We have planned our dance camps as inexpensive camps with great camp-out options. Camping out is free… and it can be fun. I’d like to offer some ideas if you are hesitating to come to camp because of the decision about whether to get a motel room or camp.
Or perhaps you are already signed up and starting to plan your journey. We have great places to camp at both the Salmon and Lava camps. So we want to encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity.
We have planned our camps to be the best weather for each location. Salmon is in the spring before it gets too hot. The river will be running high. Lava is a higher elevation, with places up in the trees, so it’ll be perfect in July.
Camping is all about the gear! New camping gear is so great these days. If you invest in some good camping gear it lasts decades… a motel room only lasts a night! It’s a bargain.
Best of all: If you camp out on site, you are just right there. You show up, set up your camp and don’t have to drive your car again for days. We can sing, dance, eat and sleep without another worry.
Tents
My tent in the mud… I was nice and dry inside.
I remember, back in the day, when putting up a tent was quite a production, and good luck if it was wet or stormy. These days tents are easy to set up… and a new tent can be nice and dry in stormy weather.
No matter how you look at it… tents aren’t meant to last a long long time. If you have an old tent, then it’s time to upgrade. This is the thing that will keep you dry and warm. Look around for a good tent and it could very well make your camping decision for you.
Your Bed
Next most important is your bed. We often want to get a motel room so we can have a good bed. But it doesn’t always work out that great. Does it? No matter how you look at it, motel beds are beds that hundreds of people have slept on (or did they really sleep?)
I want to turn you on to the BEST SLEEPING PAD EVER!
An Exped sleeping bag will change your mind about camping out… forever. It may seem a bit expensive, but really it’s the cost of one good motel room (or two not so good ones). Click the button below and see it on REI.
Car Camping
Car and Van camping has turned into an art form with hundreds of new gadgets and gear available. I went to some dance camps in Colorado and found the neatest canopy for my van.
I put my Exped mat in the van so I could sleep cozy and warm. This canopy is easy to set up, and gives me a private and dry space to step out of the van.
Isn’t that cool?
Cars work good too.
All you have to do is just think about car camping and your Facebook page will start showing you every new wonderful thing invented to turn a car into a comfy bed.
Remember… it’s an investment. Once you are geared up you can come to all our camps!
Cooking and Food
It’s so much easier when we all cook our own food! This way everybody gets exactly what they want, when they want. With a little preparation and planning beforehand it is lot less work to whip up your own meals than the endless Karma yoga required to put out three full meals for an entire camp.
Here’s my setup with all my cooking gear in the back of my van. I brought a bunch of frozen dinners in the cooler and they thawed out over a couple days. I packaged and froze home-made meals, but there are also tons of great ready meals available to buy these days. There are also fabulous canned soups and crackers.
I loved it because I was able to eat exactly the food I like. Because I planned each meal it was hardly any work.
Both our Salmon and Lava camps are close to town. You can cook out most of your meals, and run into town for an occasional great dinner. We have lists of local food sources on our website. Salmon has an amazing Farmer’s Market on Saturday morning.
Portable Gas Stoves
Here’s a link to a Eureka BTU gas stove at REI. They are very easy to use. You get gas canisters and pop them into the cavity. Turn the knob and it’s instant flame.
Here’s a closer shot of my setup. I have lots of solar gear because I need my internet connection with me everywhere I go (We’ll have internet and good cell phone service at our camps). I actually had enough electricity to run a small electric stove. I also had the Eureka BTU gas burner stove.
If you have an RV or a camper then you’ve got it made. Our camp locations have plenty of flat spots to pull in and camp. We don’t have hookups available. Electricity is available on site, but limited. So this is your opportunity to gear up with solar for your RV.
Come to Camp!
So come camp with us! We have tons of room for you. We planned each camp to be five days long, because some people are driving a long way and will want to stay. You are certainly welcome to come for only part of the camp. We want to see you!
Registratons open.
