Camping itself, in any form is a kind of traditional, old-fashioned, nostalgic thing to do, even if you're "roughing it" in a fancy million-dollar motorhome. But if you want to "go retro" and experience an even greater range of pioneer activities, fall back to tent camping. If you're already a tent camper, look for pioneer recipes and activities to spice things up. But even if you still prefer the comfort of an RV, there are lots of traditional fun things you can do in camp.
Often the basis of getting the best of RV-based camping today is the latest gadgets and electronic entertainment systems while enjoying the luxuries of our homes on wheels or finding ever more elaborate and expensive conveniences for tent camping. Advertisements promote fancy and expensive upgrades and equipment and trying them out can be a lot of fun. But sometimes it is also fun to step back and try something a little more traditional, perhaps even doing tent camping instead of staying in your RV or trying a more rustic form of roughing it other than fancy, multi-room dome tents. Or just schedule some traditional activities during your regular outings. You might substitute a kerosene lantern for the bright Coleman lantern or modern battery powered lights. Try cooking your bacon and eggs right on the campfire in a cast iron skillet. Maybe give your breakfast a pioneer flavor by having corn meal mush instead of oatmeal, best served with lots of butter and honey. Ash cakes are another easy and tasty pioneer treat. They are simple to make and require few ingredients: flour, salt, baking soda and water. Bake them directly on the coals or hot rocks. Then top or fill them with melted butter and honey or your favorite jam or jelly. Try sleeping outside, under the stars on the grass, or stringing your hammock between some trees some warm summer night. If you choose to sleep on the beach, make sure you are well away from the high tide mark! Also check for sand fleas before settling down. And don't forget to practice your survival skills by starting your campfire without matches. Ever pop popcorn over a campfire? You might have trouble finding an old-fashioned campfire popcorn cooker, but it will be a fun activity for kids of all ages if you can pull it off. Search online for "campfire popcorn popper" or "campfire popcorn cooker". You can also find fun recipes for "campfire popcorn", including an option for cooking it in aluminum foil -- if you can't get a traditional, long-handled campfire popcorn cooker. We like pies cooked in campfire pie cookers. They are long-handled, clam-shell type devices into which you place 2 slices of bread and put in your favorite pie filling. I was surprised how much the toasted bread tasted like pie crust.
Back to basics. If you're an RV camper, you might want to occasionally try tent camping trip for variety. If you're not sure you're up to it, maybe pitch a tent beside your RV so you can escape to its comfort if things get too bad outside. If your activities include horseback riding, hiking, or backpacking, consider spending a night or two on the trail in a cowboy bedroll instead of your $200 E.L.Bean sleeping bag or under the down comforter in your RV.
Campfire cooking instead of using your RV or Coleman stove offers primitive flavor to meals in camp (pun intended!). It can be quite an experience preparing meals on the fire and it may take a while to get used to it. Chances are you'll have under- and over-cooked parts of your meal until you master the technique, so be patient! Getting everything ready at the same time takes practice. Cooking can be done directly on the coals of the fire using cast iron cookware. A campfire grill will add a lot of convenience. There are several styles. Some have legs that fold down at each end and create a sort of bridge over the fire. Some have rigid legs. They are usually a little more stable, but are clumsier to transport. Another option is an 18" round grill that fastens to two steel posts using thumb screws. Just drive the posts into the ground with the grill over you fire (or build your fire under the grill). One I saw has a patented raised edge to keep food from sliding off into the fire. You might be able to make your own from the grill from a defunct backyard BBQ. I used such a grill for a cooking surface on our portable "R2D2" fire pit. R2D2 is the tub salvaged from on old washing machine. I use the agitator tube in the center to support a grill when we want to cook on it. Of course, you can cook over a campfire without a grill or without any cookware for that matter: meats and even bread can be cooked on a stick. Remember, things cook best over the coals, not in the flames. Most of us don't have the patience to wait for a good bed of coals before we start burning our meals over the flames, but for best culinary results, cook over coals. Then you can enjoy roasted instead of burned hot dogs and marshmallows.
Candlelight. Candlelight is a nice way to add a romantic touch to dinner in your RV or at camp. Citronella candles are also helpful in keeping insects away outdoors. If you're going to be eating outside you may want to look for some windproof candle holders. They usually look like little lanterns with glass sides that shield the candle from the wind. Avoid using candles inside a tent, even if they are protected. If one gets knocked over on the floor or against a wall, poof! Your whole tent goes up in flames! Even though most tents are treated to be fire-resistant, I wouldn't want to bet my life on them being fire proof!
Quilts can add an old-fashioned touch to sitting around camp or sleeping. In pioneer times quilts were essential to winter survival and our ancestors developed remarkedly good techniques for making them warm and sturdy. These days we mostly lean toward high-tech sleeping bags or comforters so a home-made quilt is sort of novelty for most of us. Our high tech sleeping options are carefully engineered to be warm and comfortable but you might be surprised just how warm and comfortable homemade quilts can be and they make an interesting item of conversation. I also have a couple of "Indian" blankets we use when camping. I'm pretty sure mine are commercial replicas instead of authentic items, but they're still kind of fun and very cozy. If you can lay your hands on the real thing, they'd be even more fun to use and to share with your fellow campers . A family quilt or a blanket with lots of family history can be quite a conversation piece and sharing its story may warm your heart as much as the quilt or blanket does your body. A heavy Mexican serape is a nice way to stay warm around the campfire with an authentic old west flair.
Bundling describes an age-old tradition of two people wrapping themselves together in blankets to keep warm. The definition I found online is: "former custom of an unmarried couple's occupying the same bed without undressing especially during courtship". Seems particularly appropriate and appealing when camping.
Stargazing is more interesting and rewarding once you get out away from city lights. All you need is a star chart and clear skies. It is fun, entertaining, and educational to find constellations. Almost each one has an interesting history behind its name. I found it interesting that the "Seven Sisters" actually consists of only six stars, but its identity as seven stars is consistent across many different cultures. Apparently sometime in the distant past there were seven stars there. It is the model for the logo for Subaru. If you want to deepen your experience, invest in a telescope. I think the one I've used is just an 85mm model, yet with it I can see the rings of Saturn, the red color of Mars, and the famous Red Spot on Jupiter. BTW, the moon is too bright to explore using a telescope unless you add filters to reduce the glare. Ordinary binoculars can give you a better view of some of the craters and enhance star gazing but even then you will probably need filters so the glare doesn't hurt your eyes. After all, moonlight is reflected sunlight. When looking at the moon you are indirectly looking at the sun.
Themed outings. It can be a lot of fun to plan an outing around a special theme, like cowboys, pioneers, miners, trappers, mountain men, or historical military events. You might even try using a teepee instead of tent if you have the means to purchase, borrow, or construct one. Do some research to make your outing as authentic as possible. Try to use period clothing, tools, menus, and activities. Today's kids are inundated by electronic games and modern sports. Check out some pioneer games on the Internet. You'll be surprised how much your kids and grand kids might enjoy them. An old-fashioned tug-of-war is suitable for almost any group and requires only a sturdy rope. A tug-of-war is made more interesting if there is a mud puddle in the middle for the losers to get pulled in to, especially if it is a hot day. Another good physical game is the "stick pull" and can be done with just two people. The participants sit facing each other with the soles of their feet together and hold onto the same sturdy stick with both hands. Start with the stick centered between the two contestants. The object of the game is for one person to pull the other person over. It is harder than it sounds and a lot of fun both to do and to watch! When was the last time you participated in a sack race or three-legged race? You don't need a lot of expensive equipment for activities like these and can organize them just about anywhere. Of course they're more comfortable on nice grass or beach than rough, rocky desert ground, but difficult terrain may just add to the challenge (and provide opportunities to practice your first aid skills).
Check out the options for alternate adventures. One I've read about and find appealing but haven't had a chance to try yet is a wagon train outing in Death Valley. Or, you might look into a cattle drive, a la "City Slickers". Even without the commercialism of the dude ranch setting of the movie, you might hook up with a real cattleman. If you opt for something like this, prepare yourself physically and mentally for the activities you'll be expected and even required to perform. Riding a horse for 8-12 hours a day is not something most of us are accustomed to doing -- or even riding in a wagon or stagecoach. You'll find it a lot more physically demanding than you might expect. If you're up to it, you might want to sign up for a one or two week survival school. That will not only be fun and challenging, but you'll learn valuable skills and gain insight into your own character. River rafting is another "back to nature" adventure that is usually quite exciting. Check around. There are various levels of rafting trips from leisurely family floats to demanding white-water trips to choose from. I've done the Colorado River from Blythe to Yuma in canoes with the Boy Scouts, a family trip on the Rogue River in Oregon, and a white water trip on the Kern River in southern California. Now that we live on the McKenzie River in Oregon we're looking forward to a white water trip this summer that includes Class 3 and 4 rapids! Each one had its own special appeal and created many good memories. On ANY water adventure, make sure you always wear appropriate flotation devices in case you end up in the water instead of on it! And make sure you pack your gear in waterproof bags. And, no, Ziploc sandwich bags aren't waterproof enough if your gear gets dumped overboard! Invest is some good, marine-grade waterproof containers, especially for cameras, electronic equipment, dry foods, and medications. Plastic containers like Tupperware are better than plastic bags, but unless they have secure latches they can still pop open. True waterproof containers will have secure locking mechanisms to tightly clamp down the seals and keep them from accidentally coming open.
Water sports are pretty much a guaranteed hit on hot summer afternoons. Try bringing along enough squirt guns for the whole group (you can probably pick some up at your local "dollar store") and enjoy cooling each other off while practicing your marksmanship. A squirt gun fight often brings back memories of days gone by for us "older" folks and creates lasting memories for the youngsters. I was always surprised how boyish and playful my father became with a squirt gun in his hand. Today's "super soakers" are a really good way to cool each other off on a hot summer day -- if you have an adequate water supply to keep them filled. Lacking a handy faucet for refilling water guns you might want to invest in a plethora of extras and pre-fill them for long lasting enjoyment. When you run out you simple grab a replacement instead of stopping to refill.
Campfire activities are traditional hits for evenings. Sing-a-longs, story telling, and charades are all classic options. Ghost stories are a popular theme and seem to gain special believeability around a campfire. Bring along your acoustic guitar and bone up on folk songs and traditional campfire favorites. Other traditional instruments include banjo, fiddle, tambourine, and harmonica. In case you didn't know, a fiddle is the same thing as a violin, just played in a different style. A harmonica is an especially good choice if you're hiking or back packing since is small and light weight and fits in a pocket. Even Survivorman carries a harmonica on most of his adventures. Or, just sitting and watching the flames can be a relaxing way to end the day -- and stay warm and cozy as it cools down after the sun goes down. Recounting the day's activities or planning tomorrow's are common campfire topics. You don't really need any planned activities for a campfire to be a successful nostalgic activity. Things will usually kind of take their own course.
Swap your bright, hissing Coleman lantern for an old-fashioned kerosene lantern. The flickering yellowish light offers far more ambiance with an Old West flair. They are quiet and can be turned down low for a romantic dinner in camp. If you don't like the smell of kerosene, fill your lantern with liquid parafin (which is odorless) or a fragrant lamp oil. Citronella lamp oil will help keep bugs away.
Traditional indoor games are especially good for passing the time on rainy afternoons or when it is too cold or windy around the campfire at night. Various card games, board games, and puzzles take up little room and provide hours of entertainment for young and old. Or bring along a few good books or those magazines you've been meaning to catch up on. I find RV and OHV magazines have special appeal when I'm actually involved in related activities. Try having a taffy-pull. Not only is it a fun activity, but the product is very tasty! Make popcorn over the campfire.
Easy outdoor games with a pioneer flair include a tug-of-war and a stick pull. For a tug of war you'll need about 40-50' of heavy rope. Tie a rag in the middle to serve as a scoring device or, for the really ambitious, set up your tug-of-war across a mud pit so the losers get dragged into the mud. For a stick pull you just need some sticks or dowels about 2-2 1/2' long and about 1 1/2" in diameter. Sometimes you can find natural branches lying around that will do the trick. Two people set with the soles of their feet together and both grasp the stick and pull. The object is for one to pull the other over. It isn't as easy as it sounds and it involves more strategy and leverage than brute strength. Various forms of tag can be a lot of fun and usually don't require any special equipment. Group games like "Red Rover" and "Mother May I" can be played just about anywhere you have enough people and a reasonably clear and level playing area.
Choose a rustic or nostalgic campground. These days there are tons of "luxury" campgrounds with fancy swimming pools and lots of electronic games to attract visitors. If you're looking for a more nostalgic experience, search out a remote mountain resort where you may find cozy cabins, wooded camp sites, open fire pits, horseshoes, and plenty of nature instead of fancy resorts with tons of amenities. And you might even save money!
When it comes to nostalgic camping activities I generally recommend foregoing electronic entertainment devices, but movie night can be a fun activity too, if you have the facilities for it. Watching a favorite family or classic movie in your RV is a good option when the weather isn't inviting. Or choose a movie that is relevant to your site or activity. Movies have been around long enough now that many of them qualify as "nostalgic". For broader social appeal, you might use a modern LCD projector to display the movie on the side of your RV for the whole camp to enjoy. Granted, this is moving more toward high tech than nostalgic, but many movies can be quite nostalgic even if the technology to present them is not. One enterprising camp store at Kennedy Meadows in the Sequoia National Forest in California we frequented during summer months ran 16mm movies they got free from the local library on weekends to attract visitors. I lost track of the number of classic films we watched there. Of course the store sold lots of sodas, popcorn, and ice cream snacks because of their free movies. I applaud their innovative approach. With light weight portable generators, movie night is even an option for tent campers. A lot of classic movies can be found in the bargain bins at Walmart and similar stores. With a little careful selection and a little research they might even be educational (but don't tell the kids that!). And don't forget the popcorn, which, by the way, if popped over a campfire can be adventure in itself.
Have some good old-fashioned fun!
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