Families Camp Out in Dublin

For many families, a first camping experience can be a stressful, and sometimes even frightening, event.  Between making sure everything (including your children) is packed up and ready to go, setting up and taking down camp, and often cooking meals over a fire pit, there's a lot to remember.

Which is why the Family Campout at Emerald Glen Park in Dublin on Saturday, Sept. 11 and Sunday, Sept. 12 seemed like such an appealing idea to many Dublin families.

Families who registered only needed to bring their camping supplies and a willingness to have fun in the great outdoors.  The event included a variety of activities such as family dodgeball, a nature hike, a barbecue dinner, family time, a reptile show with Python Ron, and later in the evening, a campfire-style event with s'mores.

The staff said that they were expecting about 100 people (about as many as had registered). They had space remaining for nearly 200 more people, in case there were families who decided to attend the event last minute. Admission was $15 per person for residents, and $17 per person for non-residents and that price included dinner and breakfast. 

Camper Tracey O'Brien said that she and her husband had been camping before in England prior to moving to America, but said, "this was our first foray into camping with our daughter, so we thought we'd give it a try."

Her daughter, Keira, said that she was looking forward to playing soccer and eating s'mores, although according to her mother, she had never tried a s'more before and was excited to find out what the delicious dessert was all about.

Overall, the event was a success and this is the first time it was held at Emerald Glen Park.  Campers appeared to be enjoying themselves as they spent time with their families and friends and camped out right in their city's own backyard.