First Time Camper

written by Donna VanAllen

So this may sound crazy but my first ever camping trip February 5th if 2023!!

My parents helped run a boys camp when I was little, so I have always been an outdoors type of person…but I have never been camping.

In January of 2023 my youth pastor, Laura , was approached by Haley Dake about taking our girls youth backpacking in Colorado. Me and ten other girls jumped at the opportunity and now we have a group set to depart for Colorado at June 1st at 3 AM for our grand adventure.

I don’t think I realized how different camping was from just hanging out in the woods. Our first camping trip was an experience to say the least.

After our parents took bets on what time our group of eight girls would come scrambling back to the house in the middle of the night, we all packed up and set off to prove them wrong.

First off eight girls in one tent is and experience of itself and when six of these eight girls have never slept outside that’s a disadvantage of itself. Everything went smoothly until dark. We had dinner made, camp site set up (the tent was backward but that’s a minor detail) and a fire was going! After dinner we all climbed into our crammed tent and got into our nice cold sleeping bags! After about two hours of restlessness, talking, uno, and some pranks we all decided we couldn’t sleep as exhausted as we were. After some girls debating about going back to the house we pull ourselves together and all start to pray. Prayer helped a lot for the restlessness and within minutes we had almost all laid down and fallen asleep.

It wasn’t a great sleep but we all stayed out there. After a short nights sleep at 5:30am our day began. We woke up the next morning looking absolutely exhausted but everyone was happy. I got up made breakfast and sat by the fire as one by one the nine other girls crawled out of our backwards tent. After a delicious breakfast or oatmeal and fruit we packed up everything into the ranger then all plied on. Making it back to the house we divided our gear up and headed to home.

I never thought that opportunity to go to Colorado could change someone so much. Not only am I going camping more but I’m also going on hikes with my family and friends. I learned how to dress, pack, set up tents and carry gear. I also learned how to fundraise, organize and plan events. Not even left for Colorado and I already have learned so many useful skills. This trip has been a very eye opening experience, and I can’t wait to grow closer with my friends. I hope we all take get to away more life lessons.