What was your first real camp-out?

[pineywoods]

I started out so far back that I don't really know when I crossed the line from blankets in the back yard to full-on camping. I'm sure it had to do with when I joined the Boy Scouts. Since I lived on the outskirts of a rural town, I didn't have to go far to make the transition. My parents never went camping.

Lots of fun memories from back then. The scouts went on a lot of local campouts and I went to the big Anniversary Jamboree in Colorado Springs in 1960---got to see President Eisenhower ride through in his open limo.

[MattM37]

I can't remember much about the first time. My parents would take me and my siblings car camping just below Lock 17 on the Black Warrior River. Dad and his best friend would run jugs for catfish all night while the women tended the fire and kids. A blanket was spread on the sand near the fire to sleep on, under the stars.

Around 13 years old, my brothers, friends and I starting camping without adult supervision. We'd go to the back of the horse pasture, build a fire and hang out, listening to a transistor radio. The horses were curious but stayed well away from the fire. We'd spread a large tarp to put sleeping bags on. The dogs loved it and would pile up with us, sleeping under the stars.

I've never camped alone but that's on my bucket list. Would like to do a few solo days canoeing the Cahaba River.

Dairy farmer uncle dug a pond and put up a screen-house, back in the woods where his fields ended. The pond was spring fed and cold enough for trout; he had it stocked with rainbows. We boys would practically live up there in the late summer, feasting on trout and sweet corn picked right from the field alongside.

[MattM37]

My first time doing an over night camping was with the 4-H Club camp-out after that was with the B.S.A. I was 9yr/o 1949 in U.S.Army tents, Army Canteen & Mess-Kit. I was 11 for my first jamboree a three day camp-out.

Who Remember A "Brown Bag & Salt Shaker" To do what??

Okay, sure, I've heard of "sending someone out on a snipe hunt." Never heard about the salt-shaker part.

[Treestand]

My first time doing an over night camping was with the 4-H Club camp-out after that was with the B.S.A. I was 9yr/o 1949 in U.S.Army tents, Army Canteen & Mess-Kit. I was 11 for my first jamboree a three day camp-out.

Who Remember A "Brown Bag & Salt Shaker" To do what??

NO, It was a Newbee game called "nite snip" sprinkle salt on the snipes tail and put it in the bag (NO Such Thing)
I stayed in till i was 14teen then Rented out the Farm. and we moved down state to Queens NYC, I finished High School there.

[jcarlin]

Hah. I was a city kid from a city family. First camping trip was with my new wife and baby as a 21 year old in a tent across from a site containing my in-laws. I remember laying there at night in a relatively crowded state park campground ring waking up to every minor scurrying sound wondering what it was. You'd have thought I was in a lean to in the jungle.

Go forward 10 years from that and I remember going to sleep backpacking where I'd seen one other person other than my wife last a few miles ago while a black bear chewed on a pot or pan 3' outside of my tent. Wasn't mine. Have no idea where he got it. But I listened to the sound of this banging pot getting dragged along the trail for minutes before he walked into our campsite and with a lough WHOOMPH settled down and regaled me with the sounds of teeth on steel for what seemed like hours before I opted to just go to sleep. Figured if it became a problem I'd wake up as the tent tore.
Years on from that was my first solo, tentless night.
It's a funny progression.

Luckily that movie taught me to bury the hot rocks deep enough. Still haven't found a quiet woman.

A pioneer trapper I certainly aint.

[MattM37]

Hah. I was a city kid from a city family. First camping trip was with my new wife and baby as a 21 year old in a tent across from a site containing my in-laws. I remember laying there at night in a relatively crowded state park campground ring waking up to every minor scurrying sound wondering what it was. You'd have thought I was in a lean to in the jungle.

Go forward 10 years from that and I remember going to sleep backpacking where I'd seen one other person other than my wife last a few miles ago while a black bear chewed on a pot or pan 3' outside of my tent. Wasn't mine. Have no idea where he got it. But I listened to the sound of this banging pot getting dragged along the trail for minutes before he walked into our campsite and with a lough WHOOMPH settled down and regaled me with the sounds of teeth on steel for what seemed like hours before I opted to just go to sleep. Figured if it became a problem I'd wake up as the tent tore.
Years on from that was my first solo, tentless night.
It's a funny progression.

It's like a modern-day Jeremiah Johnson story. He was green as green can be when he stepped off the boat.

[MattM37]

My first time doing an over night camping was with the 4-H Club camp-out after that was with the B.S.A. I was 9yr/o 1949 in U.S.Army tents, Army Canteen & Mess-Kit. I was 11 for my first jamboree a three day camp-out.

Who Remember A "Brown Bag & Salt Shaker" To do what??

A brown bag and a salt shaker? Something to do with popcorn, is my only guess.

[FirstBubba]

My first time doing an over night camping was with the 4-H Club camp-out after that was with the B.S.A. I was 9yr/o 1949 in U.S.Army tents, Army Canteen & Mess-Kit. I was 11 for my first jamboree a three day camp-out.

Who Remember A "Brown Bag & Salt Shaker" To do what??

I was pretty much the same, pighunter.
Everything they showed us in BSA, I had already done with my dad or grandpa.
I got bored in a hurry.

[jcarlin]

Hah. I was a city kid from a city family. First camping trip was with my new wife and baby as a 21 year old in a tent across from a site containing my in-laws. I remember laying there at night in a relatively crowded state park campground ring waking up to every minor scurrying sound wondering what it was. You'd have thought I was in a lean to in the jungle.

Go forward 10 years from that and I remember going to sleep backpacking where I'd seen one other person other than my wife last a few miles ago while a black bear chewed on a pot or pan 3' outside of my tent. Wasn't mine. Have no idea where he got it. But I listened to the sound of this banging pot getting dragged along the trail for minutes before he walked into our campsite and with a lough WHOOMPH settled down and regaled me with the sounds of teeth on steel for what seemed like hours before I opted to just go to sleep. Figured if it became a problem I'd wake up as the tent tore.
Years on from that was my first solo, tentless night.
It's a funny progression.

[FirstBubba]

First time I camped!?
Wow! Talk about long ago and far away, but it's indelibly etched in my mind!
I can still take you to the exact spot, just can't remember exactly what year, 1953 or 1954.
My grandad, his brother (my great uncle), my dad and a friend they worked with got a deer lease in Leon County, Texas. Cost them $5/gun/year!
Camp was a military surplus wall tent with military style cots to sleep on. An extra tarp provided a windbreak for an open fire.
Coffee only on the open fire. Meals came out of a cooler.
I never cared much for "camping" though I had a few experiences.
One night on Indian Pond on the Neches River bottom in a "mosquito bar" on a hammock.
Five different occasions in Colorado deer and elk hunting.
Experiences as a kid were few and far between. East Texas had too many ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes and copper heads.
Camping to hunt or fish was one thing.
Camping merely for the sake of camping? Not for me.

A buddy and I decided to "dry camp" once in Colorado.
A cold can of Spam for supper didn't appeal to me so I heated a rock and warmed the Spam on it!
Dirt flavored Spam wasn't the answer either, but it was eat it or go hungry! LOL!

[Treestand]

My first time doing an over night camping was with the 4-H Club camp-out after that was with the B.S.A. I was 9yr/o 1949 in U.S.Army tents, Army Canteen & Mess-Kit. I was 11 for my first jamboree a three day camp-out.

Who Remember A "Brown Bag & Salt Shaker" To do what??

[MattM37]

First time I camped!?
Wow! Talk about long ago and far away, but it's indelibly etched in my mind!
I can still take you to the exact spot, just can't remember exactly what year, 1953 or 1954.
My grandad, his brother (my great uncle), my dad and a friend they worked with got a deer lease in Leon County, Texas. Cost them $5/gun/year!
Camp was a military surplus wall tent with military style cots to sleep on. An extra tarp provided a windbreak for an open fire.
Coffee only on the open fire. Meals came out of a cooler.
I never cared much for "camping" though I had a few experiences.
One night on Indian Pond on the Neches River bottom in a "mosquito bar" on a hammock.
Five different occasions in Colorado deer and elk hunting.
Experiences as a kid were few and far between. East Texas had too many ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes and copper heads.
Camping to hunt or fish was one thing.
Camping merely for the sake of camping? Not for me.

One time my cousin and I forgot the skillet, which we discovered only after we'd mixed up the pancake batter. We debated heating a flat rock, but the only ones nearby were in the streambed, which we knew could explode in the fire. So, we just drank the batter for breakfast. Without even thinking about it, we'd invented the morning breakfast shake! (Didn't work out so well later in the day, if you know what I mean).

[MattM37]

Darn Matt, that was so long ago, it really taxes the grey stuff. I must have been about 7-8 years old and with a neighbor kid we set up some kind of a tent in the back yard. I had my trusty BB gun for protection and we had about a 3-4 days supply of marshmallows to ward off starvation. I don’t remember if either one of us ever got any sleep that night, there was much danger as I recall, mostly connected with running out of something to eat !

Yep, sleeping is usually last on the list when kids sleep out.

[FirstBubba]

First time I camped!?
Wow! Talk about long ago and far away, but it's indelibly etched in my mind!
I can still take you to the exact spot, just can't remember exactly what year, 1953 or 1954.
My grandad, his brother (my great uncle), my dad and a friend they worked with got a deer lease in Leon County, Texas. Cost them $5/gun/year!
Camp was a military surplus wall tent with military style cots to sleep on. An extra tarp provided a windbreak for an open fire.
Coffee only on the open fire. Meals came out of a cooler.
I never cared much for "camping" though I had a few experiences.
One night on Indian Pond on the Neches River bottom in a "mosquito bar" on a hammock.
Five different occasions in Colorado deer and elk hunting.
Experiences as a kid were few and far between. East Texas had too many ticks, chiggers, mosquitoes and copper heads.
Camping to hunt or fish was one thing.
Camping merely for the sake of camping? Not for me.

[bowhunter75richard]

Darn Matt, that was so long ago, it really taxes the grey stuff. I must have been about 7-8 years old and with a neighbor kid we set up some kind of a tent in the back yard. I had my trusty BB gun for protection and we had about a 3-4 days supply of marshmallows to ward off starvation. I don’t remember if either one of us ever got any sleep that night, there was much danger as I recall, mostly connected with running out of something to eat !