It was dark and I was lying on the boat dock looking up at the stars.  I remember thinking how much brighter they were out here compared to the city. Just as that thought crossed my mind I heard the ringing of the little bell that was attached to the end of my fishing pole. My first look was to the end of my pole, my second look was at my Dad, he heard it too and told me to grab my pole and see if the fish was still there. As I pulled on the pole I felt life, so I did like I was taught and set the hook.  The battle was on! I remember the smile Dad had on his face; I didn’t know it then but that was one of the greatest bonding experiences I have ever had with my father. It wasn’t the fact that I caught a fish, but that my Dad had taught me how to do it.   Any worry we had, any disagreement that came between us seemed to disappear the moment the lake was in view. I continue to camp, travel and fish with my parents today and I think our relationship is as good as it has ever been.

Many of us have had those experiences, and like mine, camping and fishing have anchored a lot of them.

Families that camp together stay together, I know it’s a cliché saying, but it couldn’t be more true. I get the chance to talk to hundreds of families a year in my job. One of the questions I like to ask is what got them into camping. Generally the answer is, just like mine, they say that they grew up camping and just had so much fun.  They want to let their kids experience the fun.

You can buy your kids all the toys and computer games they want, but in 10 years or 20 years when they look back on their childhood it’s not going to be their xbox or cell phone they remember, it’s going to be the time they spent with their family. It’s going to be that night on the dock with Dad batling the big fish, the board games in the RV with Mom and the great time they had tubing and skiing with their siblings.

RV’s and boats won’t solve your problems, but I can guarantee the times you spend in them with your family will create memories that will last a lifetime and might make you a happier, closer family.