Before we launch off into Favorite Things Friday, I’d like to announce the winner of the Eureka AirSpeed One vacuum giveaway.  We had 619 entries from all across the United States.  I quickly counted at least 20 states represented among the Twitter entries.  The winner of the giveaway is Colin M. from Florida!  Thank you to everyone for participating.  Based on the response to this giveaway, you can expect more of them in the future.  Now on to Favorite Things Friday…

This week we take a look at one of my favorite things to do – camping!  In whatever form it comes in, there is something special about camping.  From backwoods treks to the “camping” we did last week in the RV, there are few things more enjoyable than being out and about in this beautiful world that we live in.

Here’s something you’d probably not guess… I was 19 when I first went camping.  A local college ran a summer program taking students on a cross-country camping trip.  This class was one of the best things I did in college!  Over the course of two weeks we traveled from Texas up to the Yellowstone area and back.  Along the way we camped at several of the major national parks.  Part of our trip was a multi-day trek in the backcountry of the Teton range.  The best part?  The class earned a semester’s worth of credit in science, English and physical education…in 2 weeks!  If you’re a college student, or know one, this is a great way to learn and gain some college credit.  I couldn’t find information about a 2013 trip, but here is a link to the 2012 brochure with contact information for Jim Black who is the trip leader.

From that point forward I was hooked.  I did a second trip with the college group that went out to the Sierra Nevada area of California.  I worked a few summers with an outfit in Durango, CO that took youth groups into the back country, rock climbing and repelling.  And all of that took me to the point where I lived in the woods for half a year on the Appalachian Trail.

Camping changed me as a person.  Most people who venture off into the woods come back better.  You learn a lot about yourself, what is really necessary in life, and your relationship with the world we live in.  I always come back with a greater respect for God because of the amazing things I see in His creation.

Camping doesn’t have to be roughing it.  I mentioned earlier that we have a travel trailer and go “camping” in it.  Last weekend we were out at The Vineyards Campground and Cabins on Lake Grapevine.  This isn’t far from our home, but being out there felt like we had left town and were far away from home.  I picked up our trailer a few years ago on Craigslist and  it has been a good, basic trailer for us.  The girls had a blast fishing, eating all our meals at a picnic table, cooking our food over a fire, flying kites, playing and exploring.

I think the best part of trailer camping is the community.  We met people from across the country, from far away as Alaska.  When the girls were out playing, other kids nearby would hear them and come out to join the fun.  It just felt like a throwback to a different time when people didn’t worry as much.  Plus there were some amazing rigs to look at since this is a place where a lot of full-timers camp.

Camping doesn’t have to be expensive.  I bet almost everyone knows someone who has camping gear they could borrow.  I’m always happy to lend out my tents, stoves, etc. so people can go give it a try.  So many state parks offer camping for $5 or $10 a night where you can pull up, pop out your tent and start enjoying.  This time of year is perfect in Texas for some camping.  Nothing will make you appreciate the comforts of home like sleeping on the ground for a few days 🙂

I hope you have a great weekend and maybe you’ll get out there and go exploring this weekend!  Here is a little gallery of photos from our trip to the lake last weekend…