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Camping Progressions To Get You Started

You want to start camping or try it out, but you don’t really know where to begin…

Is that you? Heck yeah, you’re in the right place. 🤘

Let’s being with…

YOU get to define what camping is to YOU and YOU are allowed to try out various types of camping! ⛺️🚐🛖

If you are brand new to sleeping outdoors or sleeping in a tent — you are allowed to move through progressions of camping for you to get comfortable doing things like sleeping in nature, blowing up your sleeping bad, getting used to your gear, setting up your tent, filtering water, wiggling into your sleeping bag, dialing in your packing list, cooking outside or with a stove, etc.

You can camp in many different ways and in many different locations which allow you to have options based on your comfort level and experience!

🌲 The first time you camp, it can be intimidating and scary (very normal!) with all the new noises and getting used to being outside and not sleeping inside your bedroom. You may need to camp a couple times to get a little more comfortable and give it time before you determine if you want to try another type of camping or if camping is/isn’t for you!

Camping doesn’t *always* have to be in backcountry remote places in the middle of nowhere!

⛺️ You can set up a tent at your local campground with access to bathrooms and running water and know you have the ability to drive home early if need be.

🚗 You can throw a mattress in the back of your vehicle, bring your favorite pillows and Rumpl, and hang up some fairy lights inside.

🏠 You can head into your backyard and get your tent set up, cook dinner inside, and then build a fire in your fire pit to enjoy dinner around.

🛖 You can stay in a yurt or cabin in the woods with your littles and just get used to sleeping in a place that’s not your home.

See? Options!!!

PS – You can try a certain type of camping and not love it. You can also camp in a way that’s comfortable for YOU.

Bethany, the author of the post Camping Progressions to Get You Started, is sitting on a log in front of her tent smiling.

⛺️ BONUS TIPS:

If you DO eventually want to get into backpacking, here are examples of camping progressions you can follow:

1️⃣ Camping overnight in your backyard.

2️⃣ Camping overnight at a local campground.

3️⃣ One-night overnight in the backcountry.

4️⃣ Multi-night overnights in the backcountry.

Meet the author

Bethany Taylor

I’m a PNW-based outdoor educator, adventure athlete, highly-caffeinated creative, all-women adventure trip host, safety advocate, and obsessed dog mom. I am here to help you chase more stoke-filled days outdoors with confidence through education and empowerment.

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