Seeing my little one busy on the phone every day, ignoring the joys of nature and its beauty, I had a sudden realisation that all is not good in this technology filled world. It is no fault of his that he has access to all the gizmos at such a tender age. Just as any inquisitive child would, he has confined himself or should I say defined himself with that easily-accessible-world in his palms. His pastimes include killing goons on his Xbox One or browsing through the dreary online space. He may be learning fast with these activities, but I have been unsure if he is learning right.

My Plan and Execution

In order to break through his world and bring him close to the effervescent nature, I devised a plan. I called up his uncle, who is a good friend of mine, and planned a trip to Acadia National Park in Maine. He was quite pleased with my initiative as he was sailing in the same boat with his kid mirroring the habits of mine. It was kept as a secret to prevent any impulsive backlash from the youngsters.

The day they came to our place, we set off on our camping trip. As we entered Bar Harbor – the town centre of the island – the positive reaction of the kids to the scenic place boosted our confidence. We mustered up some courage and revealed our secret plan. To our surprise they came aboard on the idea without any protest. It clearly showed that their inner voice was screaming for them to go out, but they were too busy and trapped in their gadgets to listen to it.

Our Joy

We set our stall at seawall which is not as touristy as other camping sites. The solitude and the pure air were relaxing to our oxygen-lusting lungs. Breaking the silence were the chirps from our kids. With sheer eagerness, they were rushing here and there, jostling with each other in their quest to create the perfect camp.

Our Resolve

After setting up the camp, we planned on making a bonfire. The idea excited the kids, but they were too exhausted to help us. We left the kids at the campsite and went out in search of burnable wood. We were procuring the supplies to burn when the boom of thunder struck us. As we had drifted far away from our kids in the search of dry wood, we got worried. It took us a considerable amount of time to reach the campsite. What we saw there was disbelieving to our eyes. Instead of being afraid, our kids were locked in each other’s embrace and cajoling each other. We overheard their banter which was quite amusing yet reassuring. We discovered their level of maturity and toughness in distress. They were out of their comfort zone yet calm. The elements of nature had brought them together. Their kindness and love for each other showed us that they are on the right path.

Our Learning

We taught our kids the art of tying different knots; we caught fish together and went on a long hike on a never ending trail. All these activities inculcated team spirit and inspired a love for nature in our kids. This trip was as much about them learning from us as us learning from them.

Our Message

Future generations need to fall in love with nature so that they develop a bond with it. Without this bond they won’t make the extra effort required to preserve the depreciating natural wealth. A camping trip is more than just a pastime; it is an initiative to preserve the nature for posterity.