Sandra Stevenson, a photo editor at the Times, took her family members camping in Brooklyn recently. Here is her report.
With the end of summer season quick approaching, I was trying to come up with an economical way to treat my son and nephew to the pleasures of Ny City. I wasn’t certain that I could top their summer time in Wyoming with their grandparents, but I definitely was going to try.
Following a little web surfing and consulting with my “parent friends,” I settled on urban tenting in one of Big apple City’s parks — Salt Marsh Nature Center at Marine Park in Brooklyn, offered as part with the parks department’s family camping program.
The boys and I gathered our sleeping bags, Swiss army knives and gear, and called a automobile service (I did say urban camping). The drive took us by way of many neighborhoods we’ve only read about, but in no way visited. The driver had in no way heard of the salt marsh, let alone individuals camping in parks. Upon our arrival, we followed a stone path to your nature center, which opened in 2000 following the restoration on the marsh, and we were greeted by a friendly park ranger with a tent.
The three of us took a moment to gaze out over the marsh land along with the waterway that feeds out to the ocean. The sight was absolutely stunning. Our moment of silence was broken by the arrival of other families eager to get the evening festivities going. Ranger Brook welcomed all the households by giving us a history with the marsh and its inhabitants and fielding questions from the young campers.
A lot to my surprise, the parks department provided hamburgers, hotdogs, vegan patties, baked beans, chips and drinks to hungry campers. We joined other households sitting on the stone overlook to enjoy our meal and observe the view. Parents shared childhood stories and tales of raising their children in The big apple, while children shared their tales of childhood.
Suddenly the vegetation sandwiched in in between the overlook and water began moving. My son chimed in in between bites, “Perhaps it’s a frog ” and another child responded, “Maybe it is a snake … .” Then a mother screamed, œIt’s a rat!”
We calmly gathered our dinners and moved towards the other side from the courtyard. I thought to myself, it is The big apple City following all.
