Camping Family Reunion 2018

Imagine you're getting ready to attend your family reunion. Feeling any stress? You agonize over clothing and potluck choices. Now, imagine getting ready to go to a family reunion at which you swim, paddle, hike, and stare wistfully into the flames of a campfire. Imagine doing this with your family if you're feeling friendly, or hiding at your own campsite and relaxing in peaceful solitude if your inner cranky-pants gets the best of you.




Summer rolled around once again, time for our annual camp out with my siblings and as many of their kids as could be bamboozled into joining us. Glamping for Ams, my husband and I, these trips involve camping next to the car and taking leisurely hikes and paddles or bike rides depending on the venue. This year we chose Governor Dodge State Park in Southwestern Wisconsin near Dodgeville and the House on the Rock. Located on Highway 23, this park has two lakes, both with beaches and both popular for paddling. The trails in the park include hiking, mountain bike, and horse trails that lead around the lakes, to a cave, past a waterfall, and to a historic homestead. Enough interest to keep the kids busy, but easy enough for the entire family.

Antsy to get going, our family arrived a day early and had a nice quiet Sunday night in the park. We paddled around Cox Hollow Lake with Mom and Dad in the canoe and Ams tethered to us in a raft. Ams explored the trails behind our camp and provided us guided tours while mimicking the voice of Bindi Irwin.  On our first morning in camp, I enjoyed a nice sunrise hike around the Lost Canyon Trail. Highlights of the trail, in addition to the boulder strewn creek and Stephen's Falls included scaring some turkeys, flustering them so badly that one flew directly into a boulder and gave itself a good knock on the head. Other highlights included eating sun-ripened wild blackberries found along the trail and enjoying the summer wildflowers.

Video tour of the Lost Canyon and Stephen's Falls Trails

On the afternoon of day 2 our extended family began to arrive. Before long, the kids began looking for their first adventure. We took the kids kayaking on Cox Lake as the sun went down. Some of the family canoed to a bluff and got out for a swim and to hike to the top of the bluff. This was my second time in a kayak belonging to my sister, I enjoyed the independence of paddling my own solo boat versus our usual tandem arrangement. We watched turkey vultures, geese, a king fisher and a snapping turtle and enjoyed the evening. Campfire time rolled around quickly.

A quick look at the lakes.

Getting silly with the Pringles, quack-quack.

On day 3, I went for a sunrise hike on my own and came back for breakfast before taking the family on a rerun of my day 2 hike. Everyone enjoyed eating blackberries as much as I had, and the kids crawled all over the boulders and climbed onto many of the boulders and small bluffs. By the end of the hike the overwhelming sun had everyone ready for a break. I spent some time relaxing around camp and made hamburgers for lunch. The temperature topped 90˚F, and we decided to go into town ice shopping for an AC break. The flies preferentially bit me, and by the end of the day my neck looked well-eaten. We took the kids to the amphitheater to shadow dance on the stage and watch the stars after dark.

Morning sky.

Heading over to the Lost Canyon Trail

Along the Stephen's Falls Trail.

On day 4, I took another nice sunrise walk. When the others woke, we set out to paddle Twin Valley Lake. This time our family canoed amongst our extended family in their kayaks. We enjoyed the morning before the lake got too busy, chased a few geese, spotted a blue heron, and enjoyed the day before it become too hot. The kids took their kayaks to the beach for a morning swim, and we had good appetites by the time we returned to camp. The afternoon once again hot, we lounged around camp and relaxed. In the evening the kids got together for a hike on the Lake Trail and went for a swim at the beach at Cox Hollow Lake. I enjoyed the cotton candy blues and pinks of the sunset at the beach before heading back to camp.

Paddling Twin Valley Lake.

Cox Hollow Lake at sunset.

On day 5, leaving day, the gang headed down the Meadow Valley Trail towards the Cave Trail. The kids had fun crawling into the cave, which opens up into a room where one can stand and enjoy the cool cave temperatures. I marveled the many wildflowers along this, as well as the other hiking trails. After exploring the cave, the kids quickly hiked back out with promises of icecream at the concession stand motivating their fast exit. The week went by quickly, another camping family reunion on the books. More memories for the kids to look fondly back upon when they are grown with families of their own. Who knows, maybe they will carry forward the tradition.

If you want to get together with family, but don't enjoy the traditional sitting around and eating (and drinking) type family reunion, consider a camping family reunion. The Wisconsin State Parks provide a healthy venue with plenty of good wholesome fun to be had.

That's all for now. Let's get outdoors and keep our wild places wild!