Every year, the families of the Class of 2010 — this year's 6th graders — gather on the last weekend before school adjourns for camping, swimming, and just hanging out in Sonoma Valley. 

We started this tradition when our kids were in first grade. We picked a campground that was considered family-friendly and not too far away (1-2 hours). We sacrificed some features — there are no showers, for instance, and the bathrooms are pretty basic. On the other hand, there’s a creek with a healthy supply of tadpoles, and a nearby observatory where you can see sunspots or the Milky Way. Best of all, the paved road has two loops where the kids can scooter and ride bikes.

NO FAMILY LEFT BEHIND
Although plenty of campgrounds have group sites, we decided not to go this route. Group sites usually limit the number of campers allowed. We didn’t want to turn any families away. So somewhere between the end of January and mid-March, our parents reserve individual campsites for themselves and their kids.

Each site accommodates up to eight people and two cars, so if some families forget to reserve — as is often the case — or change plans at the last minute, we can usually double-up with two families per site.

Most years, 15 to 20 families participate. Some families just come for the day on Saturday. Others come up for Sunday festivities. Some families camp the entire weekend. Many kids bring classmates whose families are unable to attend.  

We share a potluck dinner on Saturday night and a potluck breakfast on Sunday morning. We bring our own charcoal grills and set up around one or two picnic tables. There’s always a clean-up crew. But we keep it all very simple. Assignments are made two weeks ahead of time.

As a special treat, after check-out on Sunday we travel to one family's nearby home for swimming and a barbecue.

Although it’s only a brief time together, the camping trip is a highlight for the kids. They get to relax together in an unstructured environment, with a free and open schedule.

This past June, the kids organized one big, spontaneous soccer game in a large field, and almost all the kids joined in — from age 6 to 16. They played until dusk, and kept going until they could barely see two feet in front of them. It was magical, and brought many of us back to our own childhoods — a simpler time when spontaneous backyard games were the rule rather than the exception.

FIRE BREATHING, TOO
Parents on the camping trip get to know each other and deepen our friendships. We hang out by the campfire and swap stories about the school and our kids. One dad brings his guitar and leads a sing-along with the kids. A few years back, a mother and daughter brought violins and regaled us with Irish tunes. Last year, a dad thrilled us with his fire-breathing act. You could hear the shrieks of excitement clear across the campground as the flames ignited out of his mouth. 

When the observatory is open at night, there’s always a group that will head over for the 9 o’clock viewing. There’s no shortage of things to do — or not do. Some parents just veg out. That’s OK, too.

The families of the Class of 2010 plan to continue this tradition until our kids graduate from SFDS — and perhaps even beyond.