The song of crickets and cicadas, the call of a whippoorwill, the dancing flames of a campfire and good people to share it with, that's what camping is all about in the Great State of Tennessee! There are thousands of campsites in middle Tennessee. From island camping on Percy Priest Lake or Caney Fork River, to the RV campsites in the many state parks, there is something for everyone and every budget. A camping adventure will provide memories for years to come for you, your family and your friends! It will do your soul good to get out for a camping adventure atleast once a year. Get movin'!
 Camping and Conservation go together like peas in a pod. Campers know, first hand, how important and fragile our natural environment can be. "Leave No Trace" is their motto. Campers help with conservation by "Packing out what they pack in" to the campsite. Besides the three "R's" (reduce, re-use, recycle) campers can adopt a camp site, perform a mini "enviro clean" while camping, record & report enviro damage, and help protect wildlife & habitats!
 Campers get away with combining multiple adventures into one trip. Hiking, biking, boating, fishing and horseback riding can all be combined with camping. We ran up on this gang's yearly excursion and must admit, this is a perfect example of a multi-adventure! Every year Julius, aka Catfish, and a bunch of his friends go camping along the Buffalo River. "I look forward to this trip every year" says Catfish, "we cram all kinds of fun into this yearly event. Canoeing, camping, swimming, fishing and sometimes horsback riding. Every night we follow the adventure with a campfire, some "find" dining, music and many laughs! This trip has become a highlight of the year, every year." Tennessee is perfect for multiple adventure trips. Aren't you getting excited right now just thinking of your next outing?
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 After a great day of camping fun, the time for dinner arrives. Good food seems to taste better when you're camping. That is, if you came prepared. I remember camping with my brother in the Everglades in south Florida one year. He brought several canned items labeled "Price Breaker" and I had brought the top shelf goodies. You should have seen the look on his face when bit into those price breaker baked beans. It was that look of pure sorrow. I had to laugh, because I'd warned him before we left on our trip. Then, as he began to watch me eat the good stuff, his looked changed from sorrow to pitiful. Of course I shared my food, but I did give him a hard time. Arriving prepared to your campsite will enhance the memories for years to come. Plan ahead, bring everything you will need to savor those campsite dinners.
A well packed backpack is essential when camping or hiking in Tennessee! A light load is key for long distance hiking and slightly heavier load will work when you're not hiking as far to your campsite. Either way, be prepared! Backpacks are very personal and must be fitted to the wearer. Improperly fitted backpacks are not only uncomfortable, but can cause physical damage. Be sure to get one that is adjustable and has a padded hip belt. Carrying heavy loads can be back-breaking and downright treacherous on rough terrain. So pack smart. Here is a basic checklist for packing you backpack.
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Required
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Required
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Optional
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Cup
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Metal Mirror
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Pencil & Paper
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Bowl Or Plate
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First Aid Kit
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Camera
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Spoon/Knife/Fork
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Water Bottles
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iPod
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Insect Spray
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Coins
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Binoculars
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Rain Gear
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Matches
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Hiking Stick
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Socks
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Flashlight
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Stove
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Jacket
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Whistle
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Fuel Bottle
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Bandanna
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Compass
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Utensils
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Tent
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Toilet Paper
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Book/Magazine
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Ground Cloth
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Pocketknife
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Sleeping Bag
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Watch
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Foam Sleep Pad
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Fire Starters
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Small Towel
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Rope/Chords
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Cooking Kit
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Bear Bag
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Clothing Season
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Comb
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Hat
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Toothbrush
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Good Food
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Soap
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Shoe Laces
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Repair Kit
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imagine
It's mid autum, the trees are vivid with reds, yellows and greens. The trail you're hiking on has been fairly level for the last hour as you trek across the gorge rim in Fall Creek Falls State park. Late afternoon approaches and the primitive campsite you've been headed for all day is now in sight. It's a small clearing on the edge of the rim with a grand view of the gorge. You drop your pack, grab your camera and water bottle then walk to the edge for a gander. The fall colors are magnificent, you take at least 50 pictures before the setting sun meets a cloud, tinting the sky a rusty orange. You snap another 20 pictures, take a deep breath, take a mental snapshot, then join your friends. Claire, a 3rd year student at MTSU majoring in philosophy, has started a camp fire, while Jill, a second year student at Vanderbilt, majoring in music, has unpacked the tent and you start assembling the tent poles. Camp is pitched in no time and the three of you gather at the fire for some backpack dining. It's actually pretty good and you thank Claire for insisting on the MRE's. It's dark beyond the light of the fire, there's a light wind keeping the mosquitoes at bay and Jill breaks into a tune on a wooden flute she had tucked away in her backpack. You open one of two bottles of Stonehaus Wine you picked up in Crossville just for this trip and fill 3 plastic cups. The music flows from within Jill as she seems to have gotten into rythym with the wind. You and Claire share a silent toast to Jill as she sways slowly with the breeze, filling the air with magic. You know the animals within hearing distance must be listening and enjoying this sweet sound. She played for a good 20 minutes before she stopped to sip her wine. After several laughs & gossips, Claire points out that the rising moon is nearly full as she opens the second bottle of wine. Then, in a voice of a 21 year old philosophical angel, she entertains you and Jill with a poem she's written. As the fire burns out and the last bit of wine is savored you make your way to your sleeping bag to get cozy. Wondering what adventures tomorrow will bring, you fall into a light sleep to the sounds of crickets and cicadas. Life is Good!
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