Do the Earth

"I love it more than Christmas."

That's my oldest son's reaction when asked if he likes going on our annual camping trip over Labor Day weekend. I think I agree. It's a tradition in my family that goes back about 30 years. Some of my best memories as a kid come from our Labor Day camping excursions. I'm not even sure why. It was always hot. Or raining. Lot of bugs. Poison ivy. Burnt food. Cold showers. Hard beds. Cramped quarters. More bugs. Despite all the shunning of creature comforts, I looked forward to that trip all year long. I still do.

Apparently it's good for you, though.

Our family needs to do it more often. Lately, we only make it out twice a year. Next year I'd like to double that. It's a lot of work to pack up five kids and take them camping, but they really do love it. The list of benefits (especially for children) from spending time outdoors is growing. In Japan, they even have a concept called Shinrin-yoku, which translates to "forest bathing." It's considered a form of therapy and has been shown to decrease cardiovascular disease, lower heart rate and blood pressure, decrease cortisol and increase white blood cell counts. One study showed that a two night trip to a forest resulted in increased human natural killer (NK) cell activity, increased number of NK cells, and increased intracellular anti-cancer proteins with the effects lasting for more than a week afterwards for both men and women. So if the elements and poison ivy don't get you, spending time outdoors can have a real and significant impact on our health.

My kids won't mention the health benefits when they talk about how much they love our annual camping trip. It's fun for them. There's a certain freedom that comes with our week in the woods every year. I can see it in their eyes the moment they step out of the car. Freedom from schedules. Freedom from staying clean. Freedom from electronic screens. Freedom from boredom.

Here are some of my favorite photos from our 2014 trip.

My cousin organized an "obstacle course" for the kids. It was a blast.

It was competitive to say the least.

Sometimes it takes a few years to get promoted from the kiddie table.

Luckily this fella was behind glass.

Experienced hiker. No biggie.

The rocks were GINORMOUS.

Epic canyon hike. Felt like a lost world.

View from above.

Lots to explore.

It took a sharp eye to discover this little guy.

Just dangerous enough to get the heart pumping.

Highly recommended hike in Indiana.

Campsite clothes dryer.

The grown ups got to pretend we were 20 years younger than we really are.

Build a Bigger Iceberg

I took some of the kids camping this weekend (mom stayed home with a sick child and a homebody). We go camping around this time most years. It's freezing cold outside and it's my favorite time to camp. It's the kind of camping where a fire isn't just for looks or roasting marshmallows -- it's for keeping your toes from going numb. The campground is mostly empty and there isn't a bug to be found. It feels just a bit more survivalist and that makes it all the more invigorating.

This was a fairly cold one. The low was 26º and the high was 40º. The kids were completely unfazed and hats and coats somehow managed to become optional. (How do such little bodies with so little insulating fat maintain so much heat?) We were well fed with food and drink that warmed from the inside. The peacefulness of it all was amplified by the cool air and nearly bare trees. We had no choice but to unwind. And, the best part, there was no talk of movies, video games and cell phones.

The water couldn't have been more than 35 degrees.

My grandfather built this killer campfire rig in his shop.
My kids never met him, but they're impressed with his work.

While this may look like chopping firewood, in reality it was
getting the splitter caught in a log. Repeatedly.

The cold was for real.

Cold weather camping bonus: No need for ice!

Junior sausage chef.

Biker heaven.

A Big Fan of the Pigpen

If ever there were a picture that summed up my niece, this is it!

Before the Last Leaf Falls

Every year, when the leaves begin their color change, we head off to Caesar's Creek Lake for a hike through woods. Thank god. At this time of year it's about the only thing for which we slow down. It's always therapeutic. I've got dozens of pictures I've wanted to post for the last two months, but these were my top priority. Looking back at them again is a small dose of much needed medicine.

"I'm free to roam? Really?"

"I'm an old pro."

"Maybe Mom will walk faster if I shove a leaf in her ear."

Sprouted acorns. I don't think I had ever seen one before.

Sprouted acorn. Again. For effect.

All orangey and stuff.

Leaf hunters.

Group shot.

"Thanks for including me in the group shot. Dicks."

Definitely a fall girl.

Teaching? Protecting? Threatening?

Our fearless leader.

And now back to your regularly scheduled madness...

Glen Helen

Went on an awesome hike with the kids this afternoon. The weather was beautiful and Glen Helen is the perfect place for an interesting and challenging hike with youngsters.

More pictures later!

Treasure Hunters

We took advantage of the unseasonably unbelievably absurdly warm weather and went with some friends on our first geocaching hike. Geocaching is something I've been meaning to do with the kids for awhile now. We finally got around to it and the experience did not disappoint. It was a true adventure for the kids with a real payoff. They loved it -- you would have thought they had just struck upon some long lost loot left behind by John Dillinger himself.

ge-o-cach-ing - noun - the recreational activity of hunting for and finding a hidden object by means of GPS coordinates posted on a Web site. (New Oxford American Dictionary)

To start your own geocaching hunts visit geocaching.com and/or download the iPhone app.

You can't go treasure hunting without a good stick.

Only a few billion leaves to search under.

Amelia had no qualms about digging into this rotting tree.

It was right here this whole time?!?!

The loot!

North America's fiercest treasure hunting crew.

And now to ponder what to do with my share of the treasure.

Here ducky, ducky, ducky.

Dad would never let me sit this close to the pond if he didn't have his camera with him.