Of all the many recent developments in the US, who would of thought in 2024 that camping would be the activity of the year? Let’s get outdoorsy!

Like many people my age, camping has always meant tent camping. I understand the appeal of sleeping on a comfy bed in a hotel or travel trailer, but real camping means roughing it and sleeping close to the ground. Layer in hanging around a camp fire, cooking outdoors, and hot coffee on a cold morning, and the experience just gets better and better.

The low cost of camping is also attractive, which is probably why we see so many young college students giving camping a try. Most universities have awesome recreation centers which rent all kinds of equipment at affordable prices, thus lowering the barrier to entry. Rec centers also provide training and advice on the best parks to try first. Practice makes perfect, so sometimes setting up camp in a safe location like a backyard or the campus quad is a good idea, just to make sure all the setup and equipment are in good working order. It might be cold out, so make sure to bring a scarf.