We have reached June 21, and boy, there’s a lot going on. Kids are out of school, it’s the first day of summer, and it’s Father’s Day — a trifecta of summertime merriment! I sometimes wonder what Father’s Day would be like if we celebrated papas in January. Would we fire up the stove for pots of stew, tune in to ESPN to watch hockey games, offer tribute in the form of flannel shirts instead of silk ties? It just wouldn’t be right, right? What is Father’s Day but a chance to fete dear ol’ dad with grilled meat, cold beverages, and (personal shout-out to my Dad) homemade potato salad? Sorry, January, but you’re just not good enough for Father’s Day!
Now that the summer solstice is upon us, with longer days and plenty of free time for the little ones, Northwest dads can take advantage of the extra daylight and those carefree offspring by shuttling everyone outside. Fresh air in the lungs and grass under the toes are just the ticket for some father and child bonding. And guess what? I have just the book to make all of this happen.
“Handy Dad in the Great Outdoors” by Todd Davis steps up the potential for dad/kid fun by presenting a variety of “super-cool” things to do outside. Many activities are practical (but not boring) and easily fall into the category of “useful life lessons”: how to set up a tent, identify poisonous plants, boil water in a plastic bottle, and start a fire without a match (dad-supervised, of course).
Because we live in the Northwest, home to miles and miles of green acres, camping projects are perfect for Washington and Oregon families. Some of the “woodsy” activities include learning how to protect your food from bears, collect water from trees, pan for gold and build a solar shower as well as a biodegradable latrine. Latrine, you ask? Well, consider this: daily ablutions (and other — er — bodily functions) don’t stop once you leave the house. And here is where I would like to point out the benefits of this book to nonparents. Reluctant campers and dinks (double income, no kids) — like yours truly — just might embrace overnighting in the wild outdoors if we can learn about viable “civilized” options for washroom-related activities. That’s library-speak for “crossover” appeal. Score!
