Camping 101: "Living Outside"

I think it is pretty comical when you say you are going or went camping and people reply with the question "in a tent?" As far as I'm concerned that IS camping and there isn't any other form. Yes, you can sleep in a campground in a camper/RV but come on that isn't truly camping when you have toilets/running water and TV's on board!

Anyway we took our inaugural camping trip this past weekend with Cole and Tucker up to Stony Point Campground which is located in Chippewa National Forest on Leech Lake, about 3 hours from the Twin Cities. We towed the boat and had the truck full to its brim with "stuff" but we used 85% of that "stuff" which was pretty impressive since you just never know what your needs may be due to location/weather.

The campground was beautiful and well-run and our site had views of the lake. Cole had been so excited as we packed, pushing the buttons on our lanterns and just generally curious about "living outside". Once onsite, he helped Dave put up the tent as I set up the table and supplies. We then walked out to the point and looked out in awe at the vast body of water (Leech Lake is the 3rd largest lake in MN at 140,000 plus acres). We grilled hot dogs and made s'mores and then nestled in to the tent well before it got dark which in those parts is well after 10pm.

My early riser was up with the birds, literally at 4:45am. We had to keep him quiet at least until 6am so we were grateful for the DVD player, LOL. Tucker and I took a stroll out to the boat dock and watched the sun come up. We cooked up some breakfast and we were on our boat by 8:30am. We tooled around and the boys fished some. We moved to another location and the boys fished again (nada nothing). The water was way too cold to swim so they tried fishing in spot #3 (no luck). We headed back to camp and had an early dinner, then headed back out on the boat for a post-dinner cruise. The sunset was AMAZING, the water calm and lake quiet and peaceful. Back to camp for more s'mores. Another early morning, though not as early and out on the boat again. The storm clouds began to build mid-morning so we headed back to camp and packed up.

Just a short camping adventure but one of many more to come. So many places to explore in our own "backyard" of 10,000+ lakes.