Kampgrounds of America Inc.

I N T R O D U C T I O N Camping reaches deep into the North American culture, with nearly 6-in-10 households reporting that someone in their household has camped. Indeed, exposure to camping even among those who do not actively engage in camping still holds a memorable place for many. Notably, the proportion of households who camp at least occasionally stands at 44 percent – representing a large number of households who camp (46 million), and to take it one step further, 1-in-4 households engage in camping activity each year. For the purposes of this study, it was determined that respondents should be provided with a clear definition of camping. Past research efforts have shown that when asked to define "camping," several definitions were provided. With this in mind, the research used a clear and concise definition of camping that would allow the resident households to more easily determine if their behavior falls into the category of "camping." For these purposes, camping is defined as "any occasion when you spent at least one night outside of your primary residence and stayed in accommodations such as a tent, trailer, RV, vehicle or cabin/cottage at a campground." For many North Americans, camping stands out as a vacation option for both practical and emotional benefits. First and foremost, campers are likely to cite camping as a way to reconnect with nature and, importantly, their families and loved ones. They camp because it reduces stress and enhances their relationships, allowing them to "decompress" from their everyday lives, and spend quality time with friends and family in a healthy outdoor setting. With all of this in mind, camping is clearly embedded into the mindset of North Americans. It represents a prominent part of annual family vacations and weekend getaways. Camping serves as a way for people to connect with nature and the outdoors, ultimately reducing stress and leading to more time with friends and family in a healthy, engaging setting. T H E 2 0 1 5 N O R T H A M E R I C A N C A M P I N G R E P O R T 2 T H O U S A N D S O F T I R E D , N E R V E - S H A K E N , O V E R - C I V I L I Z E D P E O P L E A R E B E G I N N I N G T O F I N D O U T T H AT G O I N G T O T H E M O U N TA I N S I S G O I N G H O M E . J O H N M U I R " "

• Cover