Camping involves staying away from home overnight, either without shelter or using basic shelters such as tents or vehicles. Camping differs from day trips, picnics, and other similarly short-term recreational activities in that a night (or more) is spent outdoors. People often leave developed areas searching for activities providing enjoyment or education in more natural ones.
In the early 20th century, camping became popular with elites. Later, it gained popularity among other socioeconomic classes. Today’s campers enjoy using public natural resources like national parks, state parks, wilderness areas, and commercial campgrounds. Camping is a critical component of many youth organizations around the world, such as Scouting, which uses it to teach self-reliance and teamwork.
Here are some vintage postcards depicting camping in the United States in the 1950s.
