This weekend, the Chen family was going camping for the very first time. They packed sleeping bags, a tent, flashlights, and lots of snacks into the car.
When they arrived at the campsite near the lake, Grace and her brother Danny helped Dad set up the tent. It took three tries, but they finally got it standing up straight.
Let's explore! said Grace. They walked along a trail through the woods and saw a deer drinking from a stream. It looked up at them, then quietly walked away.
Back at camp, Mom showed them how to build a fire safely with rocks in a circle. They roasted hot dogs on sticks and the food tasted better than anything from a restaurant.
When it got dark, Dad brought out a bag of marshmallows. They made s'mores with chocolate and graham crackers. Danny got marshmallow all over his face and everyone laughed.
Grace zipped open the tent door and looked up at the sky. There were more stars than she had ever seen before. She could even see the Milky Way stretching across the darkness.
They heard an owl hooting in the trees. Danny was a little scared, but Grace said, Don't worry. Owls are friendly. They're just saying goodnight. That made him feel better.
In the morning, they woke up to birds singing and the smell of campfire coffee. Can we come camping every month? asked Grace. Mom and Dad smiled at each other and said, Absolutely.