Carter's First Camping Trip

Carter is lucky to have some great friends at school and Mom and Dad have developed some good friendships with their parents as well.  This past weekend, one of his friends, Jake, and his dad Mike invited Colin and Carter to a group camp-out in the North Georgia mountains with them.  So immediately after Carter's Saturday morning soccer game, the four of them headed off to the National Forest in Suches, GA to find their camp spot on the side of Cooper Creek.  In total their were six families, including Carter and Colin, all with young children ranging from 3 and up.

Carter was shy when were first showed up, but once the tent was setup and we started a group hike in the mountains, Carter quickly warmed up to all the kids and Dads in the group.

During the hike, we first stopped to set a small minnow trap in the creek to see what types of fish or other animals we might catch.  This was extremely exciting to watch for the kids.

It was a good opportunity to get a group shot before they started to wear down from the up-coming hike.

He found his walking stick early and didn't put it down till the evening fire

Our hike was not on established trails, it was more finding our own way to hike along and near Cooper's Creek.  It turns out when you are 4'-0" and shorter, this is pretty easy as most branches are over your head.  A bit more difficult for the Dads.  After a bit we found the way impassable and headed back,  The hike was a good 3-4 miles round trip and not a sole complained or asked to be picked up the whole way.

Raisins, a healthy after hike snack

It was soon time for dinner, during the hike, Dad found some good hot dog sticks and Carter was put to task getting them ready to eat.  Then the fun began.  As the night came upon us, the Dads brought out all sorts of glow sticks.  This was worth a good few hours of fun and entertaining for the Dads.  We couldn't see what kids was running where, but watching the glow sticks in the woods and hearing all the yelling and laughing was an interesting and fun sight.

It was a great first evening in the woods for Carter.  So much so, that come 9:00pm, he begged to go to bed.  Dad put him in the tent, tucked him into his sleeping bag, and he was lights out in less than 2 minutes.  No fear or concerns, just total exhaustion.

The night was cold but Carter stayed warm and slept the whole night (he didn't even hear the raccoons that walked through our campsite).  The next morning, with a few more layers, all the kiddos were back up and smiling.

Quickly the fire was restarted and a great eggs, bacon, and hot chocolate breakfast was served.  

Then it was time to check the minnow trap.  Carter made sure to be front and center.

And he was rewarded with a little baby trout to show off then put back in the creek

Being a Dad's campout, it wouldn't be complete without some bb gun training (Carter needs some work on his aim)

Playing with his buddy Jake racing pine cones in the creek

Soon it was time to hit the road, but not before each child was required to do a trash walk and find five pieces of trash.  All did well and the site was definitely left better than we found it.

Before we headed home, it was time to tryout the four wheeled drive vehicles everyone brought.  With the changing colors in the N. Georgia mountains, this was a fun and beautiful activity.  We continued off the roads until the kids started feeling "funny" tummies.

It was a great weekend and Carter really enjoyed himself.  His only request for the next trip was that he could take his brother, Parker, with him next time.