The Campground Kids: National Park Adventures

Twelve-year-old Isaiah Rawlings wished for only one thing this summer, a camping trip outside of Kentucky. I’m so tired of camping in my backyard, he groaned. Isaiah pleads with his parents to reconsider their usual summer trip to dusty old museums and big cities.

Discovering their newfound tradition and love for camping at the Grand Tetons, The Campground Kids anticipate their next adventure—exploring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Attending a park-sponsored stargazing event, Isaiah, Sadie, and Ethan overhear a ranger tell his favorite legend of a gold mine hidden in Zion. While exploring the park, they venture off to investigate an intriguing narrow path. Unexpectedly, they stumble across a carving on a stone face. “10N 25F 5B 11N 7S 3D,” Isaiah reads. What is it? “Looks like ancient Indian lettering to me,” Ethan says. Was this just some historic carving or is it somehow connected to the treasure? Were others searching for the gold mine as well? What secrets are hidden within the canyons and mountains of Zion?

The Campground Kids are on to their next adventure attending Survival Week at Camp Wilderness, a training course packed full of challenges. Over their week’s stay, they will learn to master five skills making it possible to survive in almost any environment. With five cabins divided into teams, competition becomes the main focus. As they power through each event, the team members learn to work together in unity. When the campers return from their first day of challenges, the boys of Cabin 3 find their belongings ransacked and immediately blame the girls of Cabin 5. Blood begins to boil.

Adventure starts in the Grand Canyon where Isaiah, Sadie, and Ethan discover a small box engraved with their names. The box contains a hidden message with mysterious clues that lead them on a scavenger hunt. As the kids are solving the carefully crafted riddles on what seems to be a wild goose chase, they stumble across a clue scribbled on a ripped piece of fabric. “Help me,” it reads. The kids are stumped by this clue. What can it possibly mean? Why is it so hard for them to figure out?

The Campground Kids are ready for their next adventure backcountry camping at Yellowstone National Park. Expecting a peaceful sightseeing vacation, the kids quickly realize this trip is far from relaxing. They suddenly find themselves stranded in the park, threatened by grizzlies and bison. To top this off, the kids run into a scientist named Dr. Y who needs their help.

The Campground Kids begin their next journey in Yosemite National Park. Their trip gets turned upside down after learning that treasure has been hidden somewhere in the park—over one million in gold and precious gems. Once the kids discover that their long-lost great-uncle is involved, they insist on joining the hunt. As the family begins their adventure, they run into twin brothers, Brody and Brock, and their father. While Brody seems friendly to the crew, Brock and his menacing father are determined to locate the treasure and will resort to ANYTHING to find it!

The Campground Kids get their feet wet on this oceanic adventure as they explore Acadia National Park. After their whale-watching expedition on the Unsinkable II, the family picks up Noah, Ethan’s smug cousin, as they head to Duck Harbor Campground. The next day, the group returns from an early morning hike to find the campground completely deserted! Noah uses his trusty amateur radio to signal for help only to find that a hurricane is bearing down on their location.

As The Campground Kids head to Montana to visit Glacier National Park, they find this trip is nothing short of bizarre. It all starts when their truck breaks down, and they use a loaner from a local displaying an odd bumper sticker. On their way into the park, they are nearly run off the road by another driver. While setting up camp, they hear yelling in the distance between two people. To top it off, Ethan insists a yeti is running wild in the woods.

The Campground Kids receive an envelope containing secret information about a lost artifact called a "Navigem." The kids quickly piece together that this is more than just a favor; it is a mission from their Uncle Elliot. Finding the legendary Navigem will be no small task, as it has been missing for decades. Rumor has it that an outlaw hid it in South America; however, Uncle Elliot's clues seem to point toward Arches National Park. The kids must get up to speed with their secretive uncle and find the Navigem before others catch on.