running water, air conditioning, a kitchen, a comfortable
bed and a warm shower at the end of the day. And camping
usually means unplugging, sometimes with no cell service.
While this might be a nightmare for some, it's frosting on the
cake for true camping people.
Mick Clark of Broken Bow is one of a 30-strong, 52-year-
running family reunion gathered at Long Pine State
Recreation Area. Acknowledging that his family's sizeable
group of teens have some frustrations, he laughed, "If they
really need to check their stuff online, they can always find
the top of a hill and give it a shot. Otherwise, we encourage
them to grab a tube and float down the creek." Stripped down
to the basics of human interactions, far from routines and
ruts, enduring memories are created in these places, and that
is the treasure camping people seek. "Closeness to ones we
love," says Mick. "That's all this is."
What is the worst thing about camping? Mick Clark's reply
echoes that of many other campers. It's not the bugs, not the
heat, not the shelter-rattling, middle-of-the-night storms.
The worst thing about camping for camping people ... "going
home."
N
Mark Harris is the director of operations for Civic Nebraska
and author of Rodeo Nebraska.
Tyler Benson and friend Joe Servin, both of Chadron, participate in a cornhole tournament at Keller Park State Recreation east
of Ainsworth.
Anglers at Willow Creek State Recreation Area might hook
bass, catfi sh, walleye, northern pike and many other
species.
April 2021 • Nebraskaland 151
