RV LIFE Podcast
The RV LIFE Podcast, created by one of the premier companies in the RV industry, is for the RV Community with a mission to Educate, Entertain and Explore the RV Lifestyle. The Podcast will explore all things RV Life: living, working, exploring, learning. With hosts Dan & Patti Hunt, full time RVers, content creators, educators and explorers.
RV LIFE Podcast
Inside the Girl Camper Movement: Empowering Women Through RV Travel & Camping
In this inspiring episode I (Patti Hunt) sit down with Janine Pettit to explore the empowering world of solo female travel and community camping. Broadcasting from Spacious Skies Country Oaks Campground in Dorothy, New Jersey, Janine and I share stories from their weekend among women of all ages embracing the freedom and confidence of RV travel. They’re joined by several members of the Girl Camper community, who share their transformative journeys into the RV lifestyle. From first-time solo campers to seasoned adventurers, this episode is a celebration of courage, connection, and the joy of the open road.
*Please note sound is clear but it is a little echoey as it was recorded on location in a large room.
Janine Pettit: Camper and Chief of Girl Camper
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Hi friends, it's Patti. I'm so excited to bring you this week's episode all about an incredible getaway with Janine Pettit and the Girl Campers. Just a heads up while the audio is nice and clear, you might notice it's a bit echoey. It was recorded on location in a large hall. I am always working to bring you the best quality RVing podcasts, but when you record on location it isn't always perfect. Let's dive in Girl care for solar camping and it is not what you think. I'm Patty Hunt and you're listening to the RV Life Podcast to the RV Life Podcast.
Speaker 2:Patty, it's so good to see you. I'm Janine Pettit, founder of Girl Camper, editor-in-chief of Girl Camper Magazine and co-host of the Girl Camper Podcast. But we're bringing all this feminine energy together. This weekend we are camping down here in south jersey at spacious skies, beautiful campground country oaks and we got women with stories to tell. So cut back and we're going to let you know if you have what it takes to be a girl camper this whole idea of girl camping solo camping has been very different.
Speaker 1:for me, and just to give both of our listeners a little backstory, I was full-time on the road with my husband for over three years. We did a lot of miles together so I never thought about the whole solo camping. I've got to be honest yeah. And over the last year, as some people know, life's changed for me and now this idea of solo camping. So I've been trying to decide. Do I want to go into a van? Yeah, so I've been trying to decide.
Speaker 3:Do I want to go into?
Speaker 1:a van, or you know what does that look like? Well, this past year it has been going to lots of campgrounds and renting cabins. This weekend, I'm in a retro RV and learning about Girl Camper. So tell my listeners about Girl.
Speaker 2:Camper. So Girl Camper is the largest women's camping group in the whole country. We have about 450,000 people in our Facebook group. We have thousands and thousands of members who are available to go to Girl Camping events. We have 20 Girl Camper guides across the country just creating events and mentoring and helping women get on the road.
Speaker 2:Our tagline is we go places and we do things. But our secondary tagline is there is no wrong way to camp like a girl. So we don't want people to think that if you don't have some cute little tricked out trailer, you're not one of us. We've got women here in tents. We've got women here car camping. We've got women here have taken all the seats out of their minivan and have made a little bed in there for the weekend. We've got women in really large travel trailers and motorhomes. There is no wrong way to camp like a girl.
Speaker 2:We at girl camper want people to know if you want to make new friends, if you want to challenge yourself just a little bit physically, like let me stay in shape, let me get out there, let me put myself in situations that you know, if it's a little scary, that's good, and next time it's a little more scary, and I think that's how we keep getting too old and set in our ways. But girl camper seeks to be the community that helps you and says don't be afraid, we got your back or you know what else. It's okay to be afraid because we all were at one time and we will have your back and these you know what else. It's okay to be afraid because we all were at one time and we will have your back and these women will circle around you like mother hens and we're going to make sure you're okay. So that's what we do and I've got to say my experience.
Speaker 1:I came down and invited me to come. I just said, yes, I did not know she didn't hesitate, I just said she asked. I said yes, hesitate, I just said she asked. I said yeah, I had no idea. Well, I also brought my 26 year old, 27 she'll be 27 next month daughter along. She's behind the camera, so I brought her to help do video, but she jumped in as well and she was so welcomed and it was just a cool thing to see people of all ages, ladies of all ages, again I didn't have expectations, did not know what to expect and it has just been so much fun and, like you said, I feel comfortable.
Speaker 1:We went to bed last night and you know we're in a, like I said, retro rv. In this campground we've never been before and among strangers, among strangers and we just felt safe yeah because, if you're out there as as women, yeah you know it's. It was a great safe feeling. Yeah, and today I left the rv. Yeah, lock the door. Yeah, you were locking it yesterday.
Speaker 2:I'm like you don't have to lock it, yeah don't bother yeah, you don't have to like it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but what's, what's interesting about this is, um, I love talking. We're going to talk to some uh, the girl campers individually today, because it's always fascinating to me, like what made you come? Why did you want to? What are you seeking? What problem are we solving at girl camper? You know, we really approach everybody like. We know that there's just very varied reasons people want to get out here. You know, for me personally, I work at home and when I get out to the campground it's just new faces, a fresh place to be. Somehow, when I'm here, I feel everything come down, literally. I drive in here on a weekend and I smell campfire. I think something happens in my brain.
Speaker 2:I just I get here, so for me, I always want to like share that with people and let people know that you can have this experience too. And if you've never been camping before, you know. So I always like I'm interested in people's backstory. Like were you a girl scout? What did you do when you were young? Did you grow up family camping? It's always fascinating to me the women who are like I never camped before. I saw you people online and I thought that looks like so much fun. And one woman told me I've been following you for two years just because I'm fascinated by women who do stuff like this. And she said early on two years ago I thought, oh, look at those ladies, but they're really brave. I mean, those are people like that's not who I am. And she said after two years of listening to your podcast and following you. She said I pulled into an RV dealership one day and drove away with a teardrop.
Speaker 1:So it was all your fault.
Speaker 2:Don't blame me. So she got courage over time.
Speaker 1:Yes, and I have to say that for me realizing one of the big things I realized. So A to answer your questions, I never camped as a kid. I RVed a total of seven nights before I jumped in with both feet full time, and it was during COVID. A total of seven nights before I jumped in with both feet full time, and it was during COVID. I probably would not have done it if it weren't during COVID. I was like why not? And there's the what could possibly go wrong.
Speaker 1:And I loved it. I when when we met, we met several years ago, you were actually the first interview on the podcast.
Speaker 2:I heard that. I remember that I was the top three still that episode or whatever so people obviously want to know.
Speaker 1:But what I was most shocked about was these ladies have husbands and family at home yeah, I've had it in my head that solo women met single women.
Speaker 2:Single women yes, you know what. One of these days we're going to do a survey and get the number. But the majority of women sitting around that campfire are married and men are up there and you're raising your family and they're golfing and they're fishing and they're and they're having hobbies, and women are kind of doing what women do. And then we get to an age like 55 and it's like, oh you know, I'm empty nesting, I can do things. Now he's got his thing going. What's for me?
Speaker 1:right, but I have to tell you I have, do you know? I have five kids between these. Four of them are married and when you look at people who are married, they have kids. They're managing the job, the kids grocery shopping. They don't often have time for themselves and I'm finding, and I'm hoping, that women today, while they're raising their kids, doing the job, doing all the things they do, that they take time for themselves. So I don't want them to wait until they're 50 and 55 to get out there and take care of themselves, and it was nice to see women here that are younger, that probably still have their young kids.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, we've got women here who still have kids in high school. You know, no shade on men, but a lot of, because I'm sure they're perfectly capable. A lot of women have the mindset that I've got to be there to make sure it gets done correctly and we've got to change that. I'll tell you a funny story. I still laugh so hard about this. So my youngest daughter was in like seventh grade. I still laugh so hard about this. So my youngest daughter was in like seventh grade.
Speaker 2:We were down in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, camping all the girls on the most gorgeous fall day and I text my husband in the morning and I said don't forget that Monique has confirmation retreat today. She has to be at the church at 10 am. Gotcha, I'll get her there right About 10.30,. He sends me a text. You didn't tell me parents had to stay, okay. So now I'm in a vineyard, we're at a winery and we're having like these juicy, farm-to-table organic burgers, glasses of wine, the sun is shining and he's texting me. We're on our way to the church. Now for section three of our day. And I'm just laughing all day long and I'm like, and I'm just not writing back, but welcome to my world right you know, but guess what?
Speaker 1:it all went off exactly and then it has to change. Yeah, one of the first times I went away, I went on it was actually a business trip. No, I was a teacher. We were going on some educational whatever and it wasn't 12 hours. Yeah, and I get a text. Yeah, that he was teaching Emily to play baseball. Yeah, and she took the ball and hurt me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and everybody lived to tell.
Speaker 1:Everybody lived to tell. I told Dad our younger people raising families take time out. This is an incredible way to do that and there are different events hosted in different areas. Yeah, we've got 20.
Speaker 2:Girl Camper Guides all around the country. But if you're a Girl Camper and you're not a guide, you can approach us anytime and say I'd love to get everybody together at my favorite park or my favorite campground or let's go for a hike. So anybody in the community come forward and say can I host an event? And we'd love you to do that. But I'm so glad today because we're going to get to talk.
Speaker 2:You and I are going to take some turns here talking to some of the women here about what it is that drove them to be a girl camper, and I think their stories are all very different. So drove them to be a girl camper, and I think their stories are all very different. So we're going to take a break. We're going to have an ad from your sponsor and then one of our sponsor and we're going to come back and Patty is going to be talking to Denise, one of my favorite girl campers in the whole wide world, about her evolution as a girl camper and what she is doing out there. We'll be right back.
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Speaker 1:Today I'm with Denise Schwartz and we were sitting around last night having s'mores and chatting and it was just wonderful. So I have so much to talk to you about. First of all, girl camper. How long have you been a girl camper?
Speaker 3:about four years now four years. Why the question? So I don't even know. Janine knows the story. But, um, I retired four years ago. But before I retired I started looking around for trailers because I was going to be my retirement gift to myself.
Speaker 3:I grew up camping as a kid, always loved camping and unfortunately my ex-husband who I'm not divorced from didn't like camping at all, so I didn't camp all the years I was married. But anyway, I started looking at trailers and I went on a vacation with my sisters to the Outer Banks. On our way into the Outer Banks we went past this RV dealer and I saw this trailer that I had been interested in online at this dealership. So I said to my daughter I said, on our way home, I want to leave a little early, we're gonna stop at this dealership. So we went in, we looked at the trailer and so I was telling the gentleman, the salesman in there. I said, yeah, I'm going to buy something in about a year when I retire. And I said but then I want to travel around, you know?
Speaker 3:And he said by yourself. I said, well, yeah, you know. And he said well, you know, I have a card here for this group. They're called Girl Campers. Wow, and it was a business card. And he said I don't know a whole lot about them, but I know they sponsor camping trips for women you know around the country. I said, oh great, yeah. So I took that card and I put it away. Well, sure enough. So then when I retired and I bought my trailer, I didn't get that trailer, but I got a touring trailer.
Speaker 3:I got that, I um, I got that, I recovered I had that card and I got the card out and I went online and I looked them up and then I saw that we had a new jersey chapter, and so then I was able to register online for girl campers and saw they were having an event in north jersey. So that that was my first event at Camp Taylor and anyway. But the nice thing about Broad Campers is that you can go to any of the events anywhere in the country, because they have chapters not every state, but a lot of states so any events that they're sponsoring you can sign up and go to. So I had always wanted to go to Nashville, tennessee, and so I saw that they were having an event in Nashville, so I drove myself and my trailer. It was the first long trip that I took from New Jersey. It took me three days to go down From New Jersey.
Speaker 3:From New Jersey, yeah, I went to Virginia the first day. Then I stopped at another campground. It was in Tennessee. It was about four hours from Nashville, but it would have been too long of a day to go the whole way. So I stopped there at Fall Creek Falls, which is a beautiful state park, and then I went to Nashville and I was there. I think we were there for five days, so that was my first out of state event with Girl Campers and it was just great. I didn't know any of the women, but everybody, as Janine was saying and you said, the women are just so welcoming, you know, and you instantly make friends with people. A woman who I didn't never met before her and I we went on a tour of Nashville and together we spent the day together and plus they'll do things together as a group, so it was really great and so, yeah, I just fell in love with girl campers and I just find you know every event that I've ever gone to.
Speaker 3:Everybody has been great and now I've made some good friends that I've actually taken trips with. You know just her and I. You know just her and I, or you know, sometimes three or four of us will get together and, just you know, go camping for a weekend together or what have you.
Speaker 1:So you've been hooked ever since. Oh yeah, and we sat and talked for a while yesterday. It was great connecting. I also want to talk to you about because you came up to me. I said I was with Harvey Life and you said I love the app, so I wanted you used it in a different way, and it's funny because it's way I'm using it now. So let's talk about your RV Life app experience.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so three summers ago my daughter and I I planned a. It was actually right after I retired and this was like my retirement trip, so we she's a schoolteacher and has the summers off, so I planned a six-week trip at West and so I was already a member of RV Life and so I saw they had, you know, this cool program that you go on and plan a trip, so that's RV Trip.
Speaker 1:Wizard for people Right and there will be Trip Wizard and it is awesome.
Speaker 3:So, because I didn't know how to plan a camping trip like that and find campgrounds along the way. And so first you know, you put in where you're starting, where you're going to end up, and then it shows you an RV safe route on this little map and you put all the information in about your camping, whether you have a travel trailer or a motorhome or whatever you have, and you put the height, the weight, the length, whether you have propane on board, because a lot of places, like a lot of tunnels in Baltimore tunnels, you can't go through with propane on board. So the RV app will give you a safe route that you can travel with your RV, based on your height and things like that. And then you can you put in what kind of campgrounds you want to camp at, whether it's state parks, and you can do multiple ones. So I usually put in state parks, I like KOAs, corps of Engineers parks, private campgrounds, and then you also put in how many miles a day you like to drive, like what your minimum would be and what your absolute max is, and so what the app will do is it puts circles around your starting point according to your minimum, your medium and what your max is. So then once you see that along your route, then there's little icons on this map that you see that along your route you can. Then there's little icons on this map that you see and they don't have different icons for the different campgrounds and you can click on those campgrounds and it'll give you all the information on that particular campground.
Speaker 3:And the thing I love is that they give you reviews so people like me or anybody else that has used RV life can go on and leave a review on the campground. So because they have the website on there for the campground. Well, I don't know, you have used websites for campgrounds, but every campground sounds like it's the Taj Mahal of camping. But then when you go on and read the reviews some of the reviews I was like, oh no, I think I want to stay there. So it was very beneficial. But once you pick out the campground and then you make your reservation, you add it to your trip and so you do that the whole route. So this was a six to your trip and so you do that the whole route. So this was a six-week trip. I had 24 campgrounds reserved and it was just awesome.
Speaker 3:And then, once you have entered everything in there and you put the price that each campground is going to cost you, you can even put in, if you want, your gas mileage.
Speaker 3:So like approximately how many miles per gallon do you get, like when you're towing your vehicle or driving your vehicle and I just had to do an average gas price per gallon, but it'll give you your total for the whole trip of what your gas on average it can't be obviously exact and then it gives you your cost of all your campgrounds, like how, what your total of that is.
Speaker 3:You can even put in there, like how much a day do you think you're going to spend on food? You know, even though you're camping, you still got to spend some money. So at the end you print out your whole itinerary, so it has your campgrounds, how many miles a day you're going to be driving that day, and then, like I said at the end, gives you all your totals. I loved it because I was able to print it out and I gave a copy to each of my sisters so that they knew, because every day I would text them at the end of the day and say we made it to our next destinations and that's and I was going to talk about you something I don't have.
Speaker 1:You did my job. I use the RV light pro suite products. I have been using it for over four years. I promote it. Anybody that does not have it that wants to check it out. There is a link in the show notes for 25% off, so I want to put that out there. You've explained it well Now. I never printed it out. I was all digital. You can share your itinerary with somebody that either has the app or does not have the app, so every time I would go from one place to another. You know, for safety reasons, if somebody didn't know where I was, I could just send it to them in a text or an email and they knew exactly where I was going to be on what day. It's easy to change and it would change the information to them if you do it electronically yeah, I love, or every life, like I said those.
Speaker 3:I've done two long trips, six week long trips, using that app and I can honestly say it's an invaluable app to use. It takes a you know it's a little learning curve learning it, but once you understand how to do it all and I'm 69 years old, so I'm not the most tech-savvy person but I was able to figure it out and therefore the price that they charge you, because then you also get the GPS directions on your phone so I can hook it right up through my truck and so it comes up on my screen, because I don't have a GPS actually in my truck.
Speaker 3:So it goes through from my Apple iPhone and so it gives me the directions as I'm traveling that day. So that's it. It's like having a free GPS, free trip planning. I should say free, but I mean for the price you pay per year, it's cheap.
Speaker 1:It is very inexpensive and right now it's $65 a year. For the first year you get 25% off. So you're talking less than $50. And I was talking to some ladies last night Like that $65 that you're locked in, they will never raise the price. You pay that same price every year. I didn't know, you didn't know, right? So I think I'm paying 39 dollars like 50 yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:So there's that and they're 65 dollars. I still think that yes, yes.
Speaker 1:So all you get from that, yes, yes, well, thank you so much. I look forward to tonight and the activities and getting to know you better and more of the girl campers. I appreciate it, thank you.
Speaker 2:Hi friends, we're back and I would love to introduce you to Mary Beth Donnelly Rose, one of our New Jersey girl campers. It is good to see you again. Thanks for coming Our people of camp out. I always like to go a little bit backwards with people and ask them what their camping history is. Were you a Girl Scout? Did you grow up camping, family camping? I was a Girl Scout. I stayed in Girl Scouts through high school because of the camping.
Speaker 2:And then, when I first got married, I had a baby and I became a cadet leader to take them camping. I did that for a few years, and then nothing until my second child was old enough to be in cadets.
Speaker 2:Then I became a co-leader and did camping again, and then I went back to school and became a teacher and that was a career. So camping ended. My husband wasn't into it, my parents didn't, yeah, and um, I was listening to bill bradley's radio program uh, january 2021, so this was like still part of the pandemic, and he was interviewing grandma joy, okay, her grandson, yes, and if I wanted to know the rest of the story. I could read it in Girl Camper magazine.
Speaker 1:So I went home subscribed.
Speaker 2:I said, this sounds really neat. I love camping. It's so interesting to me to hear where people found out about Girl Camp Grandma Joy, one of my favorite stories 93 years old when she started camping with her grandson, who she had been estranged from because of his parents that are divorced. But he he wanted to connect with grandma and she just wants to do anything with him. So he took her camping and now they've been to every national park. I think she's 96 years old now grandma joy still going.
Speaker 2:yeah, and so to me that means that you're never too old. You know, a lot of times people write to me and say I'm 70 years old and I'm thinking of getting a camper're never too old. You know, a lot of times people write to me and say I'm 70 years old and I'm thinking of getting a camper. Am I too old? It's a state of mind, right, and you know, if you think you're too old to hinge up and do all the things involved with towing your own camper, you just want to come along to the campground, rent a cabin, keep it simple.
Speaker 2:You know, you can still join us. So you found out about girl camper that way. But my bigger question to you is what made you want to come out here and do this? Well, I was at a life transition. I retired in june 2019 from teaching. I took three big trips because that's what I was going to do when I retired, and then, when I came back from Bali in February, three weeks later, the country shut down. So and I either had friends who were still working, friends who retired and moved away, friends who had grandchildren and didn't have time Right, and I needed to find friends. So and I'm not afraid to go, step out and try something new. That's so great. So I went to a meet and greet. Then I went. My name tag says COVID, vacation 2021,.
Speaker 2:October 2021 was my first camping trip. Yeah, okay. And that told me my little pup tent needs to be bigger. I want to be able to walk into my tent, so I do have a bigger tent now. Yes, I don't know if I'll have an RV someday.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:Not off the table, but the tent is working so far. What I love about the whole idea of tent camping and we have quite a few tent campers here and the forecast was for rain all weekend and we had a little sketchy weather and it's been a little chilly, with spitting once in a while, but spitting once in a while, but we haven't had the downpours that they were calling for and I love to see these tents set up with the eevee up over them, like I'm here, like I'm doing this. This weekend I said to one of my friends the weather looks pretty crappy and she said I don't care, it's a hurricane I have got to get.
Speaker 2:I gotta get out of this house, you know yeah, and so tell us about your very first pro camper event. Yeah, I mean, signed up cold, didn't know a soul, right, when I went on that camping trip I didn't know anybody, but everyone's so friendly. And then I got tips on you know what's a good tent how to keep warm, like last November it was frigid, yeah, so I now have a little heater.
Speaker 1:I have an army blanket to come over the top of my head.
Speaker 2:So people are so willing to share with you and I made connections. I met one lady for lunch halfway between.
Speaker 3:She lives in.
Speaker 2:Pennsylvania. I'm in New Jersey, right, so it's an opportunity for me to make new friends, right. And it's just. People are so open and I often say this when we're busy raising our children and doing the things that we're doing there seems like a lot of women in your life. I remember a friend said to me when I first joined girl camping in 2006 I joined every solo woman camping group out there. It just started going and my friend said to me oh, you're going to make so many new friends. And I said I've got enough friends. You know, I've got plenty of friends. I just want to get outdoors.
Speaker 2:And yes, the years were where I thought that was kind of a dumb thing to think and say, because you could never have enough friends right but the other thing is, a lot of the people in your life, when you're raising your children, are transient people, like all those moms that were at the choir with you and that were on your kid's sports team. You spend all this time sitting around. Well, their kids graduate and they go off. They're not really friends. They were luckily acquaintances at the time, and so when we get to this like 50th age and moving forward, meeting new people becomes harder. Yes, but not with this organization. Yeah, not with this organization.
Speaker 2:But it makes me so happy when I hear you say you're meeting someone from lunch. Yeah, because when this spills over into other areas, like a bunch of girls were talking here that you know they were in some textile fiber club, they all knit and they're all going to some event together and it makes me so happy that Girl Camper brought them all together. Yeah, they find these common interests other than camping. Yes, and last October I went to Ireland. Now we didn't camp in Ireland but they were Girl Campers.
Speaker 3:So there was that, even though I went by myself, not knowing anybody.
Speaker 2:I did know it was a safe environment, right. And then coming camping here, I've been studying a lot about trauma and how to regulate your nervous system, and we know being in the outdoors is helpful for that it's very helpful. So I know that there's on my schedule. I have trips coming up.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Does it make you feel better to know like I'm at this trip now, but I got another one already planned? Yeah, something to look forward to.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and a lot of got another one already planned. Yeah, something to look forward to? Yeah, yeah, and a lot of it is just the anticipation. Yeah, we have fun at the events, but what I find so interesting is, for each event that we host, there's a Facebook page dedicated to that event and all the women are on the page and they're talking about oh, I'm bringing chips and dip, I'm bringing my rocks to paint in the afternoon. Hey, I found a trail and it's a 15 minute ride and it's a five mile hike. And who wants in? So, seeing all that sharing and caring going on before you even get here, talking about the food and your site and where we're going. It's so collaborative and fun. And haven't you come across people that said, oh, I would love to do that, but I don't know anybody? All the time.
Speaker 2:This is so easy to get out and immediately you will know people. One of the things we do in our training with our girl camper guides is it's just imperative that everybody feel like you're here, like there's. No, you don't have to have some cool trailer. You don't have to have some cool trailer. You don't have to have this biggest rig set up. The thing is to just get yourself here and you know, just see how you like it.
Speaker 2:And I've seen women evolve and end up getting a camper. And I've seen women who are retired and maybe they're going to go on two or three grow camper trips here and they don't want a big trailer and all that investment and they'll just rent a cabin or do something. Yeah, you, and they don't want a big trailer and all that investment and they'll just rent a cabin or do something yeah you know, you don't have to be immersed in the rv world in order to be a girl camper.
Speaker 2:It's not about rvs, although you kind of want one. When you get I bought one on every trip you're gonna want one, but that's not my problem, it's yours. You're like I'm not responsible for that. But, um, marybeth, let me ask you this uh, a lot of times when I come home from a trip like this and I'll be driving home and I'll just be thinking, oh, it was so good to see them, and I'll just be reliving moments, and I feel like I'm on a little cloud for a couple of days, like I got a good shot of all my girl campers, you know, and I'm like, what is your takeaway? Like, what do you gain from this? When you get home, what do you take? I think it's the friendships.
Speaker 2:I'm a family of three children. I have two brothers. I have two brothers. I'm the only girl, so girl friendships have always been important. Okay, I look at girls as my sisters and, you know, not everybody is willing to be that level of friend. So for me, it's meeting women who are open to that and being able to stay in touch. And, you know, thank goodness for Facebook, because that makes it easy. But yeah, that's my takeaway.
Speaker 2:It's the relationships and being in nature. Yeah, I think those are yeah right. So what would you say to someone who's kind of watching us from the outside going oh, those girls look like they're having so much fun but they have a little fear about getting in. Try it, yeah, put yourself out there and that's an accomplishment. You know, when I went to the first meet and greet, I had to drive a distance. I met like six women and I just felt like, okay, there are people out there it's not like all my friends have gone on different paths.
Speaker 2:You know, like you, I had a lot of friends when the children were home and we were doing things, and then suddenly it was, and then the pandemic was right after that.
Speaker 1:So suddenly.
Speaker 2:Yeah yeah, the pandemic threw us all for a little loop there and camping was a real lifesaver. I remember we were camping up in North Jersey and at the beginning of the pandemic, before the vaccine was out, before there was a lot of knowledge about it but everyone was still going a little stir crazy and we had a circle probably 30 feet wide with chairs, eight feet apart. Everybody had around with a mascot. But we had to get out, we had to get outdoors. So, mary Beth, it is so great to see you in your own evolution, you know, coming along here, and it makes me so happy that you've met friends. And I don't want to be biased, but the New Jersey and Pennsylvania girls are pretty cool, you know they. They're very, very welcoming, very, very welcoming.
Speaker 2:Nice big group it's a lovely, lovely group and we've got plenty of places to go and things to see, and but not just New Jersey, because there's so many opportunities throughout the country. Yes, and like my trip to Ireland.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:It wasn't anybody from Jersey. They were from so many other states and I like that exposure.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:And now we have a new program that we're doing at Girl Camper where there's really big bucket list trips coming up to Hawaii, to Machu Picchu, like we've got some really exotic travel coming up in 2026. But I hope to see you around the campfire soon and I'm so glad that you made it this weekend. I'm so glad to see you, dear.
Speaker 1:But I am here now with Carol Thompson and you are the New Jersey Girl Camper Guy. Yes, so that means you plan these events. And you are the New Jersey Girl Camper Guide yes, so that means you plan these events. Talk a little bit about what that is, what that looks like.
Speaker 2:It's finding other girls that want to go out and camp and sometimes they don't know what route to go. So Janine Pettit started the Girl Camper and she's got different guides for different states and hopefully they'll find different camp, camp rounds or different meet and greets that the girls that want to get out in the outdoors can gather and feel safe. So what I'll do is I'll plan a camping trip, I'll put it on the facebook page, I'll have girls sign up and you know can, sometimes maybe eight of ten and sometimes we have as many as 40 or 50 girls, 40 and 50, sometimes yes.
Speaker 2:And the nice thing is just like if you've met any of the other girls. I never camped. Growing up, I didn't know a lot about camping. Even though I'm the guy from New Jersey, I'm still learning. There's a lot for me to learn and I'm not embarrassed to say I don't know. Like, show me.
Speaker 1:And that's what I love about this group and I love that, because I never went camping. I had no idea. You know, I didn't like bugs being in a tent like none of that.
Speaker 2:I own a pest control company and I hate bugs.
Speaker 1:Okay, so there it is and what's nice is this is a great way to get out of your comfort zone. This is for the weekend, so we're here for the weekend. We arrived Friday afternoon. We're leaving tomorrow. So if you just want to try it out and I guess if people are in the area they come stop by like we don't really like to do that.
Speaker 2:We like it to be because it's a bunch of women right, we like to be a little private.
Speaker 2:Okay, so we don't really advertise where we are, but we do a lot of women, right, right, we like it to be a little private. Okay, so we don't really advertise where we are, right, but we do a lot of pictures on Facebook and we open it up to the world to say, oh gosh, where are these girls? Look at this beautiful campfire. And then we've got crockpots going and we've got all kinds of food tables and get them interested. And we're, you know, and we're in our jeans or our flannel shirts.
Speaker 1:Looking like this this is campground.
Speaker 2:This is campground attire. It's what's going on and that's.
Speaker 1:there's so many things I'm thinking all at the same time. I love when that happens. I know, going on to the girl camper website and people can go to girlcampercom, there is a limit to what you can find out until you're signed up and approved, and that is the safety part.
Speaker 2:Yes, that is the safety part, and it's very simple to become a member. It's only $10. Just sign up one time. You sign up for $10 for the rest of your life and you can find out what's going on in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland.
Speaker 1:So that's some X's. So somebody who signed up for, say, this event they realized it was raining, but they wanted to come me, they signed up for the event. They could have come over for a couple hours, absolutely. So we're just keeping it safe. People could check it out now and I've told people already. I'm here with my daughter, so neither of us knew what to expect and I didn't really want to know a whole lot. I just wanted to jump in see what it's like.
Speaker 2:um, again, girls, ladies of all ages, a typical day in a girl camper event is yes, you sign up, you can see who's coming. We usually have some some type of agenda, like you know. You can bring the potluck, you can bring breakfast, you can bring muffins, coffee. You have the rest of the day to explore. We like to meet at the end of the evening for dinner, talk about what you did during the day, but it's not necessarily structured.
Speaker 1:It's less structured. I guess in my mind I thought it would be a little more structured. But what's cool about it is it was like, okay, breakfast is 9 o'clock, you were doing big O at 11. Some people, I think today, are going to a vineyard or winery.
Speaker 2:So it was just a start. Or they're doing more, they're doing crafts at the campground.
Speaker 1:So it's kind of nice. You do your thing at your pace. If you decide you want to go to Atlantic City and gamble tonight, I'm sure you could ask the ladies and you'll have some people.
Speaker 2:Ocean City, New Jersey.
Speaker 1:It's too cold for that Atlantic City Casino. I haven't been there in a long time, so that's a road trip. It's nice that you could do your thing. Okay, so you did not start out camping. Anyway, what started you and how did you get involved with?
Speaker 2:I know I've known Janine Pettit for many years. I knew her before she started girl camper and before she even really started camping with a lot of women and she invited me to go on a trip and she said we're going to go on this little vintage camper and I was like no, you know, when I go on vacations I need a hotel, I need somebody with clean sheets.
Speaker 1:Ready for a five-star.
Speaker 2:I need somebody to take care of everything and I can just come home and fall asleep and not worry about anything. Of course, I didn't realize the beauty of camping, and this was what really got me excited about camping.
Speaker 2:You can spend inexpensive amount of money for the places that you're staying at the campgrounds, but I've got my camper and I've got five story five. My sheets are beautiful, my towels are pretty and I don't have to worry about anybody else's things. And uh, but she invited, I got off track there. I'm so sorry no, we. This is what we're going to do she invited me on her first trip and she said okay, cal, I have this little vintage camper and I want you to go to tennessee with me.
Speaker 2:Now I was a stay-at-home mom. I had three children. I didn't do, and you were new jersey and I was in new jersey but I didn't do. And you were in New Jersey and I was in New Jersey but I didn't do like go out to dinner with my girlfriends. I was a mom, I did everything for my kids.
Speaker 2:And when she said let's go on a road trip, I went who does that? Like, really People do that. So I said alright, I will go on this trip with you. We were going to Tennessee and I think we were leaving on Wednesday and we were going to stay until Sunday. And heading home I said I'll go on as long as you promise to go to every antique store. We have to go on. You know, stop at every little sign, little weird sign. We have to do this. And she agreed, Of course.
Speaker 2:I pull up in her driveway and she had the cutest little camper. It was so adorable. It had everything you needed. It had a big feather bed mattress. It had a big feather bed mattress. It had a little kitchen with a sink and a refrigerator.
Speaker 2:I liked coffee back then so I could have my coffee on the road and I said, okay, I'm game. Of course I packed too much stuff, but I'd never been on a road trip before, so I didn't know. And as we were getting ready to leave Janine's house of course this was the first time Janine ever did a tow to camp or anything, so we're driving we kept looking back, going, okay, it's still there, it's still there and we're driving. We're only two blocks from her house and I turn around and go Janine, do you have a cat? She goes no, I don't have a cat. I said well, Janine, there's a cat walking back and forth in front of the camper window. We went oh my god, the camper was in front of denise's house and as we were packing it, you know, for the trip, she left the door open and her neighbor's cat.
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness. Now, this was before denise and I even had a backup or car or anything. So even though her house wasn't too far behind us, we didn't have a backup. So we had to drive like three blocks around the block to get it back to her neighborhood so we could drop the cat off.
Speaker 1:So that was my first introduction, and even with that you were still willing to do the trip.
Speaker 2:So we were laughing so much and we hadn't even started yet.
Speaker 1:And as you're telling the story of how much you packed and stopping at antique stores, have you ever seen the movie Long, long Honeymoon with Lucille Ball? Yes, I love it. My mother made me watch it for the third time and that's what I was thinking about.
Speaker 2:So did you? No, it's kind of like Janine and I really on the trail because, the bad thing is when you have a camper behind you and you are going to antique stores or little shops, you don't have to worry about putting it in your car. You got a big camper right and even though it's a little tiny camper man, we fit some really good things in that camper to take back home to New Jersey you have to watch your week to watch that movie long haul.
Speaker 2:We do kind of do that, as a matter of fact, I had a camping trip in November and somebody bought a big screen and the movie we watched was lucia ball and a long trailer, it was so much fun.
Speaker 1:It's that that, yes, I want to hear from people, and whoever has watched this movie, you know what we're talking about. You haven't watched it, you need to watch yes, that is.
Speaker 2:If you want to know anything about camping and stuff, that is yes, oh, yeah, so okay.
Speaker 1:So you go in the strips of tennessee, you collect your Antiques, you come back.
Speaker 2:And I think somebody's mentioned Before I didn't know a lot of people that camped, because I wasn't A camper and when we went to Tennessee we didn't know a soul. These girls met us, took the keys from us, parked the car, parked the camper, had a fire going With some burgers and hot dogs.
Speaker 1:Well, let's be clear here my experience with camping, that is not it. So if you want that kind of five-star camping, make sure the campgrounds are going to provide that, because campgrounds do not park your car. Or set up the fire. Now there are campgrounds that do oh at the fireplace.
Speaker 2:Now there are campgrounds that do.
Speaker 1:Oh, they do. Yes, there are campgrounds that do. There are five more five-star campgrounds, but for the most part you've got to do that stuff yourself. But they are the community. If you had to go into a campground and back that trailer up and you couldn't do it, there would have been people coming from all over to help and support you and throughout the years I just realized I think I've been camping I thought it was only seven.
Speaker 2:I've probably been camping now for about 15 years, which you need, and there have been a few scary times. I pulled into a campsite. I didn't think I was going to be able to back it in and I probably tried six or seven or eight times. And you know, if somebody walked up to me and said, can I help you? I said please take over.
Speaker 2:I was not embarrassed. Now I can do it, but back then it didn't bother me that somebody wanted to come in and help me, and that's how the campers are, and that is the learning experience.
Speaker 1:So anybody coming in, whether they're just coming like Emily and I for the weekend, as I said, we're in a retro RV. I haven't been in an RV in a year so it's like, all right, I got to remember these things. But there were things I did not know how to bestow with this particular RV. So I asked the maintenance guy, because he takes care of the RV and it is always a learning. So anybody that says I knew nothing about it, I want that to be the message that's out there. Find your tribe, find your group of people and get out. Just take a step at a time. We are all still learning.
Speaker 3:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:And don't hesitate, because what you don't know, somebody will show you, or what you know, somebody's going to learn from you. I mean, I never tent camped, but I did start out with vintage campers so I was used to. It's really like a tent off the ground because you don't have hot water, you don't have a shower, you don't have a bathroom, but I felt it was a little enclosed and I couldn't do tent camping. So I probably had three or four vintage and now I just got a regular travel trailer. Oh my gosh, I'm in seventh heaven. I've got hot water, I've got a shower. I, I've got water, I've got a shower, I've got a bathroom. So it's amazing how what I think Girl Camper did for me, it built my confidence. You know, I felt like I could do this and I started out with no idea, right.
Speaker 1:And find what works for you is what I keep saying. So, as of last year, we sold the RV and I'm solo. As of last year, we sold the RV and I'm solo, and so I was trying to think do I want to get a van and travel around? Do I want to get something bigger? And I'm really enjoying going into a campground where I'm staying in a cabin or a yurt or like this retro RV that does have running water, had a shower. It actually has a little tub in there, oh my gosh, A little bathtub.
Speaker 2:It's amazing how, like the bed pump has a little tub in there.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh a little bit. It's amazing.
Speaker 3:I was like so the bed has a mouth, yes, the shower pump, yes.
Speaker 1:So so find what works for you, is the messaging here yes yes, so that you've got a lot of events that you have planned and I know, in the previous part of the year even have that country yes, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:The new thing with Girl Camp for now is bucket list trucks. They have Hawaii set up, they have Costa Rica set up, I think Peru, yes, yes, wow, okay, isn't that wonderful you can go across the world but have your own little tribe so you'll feel a little bit safer when you're traveling across the world, and I love that.
Speaker 1:And that is a big thing for me. So for those people you know that are listening on Janine's podcast, or new people to mine, as of a year ago, my husband went into the hospital and so I am solo. He is just for people who don't know. He's cognitively impaired and will not recover. So, thinking about this idea of solo camping like or traveling by myself, I'll be honest, I don't like it. I want to be with people. Now there are times you would go back to your, your own bed, your own space and just check out, but. But I keep thinking about because I want to travel not only more in the country, but outside the country. I have a huge bucket list, right, I don't see doing these things all alone.
Speaker 2:It's just not my no and. But what I like here too is you can travel with a group but there's so much downtime for yourself, like if you need to just escape, and, you know, just relax a little bit.
Speaker 1:Or if there's something you guys are doing.
Speaker 2:You don't have to do everything that's on the table there.
Speaker 1:You can just choose what you want to do Right, and that's really, that's the nice part of it, and then to know that you're also doing these huge trips outside the country. What am I talking about?
Speaker 2:Plus, what I like is because there's a lot of groups in different states, like I've been to Tennessee. I took my camper on the George Washington Bridge. I mean I was in the pier. I'm not sure about that. It wasn't supposed to be.
Speaker 1:Oh, I did Okay, so you took the camper on the George Washington Bridge. I do not recommend this. You weren't supposed to be there so you probably didn't ask the RV Trick Wizard at the RVC at GPS.
Speaker 2:This was probably 11 years ago. This was 11 years ago, but we all make those mistakes.
Speaker 1:We do and, like I said, it's a learning curve.
Speaker 2:It's a learning curve. But I've been to Tennessee, I've been to West Virginia, I've been to so many different states, sea, I've been to west virginia um I've been to so many different states, and sometimes by myself, because I knew there was going to be a campground, there were going to be like-minded people and I could still be by myself because I had my camper to be private, or, if I had, you can stay in a cabin or like you rented a camper, um, but if I wanted to explore and do other things, there would be other people there to share with.
Speaker 1:This has been such like I've known. Like I said, janae, for I don't know, over two years, two and a half years. It was the first episode on the podcast, it was the first interview, and I've learned so much in just the last 24 hours. So thank you so much, carol, and I'm looking forward to an amazing night, keri.
Speaker 2:O karaoke tonight.
Speaker 1:And tomorrow.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you for inviting me. Thank you so much. You know, it's been so much fun talking with everybody here this weekend and I'm so glad they got to meet you and you can expose your RV Life podcast to a new group of people.
Speaker 1:I am so glad you invited me and, like I said in the beginning you invited me, you said this is the weekend, didn't even explain it, I just said yes and went for it. Girls just want to have fun. When I see a woman who needs a, break.
Speaker 2:I'm on you, I'm on you. No, this has been a lot of fun and I so appreciate the effort people like Carol make, because it is the position of the guides and the other women here that you know we raise up from the bottom, so that's been really great, and thank you for giving us the opportunity to talk about girl camper on rv life.
Speaker 1:We really appreciate that and I am so glad to have you on I know, there are a lot of women out there and, again, these are not single women for the most part. If you're single, single it's fine. If you're married, it's fine. You're whatever, whatever, this is the group that is totally accepting, and I'm so glad to have been part of this and talk to the ladies. Well, we were thrilled to have you.
Speaker 1:Well, before we wrap up, I'm not letting you go yet. We're going to do the question of the week, which is brought to you by Cool RV, the question of the week which is brought to you by Cool RV. So those RVs that have the air conditioners that need to be cooler, cool RV is what you need. I'm going to ask you the question. Give me a minute to think about it. I feel like sometimes these questions for people who travel a lot, is sometimes harder.
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Speaker 2:I try to do a bucket list trip per year. Okay, so I'm 65, proud to say that, getting younger by the day, and I feel like there's so much time that I have left, you know like.
Speaker 2:I don't know we're healthy, we're happy, we're moving along right. But so I try to do one bucket list trip a year. Last year I went to Alaska, but I also went to Morocco, so I did two last year. This year I'm kind of keeping it local and I'm doing a trip I've wanted to do for so long where I'm going down to Kentucky with the Girl Campers, where you can do kayaking in caves down in Kentucky. I was just talking about this with my daughter. Oh, you were yes, yes, I wonder if it's the same thing. I'm sure it is. I'm going there in August, so that's my bucket list thing this year.
Speaker 1:So maybe I'll join you on that trip. That is a bucket list item for me. Yep, I'm staying at Firefly Hills in Kentucky. It's Beesville, kentucky. The place sounds amazing. Okay, sounds amazing and I am going to be. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, I don't remember the exact name of the organization that we go, but it is in Slade Kentucky, s-l-a-d-e. Kentucky. I just remember mapping it like how am I getting from here to there? So somewhere in Slade Kentucky there's caverns and caves and you kayak in them and it looks really cool and I can't wait to do it. Put together by Nancy Grant, our Illinois Girl Camper Guide.
Speaker 1:Wow Okay.
Speaker 2:So maybe I'll join you on that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and anybody who's listening or watching that wants to join you? Just go to girlcampercom com.
Speaker 2:Dot com and yeah, so turn up to see the event. It costs $10 because we need to know that you are who you say you are, so we ask you for $10, and then we can match your credit card and we know you're not somebody's crazy ex stalking them. So we're just like making sure that we don't show all where all these women are camping by themselves or in groups. So you need to put your money where your mouth is if you want to know where we are. It's $10, one-time fee, it's not even an annual fee and then you're vetted and we can get in and see where all the events are. So we'll hope you'll take a look and join us, yes, and subscribe to Girl Camp with Magazine and follow the podcast and join us on our Facebook group. Lots of places.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, and where do people find RV Life? So they can find me at podcastrvlifecom. That website is being revamped, as I understand, but it is there Comments, questions, anything People you want to see on the show. Go to RVv, like podcasts on instagram and facebook. I know for both of us, we want to hear from you and I know I'm now answering every message. I might have some people that help with that. Um, but, yes, I'd love to hear you know, as as a woman, what does this sound like something you want to do?
Speaker 2:yeah, get on and share and just I think the takeaway would be like, don't think you have to go all in like, like it's a timeshare or something. Just just sign up, rent a cabin and come to one event, see what, see how you like it, or just come to one of our meet and greets yeah, I do want to give a shout out again to Spacious Suns guys country boats in Dorothy, new Jersey, 30 minutes from the Jersey Shore.
Speaker 1:They have been amazing. Yeah, it's such a great campground Incredible. We both highly recommend it. Yeah, yeah, awesome. We have to give that shout out, yeah.
Speaker 2:No, I have a seasonal site here, so I'm biased. Okay, yeah yeah, and it's very chill. It's very like a little family campground, but not too big, not? You know, they got the things kids like. They got a pool, they got a bouncy thing. You know the kids are all riding their bikes, you know, but it's not a mega, mega like overwhelm you.
Speaker 1:Right, you know Warm family camp and people can actually check out. I did a review while I was here. It's a brief review because it's cold and cloudy and things aren't in bloom yet, so people can check that out. On my new YouTube channel, inspired Travels with Patty, it's just started. It's still a little messy, but check out the video.
Speaker 2:Patty, it was so great to see you. We're so glad, so you know where to follow all of us. We'd like to see you sharing this, but thank you for joining us and we'll see you around the campfire. Happy trails.
Speaker 1:It's now time for the featured campground brought to you by RV Life. This week's campground is Thousand Trails Williamsburg in Williamsburg, virginia. This is a Thousand Trails campground, but you do not need to be a member to stay at this campground. Thousand Trails Williamsburg has lots to offer. There are full hookups, has lots to offer. There are full hookups, pull-in sites, a dog park and they have cabin rentals, which is a favorite of mine. There's a lot to do in the area and it is just a great place to stay, with a solid 7.5 rating on the RV Life Campground site with 111 reviews, go to campgroundsrvlifecom and enter Thousand Trails Williamsburg and you can see all the pictures, the tips, the full list of amenities about this property and you can book right from this site.
Speaker 1:Rv Life Campgrounds is part of the RV Life Pro suite of products and it is the most comprehensive source of RV parks. Campgrounds is part of the RVLife Pro Suite of products and it is the most comprehensive source of RV parks, campgrounds, resorts, as well as city, state and national parks, cores of engineer properties and so much more. Visit campgroundsrvlifecom to find out everything you need to know and, if you're not already an RV Life member, go to the link in the show notes for 25% off. Thank you to my listeners for listening to this episode with Janine Pettit. Remember life's a journey. Live each day to the fullest, without regrets. I'm Patti Hunt and you have been listening to the RV Life Podcast.