By Marney Simon | Enterprise Staff
A rainy Friday night couldn’t keep campers away from Shorewood Park on Sept. 7, welcoming fall with a family campout full of food, fun and games.
The weather was wet and cool but still, eight tents popped up for the Family Camp Out at Shorewood Park, hidden in the wooded area where Route 59 meets Seil Road.
Wet weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of Leah Kapsimalis of Shorewood and Margaret Darnell of Joliet. The pair of friends embraced the overnight event with their children as a bit of a girls’ night out, leaving the husbands at home and getting back to nature with their kiddos.
“We’re camping, and we’re a little crazy,” Kapsimalis said “We’d rather be like this than hot, this is better than 110 degrees. We just saw it advertised and we thought it would be fun.”
Kapsimalis also noted that she was a little out of her element camping, but couldn’t resist the night out for family fun.
“I have not camped since I was a child. But, just seeing it advertised, dinner provided, breakfast provided, for five bucks, we’re in,” she said.
So, what’s the draw to an overnight in the rain with small children?
“Sleeping outside, and it’s a new tent, it’s the inaugural use of our new tent,” said Darnell. “We do backyard camping mostly. They’re having a blast right now.”
And the children were on board as well.
“They were thrilled,” Kapsimalis said. “I had the hallway lined with all our stuff, and [my daughter], as soon as she got home from school, she laid on her sleeping bag and just waited until it was time to go. We packed extra socks galore.”
The kids were also excited to face some potential spookiness in order to enjoy a night out.
“I’m excited about camping but I’m a little scared,” said 5-year-old Carter Darnell. “We’re going to do scary stories at night time and I’m a little bit scared of them!”
The family camp out included hot dogs, chips, activities, crafts, s’mores and a campfire.
The participants each paid a $5 fee, with kids under three checked in for free.
The night under the stars was organized by the Shorewood Parks and Recreation Staff.
Shorewood owns and operates 16 parks on a total of 140 acres. Shorewood Park includes an 18-hold disc golf course, as well as a short trail along the DuPage River.
Family camp night was one of dozens of events organized each year by the Parks and Rec Department.
Upcoming events include a touch-a-truck event on Sept. 15, and Oktoberfest on Sept. 29.