History of RVing
People realized that being connected with nature made them feel better . When they got out of town , and spent time in a natural place for a while they felt uplifted . This getaway enabled them to return home restored in spirit , health with an overall sense of belonging . They also realized they needed a suitable vehicle while in the wild , a vehicle designed for maximizing these enjoyable times and surroundings , while avoiding most other people in the moment .
This is why camping has long been called “ roughing it .” It ’ s challenges were necessary then , and now to those who wanted to emulate Murray ’ s experience . So camping was a recapitulation of the “ pioneer ” experience on the pre-modern “ frontier ” where the individual and family were central , and how the American nation was born and grew .
Frederick Gunn , Gunnery Camp creator
BACK TO NATURE WAS GREAT , BUT THEY SOON REALIZED
ROUGHING IT HAS ITS DISADVANTAGES
Americans were now coming of age , and enjoying many more experiences than they had enjoyed before . That ’ s when Americans now realized that , actually , roughing isn ’ t always desirable . And the RV Life Was Born .
Camping and RVing have defined our relationship with the outdoors like nothing else ever could — allowing us to connect with nature . It ’ s the quintessential American pastime , revealing the importance of conservation and our bond to the natural world .
Looking even further back in history for a moment , here ’ s how this most primitive of activities became so popular . In 1861 , a schoolmaster named Frederick Gunn created Gunnery Camp in Washington ,
Connecticut , and led schoolboys on a two-week excursion into the backcountry .
There , the educator sought to instill in his students his belief in our connection to the undeveloped world through a set of life skills including fishing , exploration , and cooking over an open fire . Sleeping in nature was part of the lesson plan , too , and Gunnery Camp became the country ’ s first recreational campsite .
Today Gunn is considered the father of recreational camping , Gunn was a naturalist and staunch abolitionist who epitomized the American ideal that all are created equal and that the best place to realize our potential was in nature .
“ The ideal school is set in the country , or , if in the city , the generous city fathers have afforded it liberal space with trees and flowers ,” he proclaimed .
Picture of Gunnery Camp , the first organized American summer camp .
10 E3CAMPING . COM