We talked about it and we did it.  We upgraded from the 1970 something pop up to a 2016 travel trailer.

And of course once we brought it home we couldn’t wait to take it out for a weekend.  So we packed it up (and have a list now of all the things we need to add to it) and headed west to Shawano County Park. Neither one of us had ever camped there before.  We needed 2 sites but since we booked it about a week and a half before we went we weren’t able to get them next to each other.  That was kind of annoying but definitely understandable. We only had 2 sites between us so it wasn’t the end of the world either.  The sites were pretty big and didn’t have a lot of trees (which is both good and bad.)  And they had both water and electric hook ups.  They were a short walk to the lake (about 450 steps- yes I counted) so going back for things we forgot wasn’t too bad.

There was a nice sand beach at the lake .  It was busy but not as crowded as expected.  There is a newer playground for the kids, lots a picnic tables and trees for relaxing under.  There is also a snack bar that serves hot food as well as both hand-scooped and soft serve ice cream and treats.

It was great to have the kids out in nature.  We had mobile service so they were able to stay connected but mostly they hung outside with us.  They road bikes, walked to the beach, sat by the fire and had conversations. I love this about camping.  At home the older kids tend to hide in their bedrooms for extended periods of time. When we are camping they come outside even if it’s just to sit around.  And when it rained Sunday morning we had a nice awning to sit under and a great camper to keep the kids dry.

Camping also gives us opportunities to teach the kids new things and to get them to help out.  Cleaning up the site before we leave, putting things away, taking the dog for a walk, and even tearing down and getting the camper hooked up to the truck.  Hopefully by the time they are old enough they will be able to do this all by themselves.