National Camping Month
Get a tent, sleeping bag, and S’more ingredients and reconnect with nature. Go camping for a night, a weekend, even the entire month.
Drive summer outdoor gear sales and campground bookings by positioning June as the peak season for family camping adventures and reconnecting with nature.
- Essential camping gear checklists: tents, sleeping bags, bug spray bundles
- Family camping trip planning guides and destination spotlights
- S'mores recipe videos and campfire cooking content
- Cycle camping adventures and bike-to-camp lifestyle features
Notable campaigns6
- Yeti (2025): Hosted virtual campfire events during off-season with storytelling, gear discussions, and Q&A sessions with experts to build community engagement and maintain connection with outdoor enthusiasts
- REI Co-op (2026): Ran Fourth of July Deals event (June 26 launch) featuring up to 50% off camping and hiking gear, with member-exclusive 20% off YETI purchases and curated deals across clearance and sale inventory to drive summer prep shopping
- Columbia Sportswear (2025): Offered discounted winter/outdoor gear during off-season promotions to encourage customers to plan next outdoor adventures while memories are fresh
- Osprey (2025): Created branded hashtag campaigns encouraging customers to share hiking and camping photos with their backpacks in real-world settings, with incentives to feature best photos on social and offer monthly gear voucher contests
- Yukon Gear and Axle (2025): Ran 'Find Your Bearings' contest with weekly prize packs during July, requiring summer road trip photo submissions and random winner selection with photos shared across social media channels throughout summer
- BioLite (2025): Showcased camp stoves on Instagram and Facebook demonstrating dual functionality (cooking + electricity generation) with high-quality images of innovation and sustainability appeal to eco-conscious outdoor enthusiasts
Campaign ideas8
- Launch a branded hashtag UGC campaign encouraging customers to share campsite setup photos—incentivize with gear prizes and feature winners on social channels
- Host 'Virtual Campfire' livestreams (Instagram/TikTok Live) with storytelling, gear Q&A, and expert tips to build community during peak season
- Create an 'Early Bird' pre-booking promotion for the summer camping rush—offer discounts for bookings made in June
- Partner with local outdoor retailers, restaurants, and activity providers for co-branded camping packages and cross-promotions
- Run a 'Gear Giveaway' contest with monthly prizes (coolers, tents, headlamps) requiring email signup to build marketing database
- Sponsor local travel expos, camping fairs, and outdoor festivals with branded booth activations featuring gear demos
- Launch educational content hub with camping checklists, meal prep guides, gear maintenance tips to position brand as expert resource
- Create limited-edition camping-themed merchandise (t-shirts, hats, camp mugs) with 'Exclusive June Only' urgency messaging
Social angles6
- Behind-the-scenes: 'A day in the life of [brand]' content from field teams or staff prepping for peak camping season #CampingMonth
- UGC spotlight: 'Tag us in your camp setup! Best photos featured here.' Repost customer adventures with permission #CampLife #YourBrandHere
- Expert tips: '5 Camping Hacks You Need' carousel posts—packing, safety, cooking tips with product features woven in #CampingTips
- Throwback Thursday: Reshare iconic past camping content; encourage followers to share their favorite camp memories #ThrowbackThursday #CampMemories
- Poll/Quiz engagement: 'Tent or RV?' 'Beach or mountains?' engagement posts to boost comment rates and collect audience insights
- Live countdown: Daily posts marking days until peak camping weekends; tease new products, upcoming events #CountdownToCamping
Ad copy starters5
“Gear up for June: Adventure awaits. Shop [Brand] camping essentials and save 25% this month.”
“Your summer starts here. Explore tents, backpacks & gear built for unforgettable camping trips. National Camping Month Sale—Up to 40% off.”
“Don't let your campsite dreams stay dreams. Browse 200+ camping products, read expert reviews, book your escape today.”
“From novice to pro: We've got the gear. Join 50K+ campers who trust [Brand] for their outdoor adventures.”
“Camping month special: Free shipping on orders over $50 + exclusive bundle deals. Gear up now.”
Tips3
- Timing is critical: Outdoor gear sees 60-70% of annual revenue Apr-Jun and Oct-Nov. Spend June on creative production, email list-building, and retargeting—not all-in acquisition. Authenticity wins: Outdoor audiences can spot fake marketing instantly. Share real customer stories, candid campsite photos (with permission), and genuine expert advice rather than polished ads. Don't oversell.
- Mobile-first approach: 73% of camping research happens on mobile devices. Optimize for vertical video, tap-through Stories, and ensure booking/checkout is seamless on phones.
- Community over conversion: Build engagement through polls, questions, and UGC features, not constant sales pitches. Engaged followers drive word-of-mouth and repeat purchases.
While there was a time when ‘camping’ was just called ‘being alive’, that all changed in the 1800’s when a man named Thomas Hiram Holding began to popularize the idea of recreational camping. Camping was a part of his life introduced to him by the rigors of the Oregon Trail, and once he had settled it turned into a passion he pursued and introduced to others. Once camping in general had become popularized, Thomas went on to introduce the idea of Cycle Camping to the American world.
This is, quite simply, where you load up on a bike and ride until you find a spot to camp, get up the next day, and do it all over again.
What is likely the first commercial campground opened in Douglas, Isle of Man in 1894 and was called Cunningham’s Camp. From this point in history all sorts of new types of camping came into existence, from mere weekend family getaways, to RV camping, and everything in between.
Whether rafting down a river in a Canoe and setting up camp in the evening, or hiking into the woods far from civilization with a backpack full of your gear, National Camping Month celebrates them all.