The variety of solo girls campers is on the rise, throughout all ages and in motorhomes, trailers, fifth wheels, and even truck campers.

In reality, the highest skilled we interview in Episode 412 of the RV Podcast says a major share of all of the RVers on the market are solo girls campers.

Whereas nobody can cite a agency statistic – estimates vary from 12-20% – it’s clear that it’s a fast-growing section of the RV market and that these solo girls campers usually are not all the time single, windowed, or divorced. Many are married however journey alone as a result of their partner simply doesn’t like tenting.

Our visitor is Janine Pettit, who calls herself the Camper-in-Chief of a thriving enterprise constructed to serve solo girls campers that may be discovered at GirlCamper.com and consists of a weblog, a podcast, Fb Group, YouTube Channel, and a slick, espresso table-sized shiny papered journal.

You possibly can watch the video model of the podcast by clicking the participant beneath.

If you happen to simply need to catch the audio model of the RV Podcast, you may hear in your favourite podcast app or within the participant beneath.

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Behind the rise in solo girls campers

solo women campers influencer janine pettit

Right here’s an edited transcript of our interview with Janine:

Mike:

Nicely, the Woman Camper herself, Janine Pettit, joins us proper now. Hey, it’s nice to see you once more.

Janine:

It’s nice to see you, too. It all the time is. Often, after we stumble upon one another, we’re at a commerce present and it’s like, “Hey, Mike and Jen. Hey, Woman Camper.” Yeah, so thanks for having me.

Jennifer

I can’t imagine it was 2017 after we final linked.

Mike:

Yeah, 2017.

Jennifer:

You’ll must replace us on what’s been occurring.

Mike:

Yep, so I do know a whole lot of stuff has been occurring, together with what’s in your wall behind you. So why don’t you give us a fast replace on what all has occurred with the Woman Camper?

Janine:

Oh, nicely, each time I get a bit window the place I feel, okay, the podcast goes nicely, simply take a breather. I’m not superb at breathers, I suppose, as a result of the concepts are all the time percolating. And so I acquired this concept as a result of individuals often write to me and say, why don’t you host occasions? And the issue with that’s I’m right here in New Jersey they usually’re everywhere in the nation. However you and I, us, all three of us, we do the identical factor.

Inspiring individuals to get on the market!

image about solo women campers
There are an increasing number of solo girls campers on the market

Janine:

We encourage individuals they usually need to get on the market. And I feel it’s a bit totally different whenever you’re a solo lady traveler, you require a bit extra handholding. It’s not that we don’t possess the power to do it, whenever you’re doing it alone, which a whole lot of our girls are. You want a bit extra hand holding. And that’s the place internet hosting occasions is a bit more fruitful than it’s for {couples}.

What may go fallacious? If you happen to get a flat, somebody’s going to name and also you’re going to flag them down. You’re collectively. So I opened up the nation and I put out a name for Woman Camper guides everywhere in the nation. What girls can be prepared to assist different girls of their space get their toes moist, maintain their arms, present them the ropes. And so now now we have 36, I imagine, Woman Camper guides everywhere in the nation.

And they also turn into the hand holder, the information, the mentor for these girls, but in addition they’re turning into the vacationer information for his or her space. So say now we have our lady Resa Leppert in Iowa. When somebody desires to camp in Iowa, they’ll go to her Girl Camper web page, as a result of she has her personal Woman Camper web page on our web site and discover out the place an awesome place to camp is.

The place’s one of the best espresso spot? If you happen to’re into this, the place ought to I’m going? And they also turned little vacationer guides for his or her neck of the woods too. So Woman Camper chapters everywhere in the nation.

Thought I had that going so nicely that I used to be going to begin {a magazine}. So when Covid hit, I had impulsively a substantial amount of free time. I normally am at an RV present each different weekend within the winter. After which impulsively all the pieces was canceled and that journal was in my head for the longest time.

And so I simply sat down with a chunk of paper and wrote out if I have been going to do {a magazine}, what would I need to discuss?

And I all the time go into Barnes and Noble and I take a look at the magazines and I’m like seeing 10 magazines on yard chickens and no tenting magazines. So sort of like writing the guide you needed to learn, I created the journal I needed to tug off the shelf. So we’re in our third 12 months.

We gained a number of Ozzie and Eddie awards. I used to be very proud to have been nominated for an editorial I printed within the journal final 12 months a few 93-year-old grandma who took up tenting for the primary time. We have been nominated way of life journal of the 12 months up in opposition to Joanna Gaines and the Property Brothers from HGTV. So we’re just like the little journal that would, and I’m very pleased with our workforce.

Selecting the best RV for solo girls campers

image of teardrop trailer used by solo women campers
Teardrop trailers are very talked-about with many solo girls campers

Jennifer:

What pops in my head is, anyone’s beginning out, is there a sure RV that you simply counsel for solo girls campers that could be a good one to begin out with?

Janine:

Nicely, we attempt to present all people all of the choices, however I’m an enormous proponent of begin small and work your method up. Actually, we keep at Woman Camper that there’s no fallacious technique to camp like a lady. So when you’re a hammock hanger, a tent camper, a automobile camper, a van driver, a cabin renter, or an RV puller like we’re going that will help you.

However when you’ve got it in your head I’m going to tow an RV, begin small, get your self a tear, drop, have a secure place to sleep, get your self off the bottom. However until you could have expertise, there’s no must go on the market and get a 37-foot journey trailer.

There appear to be extra solo girls campers than solo males campers

Mike:

One query I’ve is it appears to me, and it’s anecdotal I do know, however from our travels, from the e-mail we get, that there are extra solo feminine vacationers than there are solo male vacationers. Has that been your expertise, and what do you attribute that to? You’ll assume on this tradition and society we’re in and outside and RVs and mechanical stuff, that’d be extra solo males, however it looks as if the other.

Janine:

I’m going to be very politically incorrect and inform you that ladies are simply extra adventurous Mike. And the KOA tenting report, annual tenting report… Or perhaps it’s the Go RVing stats. A kind of two has stats on it. The numbers are actually important, like 80% of the solo vacationers are girls and solely 20% are males.

So I feel it’s a few issues. I feel males… if my husband – and that is anecdotal – he doesn’t wish to be bumped out of his consolation zone. He sort of likes the BarcaLounger. And regardless that RVs are tremendous snug and all the pieces, I actually do imagine girls are extra adventurous. Girls spend a whole lot of time at residence and historically not anymore, however I feel girls are extra apt to, okay, children are raised, took care of mother and pa, empty nesters, anyone let me out. I acquired to get going.

BONUS: Click on beneath to see Jennifer’s Straight Talk to Wives About RV Living video.

Jennifer:

I feel that’s completely true. The empty nest and also you need to go see issues and infrequently… Oh, it was once, however I feel now it’s totally different, the boys traveled on a regular basis they usually’re bored with touring. They need to simply keep in a single spot.

Janine:

Yeah, my husband has a gross sales job and he’s on the highway in his automobile all day lengthy. Do you assume he’s getting in a camper to tow it even to Maryland three hours from residence? No, he doesn’t need to go anyplace. He desires to park in his front room, benefit from the again porch. No, I get that.

Mike:

Now you’re married. You’re a solo traveler. Your husband simply doesn’t wish to journey. I’m questioning what number of different girls are like that as a result of I feel the stereotype is that a lot of them are single girls or not too long ago widowed girls, or divorced.

Janine:

Most solo girls campers are married

image about solo women campers
Solo girls campers use each type of RV

Mike and Jen, the variety of girls who’re married, who go on the market, it’s really larger than the solo girls, the divorced or widowed or a single lady. And that is utterly anecdotal. One among nowadays on our Fb group, I ought to put this out as a ballot, as a result of I similar to to know. However all of the years I’ve camped with these girls, myself, many of the girls across the camper are like, oh my husband took the grandsons out on the lake this weekend, or yeah, my husband’s searching or he acquired a golf match or they’re doing their factor. Males someway can hold hobbies whereas they’re married and elevating youngsters they usually proceed these.

After which these children are gone they usually have lifelong hobbies and ladies could also be sitting there going, I’ve all the time needed to go to the nationwide parks. I’ve all the time needed to go to that quilting museum in Missouri. Nicely, now I’ve the time and the liberty to try this. And so they discover this group of ladies who’re doing it they usually’re like, eureka, let me get considered one of these little teardrops and take off with the ladies. After which they discover this can be a entire subculture. These girls are having a blast on the market

Ideas for solo girls campers

Jennifer:

Neighborhood, neighborhood, neighborhood, and sharing experiences and concepts on how you are able to do issues in another way, adorning inside, exterior. Share some tips for solo women campers?

Janine:

Nicely, Jen, you’re speaking about one thing that I really feel like was such part of the tradition once I grew up. I name it that clothesline neighborhood. When girls actually helped one another. When all of the mothers have been residence and anyone acquired sick, one other mother took the unwell or the sick children and also you helped one another, and that’s what now we have right here.

BONUS: Learn Learning to Camp Alone after the Death of a Spouse

So what I really like seeing within the Woman Camper neighborhood is when somebody is available in model new they usually don’t know something they usually join a Woman Camper occasion and the ladies there are like, let me present you, take that hitch on and off 3 times. I’ve carried out this myself sitting in a campsite going take it off, put it again on, take it off, you’re constructing the muscle reminiscence, I’m making notes, I acquired this. A 12 months later, you see that very same lady out within the campground and she or he’s educating that to anyone else.

So I’d say share helpful newbie camping advice for women the place potential.

So no matter your skillset is, no matter you’re good at. Possibly you’re a Dutch oven cooker, or perhaps you’re simply actually good at organizing your camper. Everyone’s on the market. There’s all the time a camper tour. So the Woman Campers arrive on mass on the campground and all people’s organising on a Friday afternoon.

Nicely you recognize that there’s a cocktail at 5 and we’ll begin at one camper and all people makes their method round that campground. And, in fact, we’re oohing and ahhing over all people’s designs, however we’re additionally like, the place did you get these stackable Rubbermaids? How do you retain this? It’s all of the recommendations on packing and organizing. It’s Simply a lot enjoyable.

Security considerations for solo girls campers

staying safe tips for solo women campers

Mike:

For the lady on the market who’s saying, I need to do this, give her some suggestions. What are their large considerations. Are there points about adorning? Or what…

Jennifer:

Security.

Mike:

Security is all the time an enormous query, so reply a few of these.

Janine:

Yeah, when you’ve by no means carried out it earlier than, let’s say you’re on our Fb group, which is 330,000 girls now in our…

Mike:

Wow, 330,000, that’s large.

Janine:

Is that insanity, proper? And so that you’re on there and I learn these threads that evening once I sit down, see what all people’s speaking about. and it’s usually thanks, thanks, thanks. Or, hey, all people, I did it, I simply acquired my large lady pants on and I acquired myself out to the campground and it rained buckets, however I sat in my tent or my camper and I did this and I did that.

And the encouragement and help that comes again is so stunning to observe. So when you’ve by no means carried out it earlier than and also you need to join our Facebook group, Girl Camper, and simply put it on the market, what’s your stumbling block, as a result of it’s totally different for everyone.

Janine:

Like Jen simply mentioned, some persons are actually hung up on security. Am I secure on the market? So pose that query to the group of what your concern is. After which I’d say get the help of individuals close by. And when you’re doing a visit for the very first time, perhaps don’t even fear a few tent or an RV. Hire

A cabin at a campground. Decide a pleasant resort campground and hire a cabin and simply discuss to individuals. Get the texture for it. If you happen to don’t have an RV in any respect, borrow a tent from somebody and simply go. Get your toes moist, near residence.

How solo girls campers have modified submit COVID

Mike:

How has the tenting world modified for Woman Campers submit Covid now? Now that we’re getting some say again to regular, the brand new regular, no matter that’s, has it modified? Are you noticing any new tendencies, moreover this 80% that you simply talked about are solo feminine vacationers of solo vacationers, in any respect?

Janine:

Nicely, I feel what I’m seeing is a bunch of persons are so darn completely happy to be on the market once more. However I feel what we’re additionally seeing, and also you guys must be seeing it too, is throughout Covid, everybody was like, I needs to be tenting. I ought to get a camper. I acquired to get out of this home.

And so the tenting neighborhood is filled with newbies. So I’d say if you’re on the market post-Covid assist to these people who find themselves nonetheless studying the ropes.

Janine’s story: How Woman Camper started

Mike:

You might be considered one of our favourite individuals, have been ever since we began. Inform all people simply to introduce your self to them a bit bit. Most of your followers will all know that you simply’re on and, oh we all know Janine, however for individuals who don’t, how did you begin? How lengthy have you ever been doing this? And the way usually are you on the highway?

Janine:

Hopefully extra usually arising. So my title is Janine Pettit, AKA Woman Camper. Nearly nobody calls me Janine anymore. I’m camper in chief, a title which my gang at work right here gave me and I feel is so cute. And I grew up in a tenting household and I simply all the time cherished tenting. It’s simply among the greatest reminiscences of my life, and I all the time needed to return to it.

And I had a husband with zero curiosity in tenting. We took our children tenting as soon as with a borrowed camper and I had a lot enjoyable and he checked out me and mentioned, I’m so glad that’s over. After which I used to be, yeah, he was similar to, phew acquired that off the record, she’s been bugging me about that for years. After which I came upon there’s simply girls on the market… And males don’t await us to do issues with them.

I drove my mother and father’ motor residence from New Jersey to Illinois once I was 17. I used to be not afraid. I’ve been in lots of of campgrounds. So I went on-line, on eBay, and I purchased myself a 1959 Discipline & Stream little Birchwood magnificence camper. It was 10 toes lengthy. It had a mattress, a bit sales space and a kitchen, and it was heaven.

And I had that camper for eight years, and simply little weekends with the girlfriends, near residence, by no means greater than two or three hours from residence. However then when my youngest graduated from highschool, I acquired myself a ravishing teardrop, the MAX Teardrop by Liberty Outside, and I took off. I simply took off. I went to the Tetons. I went out to Glacier Nationwide Park. I went throughout Texas. My husband would name and say, the place are you?

And so I simply have felt very very similar to there are girls on the market who need the talents to do that. And we needed to create a neighborhood of help, however not solely help, actually sensible information, like how usually ought to I be checking my tires? What’s the correct air stress? Is my tow car sufficiently big for this camper?

In order that’s all on-line at girlcamper.com and our journal is chock-full of inspirational tales of ladies who overcame these fears and acquired on the market on the highway and are actually serving to different girls. So we simply give one another a leg up. So I began Woman Camper in 2015. So right here we’re seven years later. I by no means imagined this. It was a weblog. I by no means imagined this journal and this neighborhood and all these fantastic individuals and the individuals such as you that I get to fulfill in my job. I feel now we have the good jobs

Mike:

We do, we do.

It’s neighborhood. It’s this neighborhood of like-minded individuals. Nicely, God hold blessing you. And we stay up for seeing you in particular person and hanging out with you.

Jennifer:

We’ll be seeing you quickly.

Mike:

Yeah. God bless you Jeanie.

Janine:

Bye-bye now.

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