I didn't sleep in a tent one time in my childhood.  In fact the only camping I remember was summer camp for one week each summer.  So tell me how did I end up in this place where I have been camping regularly for over 15 years?  I blame it on college and my husband.  Both places where camping flourishes.  What I found is that the experiences shared during a campout are long remembered and that it is not that hard, it just takes some planning and of course the willingness to try it. 

Take a drive down any freeway during the summer and you will see tons of people with their motorhomes, campers, and pop up tent trailers all heading "somewhere" or coming home from "someplace."  If you have ever wanted to join the throngs of people headed to "The Great Outdoors" but don't know where to start than this series is for you.  This post is the first of a three part series on camping.  It will break down what you need to know, what you need to bring (and what you do not) and how to get the most out of your outdoor experience.  In this first installment we will focus on the A of the A, B, C's of camping - Assessment.

Assess the kind of experience are you looking for

Are you wanting to sleep out under the stars with the bare minimum (a backpack or survivalist camper)?,  looking to roll up in an RV, or are you going to start with car camping?  Whatever your choice, know that you are not alone.  According to the 2012 Outdoor Foundation's American Camping Report almost 43 million people went camping in 2011 that is over 14 percent of the population!  Ask yourself what suits you best.

If you are just starting out it is most common to begin by "car camping"  that is packing everything you need in your vehicle and going to a campsite and setting up your camp there.  You will be dependent on the campsite itself to provide you with a restroom and / or running water.  As a brief fyi a pit toilet is code for an outhouse.  If the campsite has that you will have a place to potty although you may or may not have water available to you.  Know before you go. 

For those not willing to fully abandon their creature comforts there are many places that rent RV's and trailers.  While these are not an inexpensive option it IS available and you would be welcome at any campsite that allows RV's.  RV's will typically have both an indoor kitchen and sleeping area in addition to a personal restroom.  You can research camps that have hookups and dumping facilities for your holding tanks or go to a site and "dry camp" which means using the generator in the RV instead of hooking into power inside the campground.

If you are really hesitant about either of these options be sure to check out campgrounds that have yurts (permanent tents), cabins, or lodges available.  Often times state parks will be a good starting point for your research here.  Old military forts here in Washington offer various accommodations for campers who don't want to bring everything INCLUDING the kitchen sink.  You get a solid outdoor experience and while the lodging itself will be sparse, it may be the way you want to go to start out your wilderness experience.  If you don't want sparse at all and simply want to be in the wilderness look for local glamping options (glamour camping) or full on vacation cabin rental . . .but then again that's not really camping is it?

Assess where you would like to go

This is most often determined by two things.  How far away from home you want to go and what kinds of activities you would like to do while there. 

I recommend that a beginning camping trip be no more than 80-100 miles from your home.  Why?  Well in the event that something falls through you can navigate your way home easily and you still have some familiarity with your environment.  This can be helpful if someone needs to take a trip to a nearby emergency room or the vehicle breaks down and you have to tow it somewhere.  I have also found that it is easier to convince some of your friends to come along with you if it is a location that is easily accessible for all of you.

Next you will want to know what activities are available where you are staying.  Do you want to go hiking?  Well you are probably in luck as this is by far the number one activity to do while camping.  It does not require a lot of additional gear and allows you to check out the area you are camping in greater detail.  Want to fish, go canoeing, rock climbing, boating . . . Check out campsites in your area that offer the kinds of activities you want to do and make a list of potential sites.

Assess your schedule and make a reservation

Long gone are the days of rolling up to just any site in America and getting a campsite.  Most camping spaces now use a reservation system to reserve the spot.  While many campgrounds try to save a few spots for "walk ins" it can be risky and could have you sleeping in your car at the side of a highway for the night.  Instead, once you have selected a few places to go look at your potential dates and try to find some matches.  Most campsites where I live will start taking reservations a year in advance although some follow the calendar year and do not begin making reservations until the first week in January for the rest of the year. 

Know what kind of a place you would like to visit and reserve as early as possible.  There are several sites in addition to your state park's website that can be helpful including the US Forest Service website and Recreation.gov which highlights public and private campgrounds throughout the US.  Know that the most popular spots generally go first but just because the popular spots are gone does not mean that you won't be able to camp.  Don't forget to look up county parks and other wilderness areas that allow camping, or even someone who owns property.  Get creative and get out there.  While the weekends fill fast you may have the best luck finding a spot mid-week.  Try booking Tuesday - Thursday and see what happens.

After you have decided on the type of experience you would like, the area you would like to go and the activities you would like to do make your plan of attack and get something on the calendar.   Next we will look at the B in the ABC's of camping Bringing the Basics a small primer on the basic gear you will need to go on a basic camping trip.