Episodes

Hello, Girl Camper family! We’re thrilled to share an exciting update from the Fort Myers RV show where Janine Pettit, founder of Girl Camper and editor in chief of Girl Camper Magazine, teams up with RV industry veteran Mike Harlan. The event promises insights and fun for RV enthusiasts and new campers alike! **Meet Industry Pioneer Mike Harlan** Janine welcomes Mike Harlan, the dynamic general manager of North Trail RV in Fort Myers. Mike has been a foundational supporter of Girl Camper since...

Girl Camper’s 2025 New Year Resolutions Welcome to another year with Girl Camper! In our latest podcast episode, we dive into New Year’s resolutions for 2025 with Janine Pettit, Lesa McDermott, and Girl Camper guides. For 2025, our focus is on embracing the outdoors, tackling personal challenges, and building community. **Resolutions or Goals?** Janine opens the discussion, sharing her desire to spend more time camping locally with friends. For Janine, it’s about reconnecting with simple pleas...

As we wrap up an incredible year at Girl Camper, we’re excited to share highlights from 2024 and offer a glimpse into what 2025 holds. This year was all about growth, particularly in our thriving community. We reintroduced our podcast, expanded our Facebook group to over 430,000 members, and fostered meaningful connections at 200 events nationwide. **Adventures on the Road** Our adventures took us across the globe, from the Black Hills of South Dakota to Ireland, and featured unforgettable trip...

The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by sharing cherished traditions? On this special episode of the Girl Camper podcast, Janine Pettit joins forces with Lesa McDermott as they invite guides from across the country to share their unique holiday customs. **Warm Traditions Shared** Janine and her family embrace the joy of Christmas by gifting ornaments that capture the essence of each passing year, alongside cozy Christmas pajamas for the kids. Lesa, meanwhile, sha...

Hey Girl Campers! If you want to try a new outdoor adventure, tune in to this episode of the Girl Camper podcast. Host Janine Pettit talks with Amy Arnold, the Marketing Director of Roam America Campgrounds. Roam America is changing the camping experience by offering modern amenities at beautiful locations. **Horseshoe Bend: A Desert Getaway** First, let’s explore Roam America’s Campground near Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona. This campground is surrounded by stunning mesas, making it a perfect...

On this episode of the Girl Camper Podcast, Lesa McDermott visits with Eva Mitic, the marketing manager from Go Power Solar. If you’ve been contemplating adding solar to your RV or have questions about what it can do, this podcast episode is your go-to resource. Eva breaks it down on what what equipment is needed and makes it easy to understand. **Advantages of Solar Power** Eva highlights the key benefits of solar power for RVs—it’s a renewable resource offering free, quiet energy from the sun...

Welcome to the Girl Camper podcast! Today, we’re diving into the best tips for snagging camping deals just in time for Travel Tuesday, your guide to budget-friendly adventures in 2025. **Understanding Travel Tuesday** While Travel Tuesday might sound new, it’s a great time to scoop up deals for your 2025 camping adventures. Much like Cyber Monday, it brings unique opportunities for savvy travelers. But our tips in today’s show, can be used all year round! **Maximizing Booking Platforms** Great...

As the holiday season approaches, many of us find ourselves preparing to host gatherings or visit friends and family as their guest. But what does it take to be a gracious host or a considerate guest? Whether you’re opening your home or traveling to someone else’s, these tips will help make the experience enjoyable for everyone involved. **Tips for Being a Great Host** 1. **Preparation is Key**: Ensure your home is guest-ready by providing essentials like bathrobes, towels, snacks, and toiletri...

Join Janine Pettit and Lesa McDermott as they share their first-ever Girl Camper holiday gift guide and ideas. From practical camper gear to luxurious alpaca sweaters, these camper enthusiasts reveal their top picks without knowing what’s on each other’s lists, making for a fun surprise-filled episode. They discuss everything from favorite camping-inspired books and high-quality clothing to amazing gadgets and delicious treats, complete with product recommendations and personal anecdotes. Don’t ...

Exploring the Journey of Seasonal Camping with Janine Pettit on the Girl Camper Podcast Ever wondered what it’s like to set up a home-away-from-home at a campground for an entire season? Janine Pettit, co-host of the Girl Camper podcast, dives into her first season as a seasonal camper. She unpacks the highs, the lows, and all the lessons in between. Janine’s journey wasn’t just about setting a camper down and calling it home. It was about embracing a new lifestyle and creating a base where fr...

Hi everyone, Janine Pettit here from the Girl Camper podcast! Recently, I was thrilled to have an inspiring conversation with David Arias, co-founder of Pull Start Fire. It’s a game-changing product that every outdoor enthusiast should know about because it makes lighting a campfire effortless. **The Inspiration Behind Pull Start Fire** Pull Start Fire was born from pure necessity. Mechanical engineering student Mike Beyrodt invented the product after a frigid camping trip left him without a fi...

In this episode of the Girl Camper podcast, hosts Lesa McDermott and Janine Pettit take listeners and viewers on a visual journey through the Hershey RV Show, showcasing some of the coolest new RV trends and small RV models for 2025. The key segment features interviews with industry representatives discussing lightweight campers, twin bed models, and innovative features found in new smaller RVs. They highlight models from NuCamp, Aliner, inTech, and Forest River, pointing out unique elements lik...

Hi there, fellow adventurers! In this episode of the Girl Camper Podcast, we delve into the challenges of camping etiquette that many of us face at campgrounds. Do you have good camping manners? Let’s unravel the frequent debates we have on our podcast ‘Are You a Crappy Camper?’ focusing on communal water spigots and campsite boundaries. **Water Spigot Woes** Campsites often provide communal water spigots, meant for collective use by campers. But what’s the appropriate use for these water sourc...

In the spirit of adventure and empowerment, we’re thrilled to extend an invitation to join our community as a Girl Camper Guide. If you’re someone who thrives in the great outdoors and has a passion for inspiring others, this might be your opportunity to lead and inspire fellow adventurers. In this episode of the Girl Camper Podcast, Janine interviews Resa Leppert, the Girl Camper guide manager on what it means to be a Girl Camper Guide. Ready to hear a little extra money? Ready to empower and e...

As camping enthusiasts, we’re always on the hunt for the best equipment to elevate our outdoor adventures. This season, go beyond the basics with some game-changing gear that will ensure your camping experience is both comfortable and memorable. Here are Girl Camper’s Favorite Camping Essentials for 2024… Sleep in Comfort First up, the Cloud Layer Sleeping Bag by Sylvan Sport is a must-have for seasonal campers. Its clever design with multiple layers and ease of washing is a blessing, especiall...

Hello, friends! I’m Lesa McDermott, co-host of the Girl Camper podcast. Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Jim Wheeler, Director of Hospitality and RV Operations at Love’s Travel Stops, to explore everything RVers need to know about stopping at Love’s and why they are a top pick for me to overnight at when I’m traveling. Why Girl Campers Should Chose Love’s Travel Stops? Love’s Travel Stops offer RV travelers convenient access to essential amenities like fuel, showers, food, propane,...

Welcome to today’s Girl Camper podcast! We are excited to share our latest episode, featuring Curtis Hemmeler, the Executive Director of the RV Technical Institute (RVTI). With 74 million Americans planning to take an RV trip in the next year, the demand for skilled RV technicians is skyrocketing. Curtis joined Lesa McDermott to discuss why now is the perfect time to consider a career as an RV tech. Here’s a recap of their conversation. The RV Technical Institute: A Brief Overview The RV Techn...

In this episode, we chat about the fun – and sometimes frustrating – experiences we all encounter at the campground. From unexpected incidents with kids to issues involving gas station etiquette, our stories cover it all. Campground Don’ts One story from a fellow Girl Camper, Ellen, sparks a lively debate. Ellen recounts a situation where a 13-year-old boy pees a little too close to her tent. The group’s reactions were divided, with over 700 comments flooding our Facebook page. The burning ques...

Welcome to another episode of the Girl Camper Podcast! I’m your host, Lesa McDermott, and today I had the pleasure of interviewing overlanding legend, Patty Upton. Known for her extraordinary journey across the daunting Darien Gap, Patty’s story is one of adventure, resilience, and unyielding spirit. Introduction Patty Upton, alongside her husband, Lauren, achieved what many deemed impossible. They successfully traversed the Darien Gap, a perilous and nearly impassable stretch in Central Americ...

Welcome everyone! I’m Lesa McDermott, co-host of the Girl Camper podcast. We’re thrilled to share insights on the much-anticipated Hershey RV Show, taking place next week. Joining us today is Heather Leach, the executive director of the Pennsylvania RV and Camping Association, who sponsors America’s largest RV show. Meet Heather Leach Heather’s role involves everything from advocacy and legislative work to organizing the Hershey RV Show. The show runs from September 11th to 15th (2024) and show...

Welcome, adventurers! Today, Janine Pettit is thrilled to share an incredible story from our podcast, featuring Retha Charette, a.k.a. the Roaming Nanny. As a Girl Camping Ambassador, Editor in Chief of Girl Camper Magazine, and a proud mom of a thru-hiker of the Appalachian Trail, it’s Janine’s honor to dive deep into Retha’s exhilarating journey. **Meet Retha Charette** Retha, a lifelong outdoor enthusiast from Massachusetts, now resides in Southern Vermont. Her hiking escapades began in earn...

Welcome to Another Episode of "Are You a Crappy Camper?” Hi everyone! I'm Janine Pettit, and with my co-host Lesa McDermott, we bring you another episode of the Girl Camper podcast. Today, we delve deep into two hot topics for campers: dogs and generators at campgrounds. **Dog Etiquette at the Campground** Having 400,000 members in our Facebook group means plenty of lively discussions, especially about pets. One notable comment from Andrea shared an experience at a KOA campground where a nearby ...

Camping offers a serene escape from the hustle of daily life, but it's crucial to prioritize safety. In a recent podcast episode of Girl Camper, Lori Osmond from Damsel in Defense shared invaluable tips on how to enhance your safety while camping, traveling, and boondocking. **Introduction** Lori Osmond, a former teacher and search and rescue expert, has spent over a decade empowering women to stay safe through Damsel in Defense. Her mission revolves around three pillars: protecting, preparing, ...

Meet Ali Rasmussen and Spacious Skies Campground Welcome, friends! Today, we're thrilled to introduce you to Ali Rasmussen, the visionary founder of Spacious Skies Campground. Alongside her husband, Ali has transformed her love for the outdoors into a thriving empire of campgrounds that span across the country. Currently, they boast 15 locations, making it possible for families to reconnect with nature in a variety of beautiful settings. Unlikely Beginnings What makes Ali's story so compelling i...