The Camping Project: Lessons Learned 'In the Wild'

Following 20 years at a large Canadian telecommunications firm, Bruce established the project management consulting firm Solutions Management Inc (SMI). Since 1999, he has provided contract project/program management services, been a source for project management support personnel and created/delivered courses to over 7,000 participants in Canada, the United States and England.

  Leadership   Lessons Learned  

I’ve camped in Ontario, Canada since I was a boy. My parents used to take our family on excursions to multiple parks where we enjoyed the beaches, learned to swim and dive, stayed up late for campfires and generally just had a great time.

We would show up, wait in a line to get a list of available campsites, and then drive through the park. Oftentimes my parents would drop my sisters or I on a site to hold it while they searched for premium spots! It made great memories and, as far as I was concerned, took very little planning. The process was simple: ack camping gear in the car, drive somewhere, put up a tent and “let the fun begin!”

I continued the camping tradition with my wife and children. “Camping” may conjure up mental images of canoes, isolated islands and romantic sunsets. Well, those days have passed for our family. As the decades go by, I find myself preferring the comforts of an RV trailer that I pull with a full-sized truck.

The refrigerator in the trailer keeps food and beverages cold. Cooking mostly involves a barbeque and grill. I rarely have hotdogs and hamburgers anymore, and prefer tasty meals that match what I enjoy at home.

I understand why some people call it “glamping.” As comfortable as this style is, it’s almost humble compared to what I see on some campsites with equipment that seems more like…

Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.