Share Your Story
Has camping on private land helped you discover a unique destination? Does earning extra income from hosting campers enable you to better steward your land? Did your experience with low-impact camping make you feel more comfortable getting outside? We want to hear about it.
Sharing your story can make a big difference. Whether it's about welcoming campers to your property or discovering new opportunities for outdoor recreation, we want to know why this activity matters to you.
We like to share a broad range of stories and perspectives to help show lawmakers and supporters what we’re advocating for and why it matters.
Here are some pointers for what to include in your story:
- Your name and where you live
- Whether you’re a host or a camper
- Memorable experiences related to hosting or camping on private land
- How private land camping has benefited you and your family
- How private land camping has positively impacted your community
- What would be at stake if hosting or camping was no longer an option for you
Notes:
When you record the video, be sure to speak loudly and clearly. Aim for 1 to 3 minutes in length.
By sharing your story on this page, you are agreeing to share this content with the Hipcamp team. Your story may be shared with external parties, but the Hipcamp team will reach out to obtain your approval before we share your story publicly.
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I bought 5 acres of vacant land specifically to share it's beauty with others. Nestled in the Mojave desert & adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park, I knew immediately I wanted to eventually build a home & retire here one day. When I discovered Hipcamp, I hoped it to be the path to becoming financially independent while doing meaningful work in a place I love. I have had drum circles, sound baths, campfires under the stars, educated visitors about the surrounding desert wonderland & met genine people from around the world. It warmed my soul. But it all came to a screeching halt because I couldn't afford the $14K for permitting in San Bernardino County. The county violated me & I was forced to stop hosting. Sharing my land was so fufilling & for a short time, my livelihood. I even quit my 9-5. I dedicated my time and money to evolving our space to be tranquil & eclectic. I hoped to host full time but compliance with the county simply isn't affordable or realistic until the laws are changed. There is no room for the "small fries". In fact the county has become increasingly threatening with heavy fines & bureaucracy. I want to help our town thrive. Do our guests not bring revenue to the town when the shop at our local stores for food and firewood or when they visit the National Park? We teach our visitors about leaving no trace & we share a safe unique space. I would love nothing more than to have a clear affordable path to compliance. I pray wholeheartedly that sharing our sacred space once again becomes within reach for a middle class citizen,taxpayer & landowner. See you under the sun & the moon, one day very soon. 🌙
Hipcamp was the perfect platform for me and my property. It helped pay the morgage and perform maintinence/ upkeep on my land. Campers collecting firewood reduced the bushfire risk of my property to the point where there was very minimal fuel for fires on the ground.
Everyone loved the arrangment and my site was awarded top hipcamp in Victoria for 2022.
Mansfield shire then took me to VCAT and wanted me to get a planning permit for a caravan park to host on my land. This was not possible as it would require full toilet and shower facilities. They sited fire risk and effluent controll as key reasons for being taken to VCAT but I made all guests get portaloos and there is legal free camping in the national park next door to my property.
Its a shame Victoria is a nanny state and wont allow people to get outdoors.
We went through an arduous approval process to get Strathbogie Shire (Vic Australia) approval of a tiny, very restricted camping arrangement, so nightmarishly complex and over-bureaucratic. Such a pity Victoria is behind NSW and other approaches, we just want to share our little piece of tranquility with a couple of campers at a time, certainly not giant caravan park type accommodation
A shift is happening in part because Harvest Hosts provides an incredible opportunity for family/ friend time with outdoor experiences which is becoming more important to the younger generation. Most campers seek this Paso Robles location for the close proximity to vineyards. Our campers appreciate the farm life, the tranquil environment and the knowledge I share about unusual animals here. I'm not just a host that provides a location to park their camper. I share with them the history of Creston, dark sky events, animal husbandry and theraputic benefits it all provides. For some campers they seek out the animal experiences because it's unique or they hope to have their own farm someday providing a window into their future. The most important impact is having meaningful connections and postive experiences which is incredibly important for everyones' well being. It is my hope and focus for this rural camping opportunity to continue for the benfit of all.