These families seemed to love the outdoors, adventure, and just being together. That sense of adventure and togetherness is what I’ve tried to create for my own family now that I am a mother of three. Moving to Klamath Falls several years ago rekindled a desire to get out and fully experience the breathtaking natural beauty of this area. Driving around and hiking in nature is lovely, but actually living in it, even just for a weekend, brings about another experience entirely. Full immersion into the sights, smells, and wonder of the outdoors is magical.
My children and I have joined the Klamath “Camping Club,” which is a group of families with kids who schedule camping trips for at least one weekend every month of the summer. We hold a party in the early spring to plan out our dates and adventures so we can reserve the best spots. We camp all over the Klamath Falls region within a four-hour drive or less, from the Oregon Coast to places like the high desert and the massive old-growth forests. We’ve gone swimming in pristine waters, witnessed majestic mountain beauty, and hiked by waterfalls.
But the kids honestly love riding their bikes around the campgrounds, making s’mores by the fire, and simply spending time with family and friends more than anything. Our precious time together is spent deepening connections and making lifelong memories.
“I never camped as a child, but felt a sense of longing and envy every time I heard a friend talking about their family camping trips.”
Life is busy and the modern pace can keep us all tied to our computers and phones. One of the best things about camping is the opportunity to unplug. I realize that my kids want my full attention more than just about anything, and camping provides us with the chance to give each other our full presence. In many locations, our phones don’t even work. Even when there is cell coverage, we put our phones away so we can just have a great time together.
Camping in this beautiful region has created such memorable experiences for my family, a time which we will undoubtedly remember fondly. Our children play from sun up to sun down while the adults hang out and reconnect. It doesn’t get much better than that! While camping is something I didn’t experience while growing up in South Dakota, I am so grateful to have the chance to share these special experiences with my family and friends here in Klamath Falls.
Erin Cox is an author, speaker, and professor on a mission to make the world a better place. After receiving a MS in Water Resources and Environmental Engineering in Minnesota, Erin worked for over a decade at CH2M HILL managing engineering projects all over the country. Erin has been professor in Oregon Tech’s Civil Engineering Department for the past four years. Erin loves yoga, traveling, hiking, and of course…
camping with her three children.
Story By Erin Cox
