Camping

For other uses, seeCamping (disambiguation).

Campingis a form ofoutdoor recreationoroutdoor educationinvolving overnight stays with a basic temporary shelter such as atent.Camping can also include arecreational vehicle,sheltered cabins, a permanent tent, a shelter such as abivyortarp,or no shelter at all. Typically, participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors, in pursuit of activities providing them enjoyment or in a form of educational experience. Spending the night away from home distinguishes camping fromday-tripping,picnicking,and other outdoor activities.

Tentcamping inSierra Nevada National Park

Tentcamping inTurkey

Camping as arecreationalactivity became popular among elites in the early 20th century. With time, it grew in popularity among other socioeconomic classes. Modern campers frequent publicly owned natural resources such as national andstate parks,wilderness areas,and commercial campgrounds. In few countries, including Sweden and Scotland, public camping is legal on privately held land as well. Camping is a key part of many youth organizations around the world, such asScouting,which use it to teach both self-reliance and teamwork. School camping trips also have numerous benefits and can play an essential role in the personal growth and development of students.

Definition

Camping inOntario,c. 1907

TheCambridgeAcademic Content Dictionary defines camping as:

The act of staying and sleeping in an outside area for one or more days and nights, usually in a tent.

Camping describes a range of activities and approaches to outdoor accommodation.Survivalistand wild campers typically set off with as little as possible to get by. Other campers might use specialized camping gear designed to provide comfort, including their own power and heat sources as well as camping furniture. Camping may be combined withhiking,as inbackpacking,and is often enjoyed in conjunction with other outdoor activities such ascanoeing,kayaking,climbing,fishing,andhunting.Fastpackinginvolves bothrunningand camping.

There is no universally held definition of what is and what is not camping. Just as withmotels,which serve both recreational and business guests, the same campground may serve recreational campers, school field trips, migrant workers, and the homeless at the same time. Fundamentally, it reflects a combination of intent and the nature of the activities involved. A children'ssummer campwith dining hall meals and bunkhouse accommodations may have "camp" in its name but fails to reflect the spirit and form of "camping" as it is broadly understood. Similarly, ahomelessperson's lifestyle may involve many common camping activities, such as sleeping out and preparing meals over afirebut fails to reflect the elective nature and pursuit of spirit rejuvenation that are an integral aspect of camping.

History

Thomas Hiram Holdingoutside his camping tent.

The history of recreational camping is often traced back toThomas Hiram Holding,a British traveling tailor, but it was first popularised in the UK on theRiver Thames.By the 1880s, large numbers of visitors took part in the pastime, which was connected to the late Victorian craze for pleasure boating.AlthoughThomas Hiram Holdingis often seen as the father of modern camping in the UK, he was responsible for popularising a different type of camping in the early twentieth century. He experienced the activity in his youth when he spent much time traveling across the American prairies with his parents. Later he embarked on a cycling and camping tour with some friends acrossIreland.His book on his Ireland experience,Cycle and Camp in Connemaraled to the formation of the first camping group in 1901, the Association of Cycle Campers, later to become theCamping and Caravanning Club.He wroteThe Campers Handbookin 1908, so that he could share his enthusiasm for the great outdoors with the world.

Possibly the first commercial camping ground in the world wasCunningham's camp,nearDouglas, Isle of Man,which opened in 1894. In 1906, the Association of Cycle Campers opened its first camping site inWeybridge.By that time, the organization had several hundred members. In 1910 the Association was merged into the National Camping Club. Althoughthe First World Warwas responsible for a certain hiatus in camping activity, the association received a new lease of life after the war whenSir Robert Baden-Powell(founder of theBoy Scouts movement) became its president in 1919.

In the US, camping may be traced toWilliam Henry Harrison Murray's 1869 publication ofCamp-Life in the Adirondacks,resulting in a flood of visitors to the Adirondacks that summer.

During the early twentieth century, the popularity of camping in the United States grew as a result of the publicity created by The Vagabonds:Henry Ford,Thomas Edison,John Burroughs,andHarvey S. Firestone.This group of famous American businessmen, inventors, and authors traveled for ten years to different states, and the press highly documented their trips from across the country. Oftentimes, "...these rough and tumble pioneers would drive toward the Adirondacks and essentially live off the land, camping at farms and buying food along the way just like ordinary Americans out for a holiday on the road."

The International Federation of Camping Clubs (Fédération Internationale de Camping et de Caravanning) was founded in 1932, and national clubs from many countries affiliated with it. By the 1960s, camping had become an established family holiday standard, and today, campsites are widespread across Europe and North America.

Types

Seelammilean-toin Lapakisto,Lahti,Finland

Car campsite inŌarai Japan

Different types of camping may be named after their form of transportation, such ascanoe camping,car camping,RVing,andbackpacking,includingultralight backpacking.

Camping is also labeled by lifestyle:Glamping(glamorous camping) combines camping with the luxury and amenities of a home or hotel,and has its roots in the early 1900s European and Americansafarisin Africa.Workampingallows campers to trade their labor variously for discounts on campsite fees, campground utilities, and even some degree of pay.Migrantcamps are formed not for recreation but as a temporary housing arrangement. Campgrounds forcustom harvestersin the United States may include room-to-park combines and other large farm equipment. Camping is also popular at air shows, notably at theOshkosh air showwhere people often camp in a small tent under their aircraft's wing.

Religious camping

Christianity

Evangelical Christianity

Camp Agape inBenton, Tennessee,United States.

InEvangelical Christianity,camping for aspiritual retreatwas encouraged by the development ofcamp meetingsin the 19th century, to promote spiritual renewal, far from the city and in nature.These camps were an opportunity to pray, sing and listen to sermons for several days.

Various church associations have also established campgrounds orconference centersin isolated locations, which provide retreat times for children and adults.

Equipment

Camping equipment

A dome tent

Shelter constructed from a tarp

The equipment used in camping varies by intended activity. For instance, in survival camping the equipment consists of small items which have the purpose of helping the camper in providingfood,heat,andsafety.The equipment used in this type of camping must be lightweight and it is restricted to the mandatory items. Other types of camping such as winter camping involve having specially designed equipment in terms of tents or clothing that is strong enough to protect the camper's body from thewindandcold.

Survival camping involves certain items that campers are recommended to have with them in case something goes wrong and they need to be rescued. Asurvival kitincludes mandatory items that are small and must fit in one's pocket or which otherwise could be carried on one's person. This kit is useless in these circumstances if it is kept in thebackpackthat is left in camp. Such a kit should include a small metal container that can be used to heat water over acampfire,a small length ofduct tapewhich can prove useful in many situations, and an emergencyspace blanket.These blankets are specially designed to occupy minimal space, can be used as emergency shelters for keeping the camper warm, and their reflective properties mean that they can be easily seen from anaircraft.Candle stubs are good for starting a fire as well as for warming an enclosed space. One or twoband-aidsare mandatory in this type of camping. Any camper, and not only the survival ones, needwaterproofmatchesor a lighter and a large safety pin orfish hookwhich can be used infishing.Rubber gloves,antiseptic wipes,tinfoil,jackknife, orhalazonetablets (which purify the water) are also to be included in a survival kit.

List of common equipment

Main article:Hiking equipment

The following is a list of commonly used camping equipment:

• First aid kit
• Tent,lean-to,or other form of shelter
• Hammerormalletto drive tent stakes into the soil (hammers are often aclaw hammer,which is also helpful for removing them)
• Sleeping bagand/orblanketsfor warmth
• Sleeping padorair mattressto be placed underneath the sleeping bag for cushioning from stones and twigs, as well as forinsulationfrom the ground
• Lanternorflashlight
• Hatchet,axeorsawfor cutting firewood for a campfire
• Fire starterfor starting a campfire
• Folding chairsfor placement around a campfire
• Ropesfor stringingclothes lineand for securing the shelter
• Tarpfor adding a layer of storm protection to a tent, and to shelter dining areas
• Raincoatorponcho
• Hiking boots
• Fishing pole
• Canteen (bottle)
• Chuck boxto hold camp kitchen items for food preparation, consumption, and cleanup
• Trash bags,for the handling of waste; seeleave no trace
• Catholetrowelfor sanitation in areas where atoiletis not provided
• Insect repellent
• Sunscreenfor protecting skin
• ropefor climbing or in case someone gets stuck
• Personal careproducts andtowel
• Coolerto store perishables and beverages. If electricity is available, athermoelectricorstirling enginecooler can be used without the need for ice. Campers at modern campgrounds will normally bring perishable foods in coolers while backcountry campers will bring non-perishable foods such asdried fruits,nuts,jerky,andMREs.
• Bottled water or portablewater filterfor areas that have access to rivers or lakes
• Cooking implements such as a tripod chained grill,Dutch oven,or La Cotta clay pot can be used forcooking on a campfire.Aportable stovecan be used where campfires are forbidden or impractical. If using a campground with electricity, an electricfrying panorslow cookercan be used.
• Firewoodfor campfires
• Emergency Preparedness Kit
• Multi-tool or knife
• Global Positioning System(GPS)

Much of the remaining needed camping equipment is commonly available in the home, including dishes, pots, and pans; however, many people opt not to use their home items but instead utilize equipment better tailored for camping. These amenities include heavy plastic tableware and salt and pepper shakers with tops that close to shelter the shakers from rain. Old kitchen gear purchased fromthrift storesorgarage salesmay also be used in place of home items as an alternative to buying specialized (and more expensive) camping equipment. Backpackers use lightweight and portable equipment.

Campgrounds and commercial campsites

By the 1960s camping had become an established family holiday standard and today camp sites are ubiquitous acrossEuropeandNorth America.

Tent trailercamping provides comfort in a towable package

Campers span a broad range of age, ability, and ruggedness, andcampsitesare designed in many ways as well. Many campgrounds have sites with facilities such as fire rings, barbecue grills, utilities, shared bathrooms, and laundry, as well as access to nearby recreational facilities, however, not all campsites have similar levels of development. Campsites can range from a patch of dirt to a level, paved pad with sewer and electricity with many public and private campgrounds also offering cabin options. (For more information on facilities, see the campsite andRV parkarticles.)

Other vehicles used for camping include motorcycles, touring bicycles, boats, canoes,pack animals,and evenbush planes;althoughbackpackingon foot is a popular alternative.

A largerecreational vehicleprovides many amenities when camping.

A group of men, women, and children sitting on the chairs in a camp in the forest. July 7th, 1910, Wainwright, Alberta.

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. Those who seek a rugged experience in the outdoors prefer to camp with only tents, or with no shelter at all ( "under the stars" ).

Popularity

United States

According to an infographic produced by Red Rover Camping and based on data from the 2014 American Camper Report published by the Coleman Company, Inc. and the Outdoor Foundation, camping in the United States is gaining popularity after a fall of 4.2 million participants from 2011 to 2012.

United Kingdom

According to data provided by the Great British Tourism Survey conducted by Visit England, almost 4.5 million camping and caravanning holidays were taken by British residents during the first half of 2015, for an average of 3.7 nights.As in the United States, camping is gaining popularity, with an 8% increase in trips compared to the same period in 2014. TheCaravan Cluband theCamping and Caravanning Clubrepresent UK campers.

Scotland allows "wild camping"on privately-owned wilderness.

France

Data collected by the Fédération Nationale De L'Hôtellerie De Plein Air (FNHPA) shows that around 113 million nights were taken at French campsites in 2015, which was up by 3.9% in the same period in 2014. French holidaymakers took 77 million of these, and the rest was made up of other nationalities, the majority of whom were Dutch, German, and UK tourists. The French Government hopes to have 100 million tourists each year by 2030. The most popular region for camping is Languedoc and Roussillon with around 19,331,663 nights spent at campsites during 2015, whilst the department with the most campsites is the Vendée.

Canada

Canada is a country that has four different seasons throughout the year. In this day and age, with the proper camping equipment, it is possible to camp all over Canada all year round. At the end of the 19th century, Canada started establishing areas all over the territory to be later named "National Parks".These days, the parks are now known for being some of the most popular campgrounds in the country. But it was not always accessible to everyone. In Canada, before the 1910s, camping was reserved only for men.The first camping ground to be established in a National Park in Canada was in 1964 at theLake Louise.

According to data by a study made byCamping Québecin 2016, 20% of the province ofQuébecdid go camping, that being about 1,600,000 people.In the same research, the study has shown that a certain 8% of those campers were strangers.The popularity of camping in Canada is not only for locals but also for travelers. About 34% of the camp fanatics inQuébecare camping on eitherNational ParksorProvincials Parks.

Australia

According to theAustralian government,camping andcaravanholds a special place in the hearts of manyAustralians,as it offers a unique opportunity to connect with the country's diverse natural landscapes and rich outdoor heritage.Australiabenefits from a favorable climate and an expansive array of camping grounds and sites throughout the country.

Before the onset ofCOVID-19,there was a notable 67% increase in the number of caravan and camping trips over the preceding decade. In the year concluding in 2019, Australians embarked on a record-breaking 13.9 million caravan and camping journeys. Of these excursions, commercial caravan parks and camping grounds contributed to 52% of trips, 62% of nights spent, and 64% of total expenditure. Since the lifting of COVID-related restrictions, there has been a strong rebound in numbers. By the conclusion of the year in June 2022, trips had reached 12.7 million, while spending surged to an unprecedented $10.5 billion. With over 770,000 caravan andcampervanregistrations nationwide in 2021, this upward trend is poised to persist.

Camping and public access

Camping on open land, regardless of ownership, is legal in a few countries, including Sweden and Scotland. In Sweden, a right of public access – allowing outdoor recreational activity on privately held wilderness – is enshrined in the constitution.Large groups, however, must obtain the landowner's permission.In Scotland, people may camp on most unenclosed land, whether state- or privately owned. There is however a "leave-no-trace" policy and a common-law outdoor-access code.

In popular culture

Many films and other media have focused on camping or portrayed events regarding camping. Music includes the c. 1962Phil Ochsalbum,Camp Favorites.

See also

• Backpacking with animals
• Bell tent
• Bow drill
• Camping food
• Dispersed camping
• Firelighting
• Hammock camping
• Outdoor cooking
• Overlanding
• Swag
• Tarp tent
• Wilderness-acquired diarrhea

Further reading

• Jeff Guinn,The Vagabonds: The Story of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison's Ten-Year Road Trip(New York: Simon & Schuster, 2019).

External links

• Images of historic camping and hiking on the Long Trail, Center for Digital Initiatives, University of Vermont Library
• Reflections of Summer: Car Camping!Video produced byOregon Field Guide
• Letter from Henry Ford to Thomas Edison thanking him for including his family on a camping trip.