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Like what the hell do we do on a camping trip? I remember my first camping trip, I’d been forced to go with my grandmother. It seemed like a silly thing to do, especially when I’d just planned to stay home watching my favorite series.  I just couldn’t understand the fun thing that we could do while camping. After that camping trip, I went on many other camping trips because I had so much fun I wondered why I hadn’t considered going camping earlier. And you’re much more lucky than I am if you’re going for the Melanated Campout event in June because there are so many fun things to do. Here are some of the fun things you can get up to at Melanated Campout: Meet new people There is going to be a meet and greet on the first day that is the best time to meet fellow campers and find people with whom you would have fun for the rest of the big camping event. So go to the meet and greet, mingle with people, make friends and just have fun. At the Icebreaker activity, you can also meet more people and familiarize yourself with people you met at the meet and greet while learning the camp rules. Party! Party! Party! For those that love partying, there are going to be lots of parties. For the Hip Hop glow party, you get to wear neon and even glow in the dark face paint. This is a perfect opportunity to show off your dancing skills as well. The Soca Fete on Saturday is a great time to jump around to power soca tunes and shake your body to groovy soca.  There is also going to be an old school hip hop/ R&B outfit party that you can’t afford to miss. The Midnight Spades Tournament There is nothing that can compare to a nice game of spades. At Melanated campout, you get to enjoy the pleasure of participating in a Midnight Spades Tournament or just watching. In this spades tournament, all you need is a little luck, a competitive adventurous spirit, the ability to read people and the desire to have fun. Of course, at Melanated Campout, we are on a campground. So you will have access to both hot showers and clean restroom facilities. Tubing Tubing is a great recreational activity where you get to ride an inner tube on water, snow or air. Since the big camping events will be in Helen, GA, you get to ride down the Chattahoochee or the 1000 feet river in Helen. Read our Tubing blog post. The Comedy Show One of my favorite things to do is laugh.  So you know we had to add in a comedian. Get ready to laugh or at least giggle. There are many other things you can do while camping at Melanated Campout, you can decide to go hiking, go lake dipping, participate in the freaky feud and game shows and have as much fun as possible. This camping trip is sure to be an adventure you will never forget. 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!

Have you heard of the Black Outdoor Movement? Or have you heard it somewhere before or even on the internet that “black people don’t rock climb”, “black people don’t backpack”, “black people don’t camp”, “black people are just not adventurous”, etc. If you don’t actually know any African-American people who do these things,  you probably think these are true statements. WRONG THINKING! There are many BIPOC in the US who love these outdoor adventures even though percentage-wise, we are still the minority. There is a whole black outdoor movement, join in. In the meantime, learn about some of outdoor activities that are available. Here are a few activities black outdoor movement adventure seekers enjoy… Black People Rock Climbing Yes, you’ve probably heard of the poor statistics of the 1.5 percent African American climbers in the U.S as discovered by a research group at Clemson University. But… look at Mikhail Martin, co-founder of Brothers of Climbing, who is a strong member of the rock climbing community. Many other BIPOC have proven that rock climbing is not a color-specific sport and are adventurous enough to enjoy it. Black People Whitewater rafting For adventure, black people have been known to go whitewater rafting despite the fact that the thrill-seeking recreational activity is usually referred to as a “whites-only” activity, even by black people themselves. Rue Mapp’s online community of black nature lovers called  Outdoor Afro is an example of black people and other people of color who enjoy going on several whitewater rafting trips. Black People Skydiving “Black people are not thrill seekers, they can’t handle venturing to the dead zone and taking that leap required of skydivers.” You have probably heard this kind of talk before but despite the fact that many people believe these false rumors, black people have been known to go skydiving numerous times. Take a look at Team Blackstar, an entire team full of people of color who enjoy skydiving. Black People Hot Air Balloon Just like any other adrenaline-pumping recreational activity, black people also go on hot air balloons and enjoy the ride as it is a great way for people to clear their heads. In fact, checkout, America’s first black hot air balloon master pilot. Black People RV camping Many black people go on adventurous RV camping trips every year. Packing up their things into RVs with modern amenities, african0-american people who love the outdoors and nature go on RV trips with their loved ones.   They seek out new and familiar campgrounds, state parks, or they venture into the woods. Although many black RV enthusiasts have often complained of being the only black person on RV trips, the National African-American RV’ers Association organize group RV excursions. Black People Backpacking across Europe Black people have also been known to go on long or short backpacking trips to different countries in Europe with nothing but lightweight gear.  Imagine this,the are excited to take routes like London to Amsterdam, Rome to London, London to Istanbul, etc. Black Folk Camping Yes, Black people camp too. We at Melanated Campout are big examples of black people camp enthusiasts  who love nature, camping, and partying under the stars. We find that big camping events like the Melanated Campout are a great way to introduce novice campers to the camping experience.  Additionally, this amazing campout is a great way for black people to connect with nature and unplug from the stress of our normal lives and join in the black outdoor movement. There’s no better place to be than the largest Melanated Campout east of the Mississippi! Join us in June at the campgrounds near Helen GA  to have some fun tubing, partying, meeting other black people. If you’re one of those people who believed that black people do not love the outdoors or are not adventurous, you can lose that notion now.  Better yet, purchase your camping package for the Melanated Campout. This is a must do camping event for your annual list. It is time you begin to explore those things that “people” have said black folk don’t do! 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!

Here are some common camping terms to remember: So now that you have mastered the basics, discover why you should go camping. Don’t miss the opportunity to attend the largest Melanated Campout east of the Mississippi!

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!