- November 23, 2024
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For 13 years, Lakewood Ranch's Nicole Thibodeau has been asking her husband, Phil Thibodeau, to take her camping.
To celebrate her birthday Feb. 24, Phil Thibodeau made Nicole Thibodeau's wish come true.
The Thibodeaus took their kids, 7-year-old Lochlan, 5-year-old Zolana and 4-year-old Dexon, to Lakewood Ranch Community Activities' annual Community Campout at Greenbrook Adventure Park.
Nicole Thibodeau said she loved camping as a child when she and her dad would go to Mount Washington in New Hampshire in February to brave the cold weather.
"We would spend a couple of days out there, and it was absolutely freezing, but it was nice to be close to nature," she said. "The conveniences of life make it so easy. Camping includes good skills for my kids to learn."
Harmony's Leigh Sierra participated in the Community Campout for the first time with her husband, Eric Sierra, and 4-year-old daughter Weslyn Sierra. They decide to go to the campout after hearing their neighbors Daniella and Andy Caiano had a great time with their family at last year's campout.
This year's campout became a neighborly adventure as the Sierras and Caianos pitched their tents next to their neighbors Lisa and Jimmy Reeds' family and Melissa and Paul McDermott's family.
Andy Caiano said he helped each of the families with pitching their tents.
"I didn't come here as the expert (in pitching tents), but I'm leaving here as the expert," he said.