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Are the youth of today likely to keep caravanning alive?

Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Amy Hodge
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The Big Issue image of Punch and Judy

Do you think younger generations will keep caravanning? Or do you think that fewer people are taking up the hobby? Our caravanners battle it out in this month's debate.

YES SAYS: Rebecca Adams
Today’s youth will keep caravanning alive provided they have been attracted to the lifestyle, and that they enjoy it.

I also believe the economic downturn is working in favour of caravanning. It makes sense. Both adults and children soon realise the many reasons to do away with those overpriced package holidays – long queues at airports, cancelled flights, grotty accommodation.

And if money has to stretch even further, then no matter where you live, there are places to discover close to home.

Once the family is ensconced in the caravan, this is where the true meaning of a family holiday emerges. Do kids really enjoy being plastered with factor 30 sunscreen, and hiding away in sweltering temperatures of 40 degrees? Or, would they like to spend time making new friends on site, and settling down to sleep, knowing Mum and Dad are just alongside, revving up the barbecue for an evening without the worry of who will babysit and who will drive?

The global economic meltdown is playing right into the hands of caravanning – here’s to a glorious future for our wonderful hobby!

NO SAYS: Gus Donald
Around 30 years ago it was normal for families to be seen on sites, as well as on rallies and meets of the two major clubs. Today it is far rarer, because families seem to have grown apart, with ‘couch potato’ kids preferring to spend their free time on the computer, or watching TV, while their parents are busy earning enough to pay the mortgage.

Much of this is related to the fact that, whereas 30 or more years ago, many mothers stayed at home to look after the children, but now they go out to work and their offspring are alone for longer periods. As a result, they are less likely to have the same interests as their parents, so the thought of the whole family sharing a weekend or more in a caravan is the last thing that interests them. Add to this the fact that, because of work, parents don’t have as much time to caravan as they did 30 or 40 years ago and it isn’t surprising that their kids don’t get a real taste for it.

So it’s definitely becoming a case of what you don’t have, you don’t miss. All we can hope for is that the increasing cost of foreign travel, delays at airports and so on, will result in the pendulum swinging back!

Have your say
Here’s your chance to tell us your views on this issue.

We love it
‘I’m not sure if we are classed as the youth of today, but my husband and I are 34 and 29, and we bought a caravan last summer. It’s a 1994 Lunar Mercury and we love it! We’re not into foreign holidays and we can’t wait until next spring to be out again in the caravan – we’re already talking about upgrading.’
Lyndsay Brown, Barnsley, South Yorkshire

It’s not cool
‘Our two children, now 19 and 21, loved caravanning with us until they became teenagers, at which point it was deemed ‘uncool’. We hope they will return to the pastime in the future, but – as the pair of them are currently living it up in a villa on the Spanish coast each summer – I’m afraid we don’t hold out much hope at the moment!’
Rachel Wright, Hull

Back to basics
‘The youth of today is far more concerned about the environment these days, and, let’s face it, a week in a caravan is far more eco-friendly than jetting off abroad. Not to mention that you don’t have to worry about the airline going bust before you fly home! If anything, I predict caravanning will become more popular.’
Jason Pearce, Buckinghamshire

Virtual reality
‘All the youth of today seem to enjoy is spending hours playing video games (which are often shockingly violent) and meeting strangers over the internet. The simple pleasures of the beautiful British countryside and our wonderful heritage seem lost on the vast majority of them. I can’t see them enjoying caravanning, now or in the future.’
Frank Jones, Cornwall

What’s your view?
Here’s a list of future debates in Caravan – what’s your opinion? Send your views to our normal address or email us at caravan@ipcmedia.com. Please put THE BIG ISSUE on your correspondence.

* May – Are there too many rules on campsites?
* June – Modern caravans: are we getting obsessed with specification?