Summertime is prime camping season, with endless opportunities for hiking, fishing, swimming and much more.
And across the country, a growing number of campgrounds are beginning to notice an interesting trend: the millennial generation is quickly becoming the greatest camping generation.
According to a July 5 Provo Daily Herald article, a recent study has found that an amazing 60% of young adults born between 1980 and 2000 plan to spend more time enjoying the great outdoors this year. That’s compared to just 40% of the Baby Boomer generation.
This is because camping isn’t just a fantastic way to stay active by partaking in unique outdoor activities — many millennials love to go camping for its social aspects, as well. In fact, today’s campers will bring friends along about 70% of the time, making it a great opportunity for groups of friends to spend time together.
And when an unbelievable 42.5 million Americans went camping in 2011, it’s clear that any campground is a fantastic place to meet new people with similar interests, as well.
With millennials flocking to camping sites across the country, the very concept of camping is beginning to evolve, as well. With about 70% of camping taking place at public campgrounds, a growing number of people are looking for ways to avoid the disappointment of arriving at a camping ground that’s already filled to capacity.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune, this has given rise to something called “dispersed camping,” which can essentially be translated to “roughing it.” Dispersed camping is camping at a location where there are no cabins, picnic tables, fire pits or even drinkable water. Campers must rely on their own survival skills and literally live off the land. With the right skills and equipment, dispersed camping can be easier than you think — and it’s how many millennials are bypassing the disappointment of being unable to find a spot at a camping ground.
Knowing all this, it might be safe to say that the millennial generation has taken America’s love for camping to a whole new level — and are worthy of being called the greatest camping generation.
