Camping is big and getting bigger. No one knows where it will stop. Almost every official who reflects on it thinks this movement of Americans to canvas dwellings opens one of the most promising of all outdoor markets. You read various guesses on how many Americans are camping. The number depends on who is talking at the moment. The figures range as high as 15 million families. I've heard 10 million mentioned often, but I'm more inclined to think there may be a total of some five to seven million families camping. Seven million families would total 30 million Americans or more. Consider the equipment needed to protect this many from the weather, to make their cooking easy and their sleeping comfortable.

Harassed state park officials often have more campers than they know what to do with. They are struggling to meet the demand for camping space, but families are being turned away, especially on holiday weekends. The National Parks, always popular camping places, are facing the same pressure. The National Park Service hopes by 1966 to have 30000 campsites available for 100000 campers a day -- almost twice what there are at present. The U. S. Forest Service cares for hundreds of thousands of campers in its 149 National Forests and is increasing its facilities steadily.

But the campers still come. They bring their families and tents and camp kitchens and bedding. They bring their fishing rods and binoculars and bathing suits. They come prepared for family fun because Americans in ever growing numbers are learning that here is the way to a fine economical vacation that becomes a family experience of lasting importance.