Inside Outdoor Magazine

Outdoor S ince 2014, members of more than 6 million households, or some 15 million people, have taken up camping as a recreational or vaca- tion activity, according to counts by indepen- dent market research firm Cairn Consulting Group in a January 2018 survey performed for Kampgrounds of America. “And those households are camping more than ever before,” says the study. In 2017 alone, 2.6 million households reported to camping for the first time, and of the estimated 77 million households with someone who camps at least occasionally, close to 20 percent started camping only in the last few years. Nearly one in 10 started just last year. That’s great news for an industry hungry for new participants, especially in what’s considered a gateway activity to other outdoor pursuits. But this current influx into camping isn’t just about new campers. It is a move- ment fueled by youthful energy and more diversity than anything we’ve experienced within outdoor recreation. It’s filled with enthusiasm and an openness to new types of camping experiences. And if KOA’s findings are accurate, Melting Pot Gettingto know the new North American camper By Martin Vilaboy Inside Outdoor | SPRING 2018 26