Camping
I think most people fall into one of two categories in life: those who like to camp and those who don’t. It’s funny but true! Most individuals I’ve spoken with side strongly one way or the other. Either it’s, “Camping?! You mean out with the bugs and the raccoons and stuff? Nope. No way. My idea of camping is getting a room at the nearest hotel.” Or it’s, “Yessssss. I love camping! I grew up making smores over the fire and setting up the tent with my dad.”
Regardless of which camp you fall into (Ha! Sorry, that was an attempt at a lame joke there), this is a low expense hobby that’s easy to pick up and try if you’re willing to do new things or borrow items that can’t be purchased. Many camping supplies can also be found gently used on sites such as Facebook marketplace or Craigslist. Always make sure someone is either with you or aware of any meetups for purchases from strangers though!
“But,” you might ask, “what about where to camp? Don’t you have to pay rental fees for spots in campgrounds, reserve spaces and all that?” Sometimes that’s true, yes, but you can just as easily camp in your own backyard (Discover a Hobby)! I’d actually recommend that first so you can dash back into the house if you find this isn’t the hobby for you, or if your tent turns out to have a pretty bad leak on a rainy night (I might be speaking from experience here). Another option is to see if you can think of a family member or friend who lives out in the country and plan a weekend of camping on their property. Otherwise, you can do a search online for different parks that are camping friendly (Discover a Hobby).
Camping has a lot of benefits but the biggest that come to mind are breaking out of the norm, getting into nature, and starting a habit you can continue for the rest of your life. Unlike some hobbies, camping isn’t something that comes with an expiration date on it. I know a lot of older couples who purchase a camper as they age so they can continue to plan camping trips but do it in a little more comfort. And there are so many sensory experiences that go hand in hand with camping, almost all of them involving nature (Saco River, 2017). There’s the smell of the smoke from a real log fire, the hammering of driving tent stakes, the sound of the wind rustling the leaves in the trees that you can hear as you fall asleep or the unique patter of rain on the tent above you, and the closer sense of the natural world around you.
Lastly, camping is an activity that naturally links to a whole list of other outdoor activities you may find yourself falling in love with. Many people who camp also enjoy fishing, hiking, swimming, cooking outdoors, kayaking, or biking on their camping trips (Saco River, 2017). If you’ve never tried it, give it a shot. Who knows, you might end up as a real happy camper!
References:
Camping. Discover a Hobby. Retrieved from https://www.discoverahobby.com/camping.
7 reasons why camping makes a great hobby. (2017). Saco River. Retrieved from https://sacorivercampingarea.com/blog-post/7-reasons-camping-makes-great-hobby/.
Challenges/Points:
Camping is a low cost hobby that’s easy to try out. You can borrow what you need from other families and try camping in your backyard the first time.
The benefits of camping include spending more time outdoors, breaking out of your routine, and learning to do something that you can continue for the rest of your life.
Many people who enjoy camping also spend time fishing, hiking, or doing other outdoor activities on their trip, so this is one hobby that can easily lead to others.
Questions:
Have you ever been camping before?
Does the idea of camping excite you or intimidate you?
Who could you ask to try out camping with you?
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