Elkmont Camping

We went on our first family camping trip over the weekend.  Not just first for the family, but a first for me and for Ben, which I can hardly believe actually.  No RV this time my friends.  This was real, tent camping.  And at that, it was camping without showers, without electric, keep your food in your cars at all times so you don't attract bears, kind of camping.  We were just outside of Gatlinburg, TN in the Smokey Mountains.  A few of our friends have gone over the last couple of years to see the synchronous fireflies.  As word spread, this year there was a group of 21 adults and 28 children to go on the adventure.  Unfortunately, we were a little ahead a schedule for the fireflies, apparently due to the cool spring, but it was still an awesome trip.  The kids played around the campground, tubed down a little mountain stream, ate lots of smores, rode bikes...there was no electric, no cell coverage, no Wi-Fi.  Completely disconnected from the technological world.  Off the grid.  Pure bliss if you ask me.

Loaded down

Setting up the tent

Our home for a few days

All those other tents you see were our friends.  We kind of took over our area of the campground.

Family love

Breakfast time

Tubing

Mike and Jacob about to take on Ben!

Roasting marshmallows

My loves!

 

On Friday we were all separated into "tribes" and the kiddos competed in games planned by Ben.  Field day type games that got quite competitive, mainly by the cheering parents on the sidelines.

Team Tie Dye

Team Camo

Team USA

All lined up with their tribal torches before the games began

Dizzy Izzy

Shoe Relay

Straw-Pretzel relay

Blow up a balloon until it pops...Ben had to pop them because they were all about to pass out!

Pass the orange with your neck

Saltine cracker whistle

Tug of War

Then, Mr. Ben versus

all the elementary school kids!

And later that night at "tribal council,"  Team Camo was named the champions!

 

We loved our first experience and from what we've been told, if we can survive this kind of camping, everything from here on out will be easy-peasy.  We pretty much experienced the full gamut of camping.  No showers, lots of dirtiness, campfire cooking, a little rain, lots of bugs, oh, and coyotes, right outside our tent.  Yep, we totally forgot that we had food in our game bag that was sitting out.  Friday night the coyotes found a bag of pretzels and Hershey kisses.  Ben was on the look out all night for us.  It was creepy!  Lesson learned.  Loved the time with great friends.  And my sweet family all snuggled up in one tent.  Stinky and all.