Camping is a pastime that is becoming increasingly popular. According to the North American Camping Report, there was an increase of 6 million North American households that took part in camping since 2014 meaning that more people are becoming interested in it. And who could resist the benefits that come with camping? Camping provides for time to connect with nature, disconnect from all the clutter of city life and just unwind. If you have taken an interest in camping, here are the basic types of camping:

1. Tent camping – For the whole family

Tent camping is for you. This is the most common type of camping that most people have know of. It involves going into the countryside, putting up a tent and spending one or more nights. Campsites can range from staying in the woods or spending time on the beach. Tent camping is popular because it accommodates most age groups. It is especially ideal for families with children as the children get to have a feel of the outdoor life and interact with nature. Families also go for it because it’s a great bonding experience as they learn to work in synergy as each accomplishes their responsibilities.

In order to reap the best experience in this kind of camping, there are some few things you have to get right. One is getting the best place to put up your tent as it will determine whether you’ll be comfortable. Go for grounds that are flat and keep off rocky grounds. Two, consider the water drainage of an area. Where will the water flow to when it rains? Camping sites near gullies can be very dangerous after torrential rains. Once you have these in check, you should be on your way to a great camping experience.

2. Backpacking/hiking – When you want to stretch your muscles

Then try out backpacking/hiking. In this type of camping, campers spend the day walking with all their supplies in a backpack and when night falls, sleeping outside in a tent or a hammock. This can go for a night to a few months. According to Forbes, millennials are more interested in backpacking.

Why would a person undertake in this? Well, hiking helps the participants to attain a sort of self-sufficiency in addition to allowing the hikers to take time off from the modern world and connecting with nature.

Success in backpacking entails carefully planning since you have to consider what to take with you on the trip. Obviously, if you are carrying all your supplies on your backpack, you want to carry only the most essential things so as to ensure your backpack is as light as possible. Also, before setting out, ensure you inform someone in case something happens to you and you don’t come back. The person will inform the authorities to mount a search.

3. Survivalist camping – Are you up for a challenge?

Then survivalist camping is for you. This form of camping is not so common to many and for a good reason. It is the most extreme of all the types of camping. Why is this? Because it entails being self-sufficient for a period of time- and of course coming back alive. There are two types of survivalist camping: walk out and base camp.

In walk out, the camper is dropped off at a certain point in the wilderness and he is tasked with finding his way back to civilization. This is the most challenging type of camping because the camper has to find a source of food and water.

In base camp, campers identify a spot in the wilderness where they settle and live on the supplies they find around before returning to civilization. They live off edible plants, nuts and berries.

Campers who undertake this must have advanced survival skills as their lives depend on it. It is therefore suited to advanced campers looking to try out their skills.

4. Canoe camping – Do you love water travel?

You should consider canoe camping. This type of camping is very much like backpacking only that it has added advantages. It comes with freedom and self-sufficiency but with the inclusion of water travel. This is an advantage over backpacking because weight is not a problem and one can carry more equipment. And with the advantage of water travel, campers can travel further distances and get to places that are otherwise inaccessible to those on foot. This shows that with canoeing, you can truly escape from civilization and experience true wilderness.

Before setting out, there are some few things to put in mind. One, the camper must be aware of their skill level and know what they want to get from the experience such as fishing, watching wildlife or enjoying the scenery. This will assist in settling for a destination. On safety matters, its advisable to set out in pairs so that one can help the other if something goes wrong. One should also have a weather report before canoeing. This is because rains can change the nature of a waterway with a gentle stream morphing into a raging torrent.

With canoe camping, you’ll get to experience nature and delight in the peaceful solitude as you relax and unwind.

5. RV camping – When you want to  cover more ground

RV camping is the answer. Most purists don’t consider this to be camping because it’s no different from being at home and all its amenities- just that you are in the outdoors. RV camping involves being close to nature with the comfort of a vehicle. It is mostly popular among old people. It’s advantages include being sheltered from bad weather and the vehicle pretty much has everything you need such as a bathroom, cooking facilities and a fridge. On the other hand, this kind of camping is restricted to areas that can be accessed with a vehicle. This means that campers do not experience the wilderness fully compared to other types of camping.

All in all, RV camping is ideal for camping all over the country and one can embark on it for the weekend or for an extended period of time.

6. Historical camping – Are you a history buff?

How about historical camping? This involves using gear and supplies that were used by campers during a specific time in history. Campers embark on it so as to get a feel of how life was at that time. Some campers take part in it as an academic pursuit as they are curious to know how people lived in the past. Others enjoy it because it challenges them as they are tasked with using specific equipment and supplies.

There are so many options to pick off when choosing to camp but that’s what makes it the more interesting. Take your pick and get to experience all the benefits of camping.