Something Published: “Backyard Camping ‘Trips'”

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My sisters and I — three backyard campers all grown up. I wish I had a picture of the three of us camping in the backyard. But we didn’t do anything picture-worthy — like catch a fish. (This photo was taken in October 2015 at a farmers market in Harbor Springs, Michigan. And yes, the white stuff is snow!)

I write for Northern Wilds, a local magazine based in Grand Marais, Minnesota. A couple of months ago, the editor put out a call for the magazine’s contributing writers to submit mini essays about camping traditions. I wrote one about my backyard camping trips, the only kind I ever took as a kid.

My essay was published in the August issue of Northern Wilds. To read my essay in the web format, click here and scroll down. To read it in the magazine format, click here, and click to pages 20-21.

And whichever way you choose to read it, I hope you enjoy the camping essays written by my fellow writers.

7 thoughts on “Something Published: “Backyard Camping ‘Trips'””

  1. You look super thrilled about that snow. 🙂 Congrats on your story! I recently subscribed to Northern Wilds since it’s hard to find paper copies in the places where I usually go. Plus, I can’t read the online version on my computer because their website isn’t “secure.” (I’ve complained to them twice about this.) I don’t think I’ll be getting the August issue with my new subscription, so maybe I’ll see if I can read it on my phone. Sigh.

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    • I actually loved the snow! It made everything look magical. I just don’t photograph well. Also, I’m usually trying to keep my eyes from closing when someone points a camera at me. Whoever took the picture should have taken two! Maybe the second one of me would have turned out better. I tried to find a picture of me and my sisters from when we were young, but I couldn’t find any of just the three of us without my brother in it. He was too young to have camped with us in the backyard. I picked up a copy of the August issue of Northern Wilds for you!

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  2. Cute story and a nice memory to share. I never went backyard camping. I vaguely remember teasing to sleep on the back porch, but I don’t remember actually doing it. So, my mum probably said “no” or I chickened out. But I actually remember listening to “Fun-Loving” WOKY on my transistor radio, especially the Top 100 countdown hits. I tried my best to hear the songs thru the static. Kids will never know that thrill. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.

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    • Yes, my sisters and I loved listening to the Top 100 countdowns! We lived in Milwaukee and got pretty good reception on the small radio in our room. We used to love to listen to WLS out of Chicago, which we could really only get at night.

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