By Hollie Gibbs
As the days grow longer and the nights are getting warmer, many Clevelanders are looking forward to enjoying refreshments with friends, cooking on open flames, getting back to nature or perhaps sleeping in their vehicles.
Thanks to the abundance of campsites in the area, there is no shortage of places to break out a pop-up or pop up a tent and do just that. However, for those new to the area, short on friends who enjoy camping, looking for more people to share S’mores, or who just cannot get enough of the versatile pastime, the Lakewood Campers Club may be just what you’ve been seeking.
Formed in 1956, the club was initially sponsored by the Adult Recreation and Education Department of the city of Lakewood. It was the goal of the 13 charter families to promote camping as a family interest. Complete with a code of ethics, elected officers and newsletter, “Wheels and Canvas,” the club boasted around 250 members at its most popular point in the ’60s. Their camping season begins with a Mother’s Day weekend outing, including breakfast.
“At every outing we try to have a club sponsored thing, like campfire pies or an ice cream social, a way we can take some time each outing to try to get all the attending members together for something fun,” membership officer Craig Hendzel explained. “We usually schedule about 12-13 outings per camping season at all different campgrounds within about an hour and a half distance from the greater Cleveland area. Many are within an hour travel time.”
Don’t let the name fool you, though; the majority of the group’s 20 families live outside of Lakewood. The club is open to anyone who wants to camp, and members can pick and choose which outings to attend without requirements or minimums. There is a cross section of trailer and tent campers, and sites typically include water and electric hook-up.
Members typically save $3 to $7 per night camping with the club’s group rates (off of an average cost of $25 to $35 per night), which Hendzel said quickly makes up for the $12.50 annual dues. Dues cover the main course at Memorial Day and Labor Day dinners and other food and snacks at other events. (Oh, and each member gets a wooden name-plate that hangs on a sign while they attend an outing.)
Club members even get together for four potluck meetings throughout the winter.
Hollie Gibbs has a BS in journalism from Kent State University and studied photography at School of the Visual Arts in Manhattan. Her articles and photographs have appeared in numerous local and national publications. She can also be found playing guitar with various bands and building life-size monster props.