Classic literature of every age and civilization overflows with stories about the loss of ideals, the coming of age, and the constant cultural withdrawal from traditional values, which eventually leaves society morally bankrupt. Transcendentalists like Emerson and Thoreau blamed civilization's degradation of morals on its loss of touch with nature. Modern cultural enthusiasts like Neil Postman, author of Amusing Ourselves To Death (1985), pointed fingers at society's love of entertainment as the main constituent behind the collapse of integrity and the intellectual mind. Changing ideals between generations buries, resurrects, then entombs traditional beliefs in an unbreakable cycle. Evidence of our evolving culture can be observed in all aspects of life--even in camping culture! There exists a conflict in ideology between traditionalist campers who enjoy the isolation of the outdoors and modern campers who invite urban conveniences on vacation. A recent study conducted by Doctoral Candidates from the University of Washington and published in the Journal of Leisure Research in 2009 suggests that while campers and managers of campgrounds agree on the vacationing objective of camping, they disagree between themselves about the types of activities that define "camping".
Traditional campers define camping as recreation by staying in the comfort of the great outdoors. They do not view the lack of amenities as a limitation, but enjoy the freedom of being able to sleep, eat, and cook wherever they find themselves using only the resources that they can carry on their backs combined with what is available in nature to do so.
Modern campers prefer to bring more facets of urban civilization with them to camp including, but not limited to technology, telecommunications, gas stoves/grills, air mattresses, and sometimes ac-powered electronics. They seek a balance between the functionality of civilization and the beauty of nature.
Researchers from the University of Washington observed and surveyed campers and managers of ten different modern (developed) campgrounds situated in state parks and National Forests and Parks within the borders of Washington. The study defined modern campgrounds as, "large and intensely developed campgrounds with water systems, flush toilets, paved roads, increased supervision, and special facilities for trailers" (Clark, Hendee, Campbell, 2009) The purpose of the study was to determine camper and campground manager motives for choosing a developed campground versus a primitive campground, analyze the activities campers find acceptable in such campgrounds, and identify problems with developed campgrounds.
The study found that 67% of survey participants prefer to stay in developed campgrounds with modern conveniences, while only 16% enjoy wilderness and back country. This could suggest a number of things: 1) Campers would rather not do without plumbing, electricity, and modern luxury for the duration of their stay or 2) that even as self-explanatory as "wilderness" sounds, those who stay in modern campgrounds may have a different idea of what wilderness means.
Survey respondents were also asked to rank how important several traditional values about camping are. 78% of survey respondents thought that it was very important to gain awareness of unspoiled beauty through camping,66% want to teach their children about the great outdoors, and 62% go camping to get emotional satisfaction from solitude and tranquility. The majority of survey respondents still report consistent beliefs with traditional campers with one minor change--44% state that it is not important to get away from people other than present camping party. This reflects that modern campers are starting to adopt a more social camping culture.
Among campground activities, survey respondents rate strict enforcement of campground rules, playgrounds for children, camper discussion and singing, people bringing city conveniences into the campgrounds, other campers staying relatively close to respondent's camping party, and consumption of alcoholic beverages as acceptable during their stay at the campground. A vast majority state that these activities enhance their camping experiences. The only activity that people say would detract from their camping experience is the use of motorbikes on the campground! This data further reinforces that camping is more of a social event and that camping should share similar amenities to basic hotels.
Along with this "civilized camping" comes the problems of civilization in general. The study states that campers and managers perceive that horseplay, excessive noise, littering, campground rule violations, and vandalism plague these developed campgrounds.
I am somewhat on the fence of this debate between traditional and modern camping. I enjoy camping for the scenic views of nature, photographic opportunities, peace and quiet, and time away from the responsibilities of my city life, but I also enjoy the comforts of technology, my mobile phone, and a warm enclosure to sleep in (I hate bugs and I always fear that I'll wake up covered in bug bites from an unknown origin like Ren in that episode where he and Stimpy spent the night outdoors.) Television and the Internet are not necessary and take away from absorbing the beauty of nature. But when night falls and you can no longer see anything without artificial light (which the bugs immediately flock to), it does provide the perfect opportunity to watch horror movies in the middle of nowhere and scare the pants off the people you're camping with.
What do you think? Where do you lie along the lines of traditionalist and modern camping?
Source:
Clark, R, Hendee, J, & Campbell, F. (2009). Values, behaviors, and conflict in modern camping culture.
Journal of Leisure Research, 41 (3), 377-393.
