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Why the outdoors are for everyone and black people should try camping If you are like us, you have probably asked a loved one to join you in camping and in the growing black outdoor movement and you were met with a “No, thank you.” The conversation was probably similar to the many we had with Cayela prior to actually joining her. Does this sound familiar? “Hey, what do you ladies think about going on a camping trip?” Jocelyn raised her eyes from the magazine in front of her and looked at me as though I was an alien. “Camping?” “Camping as in going out to the woods and serving myself up on a platter as meat for some wild animal to eat?” Shunte’asked. “Well, no, we’d just be going all together with a couple of other people to the woods and…”  You see…I was trying to explain before being cut off. “I ain’t going,” Jocelyn said abruptly dropping her eyes back to her magazine. “Yeah, I ain’t going either and besides, black people don’t camp.”  Shunte’ said. Cutting this long story of how I tried to convince them of the advantages of going camping and thoroughly failing, my friends refused to go camping with me. This reluctance to camp is why many people believe in the myth that black people don’t camp but I’m here to tell you that black folk camp too.  Guess what? It’s a lot of fun, which is why people of color should start camping more often. Why not enjoy the fresh air, back packing, tubing and conversions by the campfire? Join in the growing black camping movement. If you’re one of those who believe that black people don’t camp, you need to dispel your belief because black people definitely camp. Look at previous 850+ black campers who have attended Campout on the past. Fact: Black folk camp too In fact, some people attribute the reasons why few black people camp to history when racial discrimination was a big thing in America, where blacks were banned from specific outdoor places like national parks or beaches by custom or law. These were the periods when African Americans had to be careful not to go near national parks because they were not so safe due to the Park service’s history of discrimination. Melanated Campout event in August is going to be a wonderful way for black people to connect with nature and participate in Self-Care. With a lot of fun camping activities and adventure planed, campers will be able to go home with many memorable tales to tell their friends and families.  These stories will entail never ending fun and relief from stress that was had during the entire weekend. This summer, you have the chance to meet new people and make new friends, network, participate in outdoor yoga, fishing, gather around fires to talk and tell stories, participate in water gun battle, attend parties (HBCU- Homecoming, old school hip hop). But more then that, for first time campers you have the opportunity to experience camping in safe space. Growing black outdoor movement Our hope is that while this may be your first experience camping and become a committed member of the black outdoor movement; it won’t be your last. We want this trip to give you a taste of the benefits of being outside and encourage you to use what you have learned to camp through out the year with your new camp cousin and also your family. One of the greatest legacies you can leave your family, is the love for the outdoors. To find a space in this world where you can connect with the outdoors, find peace, sit still with yourself and reflect on how wonderful things are or go camping with your family and make memories that last a lifetime are priceless. Memories that don’t involve electronics (or at least a lot of them) but instead good clean fun. In recent years, there has been an increase in new audiences enjoying camping. We invite you to join in the growing black outdoor movement. Meet us at the largest Melanated Campout east of the Mississippi! Black people don’t camp!- said every black person until they try it

What is glamping? Glamping is another name for luxury camping and is derived from “Glamorous camping”. When people camp Glamping-style they have accommodations that are much more glamorous than the normal accommodations found inside your tent. Think of it as camping in a tent but prettied up. Glamping is a great opportunity to enjoy the fresh air, immerse yourself in your nature-filled surroundings, unplug from tiring city life, get away from the daily noise of the city to the quiet sounds of nature and birds in the woods. It’s kind of like renting a nice hotel room only this time, you would have unlimited access to nature. At Melanated Campout, we offer an enjoyable camping experience for everyone, glampers included. Checkout our glamping package. How Glamping got it’s start Now you may think glamping is a modern invention, however, glamping began in the early 1900s when rich American and European travelers who didn’t want to give up the comforts of their homes started to go on safari in Africa. Soon enough safari camps began to offer upscale options to suit their needs and since then glamping has been growing more and more popular. The difference between camping and glamping can be summed up in the following ways: 1. Accommodations Camping- Tent placed directly on the ground with basic lighting and scant decor. Glamping- If it’s a permanent glamping site, it may be a tent placed on a raised platform.  Even if not, the accommodations within the tent will be beyond the basic. For example, a chandelier vs a basic light.  And the inclusion of a rug, hamper, comforter, pillows, and nice decor. 2. The sleeping options Camping- Sleeping bags. Glamping- No sleeping bag zone. Air mattress at the very least. For more information on sleeping options while camping, check out our previous blog. 3. The restroom & bathing Camping- People that go camping the traditional way usually have to make use of the forest for easing themselves. Glamping- When you glamp, you can have a portable toilet and even a pop-up tent so you can go in private. That pop-up tent can also accommodate a shower. Of course, at Melanated Campout, we are on a campground. So you will have access to both hot showers and clean restroom facilities. Haven’t heard of Melanated Campout yet? Well, check it out, it’s an African American camping event full of adventure, relaxation, and activities. In fact, it’s the largest Campout East of the Mississippi!

Yes, you probably saw it on the Melanated Campout schedule for the camping event in June that there would be tubing on Saturday and you’re probably wondering just what the hell tubing is? Despair not, everything will be explained in this post. Tubing is an activity (usually recreational) where people ride an inner tube on water, snow or air. Since we’ll be talking about the tubing you’ll be doing at this camping event, you can forget about tubing in snow and in the air (kite tubing). Our camp is located in Helen, GA in June, so getting your bathing suits out and let’s hit the river! Tubing in Helen, GA, is more than just a recreational activity, it is the perfect mix of adventure, activity, and relaxation; which is why tubing is a key part of the Melanated camping event in June. This is an activity adventurous black people can’t afford to miss out on. How to tube? Step 1. Get Tube. Step 2. Float down the river. Note: Life jackets are available for those who want one. Where to get the tubes? On the Melanated Campout trip, the tubes will be furnished by the tubing company.  You are welcome to bring your own tube, but it’s not necessary. Outside of this trip, you should probably call your tubing company to ask if they are provided before you go to ensure the actual tube is either included in the price or available to rent. When to tube? On the Melanated Campout trip, we will go on Saturday, assuming water levels are sufficient. Outside of this trip, you should probably call your tubing company to ask if the water levels are too low. If they are low, you may not be allowed to tube. Here’s a few tips on how to make your tubing trip a success. Buy straps and sticks After getting a tube, don’t forget to buy and take along a stick and strap. The strap is important if you’re riding down the river with your crew. This allows you to tie your tubes together. You’ll need the stick to navigate over and around the boulders and in shallow water. You will get wet Be prepared to get wet so wear a swim suit. Don’t forget to wear water shoes and don’t try going barefooted because at some point, you may need to get out of the tube and you have no idea what’s in the river. No stopping along the way Once you’ve started tubing down the river, you can’t stop until you get back to the designated stopping area. Therefore, you should probably use the toilet before getting into your tube. Guard your property To avoid losing your property or getting your cell or electronics wet, buy a waterproof pouch. They come in all sizes, everything from cell phone size that hang around your neck to large bags. Grab your plastic water bottle Each tuber is allowed to take one 32 oz. plastic bottle on the river. No alcohol.

Give your future self something to look forward to by understanding the benefits of camping… Air full of smoke, or any of the other organic or artificial things that you can smell in the city can get quite stifling. Apart from that, the cultural  outdoor experience boosts immune systems, improves blood pressures and improves digestion due to the extra oxygen and low level of pollutants in the fresh air. Many times, you feel a sense of relief and happiness a few days after your camping trip, this is probably because the sunlight has evened out the melatonin levels in your brain, thus reducing your normal day-to-day tiredness and improving your overall mood. Even if it’s just for a number of days, camping allows you to unplug from the daily city life with fewer phone calls and urgent emails to attend to. Although Melanated Campout allows you to have access to electricity and wifi if you happen to need it, camping is your best opportunity to just unplug from your daily scheduled life.  We call it a digital detox! Camping helps to build and strengthen many relationships, familial, platonic or romantic. It is the best time to talk, walk and do things together even late into the night. As such, it strengthens many relationships. A camp of black professionals is a great way to meet to network and meet new friends. The Melanated Campout  events in June are a great place to meet and interact with other black people who have similar interests to you.  Do you have a business? Melanated Campout is a huge supporter of minority-owned businesses. Let’s network! Nothing can best s’mores made over open fire or the meat grilled over a campsite grill. Something about cooking over a campfire or grill that  makes the food much more delicious. (I don’t know about you but that has been my experience so far.) For campers who prefer chillin’ instead of grillin’, Melanated Campout offers a delicious and convenient  meal plan option. Guess what?!  Tents are really easy to set up.  Camping is a great way to learn to pitch a tent, start a campfire, cook over an open pit.  These skills are important to learn just in case there’s an apocalypse, don’t you think? If you’re looking for an adventure with other black people, big camping events like Melanated Campout is the best place to enjoy such an experience. You get to be part of the numerous activities at the Melanated Campout such as tubing down the Chattahoochee river, partying under the stars with open bars, conversations by the campfire, games and other fun activities. Imagine a weekend with no long list of things to do, no particular appointment to be early for and no urgent meetings… you get to do whatever you want to do. In short, going camping is equal to you putting less strain on yourself, mentally, emotionally and physically. It’s time to attend the largest Melanated Campout east of the Mississippi! Now what to do while camping? Read more here. Haven’t heard of Melanated Campout yet? Well, check it out, it’s an African American camping event full of adventure, relaxation, and activities. In fact, it’s the largest Campout East of the Mississippi!

5 myths of camping Myths and legends are pretty common things and are usually created from misinformation and the influence of the media. Since almost everything in the world has a myth or legend, why shouldn’t camping? Believe it or not, camping definitely has lots of myths, some are pretty silly like the one about how bananas attract mosquitoes or poison ivy is contagious. Here are five myths of camping we hope to squash: MYTH #1:  “YOU HAVE TO SLEEP ON THE FLOOR” Oh, bet you are thinking about those camping experiences in those epic movies you see all the time. The main characters are traveling through the land in search of a magical stone that will cure their village of sick people. Of course, they have to stop along the way when it gets dark and eventually after hunting down dinner and roasting it, they sleep on the bare grass. Well, I’m glad to inform you that times have changed. People today do not sleep on the ground even if they are exploring the most primitive forms of camping, after all, there are many sleeping options. There are sleeping bags, sleeping pads, hammocks, air mattresses and even normal beds.  You choose your comfort level and select your preferred sleeping option. At the Melanated Campout, you can even choose the “Glamp Me Down”package which allows you to have access to a comfortable queen bed and even air conditioning.  Essentially, you can have an upscale approach to sleeping under the stars. MYTH #2: “IT’S BORING, THERE IS NOTHING TO DO” This is certainly not the case at big camping events like Melanated Campout.  The weekend is designed to give you the option to participate in a variety of activities.  Here are the differences in activities between camping on your own versus attending the Melanated Campout. MYTH #3: “ I HAVE TO USE THE RESTROOM IN THE WOODS” Ok….I know there is this notion of every hole in the woods being a toilet for campers, but this does not have to be your truth. Many campgrounds have restrooms, with nice toilets and showers.  The Melanated Campout will have facilities and auxiliary units with nice restrooms and showers. MYTH #4: “YOU HAVE TO COOK YOUR FOOD” Some people believe that they have  go hunting, skin the animal and then cook it.   While there is something special about cooking your food on the grill or over a fire pit (i.e. bring your food in coolers and refresh your ice at a nearby store), you can opt for a meal plan at the Melanated Campout. We thought of everything, so you can sit back, relax and enjoy a great meal. MYTH #5:  “BEING OUTSIDE SUCKS” Believe it or not, some people think that camping is uncomfortable, uninteresting and can never compare to city life, but, that is not true.  Camping can be so much fun. You have a chance to reconnect with mother nature while hanging out with Melanated people. Did someone say smores? Did I read something about tubing? What about parties with energized Djs?  Oh, I think we already covered that earlier. Camping also has so many health benefits:  the fresh air provides extra oxygen that boosts your immune systems and improves your blood pressure. It’s also a great time to bond with your friends, family members and romantic partners. Don’t miss the chance to have a truly unique and unforgettable experience!  See you at the Melanated Campout! Grab your spot today!