Growing up in sunny, woodsy, Northern California there were plenty of opportunities to pack a tent and sleeping bag and go for the week to a lake or campground. After all, camping is a summer tradition here in the states and not for no reason. But if you grew up in a family like mine that loved to camp, you'll remember the good, the bad and the ugly of those summer family trips.

1. Being forced to spend every waking (and sleeping) moment with your sibling.

2. Having a week's worth of clothes that were your designated "camping clothes." Usually including weird canvas-y pants and water shoes that didn't protect your feet from sticks and pebbles anyway.

3. Finding your sleeping bag and clothes soaked because someone forgot to cover the tent when it rained.

4. Finding inventive new ways to avoid making a mess while cooking, only to fail and make a bigger mess.

5. Waking up the morning after the mess and finding your campsite covered in coon prints.

6. Taking hours to fall asleep because it's too quiet, until your Dad starts snoring and suddenly it's too loud.

7. Smelling like a campfire for a week after you get home, regardless of how many times you shower.

8. Trying out a "portable camping shower" and coming out as muddy as you went in.

9. Helping Dad back the truck or trailer into the incredibly narrow and tree lined parking space.

10. If you had family friends who camped, you often did dinners and campfires in a rotation throughout the week.

11. Thinking you found a fox or cute little bunny at night, only to get closer and realize you horribly misjudged that skunk.

12. Playing the "how did that wasp get in here and how can we get it out?" game daily.

13. Getting to bring your friend when you're a teen and having to apologize for all the weird camping stuff your family does.

14. Owning a pair of hiking boots, even though they're uncomfortable and you usually end up wearing tennis shoes anyway.

15. Being tricked into longer hikes by your parents.

16. Having a box of games that you only use for camping.

17. Having a full set of kitchen tools, plates, and silverware that you only use for camping.

18. Having your own aluminum camping mug that you probably decorated with sharpie.

19. Looking forward to the night when you broke out the glow sticks and s'mores supplies.

20. Walking to the bathroom with your glow sticks feeling cooler than cool, only to realize glow sticks can't save you when you forget to bring the hand soap.

21. Having to admit that yes you had fun and yes, the great outdoors wasn't so bad after all.