Been camping all my life, ever since I was a kid with my parents. Only for a short time in my life did I have a circle of "buddies" and that was when I was 11 to 15 years old. Mom and Dad took their camper where they could pay for the entire summer. Others did also. Over those years, there were about 5 families and everyone had boys about the same age, given a year or two either direction. We became good friends over the years. But as time moves on, as we all entered into adulthood, each one whet their separate ways and I've not heard from any of them in over 40 years now.
As an adult myself, we've really never made "camping" friends. I don't think we've ever run into the same person twice, in over the last 30 years of camping.
We have camped with family in the past. I belonged to a church once and the men had an annual fishing trip they went on. If you have a camper, you shared bed space with someone who did not have one. And if you had a boat, you shared boat space with someone who did not have one. It was an annual event, I went twice (when we had our pop-up), and it was a great time we had.
Then once we went camping with another family we knew from work. Actually, there were 4 of us that had campers and we planned a long week-end together.
Now to be HONEST with you .... my wife and I prefer to not go camping with someone we already know, work with, family, or have some kind of association with because of an organization (religious or other). Actually, we have found we prefer not having to engage on someone elses schedule or expectations. We have found our interests are simply too boring for "active" campers. We don't consume alcohol (except a little wine on very special occasions), and definitely don't have any "wild hairs" left in our old bones. I think all of our "wild hairs" have been pulled out one-by-one.
We do really enjoy engaging in a conversion, or sitting around a neighbors campfire and enjoying the "moment". But the "moment" is really all we expect from a short term acquaintance. Maybe that's because I've lived a transient life, college, employment in several states for a year or two and then moving, the military, and job changes. Old friends make better friends on Facebook than in person we have learned.
I know this may not answer your question as you were expecting. But I think, if you are looking to develop camping friendships, your best avenue is to camp in campgrounds where others your same age camp (state, federal, and private campgrounds), and stay away from "RV Resorts" that are designed for "old farts" like me! Once at the campground, just strike up a conversation with someone and see if it develops into a friendship. Be prepared to say "bye" when you check-out and never see them again. Or, make friend and keep them friends on Facebook to keep in touch, find out where they are camping and perhaps even plan to cross paths at the same campground sometimes. In today's age of technology, they my be the best way to do it.
Good luck, and if we are ever in the same campground and our paths meet, I'll glady share a campfire with you, and we'll swap stories. Who knows, what may become of it. You're the same age as my son.
