Half of adult campers in the UK do it because they love the great outdoors and a third because it allows them to get away from the pressures of modern life – but a lack of access to electricity to charge gadgets and plug-in appliances is putting off the next generation of campers from pitching their tents.
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Although almost one in five of those under 18 want to go on active holidays, over a third won’t camp because they can’t charge gadgets, over a quarter because they can’t watch TV, one in five worry about a lack of mobile phone signal whereas 16 per cent worry that they won’t be able to use their hairstyling appliances.
Nearly half of under 18s would enjoy camping more if they could have a charging point for gadgets and 42 per cent want access to the internet while camping.
To help bring camping into the 21st century, E.ON has teamed up with The Scout Association to create the ‘Tent of the Future’ which showcases modern technology and features a range of gadgets to help future campers including vertical wind turbines that catch wind and convert it into power; solar panels on the tent’s surface that harness sunlight and turn it into electricity; solar powered baseball caps with built in torches for bedtime reading and late night trips; A portable battery that campers can pre-charge and use to charge gadgets and devices whilst camping and an intelligent sleeping bag which regulates body temperature.
The E.ON Tent of the Future is currently on display at an international scouting Jamboree in Essex where 11,000 Scouts will be able to see how camping could be in years to come.
The research also found that adults are hardier than youngsters when it comes to sleeping in the great outdoors. Some 40 per cent of children said they were put off camping as it could be cold, compared to just one in five adults. Over a third of the younger generation were also put off by the idea of being close to creepy crawlies and sleeping in an uncomfortable tent, compared to just one in six and 29 per cent of adults respectively.
Despite the rain-soaked British summer and the reluctance of younger generations to get involved in camping, a quarter of UK adults will go camping this year.
Speaking about the findings and the E.ON Tent of the Future, Fiona Stark, E.ON’s Director of Corporate Affairs, said: “The UK has had a long love affair with camping, but we’ve found that this love is diminishing when it comes to the younger generation. As with most things, camping needs to move with the times and adapt to modern needs.
“Our Tent of the Future combines the benefits of traditional camping with a modern twist. In years to come, energy-generating mini wind turbines and solar power generating tent material could well be commonplace in campsites across the UK, allowing campers to enjoy the great outdoors, while still being able to charge their gadgets,” she added.
Simon Carter from the Scouts Association said: “The Tent of the Future is really striking, especially compared to some of the more traditional tents at the Essex International Jamboree. While we continue to teach the Scouts core camping and survival skills, we can definitely see huge benefits from the technology and innovations in the future.”