| While a certain percentage of avid campers prefer to | | | | a few minutes for booking the electric campsite, as |
| see by the light of a wood fire and a simple flashlight, | | | | the number of RV campers has gone through an |
| there are dozens of choices when it comes to | | | | amazing growth in recent years. A few minutes |
| lighting the way around an outdoor site. Some of | | | | spent confirming that a site with electricity will be |
| these alternatives involve electricity, while others call | | | | waiting at the other end of the trip will eliminate |
| for bringing along a kerosene lamp or propane for | | | | most of the stress that comes with making a home |
| such items as a cook stove. | | | | away from home. As the family settles in at their |
| Should the camper decide to stay with a simpler plan, | | | | "electric" campsite, a number of amenities become |
| such as a combination of wood fire and fuel-driven | | | | available. One family member may prepare a meal on |
| lamps, preparations will include stocking up on wood, | | | | an electric stove or on a range supplied by the same |
| liquid fuel and wicks for the lamps. As a backup plan | | | | bottled LP gas that serves the camper's heater. |
| or alternative, many campers who rely on natural | | | | Other family members can turn on a chair-side or |
| fuels for light also take along battery-powered | | | | bedside electric lamp and read, just as they would at |
| flashlights and lanterns for those wet nights and quick | | | | home. |
| trips away from the campsite. | | | | Campers and equipment companies have added |
| But if the climate you are traveling to calls for more | | | | another option to the list of ways to shed light on |
| comfort than wood and fuel lamps can provide, it | | | | your campsite. In some ways, this new method is a |
| may be necessary to make arrangements for a | | | | return to the natural sources such as wood. When |
| campsite with electricity. When campers move | | | | the sun shines, campers now have the option of |
| beyond the more "primitive" level of tent camping | | | | operating solar-powered accessories for hours. A |
| and open fires, they often arrive at their outdoor | | | | unique item known as the photovoltaic cell gathers |
| destination in a truck-mounted camper or | | | | the sun's energy and stores it in rechargeable |
| self-contained motor home. Connecting to electrical | | | | batteries. The best thing about this method: the |
| service at the campsite provides power for cooking, | | | | batteries are often lighter and less bulky than |
| indoor lighting, recharging battery-powered items and | | | | batteries used for traditional flashlights and lanterns |
| much more. (While some campers and RVs may | | | | because the bulbs require less power. |
| have electric heat, campers are often warmed by | | | | No matter how you choose to light your way when |
| bottled LP gas.) | | | | camping, plan for two methods of lighting. The |
| With most campgrounds it will be necessary to take | | | | choices are there! |