Campling’s Cafe: Outdoor Family Reunion Fun for Kids

The extended Bailey family spends time together every summer high in the mountains at a family reunion that has been taking place annually since 1950. That’s an impressive record for a family reunion. Here’s one reason this summer outing continues to draw almost 100% attendance: Welcome to “The Hut.” The Hut is a spot in the trees, within sight of the main family campsite, where the kids are allowed to create their own fun. Nonstop. For an entire week. We could credit Mother Nature with the original design. When a large tree fell and lodged against another log lower on the ground, she created a space for childhood imagination, and children from the Bailey family re-invent this space every year. Except for help checking to make sure the structure is still safe and staking down a tarp for shade, the adults don’t have much say in what goes on here, and that’s part of the reason it’s such a favorite playspace. This year, the 12-and-under crew decided to turn The Hut into a cafe.  With a capital investment from Grandma Bailey (which allowed a small shopping spree at Walmart), a few supplies were added to the experience to make it just a little bit more “real.”

Environment + Creativity = Fun

Here’s a peek at the kind of creativity the Bailey cousins use for keeping themselves occupied during down times in-between fishing trips, hikes, and OHV rides among the quaking aspen. While the adults are preparing meals or sitting with their feet up on a log telling family stories, the kids occupy themselves with the work of childhood. And it involves real work–but somehow it doesn’t feel like work.

Much of “free” play actually has some structure as children practice what it feels like to take on adult roles.  The kids’ schedule mimics the one the adults are following, except the kids know they are going to have to stop playing now and then to accommodate the adults and annoying interruptions like lunch and bedtime. The playfulness of this system is only clear when you understand what each of the sections of the schedule entails. For example, how do you “clean hut?” Well, one way is that you sweep–even if you have to invent a broom and a floor first.

I watched one of the participants dutifully swept the path leading to the hut with a tree limb. The bend at the base of the stick was surprisingly efficient at clearing debris out of the way. Inside the hut, the players took turns washing dishes, gathering and organizing their cooking supplies, preparing meals for customers, and then doing it all over again.

Running the Cafe

One of the fun parts of running a cafe (real or imagined) is customers. So, this band of owner/employees was glad when I arrived, because I was a new customer, not a repeat customer like, say, Grandma or Uncle Keith. This was an opportunity for everyone to assume their professional roles to serve me a meal. One camper took my order, passed it to the kitchen staff in the back, and once everything was prepared, she handed the completed meal to me through the “window,” just as if I were ordering from my favorite food truck or cafe.

The Dessert Course

It wasn’t until after I had finished my meal that I noticed that there was a company uniform and a company logo.

The Work of Play

It’s hard to imagine something as simple as “The Hut” at the family reunion having enough appeal to keep everyone occupied for an entire week, and yet, I’m assured that it not only accomplishes this, it’s also part of the reason the children return as adults–bringing their own children back to the Bailey Family Reunion year after year. The larger picture of why this family reunion is so successful is it’s consistency–same time of year, same location, same people, good food, lots of ATV riding. And it helps that this is a close-knit family whose roots to their farming community are still deep in the soil. But it’s also that case that in terms of family reunions, The Hut offers something unique. Rather than organized games and programmed activities, The Hut offers the children the promise of free play, uninhibited opportunities to create and explore without adult interference, and a safe space to return to year after year. Every summer, these cousins rebuild and reinforce their relationships with one another, assuring that in this family, members will be friends and not mere acquaintances. Their play is based on inclusion–there’s a job for everyone, and even the youngest cousins are encouraged to be part of the fun. Some fresh air and sunshine will help inoculate all of them against depression and anxiety. Climbing through the brush collecting “spices” will help develop their large and small motor abilities. They’ll even have practice taking on adult roles like negotiating disagreements, organizing and adjusting social hierarchies, becoming curious about plants and organisms, and yes, even providing customer service. But they won’t know that’s what they have been doing. They’ll only be aware that The Hut is fun. That is enough to make it something to look forward to again next year.

5 ways to encourage outdoor play at your next family reunion

1. Consider location. Can you duplicate something like The Hut at the venue where you will be holding your next family reunion? Group Campsites–even if no one camps overnight–are a great place to gather. Most have lots of picnic tables, a large area for gathering for a group discussion or campfire program, and beautiful scenery. Explore recreation.gov for areas near you.
2. Invite families to bring bikes, skateboards, and riding toys to your next get-together and encourage the kids to set up their own bike rodeo or obstacle course. Put them in charge of setting up their own teams and inventing their own rules as well. This allows parents time to catch up with one another while the second generation gets acquainted.
3. Instead of organized games, provide a giant supply of cardboard and clear packaging tape and challenge the kids to build something amazing like a rocket ship, a fort, a pirate ship, or even a game arcade. (If your reunion will be brief, you may want to warn the kids in advance so they can start designing their ideas ahead of time).
4. Have a “chalk the block” event where each family illustrates a story from your family history in chalk.
5. Invite the older kids to set up a treasure hunt or scavenger hunt for the younger kids. A scavenger hunt might include a list of things like “a wild mushroom, two pieces of trash that can be recycled, kindling for the campfire, the signature of the oldest person at the reunion.”