How Camping Brings Families (And Friends!) Closer

My family wasn't a camping family, but I always imagined what it would be like. My younger brother and I tried it a few times, and made it through the nights unscathed - but little could be said for the poor wildlife that heard our bickering, giggles, and the frantic "what was that?" whispers when we ultimately got too scared by the noises that go howling at the moon nearby in our heavily wooded backyard. (Oh, the memories!) I went camping more often as a teenager/young woman with friends who had become like family. That's where I learned the ways of tent camping, having an appreciation for what goes into it, and gave me a love of nature to bring to share with my own family someday.

There was something magic about it. Not a flashy magic, but the slow, glowing kind that builds as you share a tent with a friend that will become like a sibling afterwards, when you cook a meal that may or may not be fully done all the way through - then opt out to just gorge on smores instead - and fall asleep to the sound of crickets and someone’s quiet snoring. When you camp together, you’re not just sharing space—you’re sharing experience. And that brings people closer in the best, most genuine way. You're away from all the distractions, the expectations, where y'all can be truly yourselves. It builds a strong connection.

You can do this in an RV, too! My husband and I live full time in ours, so we lost a bit of the 'camping' feel by ours being home. A way we supplement that is to only go inside for bathroom breaks. We set up a tent outside in our site, with a fire going, grilling our food , having a cooler set up with canned drinks, and to just a little extra fun I have a small blow up pool we can lounge in for the summer months. We replicate whatever we can, acting as if we are not just 10 feet away from home and really out in the wilderness. Living on-site at a genuine campground - we have the ability to go camping whenever, just with the convenience of running water!

We just have to choose to disconnect from our day to day lives, and commit to being really in the moment, turning off the wifi, stepping away from our screens and engaging fully with one another. This is definitely a bonding hack, if you ever feel disconnected with your spouse, just turn off all the noise around you for even 1 day. It can really bring you back together again! Bonus points - we have the option of leaving our dog children inside overnight for a nice little break. They're very needy and love to sleep with us, so if we ever need some space we can just turn that A/C on for them, make sure their water bowl is full, they're fed, and let them live like they're the humans of the house and we are the animals, outdoors!

Setting Up for Connection!

Setting up camp is like a mildly chaotic team-building exercise, you know the ones that they make you do at work retreats to test your abilities with co-workers? Yeah, like that but with extra dirt and less A/C.

There's tent poles to figure out (which direction does this go again?), RV hoses to carefully attach while someone is tripping over the supports, sleeping bags and air mattresses to wrestle with. It’s messy, noisy, a little frustrating and somehow completely wonderful all at the same time. Everyone gets a job, and except for great aunt Nancy who shouldn't be on this trip anyway but insisted on the family bonding - Most everyone doesn't mind a little bit of imperfection.

Even the kids are jumping head first. They're learning, pitching in, and giggling through it all with excitement.

Capable, curious and covered in campground grime while grinning from ear to ear while they problem solve in the most natural way possible. I am a firm believer that children learn best by doing, by having play that serves a purpose, and by giving the chance to make mistakes and fixing it - themselves! So often as adults we want to correct and do it for them because it either takes up too much time or may be a little on the dangerous side, but with supervision the littlest of us can do so much more than we give them credit for. They're incredibly resourceful when left to their devices! Take a moment, attempt to drop the to-do list, and watch the kids shine in a new, unplugged, wild light.

There, you build a connection of trust and wonder. You can see them as little human beings gaining much needed knowledge, it's an experience and it's fun too!

The Firelight Effect

Once the sun dips below the trees and the fire crackles to life, the world shifts gears. With the sound of crickets and tree frogs as the ambient soundtrack, conversation stretches out, laughter lingers longer. Deep thoughts sneak in beside burnt marshmallows and hot cocoa. Stories start being shared about the past, ghost stories sneak in to spook, and as the night goes on a feeling of peace and acceptance comes. Where you know you're safe and unjudged by the people you're with - so maybe a few secrets and heartaches slip out - But is met with understanding and support.

Nobody’s checking the time, or on their devices and for once, no one’s multitasking.

It’s like the flames hypnotize us into being fully present—and it feels good. Great, even. The kids are beginning to fall asleep in the chairs and the parents are getting ready to tuck them into whatever crazy sleeping arrangement they concocted earlier, best friends are quietly chuckling while sipping on some beers, reminiscing.. And the moon watches over them all.

Little Adventures, Big Bonds

During the day, camping becomes this wonderful excuse for adventure. Whether it’s a hike, skipping stones across a lake, fishing up a big one, figuring out how to cook pancakes on a camp stove with varying degrees of success or baking cinnamon rolls in the RV oven that never seems to work, every little moment becomes a memory. You cheer each other on, get lost and found, and laugh way more than you expected, mostly at the little things!

And when something goes a little sideways cause they always do—rainstorms, forgotten gear, wildlife invading your space, mysterious forest noises—that’s where the best stories are born. Those shared “oh no” moments become part of your storybook, your own friend's and family lore, retold again and again (sometimes with embellishment) but with more laughter and little less panic.

Like the time I went camping with an ex - We swore a bear or mountain lion was outside our very flimsy tent, we were in our late teens, didn't have the extra funds to spend on all the best gear so we just made do with what we had.

It was right when the sun was coming up but cloudy and slightly rainy, so we hadn't left the the tent yet. We were just laying there, and something BIG was right outside, grunting and stomping around. I remember holding my breath, a little tear squeezing out of my eye - thinking this is how I die, mauled to death by a wild animal.. Until my ex made some loud noises and wildly swung his arms around - while inside the tent and brought the whole thing down on us.

Whatever beast it was, it ran off and we survived to quickly pack up incase it came back, and continued on our journey to the bathroom and to find a new place to pitch our tent. The cooler was knocked over, eggs were broken, I think it may have run off with a can of biscuits - but we were fine, and it turned out to be a funny memory that I still have, even after we parted ways. (Thinking back on it now, the likelihood of it just being a hog, or even a rather chunky raccoon is highly possible - But I stick to the bear theory for the added drama!)

Why It Sticks

Back home, life is so fast it's like having whiplash everyday.

There's doctor appointments, groceries to buy, meals to plan, school drop off and pick ups, cooking those meals, business meetings, self improvement needs, school/college, working out, all these things that have us constantly going and going. Everyone has somewhere to be, something to do and it feels never ending. Your brain is constantly thinking about what, who, what, when and where on repeat from the moment you wake and sometimes not even getting enough sleep.

But camping slows it all down. It reminds us what it’s like to just be. That there's more to the hustle and bustle, and that life is much more beautiful than we notice. It reminds us to just be, and stop and smell the roses. It re-grounds us into a better headspace to continue on. It lets us just be with each other, with no performance, no pressure.

You wake up tangled in blankets, smoke scent glued to you, hear someone making coffee on the camp stove, and realize you haven’t checked your phone in hours. And it’s fine. More than fine—it’s peaceful. This is what presence feels like. And it’s even better when you share it with the people you love most.

So Dust Off That Tent (Yes, Even That One)

Even if you’re not the “camping type,” like my family was, you gotta give it a try. You don’t need a mountain view or fancy gear. A weekend at a local campground or a backyard night under the stars can do the trick, just like I mentioned in the beginning of this post.

Out there where the air smells like pine and fire, you’ll find something precious: real connection, honest joy, and the kind of memories that linger long after the last ember fades.

Below I’ve included a little quick guide that I complied off of some research online and my own personal suggestions so you don't have to!

Hopefully this can give you some idea's on how to make the most out of your camping trip with your friends and family!

How to Make It More Than Just a Trip!

Camping doesn’t have to be perfect to be unforgettable. In fact, it’s often the little mess-ups, the spontaneous laughs, and the unplugged moments that make it the best. This guide is for those who want more than just a night in a tent—you want connection, adventure, and a little bit of magic.

Here’s how to turn your camping trip into a memory-making experience:

1. Plan With Your Kids, Not Just For Them

Get everyone involved early on. Let each family member choose something for the trip—a campsite activity, a favorite snack, even a silly rule like “Dad has to wear a funny hat while cooking.” When kids have a say, they feel more invested and excited and it opens up their independence.

📝 Pre-trip Ideas:

• Have a family meeting to vote on your campsite or route.

• Create a shared “camping wish list” (roast marshmallows, spot a deer, tell ghost stories, etc.)

• Make personalized packing checklists together.

• Make personalized snackleboxes the night before.

• Plan out 1 thing each person wants to see or do so everyone feels involved.

2. Bring Some Rituals or Traditions

Make your camping trip feel yours by creating a few simple traditions. These little routines can become the heart of your outdoor memories.

💡 Ideas to Try:

• First-night fire circle: everyone shares one thing they’re grateful for.

• Agree to only use devices at a certain time of day / designate one person as the device holder.

• “Camp Awards Night” on your last evening (silliest camper, best helper, loudest snorer).

• A signature campfire meal or treat (banana boats? foil bowl dinners? homemade hot pockets?) I love making shrimp boil packets and cinnamon rolls!

• If you're in an RV, lay down a rule that you can't stay the whole day in the amazing, wonderful A/C and make a point to be outside and disconnected. That's the point of camping after all!

3. Make Room for Quiet Moments

As much as adventures matter, so do the slow, peaceful parts. Build in time for everyone to just be.

🌿 Quiet Moment Ideas:

• Early morning coffee or cocoa by the fire.

• A nature scavenger hunt or journaling session.

• Stargazing with a blanket and zero agenda.

• Meditation.

• A good old selfcare book.

• Wordsearch or crosswords.

4. Pack for Creativity, Not Just Survival

Alongside your usual gear, toss in a few things that inspire creativity. Nature is the best art studio and playground.

🎒 Creative Must-Haves:

• Sketchbooks or notebooks

• A pack of colored pencils or watercolors

• DIY friendship bracelet string

• Small puzzle (bonus if it's of the state or place you're visiting!)

• A small Polaroid camera or disposable for memory-making

5. Embrace the “Beautiful Mess”

Don’t stress over making everything perfect. Let the pancakes burn a little. Let your kids stay dirty. Let the schedule go if the moment’s good. Camping is about loosening the grip on perfection and holding tighter to the present.

Tip: Document the trip as it is—muddy feet, smoky clothes, lopsided tents and all. These are the things you’ll laugh about later. Designate someone as the cameraman (or woman!) the one person who will take pictures, someone you know will get the 'funny' shots.

6. Conversation Starters Around the Campfire

Sometimes the best talks happen in the flicker of firelight. Keep a few prompts handy for deeper connection.

🔥 Campfire Questions:

• What’s one thing you’re proud of this year?

• If you could wake up anywhere tomorrow, where would it be?

• What’s your earliest memory?

• What’s something you want to learn to do this year?

7. Packing Extras That Make a Difference

Here are a few bonus items that can elevate the trip:

• Hammock

• Glow sticks or fairy lights

• A Bluetooth speaker for quiet music during meals

• A travel-size board game or card deck

• Mini whiteboard for notes, doodles, or “today’s activity”

• Mini-fans

• Snackleboxes (tackle boxes filled with snacks!)

It’s About Togetherness

Whether it’s your first camping trip or your fifteenth, remember that it’s not about nailing every detail—it’s about connection. Being outside just gives you more room to breathe, to laugh, and to see each other clearly, without the noise.

So go ahead. Make s’mores. Get a little lost. Watch the stars. Let the trip be a little wild and a lot of you.