Families bond on Simpson Housing Services camping trip

Camping Kids on the Simpson Family Housing Camping trip

On the last weekend of June, Simpson’s Family Housing program held its annual family camping outing to Camp Kingswood in Mound, Minnesota. We had a record number of participants in attendance: 13 adults and 29 children! The trip to Kingswood is a short, but energy-packed one. Beginning on a Saturday morning and ending early Sunday, it may lack in time, but certainly not in wonderful experiences for all.

While at Kingswood, parents and children have the opportunity to swim in the lake, participate in a high ropes course, play basketball and volleyball, hang out in the lodge for arts and crafts, board games and puzzles. In the evening children play hopskotch and blow bubbles outside and then participate in relay races as parents and staff cheer them on. At dusk we always have a bonfire and s’mores, which are always a big hit.

Outside of the activities, the best part about family camping is the opportunity to see and hear how much the parents and the children enjoy the outing. One thing that really stood out for me this year was the fact that the parents and the children really appeared to bond with one another while we were away. Parents shared experiences with one another and the children really seemed to connect with one another. Older children looked out for the younger children and the younger children enjoyed each others company. It truly was a pleasure to see this take place. It makes all the details of planning and organizing this event worth every single second.