Camping

Camping is a topic that brings out strong opinions and great stories. These questions range from practical gear and food talk to bigger discussions about connecting with nature and environmental responsibility.

Questions are organized by level from beginner to advanced. A printable PDF of all the questions is available at the bottom of the page.

Beginner (A1-A2)

1. What is the best activity to do while camping? Why do you like it?
2. How many times have you gone camping? Tell me about one of your trips.
3. Where have you gone camping? What was it like there?
4. What are the 4 most important things to bring when you go camping?
5. Where is the best place to go camping in your country? What makes it so good?
6. What is the longest time you have spent camping?
7. What is the best food to bring on a camping trip? Why is it good for camping?
8. What kind of camping do you like best? (Tent, RV, cabin, hammock, etc.)
9. Who do you like to go camping with? What do you do together?
10. Do you like to cook outside? What do you like to cook?
11. What three things do you need for a good campfire?

Elementary (A2)

1. Tell a story about a camping trip (it doesn’t have to be your story).
2. What is the best thing about camping? How about the worst thing?
3. Do you like camping in hot weather or cold weather? Why?
4. Have you ever set up a tent? How did it go?
5. Where would you like to go camping for the first time? What makes it interesting?
6. Have you ever gotten lost while camping or hiking? What happened?
7. What animals have you seen while camping? What did you think of them?
8. What type of camping do you find most difficult? Why?
9. Have you ever seen a really beautiful sunset or sunrise while camping? What did it look like?
10. What do you usually do on your first night at a campsite? Why do you start with that?

Intermediate (B1)

1. Is camping with lots of amenities (solar panels, fans, stove, etc.) still camping? How much luxury is too much?
2. What is the scariest thing that could happen while camping? What would you do?
3. Do you prefer camping near water or in the mountains? What’s good about each?
4. What camping skills don’t you have? Why do you think you need to learn them?
5. Should kids go camping even if they don’t want to? Why or why not?
6. What makes a camping trip successful? Give me some examples.
7. Is expensive camping gear worth the money? When is it worth it?
8. Do you think people should learn survival skills before going camping? How much preparation is necessary?
9. What do you think are the biggest risks of camping? How can people reduce those risks?
10. Do you think camping is a good way to make friends? What makes it different from other activities?
11. Some people say camping is boring. What would you say to them?
12. If someone has never camped before, what should they do to prepare? What mistakes do beginners usually make?
13. Do you think camping is getting more popular or less popular in your country? Why do you think so?

Upper-Intermediate (B2)

1. How has camping culture changed in the past 20 years? What do you think about those changes?
2. How does camping affect the environment? How often have you thought about this when choosing where to camp?
3. How do generational differences affect attitudes toward camping? How often have you noticed this in your family or community?
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of camping alone versus camping with a group?
5. How do commercial campgrounds differ from wild camping in terms of the experience they offer? Which appeals to you more?
6. Some national parks limit how many campers can visit each year. What are the arguments for and against these limits?
7. Why do some people find camping relaxing while others find it stressful? What does this tell us about how people deal with comfort and routine?
8. How does growing up with camping experiences shape a person differently than growing up without them? Have you noticed this in people you know?
9. What responsibilities do campers have to protect the environment? How well do most people follow these rules?
10. Is the rise of ‘van life’ and vehicle-based camping a positive development for outdoor culture, or does it create new problems? What are some examples?

Advanced (C1)

1. How does spending extended time in nature while camping challenge or reinforce people’s assumptions about what they actually need to be comfortable and happy?
2. In what ways does the commercialization of camping (branded gear, luxury sites, Instagram culture) both promote and undermine the original purpose of spending time in nature?
3. Why do many cultures throughout history have traditions of retreating into nature, from religious pilgrimages to modern wilderness therapy? What fundamental human need does this reflect?
4. How do economic pressures, urbanization, and digital technology together shape whether young people today will develop a connection to the outdoors?
5. Some argue that camping gives people a false sense of understanding nature because the experience is temporary and controlled. How valid is this criticism, and what are its limits?
6. To what extent does the romanticization of wilderness camping reveal assumptions about class, privilege, and access to nature?
7. How do the politics of land ownership and indigenous rights intersect with recreational camping culture? What assumptions does mainstream camping culture make about access to land?
8. What does the rise of ‘survivalist camping’ and ‘bushcraft’ reveal about contemporary anxieties regarding self-sufficiency, collapse, and connection to ancestral skills?
9. In an increasingly digital world, why do people still seek out experiences like camping that are deliberately low-tech and uncomfortable? What does this say about the limits of modern convenience?
10. How does the way different countries manage public land for camping reflect their cultural values about individualism, community, and the role of government?

PDF: Download a PDF of all the questions