Whether you stay in a cabin, RV or tent, camping has amazing health, mental, physical and social benefits!
I have to be honest, I have never been much of a camper. I have done it a few times but no bathrooms and tons of bugs are not for me. It wasn’t until last summer that I really understood its magic when I stayed in a deluxe cabin at Hershey Campgrounds, and before you even say it, yes that is still camping!
After a non-stop summer (fun but exhausting), my family needed a little break. From the moment we arrived, I instantly felt more relaxed and less stressed. Between the abundance of sunshine, the smiles on my boys’ faces and the gorgeous grounds, I could see what this “camping thing” was all about! Of course I wanted to share with all of you what I feel are some of the amazing benefits of camping.
10 Benefits of Camping
Promotes Family Bonding
What’s a better way to bond as a family than being out in the middle of the woods? Through camping, families learn to work together and problem solve in order to have a fun and successful camping experience. It’s also a wonderful time for kids to learn from their parents and develop a greater level of respect.
Increases Self-Confidence
Putting up the tent, starting a fire, cooking a meal; these are all activities that, once completed successfully, can help kids (and adults) build self-confidence. In fact, camping is often used to help children and teens develop a greater self-concept and self-worth. In fact, a program I used to work with for at-risk teens, took the students on a camping trip at least once a year to help them develop survival and life skills that helped build their self-confidence. When kids are confident, they are more likely to be successful in the future!
Encourages an Appreciation for Nature
How can you not appreciate nature when camping? Some campsites offer views that are breathtaking and inspiring. Without television, electronic devices and even electricity, we can learn to take in all the sights and sounds of nature. We appreciate its beauty and wonder. In turn, we care more about protecting it!
Enhances Problem Solving Skills
Camping requires a great deal of problem solving from the moment you arrive at the campsite. Families have to learn to properly pitch a tent so they stay dry and safe, start a fire so they are warm and can cook meals and, of course, you can’t get lost in the woods so someone has to figure where to hike and how to make a trail home. Other camping activities such as fishing, hiking, kayaking and a good old-fashioned game of horseshoes also involve problem solving skills!
Fosters a Healthy Lifestyle
Studies have shown that being outside improves health, physical and mental. In addition, being relaxed and forgetting about the worries of the world, can also help a person improve their physical health. Lastly, camping often involves some form of exercise, and we all know that being physically active helps improve mental and physical health!
Exposure to Scientific Concepts
Science is everywhere in nature! When camping, kids learn about various plant life as to not get a rash or eat a poisonous berry. Campers also learn about what various plants and trees look like, what they need to survive and what animals eat them. While camping, campers are also exposed to astronomy as they gaze at the stars at night. Going fishing while camping? Then you will also learn about the world of ichthyology, the study of fish! Lastly, you can’t make a fire without using science. You have to understand the science behind chemical reactions if you want a long-lasting fire!
Increased Self-Awareness
What’s a better way to learn more about yourself than roughing it in the great outdoors? First, you will learn if camping is for you or not. Next, you find out what kind of camper you are: tent, trailer or cabin. Then you find out what you are made of. Can you put up a tent, collect firewood, build a fire, cook over an open flame or make it through a 3 hour hike in the woods? You discover that you can do more than you ever thought possible.
Exposes People to New Challenges and Adventures
Campsites and surrounding areas are often full of outdoor adventures and challenging activities. From rock climbing to bass fishing to ropes courses to mountain biking, you are sure to find a new adventure that will test your strength and endurance! Trying new challenges helps people build self-confidence and self-esteem. Whether you succeed or not, you can be proud of yourself for trying!
Creates New Friendships
Many may think that camping is just the family in the woods, all alone! That is often not the case. Today, camping can be a community of friends and family enjoying a common interest. Often times, campers congregate around each other’s tents or campfires and share fun stories. Not only do parents make new friends but so do the kids. Last summer, my friends met new people while camping. This year, they planned a camping trip together. Camping not only brings on new experiences, but new friends too!
Allows Families to Relax, Unwind and De-Stress
There are so many pressures in life today, for adults and kids. From working to getting good grades to paying the bills to taking standardized tests, everyone feels a little anxious during the year. Camping can help families relax and unwind. They can put down their phones and text books and just concentrate on having fun. Kids can play without any worries and parents can relax or an engage in a new adventure. Being able to de-stress can help increase productivity when returning to work and school!
So there you have it, 10 benefits of camping! Why do you love camping?
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I love the food of course! But I also love unplugging from all electronics and for everyone to be completely present.
Thanks for pointing out how camping with kids can help them learn new things. With how children seem to be stuck to phones or tablets, it will be good to take them somewhere where they can’t just turn something on. I will have to look into taking my kids out more for camping or other activities.
I like how you talked about how camping can help foster a healthy lifestyle. This spring we are going hiking and camping up at a gorgeous cabin in Park City. I appreciate the information on the benefits of enjoying the great outdoors.
I loved it when you said that camping allows a person to learn a lot about themselves, like whether or not they really are an outdoor person and point out the type of camping they are. My brother said that he is born for the wilderness, but I wonder just how much of that is true. It might be a good idea to test that out by sending him over an overnight camp along with some other kids to see how he will react.
My family has been thinking about going on a vacation so that we can be a lot safer and we can relax and take a break from the world. Getting some help in choosing the right resort to stay at could be really useful and allow them to be a lot safer and have more fun. Thanks for your tips about how fishing, hiking, kayaking, and other games make them more problems solving skills and allow us to teach the kids some cooking skills.
Camping with your children is very essential that will get them to enjoy more fun and get to spend more time in the sun .So i think parents should take more advantage of the isolation and create a mini camp in the back yard
It’s great that you pointed out how camping could help families relax and unwind. It has been a while since my family last went on a trip, so we are thinking of going camping next month. But first, we need to get some camping supplies and equipment, so I’ll try to look into a camping blanket manufacturer later.