CAMPINGS RISING POPULARITY
Do you enjoy peace, tranquility and fresh air? Do you enjoy life in the city but can’t wait to escape for the weekend to enjoy that open air campfire….cooking a meal over an open flame and roasting marshmallows under the light of a full moon? If you answered yes to any of these questions and you haven’t yet taken a camping trip, well then what are you waiting for??! Camping has never been more popular across the board, no matter what age, sex, or race you may be, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.
With the world’s population ever growing to almost 8 billion people (that’s right…BILLION!!!) and the majority of people living in urban centers, the world has become increasingly crowded. In response, people have been on the search for a slice of untouched land where they can enjoy some much deserved quiet time and privacy.
The stresses of everyday life have been taking their toll on the population for quite some time. Did you know that some 83 percent of Americans are suffering from work related stress according to a comprehensive study completed by Everest College? Meanwhile, Everyday Health’s United States of Stress research from 2018 found that one third of respondents saw a doctor because of stress in their life. It has become abundantly clear that the more connected we become to technology, our jobs and the fast pace of life, the more stressful it has become, with stress relief outlets often hard to find.
However, connecting with the outdoors for a few days may be all the therapy that you need to regroup and refresh your mind and spirit. There is nothing quite like sleeping under the stars of a clear night….or waking up to the sounds of the birds calling.
When we are out camping, time becomes nonexistent. We are free of the burdens of our to-do lists. We can wake up early to the sounds of the loons calling. Or if we prefer, we can stay up all night under a blanket of shining stars. And if we are really ambitious, we might even do both. The choice is ours!
It is high time that we connect back to our roots in nature. Nature is our home; it’s where humans first lived among the animals and the forest. And now more than ever, we need our home.
91 MILLION AMERICAN CAMPERS
Camping’s popularity has been steadily increasing for quite some time. According to the KOA 2020 North American Camping Report, between 2018 and 2019, 2.7 million new households started camping, bringing the total number of camping households to more than 91 million.
This trend saw continued growth in 2020 due in large part to the travel restrictions imposed in response to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. As people looked for ways to safely social distance, while getting out of the house and the crowds of the cities, camping became a natural outlet.
Even when the pandemic ends, camping’s popularity is expected to continue to rise. The majority of households plan to continue taking at least one camping trip per year while 72% of campers take multiple trips per year.
In fact, campgrounds have already been booking for 2021 at unprecedented rates.
Th range of people who enjoy camping may also surprise you. In 2012 non-white camping households made up just 12 percent of camping families. By 2018, that number had risen by a whopping 17 percent to 29 percent of all campers!
The largest increase in popularity by age has been among Millennials as many have started their own families. Camping can be an inexpensive, relaxing vacation for families not looking to travel too far. It is also popular among individuals looking for adventure and to connect with the outdoors.
Camping is no longer just a way to leave the hustle and bustle of the city for a few days. It has become a way of life and a vastly important facet of both our physical and mental well being. Between 2014 and 2019, the percentage of campers who camped three or more times per year increased to 72 percent. Those that enjoy it, enjoy it a lot!
CONNECT WITH FAMILY
One of the number one reasons for taking any camping trip is to spend time with family. Often times families feel disconnected from one another even while living under the same roof. When we’re at home, there is always work to be done, chores to be completed and we don’t have time to truly connect with one another.
Camping can have a profound impact on the relationships we build with our family and friends in a place removed from the comfort of home. When we’re camping, we can let loose and enjoy our time together making amazing memories of swimming and fishing; playing horse shoes and volleyball and singing the night away around a camp fire with acoustic guitars ringing through the night.
Imagine spending the weekend away without the distractions of the outside world or the chores of the household weighing in the back of your mind. Taking three days to a week to enjoy each others company away from the distractions of everyday life can help us build relationships with our children and the memories made will last a lifetime. If you take that first camping trip this year, your kids will be begging you to make it an annual event. That, I am positive of.
MILLENNIAL CAMPERS
It may surprise you that the largest growing demographic of new campers is among millennials born between 1981 and 1996. Millennials are now at a stage in their lives where they are having their won families who they wish to travel with. They are also astutely aware of the health and physical benefits of maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Spending the weekend rock climbing, hiking are biking while returning to the campsite for the evening has become one of this age groups favorite pastimes.
Although millennials have become known as the technology age group, they value disconnecting and spending time learning about nature first hand. They value spending time with their closest friends relaxing on the beach or kayaking along a lake or river.
Camping can be a case study in a lifestyle change that can last a lifetime and impact the decisions for future generations to come and the millennial generation is making sure to pass along this passion.
CONNECT WITH THE OUTDOORS
There is little in life more natural than a breath of fresh air. When we are frustrated, we are taught to take deep breaths in and out……in and out. This has the undeniable effect of calming our nerves and clearing our head. It allows us to reset for a moment and reflect on the things that are bothering us. If this small action can have such a great impact in a moment of frustration, what could a weekend away, breathing fresh air with every inhale do for our mind and our spirit?
Aside from the fresh air we breathe, seeing the beauty of the forest over several days in the woods is often a huge lure to start camping. Watching the birds collect sticks and straw for their nests, or a chipmunk collecting acorns for winter allows us to appreciate the little moments.
Or, maybe rather than watching as the animals explore nature, you prefer to go out exploring yourself. There are so many trees and plants to discover and learn about that it would be impossible to see them all in a lifetime. There are hills to climb and lakes to swim. The earth has given us so much beauty to explore and only so much time to do it.
