About Camping

Camping is an activity in which people live temporarily in the outdoors. History is filled with examples of soldiers camping out, as at Valley Forge during the American Revolution (1775-1783), and of nomadic peoples throughout the world who move their campsites from place to place. But today camping is primarily a recreational activity.

Camping provides an opportunity to experience nature firsthand. Campers participate in fishing, hunting, swimming, plant study, bird and wildlife watching, and nature photography. Just as importantly, camping helps people escape the stress of city life. It provides physical benefits when it involves hiking to, from, and around a campsite, and many outdoor enthusiasts believe that camping instills confidence in youngsters and offers older campers opportunities to challenge themselves in unfamiliar surroundings.

Recent improvements in camping gear and a growing number of organizations that teach people wilderness safety have made it easier to spend several days or even weeks in the outdoors.

Camping takes many forms. In the 19th century American naturalist and explorer John Muir would set off into the woods with little more than a sack of food and a journal in which to write his thoughts. In the early 20th century American conservationist and philosopher Aldo Leopold paddled a canoe and rode horseback through the wilderness of the Midwest while taking notes for his books, including Game Management (1933) and A Sand County Almanac (1949). The works of Muir and Leopold, as well as writings by Americans Edward Abbey and Henry David Thoreau, have inspired others to spend time in the wilderness.

Modern enthusiasts may share the emotions of earlier naturalists, along with their desire to experience nature, but they usually camp in a different manner. Backpacking most closely resembles the type of camping practiced by Muir and Leopold. Other campers drive to a campsite, setting up camp near their car or camping in a recreational vehicle....