With touring season on pause, we decided it was time for our van to get a camping makeover. Corona virus has hit everybody hard, not only is touring not super safe right now but traditional travel isn’t safe either. The now altered fan can hold up to six performers while touring, and can instantly convert into the perfect camping vehicle.
Our founder, Julia Reed Nichols, took the van out this past week to test out our new digs. Through the process, she discovered some really great tips for our supporters who are thinking of having their own camping adventure.
Our founder, Julia Reed Nichols, took the van out this past week to test out our new digs. Through the process she discovered some really great tips for our supporters who are thinking of having their own camping adventure.
Tip #1
Pick the right spot. We used recreation.gov to find an amazing spot location at LeBaron Lake in Beaver, UT.
We could not have asked for a better location - Spot #5 overlooks the lake with the perfect amount of tree protection to make you feel like you are camping on your own private lake. And the best part, 2 days was only $28 including the reservation fee.
Pro Tip: If you decide to check out LeBaron Lake, this campground is up a 10-mile dirt mountain road - be prepared to go slow!
Tip #2
Pick Up a Hammock. Most campsites will have a picnic table with benches, but these aren’t the most relaxing. We picked up a great one on Amazon, and it even has a convenient built in mosquito net for those pesky nighttime bugs that pop up around the lake.
Tip #3
Don’t forget the basics! When you’re camping you have to bring everything with you. If you want a comfortable trip, it’s super important that you prepare and bring the right essential amenities. Things we included in our basics were 5 gallons of filtered water, Sunscreen/bug spray, cooking supplies, all the food that we needed for two days, everything that we needed for our furry friend, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and we even threw in a yoga mat - because yoga is pretty essential in our world.
Tip #4
Going off the grid doesn’t mean you have to give up technology completely. While it’s true many camping sites have little-to-no cell phone service, a little preparation will allow you to have music and entertainment throughout your camping trip. We used Pandora Plus in the off-line mode to listen to our music, downloaded a couple of childhood favorites on Disney+, and put some of our yoga sessions on the iPad to help keep things zen while camping. A bluetooth speaker is also a super handy way to listen to all your tunes comfortably on the campsite without access WiFi.
Or - if you prefer, camping is a great time to get old school and read a book!
Pro Tip: Our van has some amazing charging features in it, so we didn’t have to bring a bunch of pre-charged backup batteries - but if you are planning on using technology while tent camping, make sure that you bring those reserve batteries because there are no outlets in the wilderness.
Tip #5
Remember that when you’re camping, you are in nature. A lot of animals make the woods their home, and so it is important to respect their environment. This includes making sure that anything you pack-in to the campsite, you pack-out of the campsite. When you leave, it shouldn’t look like you were ever there. Additionally, there are bears in the area we were camping, so we had to be very cautious and store our food safely overnight. You can’t blame a bear for trying to get a free meal!
And a Smokey The Bear says, "only you can prevent forest fires!"
Here’s some great tips for forest fire prevention: https://smokeybear.com/en/smokey-for-kids/campfire-rules
