Utah family finds peace in the outdoors

BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah — When you just have to shut off and get away from it all to reset, there is nothing like nature.

Brooke Cole got up bright and early Friday morning to make sure her husband and two kids had a spot to camp this busy Memorial Day weekend.

She found a spot at the Spruces Campground up Big Cottonwood Canyon in Salt Lake County.

“We are going to sleep under the stars in our tent,” she said to her kids.

Going camping is something they couldn’t wait to do.

With everything going on lately, it’s something they felt like they needed to do.

“I think to step away from that busyness and just be still for a while is good for us,” Cole said. “We love to camp and get out into nature. It makes us feel good.”

It's been a heavy couple of weeks in our country. A lot of people are feeling it. We met with one family who wanted to get away from it all for a little bit and just spend time together doing the little things. We're doing a story with them for @KSL5TV at 10. #ksltv pic.twitter.com/TraSalwADs

— Alex Cabrero (@KSL_AlexCabrero) May 28, 2022

It has been a heavy couple of weeks in our country. Many people are feeling it, which can be a good reminder of the little things that are so important.

“Do you want to make some S’mores tonight?” Cole asked her children.

“Yeah,” they said with a smile.

The Coles feel time away from the city helps them to reset.

“Getting away from the conventions, the screens, the things that we do at home, the things that our kids do at home that they turn to when they’re at home,” said Forrest Cole, who is Brooke’s husband.

Instead of video games, their kids turned to nature to keep them entertained and busy.

“My 5-year-old, he’ll go up to a tree and be like, ‘Dad, this tree smells amazing,’” Forrest Cole said with a laugh.

Sometimes, it is all a kid needs.

For adults, it’s a little more complicated. However, the idea is the same.

Camping and being in nature are opportunities to pause and take a timeout. It’s not only to get away from it all, but to also get ready to go back.

“We come away feeling recharged and relaxed and happy,” Brooke said.

“We’ll go back, maybe tomorrow if it starts to rain. But even if it’s Sunday or Monday, we’ll go back and we will feel refreshed,”
Forrest said. “I know we will.”

No matter what you’re doing to celebrate Memorial Day, even if you stay home, there’s nothing wrong with asking for help if the past couple of weeks have you feeling down.

The SafeUT app and website is one way to begin getting help for any issues or worries you may have.

You can also call SafeUT at 801-587-8852.