If you’re reading this, odds are you’re familiar with the experience of a “camp high.” That incredible feeling that, despite your best efforts, can inevitably come crashing down after the experience is over. Whether you’ve experienced this after a week at Glorieta or maybe even after your own vacation, we don’t want that to be the end of the story. Adding in some simple but intentional adventures to your everyday life can be a great way to get out of the mundane, make amazing memories, and build a life that’s consistently full of rich, camp high-like moments.
Plan a Backyard Campout
A camping trip doesn’t have to be a big, overwhelming adventure. You can have one in your own backyard! Start by picking up everyone’s favorite foods and sharing a picnic dinner. Then make it an instant classic by making some s’mores — even if it means running back inside to heat the mallows. Set up a tent, inflate some air mattresses, and tell your favorite stories as you settle in for a night under the stars. Plus, if you’re wanting to do more camping with your family, this can be a great way to introduce everyone to the process in a safe, lower-stress environment (and with your own bathroom!)
Get to Know Your Neighborhood
Going for a walk together already brings about its own magical simplicity, but why not take it to the next level? Mix up your usual route by challenging yourself to see how many of your local streets you can walk. You could print out a map of your subdivision, neighborhood, or town and take turns coloring in the streets you’ve explored. And even better — take turns saying a short prayer for each new street you walk.
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Speaking of getting to know your neighborhood, an outdoor scavenger hunt can be a great way to familiarize yourself with your local flora and fauna. Make a list of some of the plants and animals native to your area, then head outside and see how many you can find. Turn the scavenger hunt into a friendly competition by seeing who can identify the most in a set amount of time. Then give a prize to the winner, of course!
Fruit & Veggie Picking
For another simple yet fun adventure, take your family out for a trip to a local berry patch! (Or some other spot that lets you pick your own fruits or veggies.) This activity can be educational, too —it’s an opportunity for your kids to learn more about where our food comes from. Keep the adventure going by making a new recipe together when you get home using the produce you picked!
Plan a Staycation
Family vacations don’t always have to mean using several days of PTO and driving hours in the car. Try creating the same feeling by exploring a place close to home! Book a Friday night at a fun Airbnb or local hotel and put yourselves in the shoes of a tourist to your area. Try a new restaurant, seek out a new activity, play games, take lots of pictures. You just might be surprised how different your surroundings can feel with a slight change in perspective!
Come back to Camp & Ride the High Five!
Did you know that Glorieta’s High Five Zipline is available for booking to the general public? Whether you had the chance to ride this summer or not, you could come back out for a weekend trip featuring the best zip line experience in New Mexico. We would absolutely love to see you!
Join us for ¡Family Fiesta! and Ski & Serve!
If you’re wanting another genuine camp experience, you can always come out to Glorieta for our non-summer Family Camp events. Join us for ¡Family Fiesta! in October. It’s a long weekend with Family Camp that’s centered around the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. (It also happens during what I think is the most beautiful time of year at Glorieta.) Or come to camp for spring break! Ski & Serve is one part family ski trip, one part fun service projects at camp. Both events are incredibly affordable and guaranteed to provide life–long memories.
At the end of the day, one of the best ways to keep the adventure going is to simply commit to getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new or different together as a family. It doesn’t have to be often — even once a semester can have a big impact! Sure, it’ll require some planning and intentionality. But I promise it’ll be worth it.
