26 January 2012

The online Urban Dictionary defines Urban Camping as “camping in an urban setting by sleeping on rooftops, under bushes, and in public parks.”  Not surprisingly, in a creative adaptation of an activity that was once considered the domain of hippies and the homeless, “urban camping” has recently become a mainstream recreational program for many cities, non-profits serving youth, the outdoor industry and state and national park systems in the US and around the world.

Park professionals and others organizing city style camp outs say that urban camping is a good way for tourists and locals to get a taste of the outdoors without going too far from home, and they can also experience the urban environment in an entirely different way.

Creative partnerships are an important component of successful urban camping ventures. Youth groups, green advocacy organizations, schools, outdoor industry specialists, and public land managers work together to create an experience that’s safe, fun and introduces participants to the great outdoors and basic camping skills, often with important life lessons as a bonus.

One organization that has embraced the concept of urban camping is the Greening Youth Foundation of Atlanta, Georgia, an organization dedicated to educating children about the importance of being stewards of the environment. This summer, GYF offered an “Urban Camping Experience,” with storytelling, live music, movies, games and an introduction to basic camping.

In Los Angeles, officials at Los Angeles State Historic Park celebrated Earth Day with a one night only Urban Campout targeting the Latino community. Over 75 families participated in tree plantings, wildlife presentations, eco-friendly lectures, and the 1st Annual LA River Walk-A-Thon, sponsored by the Green LA Coalition.

According to NPR’s Here & Now program in Boston, a new campground has opened in Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field, in the Gateway National Recreation Area, a National Park Service facility. With the help and encouragement of park rangers, tourists and locals experience pitching a tent, starting a fire and sleeping under the stars. NPR reports that one of the country’s largest urban campgrounds has been a booming success, with over 1,200 visitors in less than 2 months of opening on July 4th. For $20 a night within 15 miles of Times Square, it’s no surprise that the venture has taken off. 

Residents in rural areas who have no shortage of access to nature can also get to see what urban camping is all about. In New Hampshire, recreation and parks agencies from Lebanon & Newmarket teamed up to bus campers to Manchester’s Fisher Cats professional baseball stadium for a camp out in celebration of the National Wildlife Federation’s Great American Backyard Campout.

According to Paul Coats, Lebanon’s Director of Recreation & Parks, “The families who journeyed down to Manchester to camp at Merchants Field had a great experience – imagine camping out in a world class stadium. It’s quite a shift from the usual camping experience.”

REI and the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle teamed up in August to offer explorations into “urban nature.” Campers set up tents, explored the zoo environment, told stories around a campfire, and met some of the zoo’s residents up close and personal. The Woodland Park Zoo Urban Campout was designed to be a first-time camping opportunity for families who would otherwise not have the chance to participate in this activity.

Outward Bound, known as an industry leader in wilderness travel and survival skill development, has also been adapting its programming to accommodate the wild urban landscape. In Toronto, Outward Bound relocated its headquarters to an “urban base camp” while maintaining the goal of passing along a love of the outdoors and sense of self-reliance to youth by showing them the wilderness in their own back yard. According to the Toronto Star newspaper article, 80 per cent of Canadians live in cities, “The challenge is how to make what we do more relevant to urban society,” says Outward Bound Canada Executive Director Sarah Wiley. “It makes sense to go where the need is greatest. We could make a difference among people who have never heard of us.”

Kim Bailey, Vice President of Centers and Strategy for Outward Bound US, is charged with developing urban centers around the country. “We are working to provide innovative programs that present educational and skill-building alternatives for young people, encourage them to discover their inner strengths, and help them translate challenging life experiences into positive personal achievements.” While their legacy is programming in the wilderness, Outward Bound is committed to adding more programming in urban communities to serve more students closer to home.

So pack up your flashlight and head for the big city nearest you to explore the urban wild side!

For more information visit www.greenplayllc.com or email at alainab@greenplayllc.com