Below is the essay that Nazma Begum, OAK Youth Advisor, submitted to the Outdoor Writers Association of America’s Norm Strung Student Writing Contest. Nazma won third place for this essay.
“Let me tell you about the time my whole perspective on the outdoors changed—an experience I never saw coming. Back in 2021, I stumbled upon an Instagram post from my school club that announced a trip to a place called The UP. Honestly, I had no idea what “camping” really meant or where the UP was, but I understood the word “trip” loud and clear. Excited, I asked my mom if I could go, but she said no. We had just moved from Bangladesh during the pandemic, and everything felt so new and overwhelming. We didn’t know much English, and the world outside felt like a mystery.
But I wasn’t ready to give up. I convinced my brother to join me, and together we packed our bags as if we were heading to a fancy hotel instead of a camping trip. We stuffed everything we could think of into our backpacks, blissfully unaware of what lay ahead.
On the day of the trip, my mom walked us to the bus, where I noticed other kids repacking their bags. I was puzzled, wondering why they were doing it again. My brother and I just went along with it, listening to the adults without really understanding. Little did we know, this was a two-day backpacking adventure! When they started talking about “gears,” I was confused. I thought they meant car parts!
After nearly nine hours on the road, we finally arrived at the forest, and I looked at my brother, bewildered. “Where are we?” I thought. This wasn’t the fancy place I had imagined! But we started hiking, our heavy bags weighing us down. The fresh air was invigorating, and as we walked along the trail, I began to remember winter in my village back in Bangladesh. The smells of the campfire reminded me of my aunt cooking outside, and the sound of the waves brought back memories of the lake near my home. The night sky was filled with stars, and I was left speechless.
I glanced at my teacher, who seemed to understand my awe, but my limited English made it hard to express myself. Setting up camp was a whole new experience. I couldn’t help but wonder why anyone would drive nine hours just to sleep in the woods. It felt uncomfortable, and the bathroom was so far away! But as I lay in my tent that night, I realized that the fresh air and the peacefulness of being by the lake were unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was my first time sleeping in a tent, and in my confusion, I mistook my sleeping bag for a pillow, leaving me with questions like, “Why did they give us a pillow but not a blanket on such a chilly September night?”
The next morning, I woke up before sunrise, and when I saw the sun rising for the first time, I was utterly speechless. Growing up in the crowded downtown of a big city, I had never witnessed such beauty. The landscape around me was breathtaking—far more stunning than any picture I had ever seen online.
As I went for a mini-hike, I couldn’t help but be amazed by the beauty of Picture Rock. Each step revealed more wonders, and I realized that unexpected experiences often turn out to be the best ones. If someone had told me I’d be camping and sleeping in the forest, I probably would have said no way. But now, camping has become something incredibly special to me.
It opened up a whole new world of friendships and helped me learn English faster than I ever thought possible. Being surrounded by fellow campers forced me to engage in conversations, and I loved every moment of it. What began as a simple Instagram post transformed into a passion that ignited my love for nature.
And that’s how my story of camping began—a journey that started with a curious little post and blossomed into a lifelong adventure filled with friendship and the breathtaking beauty of the great outdoors.”
