Camping at Champoeg (by Amy)

I have created this false reputation for myself among my church friends that I dislike camping.  Truth be told, I love the outdoors.  I am a "camper."  I find a tremendous amount of peace and solace sitting around a crackling campfire underneath a vast sky of stars.

Most of my camping trips over the years have been youth group camp outs that I am in charge of.  Don't get me wrong--I have wonderful youth group kids that have bonded together on our outdoor expeditions.  Cooking for that many people (and I'm not passionate about cooking anyway), cleaning up, and planning activities leaves me spent. I sleep very little.  One year the middle schoolers went to bed at 11:30 PM and woke up at 5 AM.   Some of it is the mental stress of being responsible for other people's kids in the wilderness and keeping them safe  I am an extrovert so I have that going for me--but even I get claustrophobic and need a break from "people."  I will continue to do youth group camping trips, but not every summer.

I had this idea for Summer 2017 to do three short camping trips--one with each child.  It would give Rob the opportunity to spend time with the other two kids even it was doing a simple movie night at home.  We like having the "one kid only" or "two kids together" dynamic for different experiences.

I love camping around Summer Solstice because it stays light past 9:30 PM and sunlight appears around 5:30 AM.  It has become one of my favorite times of year (unless we're still in the June gloom and it's cold and rainy but thankfully not the case this year).

So last night was Camping Trip #1 with the youngest.  We camped at Champoeg State Heritage Area, about a forty minute drive from our home.  The state park is rich with history as Oregon's first provisional government was formed here in 1843.  There is a visitor's center including a 1860's garden which depicts pioneer life in the early days before Oregon became an official state of the United States.

 We camped in the "tent area" only which was nice and provided ample amount of space.  We enjoyed sitting by the fire, roasting, smores, reading books, coloring with colored pencils, and sharing stories.

One of our favorite things was going to this pioneer style playground that had unique play equipment and a water feature.  

Champoeg is known for its beautiful four mile bike path that goes alongside the Willamette River.  The youngest child wanted to skate part of it.  So we put on her roller skates and I strapped on my 90's style roller blades and away we went!

The river was very calm and picturesque in the morning. The Willamette River goes right through our city.  I have biked alongside it many times here in Salem.  So I enjoyed seeing a more natural part of it away from the city.

I was surprised by the amount of deciduous trees we saw everywhere. Looking at this picture reminds me of Indiana or Michigan.  

  I say I don't really enjoy cooking, but I don't mind it for a few people.  I made grilled french toast this morning.  The youngest added roasted marshmallows and a little chocolate creating "strawberry smores french toast."

Surprisingly I got a decent night sleep.  I am not sure if  it was because we slept on mats versus being on the hard ground.  Maybe it was the melatonin I took at 11 PM.  Or maybe the fact the youngest did not cough or snore all night.  Whatever it was--it was wonderful waking up feeling rested.

We ended our time by going to visitor's center and learned about the Calapooya Indians as well as the fur traders and hunters that occupied our area of the Willamette Valley.  We learned that a flood in 1861 destroyed the town and it was abandoned in 1892.

Stay tuned for my camping trip with the oldest which will be in early July and my trip with the middle child which will most likely be in early August.