Hi there! If you are just joining... whatever this is... here at MI Days Outdoors you may have some questions. Who is this person? Why is she in love with Michigan's nature? What experiences does she bring to the table? Why the heck is she SO adamant about doing it all with her kid in tow?! Well in this post, I'll get to that.

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Why Are You Like This?

A Look at Who I am

First, I'm Meghan. I was born Meghan Moon to young Michigander parents, in the 90's. They didn't let being parents get in the way of things they wanted to do. They were the first to have kids in their group of friends. My sister and I were often the only children hanging around a bunch of adults. 

My Dad is a bit of a hobby collector. His hobbies over the years have included everything from sailing, and brewing beer. To fishing, vegetable gardening, and playing video games with his friends. My Mom loves to garden and goes with the flow and joins in on my dad's current fixation. Her flower gardens are vast jungles of beautiful blooms. She loves to photograph her flowers. I got my love capturing interesting mushrooms from her. During lockdown, they got very into bird watching. They now have several feeders around their home. 

Fishing

For the better part of my childhood, the main activity my dad enjoyed was fishing. Which is ironic because the man is allergic to fish. He can eat shellfish, but not the bass, bluegill, salmon, or pike he was determined to catch. Thus, my sister and I spent a lot of time out on fishing trips with my dad, uncles, and even our mom. We spent time exploring riverbanks, trying to catch minnows in the shallow. Sometimes we were building log cabins and teepees out of twigs, even the occasional attempt at a dandelion crown. Do not get me wrong we would fish too, but it never was too long before we grew tired of watching a line. 

We did river wading trips, canoe fishing, we would fish on the pontoon at my mom's family’s cabin. We would visit my great-great uncle who lived on Boot Lake up near Munising and fish for pike and perch. Man, I miss the pine-scattered hillside down to the lake from his house. My sister and I would pretend to rough it and build crude shelters on that hill. We even camped in Ludington one chilly October to do some salmon fishing. When I got a bit older and had friends who never fished. Guess who was baiting the hooks, and pulling off the prickly bluegill.  Yeah, the girl who spent a lot of time fishing as a kid. 

Camping

We camped at least once a year, as well. Every July the extended family on my dad's side would get together, for a trip. We would tent camp at a different Michigan State Park, and once in Canada. We began doing this when my sister, who is 3.5 years younger than me, was 3 months old. My mom is a brave woman. This all happened before smartphones and GPS. The time the directions flew out of my mom's hand and out the window, was not good. Of course, my dad had all the windows down. My poor mom was trying to shuffle through the MapQuest directions to the campground. Luckily, we can all chuckle about that incident now. I have to be clear, we were not rustic camping, my one aunt can't live without her electric blanket. However, no one had anything beyond a tent. 

We would reserve several conjoining sites and set up tent city chaos. We had our own tents for sleeping, a kitchen tent, and would scope out the best fire ring of the bunch to be the center. There was always a fire going. When you would come back from the showers, you immediately smelled like campfire again. I'm sure setting up the tents was a sight to see as no one ever remembered how to do it with ease. Sometimes there would be bickering. Okay, usually there would be bickering, as this part of my family is not known to be the most patient group of people. Always there would be jokes of “How many Polaks does it take to set up a tent?" My great- grandmother was 100% Polish. Leading us to add up all the fractions of Polish heritage the tent pitchers had all together.  

Those trips, and the stories around them, are some of my most treasured childhood memories. As we got older, we brought along my friend and exposed her to being a camping dirt bag. I am very blessed that both sides of my family did things together growing up. My mom's sister, who is only 5 years older than I am, would often tag along. She is the same age as many of the cousin's on my dad's side. She when to grade school with most of them so that helps. She is more like my sister than she is like my aunt. My mom's brother and his now wife, joined us on a few trips as well witnessing the chaotic family time.

My friend and and I enjoying a campfire with My dad, uncle, and my uncle’s friend.

Without fail, each year something crazy would happen. One year my cousin split a log behind my parents’ tent and ripped it. Another year a different cousin brought a tent that was advertised as two man. It fit one, hanging out, and he tried to share it with his friend. Yet another cousin, on another trip had a chipmunk find its way into his tent while he slept. He dreamed he had spiders in his hair. We affectionately call the little guy spider to this day. There were the trips where we could not swim in the lake due to swimmers itch. There were the raccoons that straddled the trees and watched us play cards, waiting to steal our food. Being close to Blue Lake one year led to plenty of band camp jokes. One cousin was always uncomfortable with the communal bathroom situation. She would be miserable by the end of the trip. She was always making up songs about how she missed home. My personal favorite is “sweet home flint town”. To be fair to her, she usually was coming from some week long sports camp, and just missed home. I won't get into the rib incident of Interlochen. Let's leave it at a dinner disaster that caused a lot of fights between the married couples. The year we went to Canada, we took a trip to Canada's Wonderland. No one was aware that the date we selected was “Gay Day'”until we saw the protesters outside. It was just off putting to have people with signs yelling “stop the buggery” and other phrases we didn’t understand until we got out of the cars. Every year we got in trouble with the park rangers for violating quiet hours. Ranger Mike, I will never forget you buddy. My uncle who married into this motley crew, would often have to remind us; "Use your inside voice, not your Moon voice." As I recall all these adventures, I cannot help but smile. We love to reminisce about our comical misfortunes when we get together today.

My mom and sister at the beach on one of our first camping trips. 

My dad was the head planner of these trips. He would figure out what worked best for the group. Find a campground, most often at a new State Park, and reserve the sites for everyone. He worked hard to come up with at least one group activity for the weeklong trips. Some years it was a canoe trip. One time, we stayed in Monroe right after the park was renovated, and went to Cedar Point. There were many sunburns on that trip, because all the trees in the sites were little saplings. We experienced the wonder of Kitch-iti-kipi. Took in the gimmicks of the Mystery Spot, when we all stayed in the Upper Peninsula. The adults made their fair share of jokes regarding a word that is very similar to Pasty, as well. Those went right over my head as I was about 8 at the time.  I have been all over the State and visited so many State Parks thanks to his diligence. As the “kids" got older and everyone started to have their own lives, these trips fell by the wayside. I hope we can revitalize them with my cousins and their kids.

The Cottage

My mom’s family has a little cottage on a damned off part of the Tittabawassee River, called Secord Lake. Yeah, the river with the dam failure a few years ago. The dam did not break at Secord. There was time to drain it, but there still is more of a river than a lake in front of our spot. In many ways, I prefer it that way. It is calmer; you can see the path of the river before they flooded out the area. It is usable for canoeing and paddle boarding, without the worry of jet skiers zipping all over. The irony of my aunt (remember the one who’s like a sister) and  I wanting jet skis as kids isn’t lost on me. Often when we are up there, post draining, we float around on tubes, enjoying the weather and each other. Well, we did that before too.  But, now raft city, as we call it, is worry free. A couple years back I bought an enormous raft that could fit most of us to make it even more epic.  When I was a kid, we used to take the pontoon out for the better part of the morning for family fishing trips. The guys would wade down nearby rivers and fish the day away.

What Secord Lake used to look like prior to the Edenville dam failure. 

My great grandparents owned the cottage when I was growing up. My grandma bought it from them before they passed away. They both lived well into their 90s. Its two bedrooms and we always crammed at least 15 people in there while I was growing up. In some regards, it was camping indoors. Knotty pine paneling, a little bathroom, and L shaped kitchen open to the living room. The place was full of items no longer good enough for home any longer. Often, family members bring tents and set them up in the front yard. When I was young, my grandpa worked for GM. During shutdowns he and my grandma would take up my sister, aunt and I up for a few days before my parents could come for holiday weekends. Even though we have a cabin, most of our time up there was, and still is outside. Jumping off the dock, finding clay in the shallow water, campfires late into the night. Yummy dinners eaten outside. We would beg to go tubing behind the boat and swim everyday. Neither of which ever happened prior to lunch. There is some wooded land across the street where we would catch tadpoles and pick wild blueberries. It’s cozy and wonderful.

My grandma and all of her grandchildren (husbands included for the oldest two) a few years ago. 

It’s fun getting to experience being up there with family in a whole new way with my son and younger cousins. I’m the oldest grandchild on that side of my family, so the next oldest first cousin I have just turned 17. So my son is closer in age to some of my first cousins than I am. He’s getting to play outside with the “big kids” and thinks he’s cool that his height is on the wall with everyone else. Including the fictional 6’6” Sean. My grandma has been making updates as of late; and while it’s different than it used to be, we all love it so much.

My son playing in the sand that used to be underwater with my cousin. 

Today

My parents passed along their love of the outdoors. I may have tried to rebuff this in my teenage years, but have come around as I mature. Both of my parents are still very active gardeners. Each year they grow beautiful blooms and killer tomatoes and peppers. Lately they've taken up cross pollinating daylilies. My mom passed along an urge to take pictures of the interesting things found in the woods. Any mushroom, that isn’t run of the mill, which crosses my path, I snap a photo. That is genetic, who knew. 

For the past 15 years or so, upland hunting and dog training has been my dad's hobby fixation. My mom, the Rockstar she is, has taken to this interest and has even run their young male Golden Retriever in a hunt test. They have 4, wait no, 5 Goldens spanning from almost 16 years to 8 weeks old. Yeah, it's a little intense but it makes them happy so I'm all for it. 

I’ve found I don’t even have to be doing anything in particular outside to enjoy it. Sometimes I’ll sit in my garden on a summer day and watch the bees do their thing. Hence why I love hiking. I simply like to walk around in the woods. (Read my blog post with tips on hiking with a young child here.)The truth is what I like to do most is eat food in more interesting places. I look for plants, animals and their tracks that I recognize. I love a cool breeze on my face. I want to be out in it even if it’s standing in a river watching the water and the fish rush past my feet.  

I am hoping to do some overnight hikes in the coming months with my husband. His outdoor activities of choice are more about long range shooting. Yet the camping and hiking are overlapping a bit there. He was a Boy Scout after all. We both enjoy the peace in nature together. We feel better after sow fresh air. Last winter, we did a weekend trip to a place out near Rockford called Detach Primitive. They have some other options but, we stayed in a rustic A frame cabin that’s hike in and out. No power, a few battery operated lights, and a little wood stove. Such a cool place if you want to rough it, but don't want to sleep in a tent. It is located right off the Fred Meijer White Pine Trail that spans 92 miles from Comstock to Cadillac. We enjoyed some winter hiking and I learned that Keen has a killer warranty for their boots. I broke off one of the hooks somehow after wearing my boots a handful of times. With a few pictures, they got me a brand new pair. I will be a Darn Tough and Keen fan for life thanks to that wintery trip. 

My husband on one of our winter hikes, headed for the White Pine Trail,  the weekend we spent at Detach Primitive.

I’m also looking into some of the Becoming an Outdoors Woman events. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources puts on these events. Everything is located in the Upper Peninsula and I was not comfortable leaving my son at all until recently. Therefore, I want take part between the work craziness that 2024 will bring me. I should explain. I work as an Election Coordinator for a township. The recent constitutional changes to Michigan’s elections have changed my job. Those changes are going to have me working a lot next year.  Nevertheless, between elections, I want to be outdoors as much as possible.

My son and I on a recent hike at For-Mar. 

I want my son to have a love an appreciation for the outdoors too. I'd say we’re doing a decent job at this goal because once he’s outside, it’s impossible to get him to come inside. He loves to narrate our hikes, and observe the trails. He notices every little insect and animal that crosses his path. He can imitate a bald eagle surprisingly well for a two year old. I do not mean the red tail hawk noise you’re thinking of, I mean the real sounds. He always wants to help in the garden and even helped me plant about 50 flower bulbs this year. He loves to splash in the water from his Papa’s house on Lake Ponemah to the shores of Lake Superior. My lord is the child a rock hound. But, we’re going to work hard to expose him to more. This weekend we are taking him on his first camping trip! Stay tuned for how that goes. He may not love nature in the exact same way I do, as I don’t share all my parents’ interests. However, I want him to find the way that works for him.

I may not get outside as much as I’d love to as a working mom. I see these adventurers out there living it every day and wonder what that is like. To wander the world and explore the beauty nature has to offer day in and out. But, I remember any time I get out there and do it with my family it is special. Welcome to my imperfect way of showing up for my family and myself. 

Welcome to MI Days Outdoors!