News release

Family Camping a Fun Team Effort

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

As a parent of two adolescents, Ellen Henwood of Hants County has much to keep her busy. You might think camping would be out of the question. But for Ellen and her children, Rosemary and Timothy, camping is a joy and a great way to spend good times together.

"Camping is the key to survival for me," says Ellen. "As a single parent, I had a lot of doubts at first as to whether I could do this. But I quickly learned the skills I needed to make camping fun. And if you are not having a good time when you are outdoors, then why go?"

Ellen also participates in the Nova Scotia Provincial Parks’ Campground Host Program. Hosts agree to stay two weeks in one of the provincial parks and offer other campers information about park amenities and nearby attractions. Some campers find watching Ellen cook a roast at her camp site to be quite an attraction.

Cook a roast? In a campground?

"Oh, sure," says Ellen, as if this were the most natural thing in the world. "I experiment with different ways to cook outdoors. I have developed various types of ovens to make pot roast, bake potatoes, or bake biscuits and cookies. It may sound complicated, but it is truly easy. I also have a rule with my kids that each of us makes one meal a day. Well, sometimes my son or daughter might take shortcuts; Timothy may serve cold cereal for breakfast and Rosemary will make sandwiches for lunch."

Ellen laughs as she says this, but there is a serious undertone.

"I want my children to be independent and able to make good decisions. When we go camping, I give them responsibilities and duties, but I also ensure they participate in the decision- making. It creates a feeling of team work and results in more time for fun things like biking and swimming," she says.

This year, Ellen is planning a 10-kilometre bike trek to Laurie Provincial Park near Fall River.

"The kids really want to do this and I have been thinking about it for some time. I want to try camping without a tent. We’ll make a lean-to and cover it with tarps," she said. "For me, it’s about testing myself and overcoming the fear of the unknown or things I haven’t tried. Different people camp in different ways. Each time I go, I want to learn something."

Safety and security are paramount to Ellen.

"When I register at a park, I ensure the park attendants are aware that I am a single parent with two children. They know no one else should be in or around my campsite," she says.

She knows the benefits of taking her children camping.

"I think I have earned their respect. They see that Mom can do things like build a fire, and provide food and shelter outdoors," she says. "I have learned a lot about them too. When you are sitting around a campfire, there is no television, no computer, and no video games. So, you talk, play board games and generally learn things about your children that you didn’t know before you left that morning."

She cites last year’s trip to McNab’s Island as an example.

"Each of us thought the other had packed a flashlight. Well, we hadn’t, so there we were with no lights. We went to bed early and played Tell the Truth for hours. The things I learned," says Ellen.

Ellen’s daughter Rosemary knows what she likes best about camping.

"It gets us out of the house and we have a good time," says Rosemary.

Does the idea of leaving the house, and housework, behind and having a good time with your kids in the outdoors appeal to you?

"It is truly a marvelous time for me and for the kids," says Ellen. "My style of camping may not be for everyone, but for everyone, the experience should be fun, low maintenance and no stress." As summer draws near, Ellen is keen to get outside.

"Nova Scotia Provincial Parks are great and I intend to camp there and enjoy them as often as I can," she says.

Ellen’s Camping Do’s and Don’ts

  • Respect the environment; leave your campsite in good condition

  • Take duct tape; it is great for any fix-up chore you can imagine

  • Take lots of books; it is a great time to relax and catch up on your reading.

  • Pack games, cards, pens, and paper

  • Don''t over-pack; the keep-it-simple rule applies or you may as well stay home

  • Don''t tie up or bundle your sleeping bag; let it hang so that the fibres will not get compressed

  • Don''t worry; camping should be fun