For many, camping is thought of as a family activity. However, camping can be a great activity for any type of organized group. Camping brings people together and there are many activities that you can do with a group that simply can’t be done with smaller families. Whether you belong to a sports team, a professional organization, or a group of hobbyists, a camping trip may be just the thing to add a little life to your meetings and give you memories to last a lifetime.
When camping with a group there are certain considerations that need to be made. First you will need to find a place that is big enough to support your group. You’ll want to have adjoining campsites and an open space for activities. When calling campgrounds, tell them what it is you are looking for and they can help you decide what the best setup will be. You will also want to make sure that you have adequate shelter for group activities. You can use tarps, canopies, or large canvas tents. You will want to have a central area for preparing and serving food and having group activities. Not everyone goes camping the same way, so make sure that the members of the group have a clear understanding of what to expect. You may need some people who have been camping more help those that are camping novices.
Planning is crucial to a successful group camping trip, so have a clearly defined agenda for everyone. Chaos will not only ruin the event, but it can also lead to safety issues. It is a good idea to have a park ranger or first aid specialist come and talk to your group about simple safety issues prior to your camping trip.
There are plenty of activities for your group to do. A great aspect of camping with a group is getting to see another side of the group members. Camping is a great way to get to know other people and really learn about them. You can structure team building activities like obstacle course competitions or rafting. Nature can also serve as an excellent classroom so feel free to do training or classes on different subjects. Camping is a great time to learn about meditation and handling stress. Unity is another thing that can be learned from camping.
Every part of nature does its job and everything works together in harmony. Every member of your group contributes in their own way, and even though they may not be perfect, when everyone contributes you get a perfect synergy. More than anything camping presents an opportunity for your group to spend time together outside of the normal routine. Camping is adventurous and mixes things up and as a group relies on each other to make the camping trip a success they grow closer together.
Camping isn’t just for family or a few friends. Camping can be used as an activity for all types of groups. With good planning and a nice group of people, a group camping trip can be a wonderful thing and may even turn into a yearly tradition.