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This month, after some convincing and cajoling, my family went camping in the great Canadian outdoors — for the very first time.

I may have been one of the two adults in the very crammed car — full of sleeping bags, food for a mini-army and just as much bug spray — but I was the definitely the biggest baby in the room.

I am the child of immigrants, so spending the summers in the wilderness to camp or cottage was not something my family ever considered or aspired to. Even if it was a Canadian right of passage. My family was happy to give it a pass.

When my husband brought up the idea of a weekend camping trip with his friends, I was a hard no. I love the idea of the great outdoors — the fresh water, the clean air, the unblemished landscape — but the actual reality of it meant stepping way outside my comfort zone. And I wasn’t interested.

But then my husband used his ultimate trump card: “This would be a great experience for the kids.”

Even as my head shook no, in my heart I knew he was right.

In the hustle and bustle of daily life in an urban setting, it’s hard not to think about the disconnect between us and the natural world. And it’s easy to take all the amenities at our fingertips for granted. Do we take time to appreciate the natural beauty around us? Do we pause to smell the roses? Do we even realize they are there in the first place?

So, I said yes. For the kids.

And so began our journey to Silent Lake, a provincial park near Bancroft, where I hoped my kids, and I, would have a crash course in nature and the simple things in life.

The experience was truly eye-opening for all of us. The kids’ first lesson was: setting up shelter. With some help, we worked together to pitch our six-person tent. We filled the thin mattresses using the air pump and then set out our sleeping bags. The kids looked at our digs and wondered how this was all going to work. Were we really going to sleep on the ground?

As night fell, they all grabbed flashlights to make their way through the campsite, marvelling at the darkness around them but the brightness of the night sky, full of stars, above them.

As I chased after them, spraying them with mosquito repellent, my children — who are constantly bored even with all the toys in the world at home — suddenly found joy playing with rocks, plants and large sticks. They wanted to swim, fish and paddle board, and just swing in a hammock for hours. They wanted to hike and help make a bonfire.

On our second night, my eight-year-old son said he didn’t want to leave the next day “But this is so much fun,” he said, trying to convince me to stay another night. My daughter, 11, conceded “it wasn’t as bad” as she had expected. My three-year-old told me, enthusiastically, that he “loves camping.”

We spent walks to and from the (flushable) washrooms chatting about insects, chipmunks and various trees we saw along the way. We talked about climate change and nature, and the importance of caring for the environment.

And as I sat on the pier looking at the silent lake, the cotton-candy sky of a sunset reflecting across the water, it was impossible not to take a moment to marvel at the majesty of the nature around me.

I had to admit that not only had this been a learning experience for me and the kids, but the nature-washing had been good for our souls, too.

And that’s why the Toronto Star’s Fresh Air Fund is so important. The fund has been sending kids to summer camp for more than 120 years. Thanks to the generosity of Star readers, the fund provides annual support to more than 100 day and overnight camps to give more than 25,000 disadvantaged and special-needs kids the chance to spend time in nature. You can take part in this great tradition of giving kids the experience of summer camp by donating to the Fresh Air Fund.

With your gift, the Fresh Air Fund can help send underprivileged and special-needs children to camp. These children will have the chance to take part in a camp experience they will cherish for a lifetime.

By cheque: Mail to The Toronto Star Fresh Air Fund, One Yonge St., Toronto, ON M5E 1E6

By Visa, Mastercard or AMEX: Call 416-869-4847

Online: For instant donations, use our secure form at thestar.com/freshairfund

The Star does not authorize anyone to solicit on its behalf. Tax receipts will be issued.

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