Hi, I’m Marisa!
I am an occupational therapy student from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in San Marcos, California. To fulfill my occupational therapy doctorate degree, I created this website based on my completed research project to help educate, support and encourage aging into camping. When beginning this project, my goals were simple, to discover the health benefits of camping outdoors and gain perspective and understanding of physical and environmental strengths and barriers when camping. I would then create a resource to educate the community on the health benefits and how to safely camp while aging. However, I continued to discover more than I ever expected and wanted to share.
MY STORY
I was exposed to camping and outdoor activities at a young age. Below is a picture of my family camping in 2003 when my brother was 6 and I was 4 years old. Camping with my extended family became a yearly tradition that stayed consistent for 11 years. However, as my grandparents began to age, outdoor camping became uncomfortable for them which led to the end of a long fulfilling tradition. I have core memories with my grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and immediate family that shaped who I am today. With this in mind, I was determined to explore the meaning and purpose that camping provides individuals and families. Finding a way to comfortably age into camping will foster an opportunity for individual and family connections to flourish while being emersed in the beauty of nature.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS WEBSITE
The purpose of this website is to not only educate people about the health benefits that camping outdoors provides, but to uncover a deeper connection between humans, nature, and the importance of taking a break from routine. This manual fosters opportunities for community building while also improving physical, mental, social, and spiritual health. As you read through this website I hope you feel a boost in confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of meaning when exploring camping and all the simplicity nature has to offer.