by Mitchel Roy

Created on: March 05, 2007   Last Updated: April 27, 2007

I have camped with the Boy Scouts many times, as well as many family camping trips. I think there are a few levels of 'roughing it'.

Level 1: tent sleeping
In level 1 camping you are simply using a tent because you don't want to pay for a hotel. In other words, you have all your vacation luxuries but you spend the night in a tent.

Level 2: Family camping
This level is when you go to a camp ground, sleep in a tent, cook your food on the grill, and take showers at the bath house. You are going for the camping experience, but the kids still play on playgrounds, you go swimming in a pool, and go visit some museum or something.

Level 3: Car camping
This level is where you go to the primitive camping area, have all your personal gear in a backpack, all your cooking gear in a bin, all your food in a bin, and a tarp and lantern. No playgrounds, no swimming pool, no driving until the weekend is over. Hiking, fire building, lashing, telling stories is what takes up your day. Maybe a trip to the bath house for a shower, at least for the adults.

Level 4: Backpacking
In this level, you hike a certain distance to your camp site. Everything you will have for the weekend has to be carried on your back. You will be surprised what little you can survive with. This is just you, the woods, and some friends. Water will have to be purified from streams or carried in. You can't run to a fast food joint if you didn't bring enough food. This is roughing it.

I have done all of these levels, and all of them are fun. But, I would encourage you to take it up a notch, step out of your comfort zone. A way to add a little roughness to any of these levels is to not sleep in a tent but out under the stars. I haven't slept in a tent in over a year now. Expand your horizons, but always make sure you are prepared and ready for whatever you endeavor.

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