Camping story, new campers, unlikely campers

©Copyright LillyGrillzit all rights reserved 07/24/10

For many of us, it is hard to imagine a person, or family who has never been camping. Having been at or below the Poverty level and being an Inner-City dweller, I have met a lot of people who always wanted to go camping, but never were given the opportunity.

Millions of kids are surrounded by concrete, asphalt and smoke stacks. If they did have a parent taking care of them, that parent likely never went camping either, and are so busy making a living, they could not fathom how to take their children camping.

I started life in the San Bernardino National Forest until I was 4. I spent as much time outdoors as possible. We did finally move down to a suburb of Los Angeles, but the Inner-city neighborhood was not far away. I was lucky that I had some crazy Uncles who like to go out to the Mojave Desert and kill cans. I always craved being outside. My first husband is the one who brought me to Arkansas. When I first saw all of the Nature and Beauty I fell in love. The Ozark Mountains, the Ouachitas and the St. Francis National Forest became my Haven.

Barefoot and pregnant, having four children, my husband moved on. I was left the sole supplier of home, food, clothes and entertainment. I can assure you that in 1984, a grocery store cashier with only a G.E.D. did not make a lot of money, but I made too much to get any help. I became a coupon queen, and learned to pinch a penny until it squealed into a dollar. We were very lucky to live near a National Park that is in the St. Francis National Park. That park was adjacent to Piney Creek. A creek that in Southern California would be classified as a river.

Everyday after work, and every day off this is where we went. We would take our 1964 Smurf Blue Ford Falcon, and drive the backwoods roads, searching for bottles, and beer cans to redeem for gas money. These were our poorest times, but the kids who are all in their 30's say these are some of their best memories. We would pick a dirt road, and just go until we came out on Hwy 7 somewhere.

After compiling our money load, we would buy some hot dogs, cheap pop, some towels and an old blanket. Too poor to afford something as simple as fishing poles, as a project, me and the kids fashioned fishing line out of thick woven string, a thick stick that could be held in both hands, and large safety pins into hooks. Those kids did catch fish, and they learned how to start a fire with pine needles and shredded newspaper. As a "surprise" I would always pull out marshmallows.

The years screamed by, we moved from our rural community back into the city. I have always loved all people, of all races, creeds and color. In our City, I made friends with people who are considered gangsters, rappers and other tough guys. Back then I still made it a habit to go camping almost every weekend. This brought a lot of notice and attention from my friends. They would tease and go on how bears, snakes and other wildebeests would get anyone who would go to the woods. As African Americans they had a healthy fear of going to the "country".

The subject came up all the time, until finally one day, I dared one of my thug friends...I said he was chicken if he didn't go, yada yada. That was the start of a nerve racking, but satisfying portion of my life. For several years I had an off-shoot ministry of my own making; "Adopt-A-Thug: Take Him Camping". Many of these tough-guys, still have that inner-child who would do anything to add camping to their repertory. In our town, I still run into these guys. When they see me, they lose the 'mean-mug', and give me the biggest smiles ever. It is something they will never forget.

Once we got to the woods, some adjustments had to be made.

1. Swimming Trunks for Canoeing, Not Sagging Shorts. [You are nervous about leaving your piece behind, but you cannot carry a canoe and hold your pants up at the same time. ]
2. Quiet after 10:00 p.m. Doesn't mean it is okay to Bump the Campsite before 10:00 p.m.. Turn off the Bass, and listen to the beautiful sounds of Nature.
3. Do Not Invite Your Homies! They will get their turn. Once they see you survived the Camping Trip. You will get plenty of pictures. This is called,"Making Memories".
4. Bug Spray and Drinking Water are necessities.
5. All Fires, including cigarette and blunts must be kept off of the forest floors. If you see anyone acting dangerous with Fire, or throw a butt into the woods, Bust a cap in their ass. [just kidding ]
6. Leave the Camping Area Cleaner than when you got there.
7. Smile. You are fulfilling a childhood dream.
8. Keep All Food Put Away From the Tent. Throw Trash Away in the Farthest Trash Cans.(this keeps bears and wildebeests away - mostly it is skunks and other little critters )
   
9. Bring Extra Toilet Paper.
10. Take Lots of Pictures (Disposable cameras are really good for this, get one for everyone who is coming on the trip, gather them up at the end of the trip, and share with every camper)

There are other places in the US, where camping has different rules, and must be handled according to the wildlife. If you go camping where bears, mountain lions and other large carnivore roam, do your research before going. You must be careful to keep foodstuffs and other garbage hung in trees far from camp .