This story was updated in June 2023. It was first published Aug. 9, 2022.
One of the best things about living in Canada is that there is a lot of land, and we know how good being in nature is for us. It’s no wonder being in nature is an essential part of our lives. It’s at least part of the reason pretending to be into camping is damn near mandatory for any online dating profile. Although like many things in Nova Scotia, camping is hard to do without access to money or a car.
A brand-new set of camping gear from MEC or the Trail Shop can be quite pricey. But the good news is that many people with more money than sense buy new stuff for new hobbies, use it once, then sell it on Kijiji. The cheapest way to get an idea if camping is for you—and the option to borrow equipment from a friend is not available—is to grab some cheap stuff on Kijiji or one of the discount department stores, like Canadian Tire. Then if you like camping, upgrade to higher-quality gear piecemeal; if you don’t like camping, sell your cheap things on the cheap, online.
If you have a car and can make it to Kejimkujik, the other option is to rent camping gear. MEC used to rent camping gear before COVID and may again, but currently do not. The good news is that renting equipment from the Trail Shop is back on. Renting equipment is also an option for Dalhousie students.
There are also federal and provincial programs to help people learn how to camp. The federal program Learn-to Camp is a series of workshops introducing people to camping. In Nova Scotia, it’s offered to new immigrants through ISANS or the YMCA.
The province also has a program called Learn 2 Camp, which has now been restarted after COVID. The program details are on the linked page.
The best way to see if you like camping is to gather the basics of what you need: A tent, something to sleep on like a yoga mat, a pillow, some blankets that can get dirty, a pot and something to cook with like this hanging grill or this propane canister element. And make sure you have some food and some entertainment. Then the question becomes, where to go?
The easiest answer is Keji. It’s the best place to see the stars; the backcountry campsites are easy to access and well organized with wood, tent pads, outhouses and bear rope. Also, it’s one of the few places with gear rental available.
Luckily Nova Scotia is a beautiful province. If the hike out to Keji isn't in the cards camp sites at provincial parks, some of which are in the HRM, can be booked here.