Why Do You Camp?

[Cplfly]

One thing I like is hanging out by/watching the campfire, Dad didn't let me "play" with the fire growing up. I can tell I had a good outing now if my shoes are melted and the hair on my hands are burnt off.I'm not "playing" with the fire" but" Making the best fire possible, maximizing the woods performance to get the best efficiency and heat output possible,maximizing the woods usage"..................I like playing with the fire!!   

[Mike & Mary Ann]

  http://:-)

 I needed to get away from the "rat race".  Our family enjoy getting away from all of life's distractions.  Peace & quiet, campfires, hiking/biking are some of memorable events in life 

[CampingFamily1]

There's an article in this months "Backpacker" magazine titled

"Hiking makes you smart"

Fresh air, beautiful scenery, etc.

[Jayko]

I like camping cause it gets us away from the demands of homeownership.  Every weekend could be spent doing something, we choose to camp.  My job also comes with a home office, cell phone and a computer.  At home I cannot get away from work.  Most the time camping the location of the campground jac no cell service, a welcome break. 

I for one am bummed that many parks are now installing WiFi.  I know I will be tempted to keep up with work if WIFI is available..

[purdyquibb]

That question struck me as a strange one, Not strange because its a strange question, But strange because I never really though about it before. When you reluctantly live in the city, You are also reluctantly caught up in everything that comes with it. Theres baseball, Dance, Piano, Playstations, Homework, bills and this list could go on for along time. First and formost camping for me its a chance to relax and be dad, Sometimes I forget that I am dad and need to be reminded what makes my life wonderful. Im not responsible for, or to anyone except for my wife and kids. Maybe thats why my kids love it to? They get our full undivided attention. There encouraged to get dirty, Stay up late and make new friends. We feel more comfurtible letting our kids go to other campers sites then we do letting them go to there freinds house at home. Even putting up the pup is a bonding family event, Each kid has a job and they cant wait to do it. We borrowed a pup from a freind the first year we tried camping and knew right off the bat, This is what its about. Now we have our own pup and we will be campers till we cant do it anymore. When were not camping were talking about it, What were going to do, Do you remember so and so?, Should we wire a radio? It never ends with us. In fact, Im back on this site writing about camping when I should be working. lol. Love the site and loved the question, thanks for reminding me what lifes about..... Now let's go camping........

[Tony and Shell]

We like to get out of town and away from the stress.  The phones don't work, no TV, no computers.  I can sit and listen to crickets and watch the kids play.

[HighLifeGuy]

Campfires are legal.
Much much safer to ride a bike.
Our next door neighbor isn't going to be there.
Can see the stars.
A lot less concrete.
More trees.

[MatthewinGA]

We started re-camping again for a few reasons.

DW and I both grew up camping. Me: Boy Scouts and her: camping with her parents.

Both of us didn't start re-camping regularly until I  moved to GA and started working from home. It seemed like I never left the house. I was indoors all the time with an old dog, 2 mean cats and 2 smelly ferrites that were hers and I didn't like.

We started out by taking about our younger days and how we'd like to go camping with each other. One day mid week I was on my day off. I said do you want to go camping tonight? She looked at me like I was crazy. I said lets go to the state park with blankets and pillows and start a fire. We stopped at the gas station and picked up a couple of tall boys and we watched "Ratatouille" on the laptop. The next week we went to evilmart and bought a $26 tent and started camping regularly. We even got her parents back into it. So much, that they went out and bought a pop up.

It was cheap, and a whole night away from all the craziness back at the zoo (house), fresh air, outdoors, campfire. it was the best $18 well spent.

Then we started buying gear and moved up to a bigger tent with an air conditioner, air mattress on a pop up bed frame.

After a few years we got married and her parents gave us the pop up. Now we have a new puppy a new kitten and the others are gone after many good years. The puppy comes with us every time. The price has gone way up and it's always 2 or 3 nights. GOOD TIMES!

[AZKayaker]

I live in Arizona and camp for only one reason....kayaking. It's too hot to enjoy the lakes close to Phoenix during the summer, so I head north for the mountain lakes and cool pines. 

[KDbug]

     
Well originally We as a family started camping because it was cheep and it was great family time and I wanted to bring some of the adventure my cousins and I had to my kids.  I grew up going a couple times a year with my Mom side of the family.  When my youngest was in High School we stopped, now I have got back in to it to relax and love going for a weekend

[csbmmb21]

purdyquibb and HighLifeGuy have pretty much summed it up for us!

The only camping I did as a kid was in the backyard of a dear friend's house while I was growing up; I enjoyed the ghost stories, the jokes, and all the laughing that we did...but I'm sure the neighborhood didn't enjoy the noise level. DH grew up camping with his parents and 4 brothers - definitely a motel on wheels for them! We started tent camping shortly after we started dating (when my oldest DS was 2 1/2, he loved the tent even in torrential downpours), our youngest DS had his first camping adventure at the age of 1 month (never cried the entire trip), and although we have been through all types of campers we are still doing what we love: getting away from the day-to-day, relaxing by the fire, and enjoying family time.

Oldest DS hasn't really camped with us in 4 or 5 years but tells me that when he has time off he will go with us again and that he DOES miss it. Youngest DS didn't go much the last 2 years, but was required asked to go this summer, and now he has fallen in love with camping again. He has bought a tent and continues to scrounge through our camping stuff each weekend to see if we "really need it because it would be real handy for him to have it".

I guess we've accomplished what we set out to do, the "torch" has been passed on to the next generation!

[BrianandBarb]

We camp to do other things, like viewing waterfalls.  But we also like to sit and read around the site.  Mostly we camp in state parks so there is always som something to do or see.

[wavery]

I camp because my wife makes me................ 

[TimK]

Our next door neighbor isn't going to be there.

I love it. And know exactly how you feel.

[thecigarmann]

I remember as a young child camping out in our backyard with my little brother.  We could see a million, maybe a kazillion stars back then and I don't believe there was ever more than two or three skeeters that buzzed our ears. 

When we married tent camping was all we could afford and it was cheap entertainment that our family could enjoy.  We didn't know there was anything else out for us to do or go see. 

I go camping just for camping.