By Nan Marshall

“I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.”

What if it rains? Why should I feed the mosquitoes? My idea of camping is the Holiday Inn. You’ve heard these excuses for not going camping. Perhaps you’ve even used these same excuses. Think again. Sad is the child who never experienced a campout. Happy is the adult who carries memories of a childhood camping expedition.
Back in the day when the remedy for many maladies was a prescription of fresh air and exercise, people spent more time unplugged and outside. Today, television, video games, cell phones, iPods and text messaging dominate everyday activities and leave little time for the enjoyment of nature. Residents of the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry are fortunate to have beaches, maritime forests, rivers and even a swamp in close proximity.
Camping is an experience that every family should try – at least once. It gives you a chance to commune with nature and provides a refreshing change of pace and atmosphere. Enjoy the benefits of quiet and let your mind relax as you bask in the sun, savor the caress of the breeze and listen to the sounds of silence. Remember the feel of grass, sand and mud on bare feet. Gather a bouquet of wildflowers and then dance in the summer rain. Linger, contemplate and let your spirits soar.
Not only will you find peace and quiet, you will find excitement in the immediacy of the outdoors. Rekindle and nourish that childlike sense of wonder. Celebrate a sunrise and sunset. Appreciate the beauty of a slash of sunlight across the valley, as well as the dappled light of a leafy canopy. Imagine recognizable figures in the shapes of cloud formations. Make a wish on the first star. Search for the Big Dipper, Little Bear and other favorite constellations.
Learn from the bugs. Marvel at the web of the writing spider and notice all the insects that the spider has succeeded in entangling. Put a ladybug on your finger and sing, “Lady bug, lady bug, fly away home,” as you blow the bug to flight. Touch the roly-poly and watch it form a ball. Drop a crumb and watch the industrious ants congregate. Enjoy a light show by fireflies on a warm summer night.
And if connecting with nature is not enough to lure you to the campground, there is the camaraderie of sitting around the campfire laughing, telling stories and toasting marshmallows. “Even in a time of elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the campfires of gentle people,” says Prairie Home Companion writer Garrison Keillor.

NEARBY STATE PARKS
Pick your campsite, pitch a tent, build that campfire and get ready to instill the joys of living close to nature in the next generation.
No camping gear? No problem! At the local Half-Moon Outfitters, located at 15 E. Broughton St. in downtown Savannah, you will find everything you need to make your outdoor adventure fun and comfortable. And you’ll get much more than tents and sleeping bags.
“At Half-Moon Outfitters, our staff loves the outdoors as much as our customers do,” says Katherine Smith, of the Savannah store. “We want to give the best service with the best products so that everyone can enjoy their time outside.”
Camping can be the perfect low-cost vacation, as well. State parks, such as the ones listed below, offer a variety of outdoor fun at an affordable price, when you camp out. Check out these nearby parks for a back-to-nature vacation your kids will remember for a lifetime.
Fort McAllister Historic Park is located on the bank of the Great Ogeechee River south of Savannah in Richmond Hill. This park is home of the best preserved earthwork fortification of the Confederacy. Fort McAllister has a Civil War museum, a boat ramp and a nature trail. In addition to 65 tent or RV campsites, there are three cottages.
Reservations may be made online at www.gastateparks.org/reservations or by calling 800-864-7275. Contact the park at 912-727-2339.
Skidaway Island State Park is located on a barrier island near Savannah. A giant ground sloth replica, birding station, nature exhibits and reptile rooms are featured in the park’s nature center. This park has two nature trails, observation towers and 87 tent or RV campsites. Make reservations at www.gastateparks.org/reservations or by calling 800-864-7272. Reach the park at 912-598-2300.
Crooked River State Park is located on Georgia’s Colonial Coast in St. Marys. Visitors may venture to the nearby ruins of the tabby McIntosh Sugar Works mill built around 1825. Nearby is the ferry and visitor center for the famous Cumberland Island National Seashore, known for its wild horses and mansion ruins. The park has a nature center, nature trails, a bird blind, a boat ramp, 62 tent and RV campsites and 11 cottages. Make reservations online (www.gastateparks.org/reservations) or by calling 800-864-7272. Call the park at 912-882-5256.
Little Ocmulgee State Park and Lodge is located near McRae. Amenities include a restaurant, an 18-hole golf course, two tennis courts and a children’s splash pad. The Oak Ridge Trail winds through scrub oaks and pines past a vulture roost and boardwalk. The park has 54 tent and RV campsites, 10 cottages and a 60-room lodge. Reservations are taken online (www.gastateparks.org/reservations) or by calling 800-864-7272. The park’s phone number is 912-868-7474.
Laura S. Walker State Park is located in Waycross near the northern edge of the Okefenokee Swamp. Walking along the lake shore and nature trail, visitors may see alligators, gopher turtles and owls. Recreation includes opportunities for boating, skiing and fishing on the lake or golfing on the 18-hole course. The park has 44 tent and RV campsites, a group camp that sleeps up to 142 and two pioneer campsites. To reserve a place, go to www.gastateparks.org/reservations or call 800-864-7272. The park may be reached directly at 912-287-4900.
Hunting Island State Park is located near Beaufort, S.C. From the top platform of the Hunting Island historic lighthouse, one can view ocean, beach and marshland. There is a nature center, fishing pier and boat landing. Campers have very easy access to the pristine sandy beach. The park has 44 tent and RV campsites, 10 tent sites, a group camp that sleeps up to 100 people and 12 cottages. Reservations may be made online at http://southcarolinaparks.com or by calling 866-345 -PARK. The park’s direct line is 843-838-2011.
Edisto Beach State Park is located off of Highway 17 about 50 miles south of Charleston, S.C. It is part of the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve and has a nature center and handicapped-friendly hiking and biking trails. While the beach is presently noted for its excellent shelling, a 4,000-year-old shell found on the shore of a tidal creek reflects its ancient history. Both oceanfront and maritime forest campsites are available. There are 111 tent and RV campsites, five tent pad sites and seven cabins. Make reservations online (http://southcarolinaparks.com) or by calling 866-345-PARK. The park’s number is 843-869-2756.

Nan Marshall is a freelance writer who is based in Savannah.