Camping
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"Car camping" is camping in a tent, but nearby the car for easier access and for supply storage |
Camping is an outdoor
recreational activity, in which the campers get away from civilization and enjoy nature by spending one or more nights at a
campsite. They may use a tent, a primitive structure, a
travel trailer or
recreational vehicle, or no shelter at all. Camping is often restricted by law to designated sites in order to prevent campers from damaging the environment.
Camping as a recreational activity became popular in the early 20th century. It continues to be a response to the increasing
urbanization and isolation of
Western society. Camping is often associated with a sense of
nostalgia or of
romanticism for 'the times of our fathers'. It simultaneously evokes images of 'oneness with nature' and 'man against nature' - independence and self-sufficiency. Campers frequent
national parks and other publicly owned natural areas. Camping divides those who enjoy it from those who do not more distinctly than most other common leisure activities.
Camping describes a wide range of activities. Survivalist campers set off with little more than their boots, whereas
recreational vehicle travelers arrive equipped with their own electricity, heat, and patio furniture. Camping may be an end unto itself, but often it is done in conjunction with other activities, such as
hiking,
swimming or
fishing. It may be combined with hiking either as
backpacking or as a series of day hikes from a central location.
Some people vacation in permanent camps with cabins and other facilities (such as
hunting camps or children's
summer camps), but a stay at such a camp is usually not considered 'camping'. The term
camping may also be applied to those who live outdoors out of necessity (as in the case of the
homeless) or for people waiting overnight in very long lines (queues). It does not, however, apply to cultures whose technology does not include sophisticated dwellings. Camping may be referred to colloquially as
roughing it.
Campers span a broad range of ability and ruggedness, and campsites are designed accordingly. Most campers prefer to use sites with special facilities such as fire rings,
bathrooms and utilities, but not all campsites offer similar levels of development. Campsites can range from a bare piece of grass to a level paved pad with sewer and electricity. These latter are often designated for the use of
handicapped campers. For more on facilities, see the
campsite article.
The most comfortable form of camping uses recreational vehicles (RVs), essentially wheeled houses. Many RVs are quite luxurious, featuring
air conditioning,
bathrooms,
kitchens,
showers,
satellite TV and even
Internet connections. RV campers often choose these devices because they consider tent camping uncomfortable and inconvenient. In the
United States, many campgrounds offer "full hookups" where motorhomes are supplied with electricity, water and sewer services. Some
retirees and self-employed people sell their homes and live nomadically in their RVs, often moving with the seasons.
Other people favor camping with tents, or no shelter at all ("under the stars"), because they feel that a trailer or motor home detracts from the experience of being out-of-doors. Tent camping commonly employs an
automobile to transport equipment to an established campground (this practice is called "car camping"). Other vehicles used for camping include
touring bicycles,
boats, and even
bush planes, although
backpacking and using
pack animals are popular alternatives. Tent camping attracts young families because the children tend to enjoy it, and because gear is inexpensive and rugged. Tent camping sites often cost less than campsites with full amenities, and most allow direct access by car. Some "walk-in" sites lie a short walk away from the nearest road but do not require full backpacking equipment.
Backpacking is a mobile variety of tent camping. Backpackers use lightweight equipment that can be carried long distances on foot. They hike across the land, camping at remote spots, often selecting campsites at will if resource protection rules allow. Backpacking equipment typically costs more than that for car camping, but still far less than a trailer or motorhome, and backpacking campsites are generally free.
Canoe camping is similar to backpacking, but uses
canoes for transportation; much more weight and bulk can be carried in a canoe or kayak than in a backpack. Canoe camping is common in eastern
North America.
One form of
bicycle touring combines camping with cycling. The bicycle is used to carry the gear and as the primary means of transportation, allowing greater distances to be covered than backpacking.
Survivalist campers learn the skills needed to survive out-of-doors in any situation. This activity may require skills in obtaining food from the wild, emergency medical treatments,
orienteering, and
pioneering.
"Winter camping" refers to the experience of camping outside when there is sufficient snow on the ground. Some campers enjoy the challenge this form of recreation brings. Campers and outdoorspeople have adapted their forms of camping and survival to suit extremely cold nights and limited mobility or evacuation. Methods of survival when winter camping include building snow shelters (
quinzhees), dressing in "layers," staying dry, using low-temperature sleeping bags, and fueling the body with appropriate food.
Workamping allows campers to trade their labor for a free campsite, and sometimes for utilities and additional pay.
Common tent camping equipment includes:
* A
tent, lean-to or other shelter device
* A
sleeping bag for warmth
* A
sleeping pad or
air mattress is often placed underneath the sleeping bag for cushioning from stones and twigs as well as for
insulation from the ground
* A
portable stove to prepare hot
meals and/or
drinks where campfires are forbidden or impractical
* A
lantern or
flashlight* A
hatchet,
axe or
saw for cutting firewood (where allowed; see
campfire) or constructing camp gadgets
* Various types and sizes of
ropes and
tarps for stringing clotheslines, sheltering dining areas, and other purposes.
Some campers may prepare food by
cooking on a campfire, sometimes using such equipment as a
Dutch oven.
Much of the remaining needed camping equipment is commonly available in the home, like dishes, pots and pans. Lists of what to take are available in many camping books and websites. Many people opt not to use their home items but equipment better tailored to camping, such as heavy plastic tableware and salt and pepper shakers with tops that close to keep out rain. Backpackers use special lightweight and highly portable equipment.
*
Camp (disambiguation)*
Hazards of outdoor activities*
Camping Gaz*
Camping Safety*
Camping For Boys by H.W. Gibson (Project Gutenberg)
