close and easy, or slinging a pack on with a hammock and a packet of sausages, we find it all totally beneficial to both the kids and us as adults.
People always ask us if its lots of work, and the honest answer is yes! At times, it can be a lot of work but in today’s wild world, you need to put in the work to get the biggest results or rewards.
Camping as a family for us is as much of a tool to help us learn more about each other’s boundaries, abilities, hidden talents and it unlocks untapped imagination in all three kids. The stories they tell and the things they find always amaze us.
If we do a full family camp, we have one thing always in mind and that’s to ”keep things simple”. We take a tent that is easy to set up, furniture that the kids can unfold and sleeping bags that will actually go back in their stuff sacks. We make sure we have a plan for rainy weather, togs and towels in case its hot enough to swim, and snacking food as the kids tend to graze rather than have scheduled mealtimes like at home.
When I am lucky enough to adventure out a little further with our nine year old, Grace, we get to see her abilities shine through even more. She’s a true adventurer wanting to complete tramps or hammock over night in some of the craziest places. She tests my own limits on what we can achieve together, how far we can go and at what point is enough enough. She grows in ability and confidence every time we are out.
Grace has attended a few tramps with us now and has done since she was seven, she carries all of her own gear and is a blast to have in the group. You might find me asking her to stop talking so much from time to time though!
For our son, we use camping and nature as a way to help him with his own life challenges. He has an amazing connection and appreciation for nature.
We often find calm, quite spots where we camp, and he loves to climb trees and throw stones into streams. I have learnt to find the peace that comes from such simple things to relax my own busy mind.
Lastly, our youngest girl is in her element when she’s knee high in mud, a flower in her hair, while singing a song that she’s made up. Birds and animals are her connection to being outdoors and you will often find her doing her best to bring a lost soul home hidden in her day pack.
While all of this sounds to good to be true, it’s available to everyone who camps. We don’t have any special skill set that allows us to enjoy these things, we just simply get out and give it a go as much as possible.
We encourage as many families as possible to give camping a go. Remember our golden rule to keep it simple! You won’t need the biggest tent or flashiest BBQ to have an amazing time. The kids won’t remember how many rooms you had in the tent, but they will cherish the memories that are made when you make it an adventure.
Here’s a few of our favourite memories made as a family so far. We hope it helps inspire you and your family to get out and about!
Check out our Facebook group HERE for more inspiration and join an awesome camping community
If you love what we do, please consider “buying us a coffee” to help us fund our endeavour of helping New Zealander’s get outdoors! All donations go towards the running of NZFA.
Happy Adventuring
Jono & Chloe
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