The prospect of camping for a week was daunting – until I connected with the strangers around me | Jackie Bailey

Our rewilding camp shared a common longing: to connect with the land, and share the load of cooking, cleaning and, most of all, parenting

Um, can I have some help?"

We have come to a rewilding camp on Yuin country, beyond the reach of mobile networks and plumbing. My child and I aspire to be more like the camp leader, Gina Chick, the winner of the SBS reality show Alone Australia. But we have never been camping. My husband's severe dust and pollen allergies restrict family travel to hotels, so I have borrowed gear from my neighbour. I bought an esky from Big W. I am ready.