Camp Paleo Spirit: A Simple, Nature-Focused Summer

Paleo living, to me, is about appreciating the simple things. This summer I have the chance to spend more time with my boys and to help them notice and enjoy God’s creation. One of my goals is to teach them a few basic skills and to encourage an appreciation for outdoor life, creativity, and quiet reflection.

At the start of summer vacation we launched what I originally called “Mommy Summer School.” The boys balked at the word “school,” so we renamed it “camp.” After some joking suggestions (including the entertaining but short-lived “Camp Zombie Bob”), we settled on a name that felt right: Camp Paleo Spirit.

Camp Paleo Spirit campers (all two of them) will explore a variety of activities, including:

Photography and photo editing

Hiking

Camping

Birding

Gardening

Cooking

Art and crafts: origami, sculpting, painting, and drawing

Italian language basics

Music appreciation

Poetry appreciation and writing

Reading and storytime

Bible study

And much more!

On day one we started with a typical Paleo breakfast—scrambled eggs and berries—and headed out for a mostly outdoor morning. Cameras in hand, we visited Willowwood Arboretum to hike, take pictures, and soak in the quiet of the trees and gardens.

We used a tablet briefly for Bible study and prayer at a picnic table. Reading a youth devotional and a short passage from Judges set the tone:

“In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.” Judges 17:6

We talked about how the absence of shared moral standards can lead to confusion and conflict. Even young children can sense the difference between what feels right to one person and what is right for a community. We prayed that God would guide our choices, helping us seek what is right in His sight rather than only what seems right to us.

After our devotional we hiked toward a nearby brook, stopping to photograph flowers along the way. Photography is central to Camp Paleo Spirit; the boys are eager to learn how to frame a scene, focus on details, and notice light and shadow.

Mr. B enjoyed helping his brother line up just the right shot, and both boys practiced patience and attention as they worked with the cameras.

At the brook we paused to read poetry, letting the setting shape our listening. We read Emily Dickinson’s “Have You Got A Brook In Your Little Heart,” a short poem that fit the moment and invited reflection on the small, quiet sources of life within us.

“Have you got a Brook in your little heart, / Where bashful flowers blow, / And blushing birds go down to drink, / And shadows tremble so—”

We photographed wildflowers and listened for birds as we walked. A bird identification tool on the tablet helped us narrow down species by sight and sound. When we played the recording of a Veery’s call, the thrush answered, confirming the identification. The boys were thrilled to learn a new bird by both sight and song.

At one point we found a toad. Of course the boys wanted to pick it up and examine it—an exuberant, messy moment that felt perfectly appropriate for a summer day outdoors.

As we returned to the arboretum, Mr. N spent time with my DSLR practicing composition and exposure. The camera is a bit large for a six-year-old, but he managed to capture several pleasing shots and learned how steady hands and gentle movement affect each picture.

Later we practiced Italian color words while playing in the backyard and mixed focused lessons with plenty of downtime—swimming with friends, playing cards, and simply lounging in the grass. The first day balanced learning and play, nature and creativity. It was a successful start to Camp Paleo Spirit. Now the hope is to keep that curiosity and enthusiasm alive throughout the summer—or at least for the rest of the week.