"In our family, we all had jobs getting ready for our lengthy summer camping trips. Mine included not only prepping our old “Woody” station wagon for the trip, but also “taking stock” of our camping equipment and then going to army surplus stores with my mom to replenish our gear supply.

It feels like it’s time to take stock again, to venture into the outdoors with our friends and family, maybe sticking close to home for vacations. A great place to start is your own backyard, deck or even a try-out spot in the basement. It’s time to be together and learn the simple skills of camping which are also the skills of self-sufficiency and survival.

The great thing about camping gear and supplies is that they are not only part of what you need for a fun and thrifty vacation but also what you need to have on hand for the emergencies we hope will never happen but feel good about getting ready for anyway. Camping out is a good way to learn how to use these tools and also how to be okay with getting out of our comfort zone occasionally. The “bug out bag ” we all aspire to have ready can also be the “have-fun bag”.

What if you don’t have someone in your family like my mom to take you on that camping trip? You may be surprised to find that you have friends who are campers and just waiting to be asked to go out on an adventure when the time is right. Now is the time for hanging out at home, taking stock of what you need, getting your gear ready, experimenting with it and planning where the future will take you.

• • Tom Hennessy