Canadians are know for being lovers of the great outdoors, and a great way to get close to nature is to go camping.

Every summer, thousands of people pack up enough gear to eat, sleep, and play outside for a few days and sometimes even weeks! Camping is not an activity for those who enjoy being very clean, comfortable and connected (through their electronic devices). But it’s that rustic, disconnected nature of camping that draws so many.

Pitching a tent in the woods and barbecuing all your meals is a wonderful way to get close to nature, get away from technology and relax with friends or family.

To be so rustic takes planning and a lot of equipment, though. If you want to spend a night under the stars, you need to get a tent, a sleeping bag, pack a lot of food in a cooler, and bring a portable BBQ if you have one. If you don’t have any of these items, you can actually rent them! Canada Adventure Tours (http://www.bcreservation.com/camp_equip.html) and Vancouver Rent-a-Tent (www.rent-a-tent-vancouver.com) are two places you can rent camping equipment from. You’ll also need supplies for washing dishes, pots and pans to cook food in, lots of water, and mosquito repellant.

There are loads of great campgrounds around the Greater Vancouver Area. The cost per night varies between $20 to $60 per vehicle. Many campground are close to a lake, so you can enjoy the beach and water during the day and campfires and story telling at night. www.camping.bc.ca provides a comprehensive list of campgrounds throughout BC. Here are some great spots worth checking out:

Cultus Lake – http://www.cultuslake.bc.ca
Just east of Abbotsford is Cultus Lake with excellent campgrounds, a beautiful lake and beach, a water slide park and go carts. This is the perfect spot for first time campers.

Buntzen Lake (Anmore) – http://port-moody.travel.bc.ca/listings/anmore-camp–rv/21835/
This is the closest lake, with a campground, to Vancouver. Located within the city limits of Port Moody, this is a great spot to go camping if you want to stay close to the city, but feel close to nature.

Harrison Hot Springs – http://www.tourismharrison.com/page/campgrounds_and_RV_parks
Home to world famous Hot Springs, Harrison offers many things to do along with camping and enjoying the beautiful lake and scenery. There are tons of campgrounds to choose from in the Harrison Lake area. It is a bit of a drive from the city, but definitely worth it.

Squamish – http://squamish.travel.bc.ca/camping/
The town of Squamish is located about one hour north of West Vancouver on Hwy 99. It is surrounded by majestic mountains and crystal clear lakes. This is a famous area for camping in BC.

So if you want to experience an authentic Canadian summer, start packing your bags and figure out what to throw on the barbecue for dinner. (Photos is courtesy of keepitsurreal’s)