Why do you camp?

[lisa]

I'm new to camping, and I get the gist of it - you separate yourself from mainstream life, and get closer to nature....sleep outside, cook out... BUT, WHAT else do you do with all that time in between?! I'm just inexperienced, and was wondering WHY it is that some people are so thrilled with camping. I'd like to enjoy it as much as they are!

[CaptHook]

Well for some .Games ,Games,& more Games.Relax,Nap,joke ,spend time with Family and friends....an than theirs drinking and sleeping...Me I enjoy all of it .fact it's like being in a different world ...I love it.............Capt Hook

[dionbremner]

A couple of things...

One is diary of the trip, see http://mycampgear.com/2008/08/01/why-should-my-kids-keep-diary

And we've posted up some of our wet weather games, see http://mycampgear.com/2008/10/01/games-kids-wet-weather

And I've got another video in the pipeline from our last trip when the kids built a fort from sticks.

Our cards really enjoy cards.

Hope that's a start.

Dion

[prairie dawn]

Tent camping has allowed us to go farther, stay longer, and see more sights because it's such an economical way to travel.  What do you or your children or grandchildren learn in a hotel?  Would you ever even see the constellations?  Would you hear critters roaming around at night?  Could you effectively tell campfire stories?  Could you hear rain falling on your tent, or acorns falling on it every time the wind blows?  Could you find turtles, crawdads, frogs, or worms?  Could you hear a mountain stream?  Could you see wildlife? Cook over an open fire or in a Dutch Oven or on your camp stove?  Could you fall asleep listening to the chirping of the frogs and bugs?  Nothing like it!

[buckeye]

Mostly I camp to get closer to my family, it makes for an amazing bonding experience.  My job recently got a campaign from the Ad Council (We're a marketing company) and I came across a study they did that said that kids spend about 50% less time outdoors than they did 20 years ago.  This got me wanting to get my kids out more this past summer and thusly we have been doing a lot of bonding while camping.

I use resources like The Forest Service's "Where the Other You Lives" website to find activities to do while we are in the wilderness and it always works pretty well.  The website is pretty great, it's designed to help parents and kids get into the wilderness and outdoor actiivities. 

the website I mentioned can be found here here

[RJD]

I go camping mostly because it relieves alot of stress that builds up after dealing with all the insanity of everyday life. It's nice to get out into the wilderness and relax. It's nice to just sit there and listen to the breeze blow thru the trees. NO politics,no bills,no argueing with people. Just peace and quiet. Also I like the feeling if knowing that I can survive on my own wits should society collapse. I never unpack my camping gear, I ready to head for the wilderness in a moments notice. My life long dream has always been to live like the Mountainmen did back in the good ol days before civilization destroyed the country.

[campman]

Coleman's ad campaign this year was "Coleman the first networking site".  A play on internet sites like MySpace and Facebook.  Although extremely corny, I think it has some validity to it.  I camp because it gives me time to hang out with family and friends at a little bit slower of a pace.  I also camp because I am a gear junkie and bargain hunter.  I always want the next best thing without breaking the bank.  I am always going around to retailers to see what new things they are carrying.

[RJD]

  WOW !!! You mean people can "NETWORK" without the aid of a computer ? Man, that's radical .
I'll have to give it a try sometime.
 

[BlackJim]

Because it's a normal state of humankind. We were campers before we became city or town dwellers.

The Fire, The Stories.

[Mountainfitter]

Why do you breathe? haha Sorry I can't answer that question but I like what everyone had to say.  For everyone its different.

[PKlaebel]

To me it is an escape.  I agree with some of the other post I read about the social aspect, but for me it is about getting away from the every day routine.  Leaving the cell phones and computers at home.   It's forgetting that it's the year 2009.  You can take a vacation to a nice resort such as say Myrtle Beech SC or even  Las Vegas, but the hustle and bustle is still there.  Camping, you leave all of that behind.

[BlackJim]

Camping in a beautifully wild area tends to enhance one's personality.

It seems to bring out the best in people, that is if you don't detest camping and the outdoors, or scared
of wild animals big and small.

[RJD]

The one thing you dont want to do is force someone to go camping with you that doesn't like the outdoors. I hear more couples arguing while camping because the wife hates camping and the husband wanted to go,but the wife wont let him go alone or with freinds. I guess thats something to consider before choosing a mate. If your mate doesnt like camping, you may have to give it up or get used to your mate whining and arguing about everything. Some people love the city life and hate the wilderness.  A freind of mine would love to go camping with me, but his wife is a city princess. She wont go camping and wont let her husband go with me. I'm sure glad I never fell into that trap. It's hard to find woman these days that enjoy camping and doing things the way the first settlers did them. I feel sorry for people who cant go out into the wilderness and not only survive but make a good life. You can drop me off anywhere in the woods and I'll live the rest of my life there with no thoughts of going back to civilization.

[Bigdog57]

Much of my camping is during motorcycle meets, at established campgrounds (often MC-only sites) and we meet, talk, ride, wrench and generally have fun and comradery.
I also camp while hunting and/or fishing with a buddy or two.

Other times, I head out into the National Forest (my 'backyard') and solocamp.  Then I just enjoy the solitude and natural world.  Good stress relief from work.

[rhood]

I camp so I can enjoy the outdoors in safety and comfort
I do a lot of hammock tenting and love to see the view of the mountains from a hammock, or Amazing Wilderness Camp Chair!

You can also set up hammock chairs, like the ones at this link: http://www.canada-camps.ca
They are easy to make, or you can buy one off their site.  Most of the stuff at Canada camps is geared to camping in Ontario, Quebec, New Hampshire, and British Columbia.

Get out and camp in Canada!