If you’ve been on a lot of camping trips with friends or alone, then meeting other campers on your way to the destination, at the destination, or the hostel, chances are, you’ve met all types of campers.
No, not just the ‘happy campers’ but everything in between as well. Below are some of the people you’d surely meet at a camp.
And nope, no judging here—just pure observations from all years of camping here and abroad.
Types of people you meet at a camp
The Good Ol’ Regular Backpackers
They are the textbook standard of camping. These are the people who live and breathe camping and backpacking. They’ve been to every camping trip possible. Their bucket list is to visit all camping sites in the Philippines, including those in the most secluded and hidden areas. They never say no to an adventure. They enjoy both solo and in-group travel.
The All-Nighters
They stay up all night, and fascinatingly, they seem to be the first ones to wake up the next morning. (yes, they can be All-Dayers too) They are there from the setup to the cleanup. They are also the “designated” volunteers who run errands here and there, more so for bigger camping trips. You’ll sure feel their presence.
The All Night-Entertainers
They love it when the night comes, and it’s time to socialize through telling stories, singing, and dancing. Some of them are fond of sharing jokes that give everyone a hearty laugh, keeping everyone awake as well. They never seem to get tired of all those things that they do all night. Also, they know when someone at the camp is not feeling it, so they would ask why. So don’t judge them by their devil-may-care attitude because they do care about the people around them.
The Eager Beavers
They love everything about the camp, camping, campers—everything! They want to experience everything there is to experience at camp, by themselves, or with another camper, from Jenga to beer pong. Their energy levels are excessive, and you want to befriend them because that energy is contagious. Also, this brings us to the next type, which is …
The Buddies
No one can separate them; they’d do all things together. They believe that two, or sometimes three, heads are always better than one. So it is either they go camping together or don’t go at all. You’ll be amazed at how complementary they are—what one lacks, the other has.
The Complainers
There is no escaping the complainers. They are always there, making everyone feel uneasy, especially when things do not go their way. They notice everything and still have something to say about those things. The more you listen to them, the more you question your decision why go to that camping site of all places. Although they may have valid complaints at times, they are probably the most annoying people at a camp. You want to avoid them, but you cannot.
The Partygoers
The majority of the campers think of the activity as a fun activity—a sweet escape. So they party the night away in front of the campfire. Like the All-Nighters, they stay up until the sun comes up. Unlike the All-Nighters, who can be as reliable as they can throughout the day, these campers sleep all day and wake up whenever they want. These are the people who want to camp and have fun at the same time with their never-ending ball of energy.
The Alcoholics
There are All-Nighters and Partygoers, but both may or may not be an alcoholic. These are the campers whose checklist includes booze, wine, or even DIY premixed cocktails. They are proficient at the best drinks to bring to a camp and would always jump at the chance of impromptu lessons on mixology. It is the study or skill of preparing mixed drinks. And then, some just want to drink for the love of it. They stayed up for as long as they can—or until alcohol took over.
The Solo Campers Who Hates Being Alone
These solo campers or travelers would go to a camping destination, hoping to make new friends there. They would tell others how much they love to travel the world but is too afraid to do it alone, and yet they went to the campsite by themselves. This is their weapon to win friends when striking a conversation with other campers. There is nothing wrong with this, only that sometimes, they tend to focus on themselves too much. That’s just the paradox with them. It’s either you love or hate them.
The Ones Without a Clue
They are the newbie campers. No matter where you are at the camp, it is easy to spot them. You will sense their enthusiasm and energy. However, their inexperience at camping screams from afar—a map, guidebook, travel belt, and a backpack beyond what they can carry. Talk to them, and you’ll undoubtedly hear the words, “I read from this that to do that you must… blah blah blah.” They’ve read everything about camping, but they don’t even know how to pitch a tent. Refrain from laughing because they are building their camping skills, which is a place to start.
The I’ve-Been-to-Anywhere-and-Everywhere
There are regular campers and backpackers. And then, some just want to brag about the places they’ve been to and where they are headed next. For these people, they earned the bragging right, and so they should. But, of course, at the back of your mind, you kept saying to yourself they shouldn’t.
You’ll realize what diversity means once you met all these incredible people at the camp. That’s what you are the eleventh type of camper—the observer! You know what you do.
They always stood out from the crowd for reasons good and bad. You might as well focus on the positives, though. Don’t be afraid to get to know them and find common ground, and that would be, of course, everything camping! All these people add spice and fun to every camping trip.
