Creating change with your personal story

The most important tool you possess in your advocacy toolkit is your own personal story. Many people, including local leaders and policymakers, may be unfamiliar with the concept of camping on private land. They may also be unfamiliar with why you host and how your hosting activities benefit you and your community.

Crafting your personal story is an important step toward talking about hosting with elected officials, local stakeholders, and the press. Elected officials are responsible for representing the interests of their constituents (you!) so they should be invested in understanding what’s important to you, why it’s important to you, and what they can do to support you. Sharing your story with local decision-makers can help them better understand and relate to your perspective and needs.

To begin crafting your story, think about the experiences that inspired you to start hosting guests on your property:

• Why did you start hosting?
• Was there a specific event that sparked your interest in hosting campers on your land?
• How has hosting made a difference for you and your family?
• What steps do you take to ensure guests have a safe and enjoyable experience?
• What would happen if you were no longer able to host?

Use these prompts to craft your personal story. Once you have your story written down, you can use it to share your experience with stakeholders and help build an understanding of the low-impact camping community. Your personal story is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal to create change. Share yours today.

The Camping Advocacy Network is powered by Hipcamp, Inc.