The Best Way to Make a Friend
Camping provides the foundation for human connection that can turn acquaintances into life-long friends. When immersed in nature there is an easing within group dynamics. People often connect between leisure time and contributions to camp, building trust and camaraderie, without the pressure of their daily routine.
An Abundance of Time
At the campsite time is abundant and distractions dissipate. When you're in sync with the rhythms of nature - waking during sunrise, sleeping at sunset, getting warm by the fire, listening to the sounds of a brook, or walking in the sand - nature slows down your perception of time by increasing positive arousal (mindfulness, connection, and emotional regulation) and decreasing negative arousal (anxiety, rumination, stress, and pain).
The Greatest Treasure
Camping leads to greater feelings of Contentment and Nature Relatedness referring to the connection people have with the natural environment which encompasses more pro-environmental behavior, diminished self-centeredness, increased humility, and increased perspective.
The Awe Factor
Camping and nature make us feel more alive and vital, boosting our psychological health. When you see a cascading waterfall, a crab scooting across the beach, a school of fish darting in unison, or a fire roaring in the dark of night, you begin to feel the presence of something "larger than the self". Feeling awe has been shown to increase generosity, connection, and happiness.
Open the Valves, Let off Some Steam
The three-day effect refers to the phenomenon of experiencing significant psychological and emotional benefits after spending at least three days immersed in nature. The pre-frontal cortex (the brain's command and attention hub) is what keeps you focused and productive, but too much stimulation can leave you feeling fatigued. Cue nature. When you're camping the pre-frontal cortex gets a reprieve while other areas of the brain (sensory perception, intuition, creativity, productive daydreaming) get woken up and engaged.
