National Camping Month – June 2023

History of National Camping Month

National Camping Month has been celebrated every year in the month of June since the 1970s. The month aims to increase participation in outdoor activities, especially among the youth. People are encouraged to join camps or go camping with their loved ones.

Human beings have camped since time immemorial but modern-day recreational camping is considered to have been founded by Thomas Hiram Holding. Youth camping has also been popular in America for over a century now and it is believed to have started with Frederick William Gunn and his wife who established camps for schoolboys in 1861. The first girls’ camp was established in 1888 by Luther Halsey Gulick and his wife. Both these programs have become immensely popular over the years with summers becoming synonymous with camping!

Both primitive and motorized camping are popular in America, Canada, and Europe. Those who like to be on the move opt for RV campsites, which allow them to holiday and camp at the same time. Commercial RV campgrounds are equipped with modern amenities like electricity and water supply. With time, camping materials and gear have seen many technical

advances, too. Waterproof materials like nylon make camping possible in rain and snow. They are also easier to carry and are easily foldable. Campers no longer have to worry about lighting a bonfire or eating tinned food since lightweight aluminum cookware and portable stoves have made cooking easier at campsites.