National Camp Day is observed annually on the 19th of November each year and it’s a day during which people are encouraged to gather up friends and family members and go out camping. Although most people think of camping as a summer activity (Camping Month is even in June), this holiday proves that it doesn’t have to be.

November is a great time to gather around a campfire and snuggle inside a warm sleeping bag. It’s not as warm and humid as many summer months, and not as cold as the oncoming winter months. And because most people don’t camp in November, most of the campsites and trails this time of year will be empty. Sounds like a win-win scenario to us.

The History Of National Camp Day

Let’s face the facts here. People have been camping since the dawn of human civilization. Humans were hunters that would often have to follow prey for miles to harvest them for meat. This meant that many times they would have to camp out away from their villages to get the job done.

And during the Middle Ages, travelers who couldn’t get board at someone’s home or barn would have to set up camp off of the trail. So, needless to say, camping has been around for a long time.

Modern camping hasn’t been around quite so long, however. Modern camping can be traced back to Thomas Hiram Holding. As a boy during the 19th century, he was with wagon trains heading across the prairies of the U.S and the wagon trains would often have to stop to camp. This inspired a love of camping in him that would cause him to write The Camper’s Handbook in 1908. That is considered by many to be the origin of the modern camping movement.

As far as when this holiday was created, we can’t rightly say. We don’t think National Camp Day has been around as long as other camping holidays, but then again, since we’re not sure we can’t truthfully say. All that we can say is that we’ll keep searching for this holiday’s origins.

Observing National Camp Day

National Camp Day is best enjoyed by doing some camping. Because the weather is cooler than during the summer months, it’s important to pack everything that’s going to be needed to do it.

This includes a warm sleeping bag, tent, food and water supplies, tools, and things to make and maintain a campfire. People can let other people know they’re going to spend this day camping by using the hashtag #NationalCampDay on social media too.