Camping is an ideal outdoor activity that introduces you to a myriad of outdoor sports.
It is a perfect way of improving the mental and physical health of people of all ages.
You also get a unique chance to make friends and socialize.
You can go hiking, fishing, hunting, and swimming during your camping tour.
So, Is Camping A Hobby To Do Alone Or With A Group?
Well, camping is sweeter and enjoyable when done in a group. It is you who chooses the number of people you want to go out with. There are cons and pros to going out in numbers. That and other facts about camping as a hobby are exhaustively covered in this article. Keep reading to demystify facts about camping.
Why Do People Love Camping?
1. You Can Take A Much Needed Break From Technology
We all love technology, but with it comes unnecessary pressures.
Sometimes we may find it necessary to go away to meditate and think about life from a new perspective.
Camping is the natural way to do that.
It is a whole life-changing digital detox where you take a break from the internet and disconnect from EVERYTHING.
This is especially true since most campsites might not have Wi-Fi.
So if you are finding it hard to disconnect from the internet, outdoor camping is a timely remedy.
2. Learn Some Survival Skills
Camping gives you, your friends, and your kids an opportunity to learn new skills.
It is usually treated as a survival retreat or a challenge.
You will be alone or in the company of your friends. As such, you learn to erect tents, cook, fish, and hike all on your own.
3. Explore Mother Nature
No other hobby brings you close to nature as much as camping does.
This is your chance to behold the breath-taking physical attributes of nature at its best.
Camping allows to witness spectacular sceneries, including mountains, constellations, trees, and wildlife up close.
You will also witness changes in weather patterns, the wind, rains, sunshine, and even snow.
You don’t usually get time to see all this in the city.
4. Camping Allow You To Decompress
The calmness of nature alone will drive you into a peaceful state.
You’ll be able to disconnect from work and engage in a peaceful endeavor.
This boosts your mental health a great deal.
5. Camping Helps To Build And Strengthen Bonds
There is no better time to interact with the people you love than during a camping retreat.
There is plenty of time to get to know each other and become closer.
The world is getting busier with hardly any time to interact and socialize with family and friends.
If you want to create such a time, then camping is the ideal choice of action.
Do You Have To Travel For An Ideal Camping Site And Experience?
Not at all. You won’t have travel miles to a dense forest to find a perfect camping site.
Most people often mistake camping for forest retreats.
That is not the case since camping can be done in any place provided it is a peaceful site where nature rules the day, and it should be ideally away from distractions.
It is not a big deal to locate compounds within your city for a camping experience.
If you cannot locate one, however, you can choose a nearby pond or lake amongst other cool areas.
All you need to note is that the location of a campsite should not be such big a challenge.
It entails much more of an experience. Many families camp with their kids in the backyard.
This can be great fun as well. The cool side of this is that it will cost you a small budget, and all the tools required will be close by.
How Much Should You Spend On Your Camping Trip?
Well, the cost of your camping experience is dictated by several factors.
Obvious ones include the location of your camping and the duration of the camping experience. Under normal conditions, camping will cost you about $1000.
Sometimes it can cost less or more than that depending on the factors we mentioned amongst others, including personal preferences and personal budgets.
You would expect to spend from $25 to $200 on tents.
Gear is what will take a larger portion of your budget. High-quality gear can be costly. If you already have some gear at home, it can save you during the next camping. Borrowing from friends can also be a great way to save on your money.
There are many other primary items to include in your camping budget.
Campsites fees, food, activity fees, and transportation are other key things to consider and maybe some more.
Once you have these, the cost of your next camping trip will be cheaper.
It can even come down to as low as $100.
Also, this depends on the number of people you are taking with you.
If you have a company with you, it means you are going to add some more tents and other items. Starting from scratch is where you are likely to face a financial problem.
Is It Safe To Go Camping With Family And Friends?
There is no denying that the camping experience is both a calm and challenging endeavor.
As such, survival skills are much needed.
It is not all about facing the wild. It is about facing the weather challenge sometimes.
So whether you are taking your kids or friends with you, camping is a safe activity.
Just make sure that you take the necessary precautions.
Facing a new environment can be a little hard, but that does not make camping unsafe.
The deal is to to be prepared.
Seven Camping Rules You Should Definitely Follow
Here are a few sets of safety rules you and your team should observe during camping:
1. Select An Ideal Site
This is where you will spend the night and quality time. It must be the choicest place.
Also, make sure that you set your camp in a suitable place. It should be firmly set on the ground. This makes it safe for you and your companions.
2. Note The Site’s Weather Forecast Before The Trip
Skim through the area’s weather forecast before you embark on the trip.
This gives you an idea of the type of clothing and shelter you will need.
If you have someone in your company who might face serious health problems as far as particular weather is concerned, you might as well readjust your schedules.
Weather patterns can be a serious issue to some people’s health. Children are especially vulnerable.
3. Keep The Campfire Small
Camp life is incomplete without fire. It provides warmth and security from the wild, especially at night.
However, fire can be a hazard if joked around with. Kids can mess things around with fire.
Therefore, campfires must be maintained small and at least 25 feet from the tent, objects, and things that might catch fire like trees.
4. Take A First Aid Kit With You
Carry along a first aid kit with you to counter any unprecedented emergencies.
You or your companions may fall prey to camp allergies, and you better be prepared to face such cases should they come up.
In the case of serious health cases, it would be a prudent idea to abort the mission and seek medication for the affected team member.
This can fracture, which is often a common case when people go outdoors.
5. Store Your Food Properly
Make sure that you keep your food safely and properly.
You don’t want to attract any lurking wild animals.
They can smell the scent of food miles away. So why would you attract unwelcomed guests to join you?
6. Remain Alert
The remaining alert means taking every step with vigilance.
Should any team member develop a strange health condition, you need to be alert enough to notice it.
Also, you should be alert in case of any dangers like fires, wild confrontation, and other threats that might come your way.
7. Don’t Wander Off From The Team
If you need to go deep into the forest, have some company.
But don’t stray off too far from the campsite. It can be easier to stray away and get lost.
Don’t dare leave the camp alone. There have been cases where people go missing from the camp due to such avoidable behavior.
These precautionary measures, however, should not change your attitude towards camping.
Sometimes your campsite can be completely safe from threats.
In other cases, you might be vulnerable to a certain degree.
The point is that you need to be aware of your environment. Preparing to face a new world means becoming aware of its conditions.
What Activities Can Be Done On A Camping Trip?
Well, camping is not always about living in the camp, grilling some meat on the fire, and eating.
There is a vast array of activities you can engage in with your friends and relatives.
Honestly, the list of activities you can do during camping is just endless!
Safety is key in everything.
Some of these camp activities can be executed right in the tent, while others require you to move out with your companions.
Campsite Activities
1. Story Telling and Singing
This is the coolest part, especially for kids. It is usually best to narrate stores while warming in the fire to bring the old and traditional life back.
Listening to stories in this natural setting creates some of the best moments in their lives.
Songs are also great assets for children in camp life. Allow them to enjoy themselves.
2. Card and Board Games
This can be done inside the tent or outside it. It is an opportunity to showcase your expertise in the game and teach someone some skills.
3. Watching the Flora and Fauna
This includes watching the birds fly by and the trees swing their branches at the slightest provocation by the winds.
It is equally the coolest part of camp life for kids and even adults.
4. Skipping Ropes
Yeah. Your body needs to flex its muscles, and a rope-skipping game is the best time to exercise your body, laugh with teammates and have fun all together.
Some Set Activities Away From The Campsite Include:
1. Survival Challenges
This is the right time to prove your strength to face the natural world.
And there are a lot of survival activities to do.
These include tree climbing, hiding, and camouflage games. Some of these activities, however, may be limited to adults. Kids are not advised to carry them out.
2. Hiking and Fishing
Want to learn how to catch delicious fish from water? Well, camping allows you to learn this intriguing skill.
You also get the chance to learn how to hike and put your hands and legs in motion.
3. Swimming
Swimming is one of the most favorite activities.
Both for fun and survival, swimming is an ideal outdoor activity when having a camping experience.
You and your team, however, should be aware of the swimming sites since some water bodies are infested with dangerous wild animals like snakes and crocodiles.
Besides, some water bodies are too deep to swim in, especially for new students in the game.
4. Rock Climbing and Mountain Biking
This is yet another chance to prove your strength and attain new heights and reach new sights. You must be sober and strong enough to climb rocks to new heights.
5. Campfire Cooking
This includes meat grilling, which is the best part of the experience as you get to taste new flavors far away from home.
6. Water Sports
Water sports include wakeboarding, canoeing, kayaking, and tubing. Take somebody along with you and go on a training session or to a competition. It makes your days in the camp worth living.
What Is Required For Camping?
Camping can be full of challenges. As a result, there are essentials that you must carry with you during the experience.
It is always very important to face these challenges with courage, but that requires being armed for the same.
Here is a list of camping essentials:
1. Food, Water, And Tissue Paper
The trick is to stay hydrated. Food is a requirement.
You must therefore take plenty supply for you and your team.
It should be sufficient enough to sustain you throughout your stay in the camp.
Additionally, carry with you a plentiful supply of tissue paper and some wet wipes. It is not hygienic to use leaves as an alternative for toilet paper.
2. Tent And Sleeping Bag
This is the most important requirement.
You and your team will need a temporary home for your camping life. As such, a tent is a prerequisite. It offers protection from weather and provides warmth.
Also, to counter cold, it is important to carry a sleeping bag with you.
Insects such as mosquitoes can creep on you during the night and ruin your sleep.
A sleeping bag helps to keep them at bay.
3. First Aid Kit, Insect Repellent, And A Pocket Knife
A first aid kit is important to combat any unpredicted emergencies.
You might get yourself injured in the event of executing outdoor activities.
An antiseptic and bandages are indispensable in preventing infections resulting from small cuts and other injuries.
A pocket knife is equally a great tool.
You can use it for opening packages, sharpening a stick, cutting ropes, and other minor cutting tasks.
Insect repellents, on the other hand, help to keep irritating fellow like insects that might compromise the comfort of your stay.
4. Portable Stove, Flashlight, And A Map
You will need a stove to provide a spare source of heat for cooking food.
A flashlight is all you need in the night in case of any threat and basically for general use at night.
Wild animals are scared of light. Campfire does not light distant places.
A map is important to give you the blueprint of your location in case you miss the way or are lost.
Camping Alone Vs Camping With a Group
Pros and Cons of Camping In a Group
Pros
1. Brother’s And Sister’s Keeper
Should anyone in the group fall ill or faces any problem, there are always people to go to their aid.
One will not risk facing an ailment alone. There is always somebody to help.
2. A Lot of Fun
Given the wide spectrum of activities that can be carried out during a camping experience, facing this as a group makes the whole period laden with fun and joy.
Swimming together, riding bikes together, climbing mountains and rocks together is indeed a jovial adventure.
3. It Creates An Opportunity To Socialize
Be it with your kids, your spouse, or your friends, camping with a group brings you together in a unique way.
You get to know each other deeper and share life experiences and lessons with your friends and loved ones.
4. Daring New Challenges as a team
This can be mastering new skills, new games, or simply daring a new survival tactic together.
The spirit of teamwork is manifested on its highest levels when a team is working on something.
You could go out, swim and fish together while you reach new heights of the game and life in general.
Cons
1. There Is Need To Worry About Others Safety
While camping with a group is a great activity, sometimes all this fun is brought to a sudden halt whenever one member of the team falls ill.
All attention is shifted to the affected member, and your fun is cut short. T
here is always a need to worry about friends, kids, and loved ones in the team.
Pros and Cons of Camping Alone
Pros
1. You Get To Enjoy The Peace And Quietness Of Nature
Camping alone means there are absolutely no distractions.
Some people like it to be alone and this s the best time to do so with no one to bother you at all.
2. You Live At Your Own Pace
There are absolutely no restrictions. You do things your way and in style.
And you don’t live as per anyone’s expectations. Camping one means it is you and you alone in your world.
3. All Worries Are Left Behind
Unlike camping with a group where you need to worry about the safety and wellbeing of team members, you will not face all these worries and pressures when camping alone.
Cons
1. Risk Of Getting Lost
It is possible to get lost for hours and even days if you are not familiar with the place.
Getting lost a one can be dangerous as you might wander deep and deep into the jungle or wherever place you are.
2. Risk Of Facing Threats A Lone
In case of an ailment, it is difficult to face it alone.
If you happen to get into an accident, you will not have someone to attend to you.
Final Words
Camping is fun, especially when you take someone with you.
It can be your kids, your spouse, or your friends.
Camping one can be a lot tricky, especially if your place of choice is a new site with great challenges.
The trick is to always get prepared to face what lies ahead of you.
It is now your time to explore the world around you and have some peace.
Best of luck!
Related
References:
Finding and Setting Up a Campsite
Camping Activities Guide – Fun Things to Do While Camping