Digital Campfires and Tweeted S’mores
I suspect camping is quite different now-a-days then it was even five years ago. Granted, I have only been REALLY camping for the past two years (anti-roughing it with my Jayco X20E trailer), but when we go, our electronic devices and laptops come with us. Is such techno-heavy camping a good thing? Dare I say . . . yes?
I’m not irrational (or suffering sunstroke), and here is why:
1. Have phone, will travel: My daughter, firmly loving tween-life, is one of those old souls in a young body. She is a thinker, not prone to engaging in idiotic ideas and making me a nervous wreck (I thank my genes for this and definitely NOT hubby’s). With her cell phone (plus unlimited texting) she can wander about, meeting new kids and exploring different places while still firmly attached to me – or rather my iPhone. Without her phone, exploring our campgrounds and enjoying the great outdoors would be curtailed (see my other post about kids and instructions HERE).
2. Download & Unwind: My daughter also has an iPad 2 (lucky bugger) and I have a Macbook. When we have had our fill of sun, sand, pool and playground, my daughter can read a book or watch a show on her ipad and my 4-year old son can snuggle in a bunk and watch Curious George. Now before you howl, “TV is BAD for kids,” remember that over-doing it without some downtime can fry one’s good nature as well. With her iPad, my tween is able to also take photos and record her camping adventures, sharing them with her family and friends.
3. Socially Enabled: When we went camping at Pine Acres with my husband’s cousin and her three girls (my daughter and her cousin in the picture above) would lay in their respective campers at night, giggling and texting one another. With the dawn of Facetime, they now can also chat face-to-face planning their next day’s adventures. Kayaking? Off-road biking? Swimming? Granted, most places we go do have free wifi, but even without it, texting would allow her to communicate with friends without nagging her parents (okay, mainly ME) about going somewhere and seeing someone.
4. Work and Play: As a writer, having my Macbook with me means I can write when inspiration strikes. It means I can add to an article or one of my novels OR blog. Case in point? I am writing this now, while seated in the dappled sun of BayView Campground, overlooking the distant, blue bay dotted with white sails. I know – life as a Cape Codder is tough.
So do I believe in digital campfires and tweeted S’mores? You can bet your blogging biscuits I do!
Cheers y’all – I’m headed to the pool!
Cape Cod Scribe 
Just saw you over on the Mt. Holyoke site, so I thought I’d stop by and say hello!
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GREETINGS! I do adore MHC! I will check out your blog!
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Having technology now while camping can definitely be a good thing. If a child were to get lost and had their phone they could call for help etc as well as share their adventures via blogging or facetime. I definintely feel there has to be a nice balance between the two since ideally you are camping to get away from the constant connection of everyday life, but it does have it’s benefits :)
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