People have been camping since time immemorial, although it wasn’t called camping way back when. In camping, people leave their usual houses or places of dwelling and do overnight stays in such places as tents or recreational vehicles.
Made popular by elites in the early 20th century, camping is now done by all socioeconomic classes. It is also part of many organizations, such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, around the world.
Different Kinds of Camping
There are different kinds of camping in the world today. In survivalist camping, people have few resources at their disposal and try to survive with as little as possible. They usually have tents that require tools such as screw in tent stakes, adjustable poles and tent floors. In recreational camping, people often have recreational vehicles and their own heat, electricity, furniture and everything else a simple house would have.
These do not require what tents need, such as screw in tent stakes and poles, but need other tools such as firelighters and gas tanks. In adventure camping, serious campers usually travel or hike during the day and see everything that nature has to offer. At night, they rest.
In boondocking, dry camping or wild camping, people don’t have access to water. Other amenities are also typically not allowed. In backpack camping or the more commonly used term ‘backpacking,’ campers’ hike through various ecosystems and carry supplies that can last many weeks in the wilderness.
Ultralight backpacking, meanwhile, eliminates as much gear as possible. The campers pack essentials that are 12 to 28 lbs. at most. Bicycle camping, fairly new compared to the others, is often done for its convenience. In bicycle camping, you can camp in a hotel or hostel.
You can come and go as you please, and do any activity you want. In Reenactment Camping, the campers mimic or replicate a certain historic era. Many campers are strict about this, which means that if you were mimicking camping in the early 19th century, there would be no tools such as lighters and screw in tent stakes.
Camping ala Medieval times and the Wild West era are popular forms of Reenactment Camping. Winter Camping is done during the winter when there are no crowds and rarely any bugs. You will also enjoy the outdoors.
Some people include snowboarding and backcountry skiing in their Winter Camping trips. The most important aspect about Winter Camping is to have the proper equipment to stay warm.
Other Definitions of Camping
Many people argue that camping does not have one meaning. Like motels and hotels, camping can serve any guest, from recreational campers to the homeless. Some also have immigrants working in them. Additionally, a summer camp for children might be called a camp but have many buildings in them, such as a bunkhouse.
A homeless person may live like he or she is camping but does not define himself or herself as doing that activity. They may prepare meals over a fire and have little to no equipment such as in Survivalist Camping, but in truth, they live that kind of lifestyle.
So camping is a mixture of the intent that one has and the equipment and tools that one uses. A child may camp inside his living room by setting up a tent made of blankets and pillows.
