A lot of people have an image in their mind of the Amish as these staid, monochromatic, sometimes somber people that just go to church and work hard. But that image of the Amish isn’t accurate. Just below the surface you have a culture that is nuanced and often full of fun.
And without a lot of the modern technological toys that non-Amish have, the Amish often seek their fun in simpler, more natural ways. And being outdoors among God’s great creations, seems perfectly natural and fun. Camping is one of the best ways to connect with those creations.
Gloria, our Amish columnist, has often written about going camping. There was one Amish camping trip she wrote about which was just a women’s group, here is part of what she wrote:
Who doesn’t enjoy camping when the weather is just chilly enough to huddle around the fire, putting large pieces of wood on in hopes of it lasting 'til morning.
A week ago we had a very unique camping experience with all the church ladies and girls. From the oldest grandma down to the littlest girl, we all made lots of cozy memories. As always, my highlight was sitting around the crackling fire, singing and talking. For our discussion at night, we all shared something we have learned in life; even the little girls said what they learned.
There's a generational bonding that the Amish get from camping, where wisdom, whether it's life lessons or recipes are passed down from oldest to youngest.
Other times it is pure family fun times, which Gloria writes about:
Us Amish often go camping with another family or two, simply spending quality time together away from away from duties and distractions. As a little girl I loved the special times with friends, siblings, and parents. Camping always seemed to strengthen family connections.
On our last camping excursion, I discovered it really doesn’t have to be that complicated when sleeping in tents minus running water and commercial toilets. A couple of weeks ago, my husband Daniel came home from work at noon and told me how he and his brother John were brainstorming about camping that very night. I was all in. Amazingly, it all worked out and after a couple of hours of planning we were on our way!
Their family, like many Amish, love to pitch tent and cook over an open fire. There’s nothing better than going to sleep under the stars and waking up to a symphony of songbirds.
Where do the Amish like to camp?
You won't usually find Amish families at your local KOA. And you certainly won’t find most in an RV park
Backyard camping is popular among the Amish, nothing more convenient than taking your tent out your front door and having an instant campsite.
For Amish that like to go farther, state parks are popular. And so are family members that have any waterfront property, whether that be a pond or a river, because many Amish love to go fishing!
Other Amish Camping Q & A
State parks are favorite spots, or any place that has water for a boat or fishing.
Yes, the Amish tent camp like anyone else, although sometimes a sleeping bag and the stars are all that is needed.
Typical campfire fare! S'mores are popular as are campfire dump cakes.
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