Celebrate National Camping Month

June marks the celebration of National Camping Month. It’s the perfect opportunity to honor a beloved pastime, while spending quality time with family and friends. Follow our list of suggestions for celebrating the outdoor tradition.

• Plan a camping excursion at one of the United States’ beautiful National Parks. Search the website for the park nearest you.
• Look up recipes for camp-friendly dishes. These can be as simple as roasting marshmallows for s’mores to as complex as making stew.
• Have a movie marathon of camping movies. Sleepaway Camp, Without a Paddle and Bushwhacked all heavily feature the great outdoors.
• Hone your skills before you go. Learn how to start a fire, pitch a tent and fish. Follow REI’s checklist for serious campers.
• Book a glamping trip. While purists might say glamping isn’t a true camping experience, the trend is growing and proves to be a fun way to ease into a vacation in the wilderness.
• Take the opportunity to upgrade your camping gear. Whether it’s a new tent, coolers, sleeping bags or lanterns, support your local sporting goods store when you make your purchases.
• If an overnight trip doesn’t work for you, plan a daytrip to a National Park or your nearest outdoor space. Bring a picnic, go for a hike, read a book or just enjoy the fresh air.