The Importance of Adventure as a Family

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One of my favorite books to read my kids when they were younger was “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury.  

It’s all about a dad and his kids going on an adventure together. The book then goes through all of the fun and mishaps that take place along the way. And no matter what the situation they are together.

It also helped that the language of the book is repetitive so my kids would memorize parts of it and say it along with me.

But adventure is important as a family!

Adventure Builds Connection

When my family and I lived in Northern Wisconsin, our church was about 30 miles away from where we lived. That also happened to be the same town as our nearest Wal-Mart. (The closest Target was 55 miles away.) So usually after church we would head to Wal-Mart for our weekly groceries.

One Sunday it was a gorgeous day so we decided to change it up and stop at a park right along the St. Croix River before shopping. The water was down so there was more beach than usual. The kids wanted to explore the rocks and seashells they could see from the sidewalk path. But it wasn’t easy to make our way down by the water as it was about an eight foot embankment. Not crazy high but our son was five and our daughter was two at the time. To them is was a massive drop.

So the adventure was on!

My husband worked his was down first and then he helped to talk and guide our son down. I then picked up our daughter and handed her down to my husband.

Not really much of an adventure but the kids thought it was the bravest most scariest thing we had ever done together! (Maybe we should have gotten out more.)

But we had to work together. We had to rely on each other. And we had to communicate what we needed to make it work.

Those are all things we want to do in our daily life together as a family, right?!

Adventure Develops Character

Last Summer my husband and son (7 at the time) went on their first canoeing and camping trip. They packed all of their supplies, food, and camping gear into the canoe and spent the night on a sandbar.

A lot of new situations took place for our son on that trip. He was my husband’s companion and helpmate during the entire time. And apparently there were coyotes audible throughout the night!

When they came home my son seemed to walk a little taller and wanted to tell me all about the adventures they had experienced.

This past Summer my son also learned to ride his bike. That opened up a whole new world for the family! We made trips to local parks and almost weekly my husband and son rode to the library. (About 10 miles round trip.) Our son had to push through aching legs to make it home. But he realized that by the end of the Summer the hills that once felt impossibly large no longer caused him much trouble. Endurance and perseverance were learned.

This coming Summer my husband and son are going to be learning to rock climb with a friend from church. (At five, our daughter is probably a bit young this Summer but I’m excited for this to be a full family adventure in a couple years!) I know that there will be situations that are going to scare my son and will push him to get out of his comfort zone.

It will be a lesson in trust, courage, and strength.

Adventure Creates Memories

When I think back to my own childhood, some of my favorite memories include family adventures.

We would go hiking in Pike’s Peak State Park, which had a breathtaking view of the Mississippi river and the surrounding bluffs.

Or the time we road bikes on the Heritage Trail from start to finish – 26 miles. Thankfully we got a ride back home! (I’m pretty sure I was about 10 when we made the trip!)

There were also many camping experiences. Sure once it was during a tornado warning and all but my dad slept in the car. And another my brother got leeches on his feet from the muddy water. Or another time when a raccoon ate through my mom’s Tupperware and then ran off with one of the fishing poles.  (Maybe the rest of the family doesn’t look back on the camping experiences with the same level of joy!)

But those were the memories where we were all together and working towards a common goal. Those goals just happened to surround the outdoors, fun and adventure.

And if we take a step back for a moment and broaden the scope. God leads us on a tremendous adventure called our life. He wants us to build connections with Him in the process and develop character along the way. We also are to remember the memories of the time the He guided us through a particularly hazardous time. So that, just like our family adventures, we want to share the stories with others. The times we had great adventures with God.

What types of adventures have you and your family embarked on? Let me know in the comments below!

God bless!

Melissa

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