Inside Outdoor Magazine

However, while going online more of- ten, campers also are significantly more likely to say technology detracts from their overall enjoyment of the camping experience. This is a bit of a departure from even last year’s results (38 per- cent in 2016, 49 percent in 2017). Only one-in-five campers say technology enhances their camping experiences, and younger campers are the most likely to say technology is a distraction. And while four in 10 camper house- holds overall say access to cell service or Wi-Fi impacts the amount they camp, only 17 percent said free Wi-Fi is a top consideration when choosing a camp- ground, and only 7 percent defined it as “most impactful” to choosing a camp- ground. That includes just 4 percent of Millennials who felt that way. So what does it mean to “unplug” or disconnect while camping? For the vast majority, it does not equate to cutting access entirely. Rather, most campers want to bring along their devices but use them only in case of emergency or sporadically, the KOA survey suggests. So while campers “want it when they want it,” they are not overly anxious to integrate connectivity devices into their camping experiences. Best of all the news coming out of the KOA survey, new and younger campers, similar to campers across all categories, are enthusiastic about the camping life- style and eager to participate more in the future. Building on a momentum seen in the reports from the last few years, 45 percent of all campers surveyed in 2017 indicated they will increase camping trips in 2018 – including 39 percent of campers new to the sport in 2017 – an increase of 3 percent from last year’s report. (African American/Black camp- ers, incidentally, are most likely to report intentions to increase participation.) While at the same time, there has been a 64 percent increase since 2014 in the number of participants who camp three or more times per year. And it’s not likely this youthful excite- ment will abate at time soon. “The upward trend of more younger people starting to camp is likely to continue,” says KOA. “Gen Z teens continue to be highly engaged in camp- ing and demonstrate a great deal of enthusiasm toward camping and the outdoors (94 percent of teens say they are enthusiastic about camping).” Nearly all of the teen campers sur- veyed by KOA claim that they intend to camp as adults, and if they have children, they intend to bring them camping as well. Teens even may be more enthusiastic toward camp- ing than their parents realize. “In fact, one-in-five adults said their children are neutral toward camping, while only one-in-20 teens said they are neutral when asked directly,” said the study. A full 96 percent of teen campers appre- ciate that camping relaxes the adults around them, which adds to the teens’ enjoyment of camping. What’s more, KOA believes the increasing level of diversity among camping households will generate a type of network effect. “As camper numbers increase across all ethnic and age groups, it’s now more likely that an individual who is consider- ing trying camping for the first time knows someone else who is already a camper,” said the research report. “These experienced campers can be a resource and/or a camping companion to those wanting to try it.” What It Means to ‘Unplug’ While Camping Having a cell or smartphone with you for safety, but not turning in on or using it 34% Having a cell or smartphone only (not a laptop or iPad) and using it for apps and information 27% Taking time out during your stay where you don’t use technology, but still having it available for use 20% Having access to technology such as cell service and/or Wi-Fi, but not using it during your stay 10% No access to any technology whatsoever 9% Source: KOA; Cairn Consulting Group Inside Outdoor | SPRING 2018 32