PORT ANGELES – The rule is: no women taller than four feet.
Dads and Offspring Playing Everywhere – otherwise known as DOPES – was started recently by Steve Chapman and Mike Glenn, who recruited Steve Methner and a couple of other pals whose wives were meeting regularly.
The reason for building a group for dads is simple, both Methner and Chapman say – to make sure to build time into hectic days to make memories with their children.
“Sometimes, when you’ve got your life going at 110 miles per hour, it is hard to make sure you’re spending that kind of time with your kids,” said Methner, a Port Angeles State Farm insurance agency owner.
“Then life goes by, and you don’t know what you missed.”
Methner and his four kids go camping, biking, hiking and hang out together as often as possible.
Many of the camping trips are with the fathers’ group.
After taking note that their wives were having regular meetings – some with the kids and some without – the group of dads decided to follow suit.
The result has been camping trips, memories, and conversations on parenting.
“Only occasionally will we let the wives come along,” said Chapman, a Port Angeles doctor.
“The rule is: no woman over four feet.”
On Father’s Day weekend, the group planned a Sol Duc camping.
Methner was planning to take his four children -Kay, 10, Scott, 9, Andrew, 6, and Stuart, 5.
Both of Chapman’s daughters were to go along, too.
Ella is 6 1/2 years old and Natalie is 4 1/2 years old.
Those halves are very important to them,” Chapman said.
