Girl Camper

Welcome to the Girl Camper podcast. I’m Lesa McDermott, and today’s episode features Bonnie Shafto, an original Girl Camper guide and Girl Camper’s event manager. Bonnie will discuss how to become a Girl Camper and highlight the Girl Camper events. Bonnie’s journey with Girl Camper began five years ago in Texas, where she started planning camping trips before moving to New...

When you’re out camping, there’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep. In this episode of The Girl Camper Podcast, Janine Pettit, Girl Camping Ambassador and Editor in Chief of Girl Camper Magazine, chats with Hailey Altobelli from RVMattress.com . They discuss essential tips and advice on finding the perfect mattress for your camper. Why RV Mattresses Matter During the conve...

Are you ready for an epic camping adventure? 🏕️ This Saturday, June 8th, is National Go RVing Day, and we’ve got a special treat for you on this week’s Girl Camper podcast! Join Janine and Lesa as they chat with Monica Geraci from Go RVing and the NRVIA. Monica, the Director of Public Relations and Communications for the RV Industry Association, shares her wealth of experience and insi...

Get ready for this week’s podcast episode 225 as we go behind the scenes into the adventurous world of RV Unplugged with Lesa McDermott & Mary Byrnes of Team Girl Camper! We’re thrilled to also have Todd Henson and Tony Flamnia, the creative masterminds behind the show. RV Unplugged is not your typical RV show. It combines the thrill of reality competition with the challenges and j...

Are you looking for unique places to camp? How about an alpaca farm or a museum? Have you ever thought of joining Harvest Hosts? In this podcast episode we visit with the folks at Harvest Host. Their locations are not only great for a stop over on your way to somewhere else, but they can also be your destination! With over 10,000+ locations across the country, a Harvest Host membership can give yo...

It’s National Bike Month and this week we are celebrating it at Girl Camper! On this week’s podcast episode we visit with Cameron Hahn of Buzz Bikes about e-bikes. Things you should know before you buy one, what to look for in one, what to avoid. AND Girl Camper has partnered with Buzz Bikes to give away their Cerana II e-bike! To enter to win, post a picture of you with a bike you wan...

Girl Camper’s Camper in Chief, Janine Pettit, V.P. of Operations, Lesa McDermott and Michigan Girl Camper Guide, Tracey Stieb, are revving up for an epic adventure down the Green River in Utah from July 8th to 14th, complete with thrilling rafting and starry camping nights. In this podcast, Lesa chats with Molly Mickel, the owner of Mild 2 Wild Rafting Company, about what to expect on this w...

Looking for a different way to cook good food at the campground? From steamed vegetables, to lasagna to fresh baked bread, in this episode of the podcast you can learn how as Lesa McDermott introduces Gustaf Lunden from Omnia Stovetop Ovens. Gustaf shares his background and the inception of Omnia, tracing its roots back to a marketing agency collaboration nearly two decades ago. He explains the co...

If creating memories, giving siblings, cousins and in-laws opportunities to bond, spending time outdoors with those you love the most all seem like worthy goals, this week’s show is for you. I am taking a look at three things you are going to want to get right in order to make multi generational camping a success.  The right rv  The right campground  The right attitude.  Stay t...

In Episode 219 of the Girl Camper podcast, co-host Janine Pettit delves into her personal journey and decision to embrace seasonal camping. Despite her initial reservations, Janine reflects on her extensive solo travels and the joy of discovering newfound independence in the great outdoors. However, life transitions, including becoming a grandmother and downsizing her living space, prompted her to...

We’re BACK! It’s the Girl Camper Podcast! With a new look, format, topics and so much more. Tune in to Camper in Chief Janine Pettit and Lesa McDermott to hear what Girl Camper has been up to these last few years and how you can be a Girl Camper too. Also available on YouTube! Please like our video and subscribe to the Girl Camper channel so you won’t miss any episode. https://yo...

When I see a vintage camper I am transported back to the camp outs of my youth! They hold so much in the way of charm and nostalgia for me. We did some tent camping and had a home made pop up that we rented from a neighbor each year. When we would walk around the campground I would always want to look inside the little trailers. When I returned to camping in 2006 I bought a 1959 Field and Stream w...

On this weeks show our topic is “reducing the chances of trailer theft.” All too often I see on social media a request to share a picture from a heart broken trailer owner who’s beloved trailer has been stolen . Frequently a trailer owner will come out to their driveway in the morning and find their trailer has been taken. I’m going to discuss some ways which you can help deter these thieves.

Girl Camper Guide Catherine Goggia is pinch hitting for me for the next two weeks while I am on a little sabbatical. She is taking us through her purchase of new trailer tires and explaining trailer tires (ST) versus regular tires (LT). Catherine is our Northern California Girl Camper Guide. She is an R Pod owner who grew up camping and encourages others to get out there and do things. She is the...

Have you been wondering how an outdoor enthusiast with a top rated TV show became the host of the number one RV Show in the country? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own a campground? On this week’s podcast, I turn the tables and interview my friend Alan Warren from the RV Show USA. Alan began his career in broadcasting by creating a TV show specializing in hunting and fishing...

If you are one of those who dream the full time RVing dream, – in technicolor, black and white, on the job and off, you will enjoy meeting Sandy Ellingson, Executive Director of RVWA, the Recreation Vehicle Women’s Alliance. Sandy Ellingson is the Executive Director of the RV Women’s Alliance After achieving empty nest status, Sandy, still working full time, and her retired husba...

Mary Kirlin, Girl Camper Contributing Editor has posted her new spring Gear Guide with her favorite hiking essentials! Mary lives in Northern California and frequently travels the Pacific Northwest where she hikes and captures beautiful photos. I invited Mary to contribute gear guides to Girl Camper because she is a dedicated researcher, loves finding companies with a conscience, and is aware of t...

If you want to travel with all the comforts of home but not need a big tow vehicle to do it, this is the podcast for you. In Episode 190 I shared five RV’s under 3K pounds that you can stand in. I had to leave quite a few off the list though and this week I am filling in that list with the box trailers that fit that bill. My criteria was that it had to be under 3 K pounds, have a bathroom an...

Have you wanted to have a truck but not something quite as big as a half ton? Are you wondering what light duty trucks out there will deliver on tow capacity, mileage and comfort? Mike Caudill is an auto expert, owner of Driven360 , experienced RVer and my guest today as we go over the top four light duty trucks. You can check out Mike’s product reviews at Our Auto Expert ! We have already c...

Have you harbored a dream of buying an RV and taking off for parts unknown? Do you dream of a life where you can make money on the road and live your best life but don’t know how to get started? My guest today is Jody Duquette, Executive Director of Workamper News. She’s sharing their newest program for those wanting to learn about the RV lifestyle. Jody Duquette The Dreamers Journey is a new prog...

We all have concerns when we head out and the best way to deal with fear is to acknowledge the possibilities and have a plan for if and when they happen. That is what we do here at Girl Camper, we educate new RVers and help them understand the principles of what may be happening and ways to counterbalance them. We have done many podcasts on safety from towing to tires to weight distribution hitche...

I can honestly say that I like every kind of camping. Resort RV Parks, State and National Parks, backyard camping and now I can add, dispersed camping to that list. On today’s show I am sharing my first experience camping on BLM land with no amenities at all, including roads! Last January I headed to Arizona to see what all the fuss was about. Hint -it’s the weather. Mid 70’s and...

It was my pleasure to head out into the Arizona desert in January to road test the Lance 650 truck camper. I have been fascinated with the idea of truck camping since I was a kid and my grandfather put a cap on his truck, two cots with a cooler between them in the bed and took off for Colorado. The whole idea of traveling around with your home on your back really appeals to a nester like me. A lit...

I have just returned from a visit with the good folks at Lance Manufacturing Company in Lancaster, California. I went out there to road test the Lance 650 truck camper. More on that in the coming weeks but, hint, hint… great way to enjoy road life and not tow. My full review of the 650 is coming out in the next two weeks. Lance started in California in 1965. They began as a manufacturer of t...

We’re on sabbatical this week and highlighting some of the top rated podcast episodes with a quick review. You can check out the full episode from this highly rated show right here!! This weeks show is a quick refresher on reducing the possibility of RV theft. While I am on sabbatical from the podcast I will be out in the Southwest checking out the happenings at Quartzsite while road testing...