Yes, I know I have taken liberties with a well known and loved slogan. But I have not done so flippantly. Several well known Christian authors have stressed the benefits that come to families that camp together. Two that come to mind are Jim Dobson and Gary Smalley.
Both off these men have stated that the “forced” closeness that comes through camping somehow also strengthens emotional and spiritual bonds of families as well. As a camping enthusiast who just returned from five days in the BWCAW, these words warm the cockles of my heart.
Why is camping so beneficial? Smalley and Dobson share a few reasons:
- In our busy lives, families are often fragmented-camping forces togetherness.
- Camping is a shared activity with shared work responsibilities. Children may see parents in different roles. In our family the men do the meal planning and cooking.
- Families learn to adjust to unpredictable weather as well as pleasant and unpleasant situations; thereby learning to be flexible and go with the flow!
- Due to the relaxed nature of camping , families are able to talk and share more easily.
- The “great outdoors” is a wonderful classroom to teach creation, God’s love for us, his provision for us and many other Biblical values. Read the Psalms, David the Psalmist was an outdoorsman as seen in his writings.
- A campfire is a good place to sing, dream, and worship God and enjoy each others presence.
- Jesus modeled camping with us: John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” The Greek word for dwelling here literally means to tent or encamp.
There are other benefits to family camping, but I’ll stop with these. By the way, you can camp in many ways: you can camp in a tent or camper, or even a Holiday Inn. Some camp in private or public campgrounds. Others camp at family camps or conference grounds.
Is your family disjointed? Go camping together. Do you want to strengthen family ties? Go camping together. Need “family time”? Go camping!
Remember that “The family that camps together stays together!” Take advantage of our short Minnesota warm weather to camp together.
By the way Target and EMI, have a sale on camping gear.
