Campers enjoying the outdoor season at state campgrounds

Despite temperatures hovering around 90 degrees, campgrounds in the state – both public and private – are having a good season as more and more campers are joining the popular way of getting outdoors.

Jack Butler, a camper from Lee’s Summit, has already made more than a dozen camping trips this year, and is one of those campers who started out with a tent and now has moved into a self-contained RV.

“Over the years I have camped in tents, pickup campers, popups, KOA Kamping Kabins and vans,” he said. “I’m what you might call a camping nut. I like it all.”

Butler recalls how much camping has changed over the years, but still remains about the same.

“When I started camping seriously some 40 years ago, there were no really big RVs, just tents for the most part,” he said.

“Once our family started growing, we moved into a larger tent and added more sleeping bags and other gear. You learn a lot over the years. Once I forgot the tent poles and we had a tough time, but things that go wrong often turn out to hold the best memories.

“You learn to make the best of situations and don’t worry about the things you can’t control like the weather.”

Today, campers have a wide range of places to camp as well as types of things to camp in. Public campgrounds – like the ones offered by the state parks and Corps of Engineers – and private campgrounds dot the state.

The Missouri Tourism Information Centers has information on campgrounds in the state and reports interest is high this year from campers who want information on places to go camp.

“The tent camping experience does take a lot of effort, but just the satisfaction of being close to nature makes it worthwhile,” Butler said. “Today’s modern camping gear has made camping more practical, comfortable and enjoyable.

“As for equipment, I recommend a beginning camper buy brand-name equipment because with care, it will last 20 years or more.”

Veteran campers will tell you that how well you get ready for a camping trip will tell how much enjoyment and comfort you will derive from the trip.

There is a wide variety of campers as well as what kind of camping gear they use. Some campers like to be close to others while many others like to get as far away as they can from other campers. Bob Harris of Blue Springs is one of those campers who likes to be alone when camping.

“I can’t see why anyone would leave the city to go camping and then set up as close as they can get to another camper,” he said.

Sam Watson of Sedalia is just the other way.

“When we go camping, we like to visit with other campers, so we usually find someone like us to camp near,” he said.

It takes all kinds.

Rain is one thing most campers remember. Wet weekends in the campground limit activities that were planned, but most campers still can have a good experience.

“With back to school days fast approaching, we plan on camping as much as possible the rest of the summer,” Butler said.

“The kids always look forward to the joys of camping close to a lake where they can swim, ski, fish or just do nothing. Summer goes by too fast not to enjoy a camping trip.”