By Kerry Rahm
krahm@wbcowqel.com
The Crawford Park District hosted what has become an annual event at Lowe-Volk Park’s serene grounds on Friday night – family tent camping with games, fishing, S’mores by the fireside and of course, complete immersion in nature.
No televisions, no video games, and nary a phone in sight as families took full advantage of the beautiful July night.
Bill Fisher, Director of the Crawford Park District, said they have provided family tent camping for a number of years. He spoke about how families can use being out in nature as a jumping off point for quality family time.
“The concept is, of course, family interaction, which is important these days, and to be in a natural setting like this is extra special. We try to organize some activities so that it gets them more involved as a group, et cetera, just being immersed in nature is worth a million words talking about it, and that’s what we’re after.”
Fisher had much to say about how hard it is to get kids outdoors.
“That is a major concept of ours, yes, it’s hard to get kids outside these days, just really hard, and it seems like a lot of them… they don’t naturally do it. Growing up, we played in the neighborhood, we had the neighborhood to run and do whatever we wanted, and it’s a little more cautious kind of environment these days, and when you get the opportunity like this, it’s pretty cool. We like to provide that.”
Fisher says the CPD aims to having camping in the park again next year, preferably in July.
Andy Muntis brought his young son and daughter out to camp. This is the first year the family has come out for the event. Muntis expressed his admiration for Lowe-Volk, and why he chose to camp there.
“Because it’s close, and it’s a cool place. My family had a farm in Leesville, and I like to support the area. I think it’s awesome that this park is here, I really do.
“It’s at the mouth of the Sandusky River, and I just think it’s awesome… I was invited out here, and I think it’s cool… Anytime anyone talks about this park, it’s like, ‘Yeah, go! Go out, you’ll love it.’”
Rob Farson, who often volunteers at the CPD’s other events, brought his daughter and her friends out with a three room tent that hasn’t really gone anywhere but their front yard.
“I love this park system, it’s great. I grew up in the boonies, according to my friends, but we used to camp, so this is as close as I get to it.”
Farson echoed the sentiments of Fisher, reaffirming that kids need to spend more time outside. He has been taking his daughter to Lowe-Volk off and on for years, for the park’s various events.
“It’s been fun. We have done this before, they’ve had different activities, from kayaks to archery, the fishing… They’ve got games, it’s good for the family, good to get kids out of the house, away from electronics.
“I wish more people would get out here… I think there’s a lot of people who still don’t know how much fun it can be.”
Farson’s fifteen-year-old daughter Rebecca spoke about why she brought her friends along for some much needed peace and quiet.
“It’s just something I’ve done with my friends. It’s just a fun way to be able to hang out, and get away from all the craziness of the modern world, and just get to enjoy real stuff.”
And perhaps Rebecca has benefitted from all of her years of exposure to Lowe-Volk after all, stating, “I do not own a phone. I come out here just to get away from other people’s phones, too.”