APPENDIX A
“Camper Activities in Yosemite Valley”
Study of 1937—1938
by Lemuel A. Garrison
originally published in
Vol. XVIII, Yosemite Nature Notes, No. 6, June 1939
(Reprinted in The Making of a Ranger)

An analysis of the travel into Yosemite National Park during 1938 showed that 41 percent were one-day visitors, 33 percent stayed at the Park Operator’s units, and 26 percent stayed in the free public campgrounds. However, when the length of stay of all three groups was considered, a totally different picture developed. Out of the 1,233,500 visitor days in Yosemite Valley between May 1 and September 30, the campers in free campgrounds with their longer average stay, accounted for 59 percent of the total days’ use; those who stayed at the Park Operator’s units accounted for 28 percent, while the one-day trippers dropped to 13 percent. Thus, it would seem that in any study of the problem of overcrowding in Yosemite Valley, it would have a direct bearing if we could determine the appeals that brought in the close to 20,000 campers and led them to stay an average of nearly seven days apiece. With this thought in mind, during the summers of 1937 and 1938, questionnaires were distributed to the campers to try to determine camper interests. If a direct question were asked—“Why do you want to camp in Yosemite Valley?”—Many of the visitors would be unable to formulate a truthful and satisfactory reply. They quite honestly didn’t know exactly why they came. Rather, an indirect approach was used to find out what the campers did and then assume that these things were the ones that interested them the most.
No effort was made to contact all of the campers. In 1938 the questionnaire covered only 1,572 cases, about 2 percent of the campers. To obtain this many samples, 2,140 papers were distributed, giving us a return of 74 percent, which is very high for this type of survey. It is a good indication of public cooperation.
In distributing the questionnaires, a carefully prepared schedule was followed which took account of three variables as determined from the I 937 statistics. First, the percentage of the total population in the different camps, thus allowing for any differences in the quality of population. Second, the week of the camping season, in case there should be any difference in the class of campers at different times during the summer. Third, the day of the week, to distinguish between the midweek and weekend visitors, and sample them both alike.
When a test of this type is used more than once, the correlation between the results of different samplings, or between the samplings of different years, is a fairly reliable index to the adequacy of the sampling and the reliability of the results. Using this criterion, the correlation of .968 between the 1937 and 1938 results would indicate that this test has measured fairly accurately the activities of the Yosemite Valley campers.
Prior to the listing of the general activities, some questions were included on which information was wanted. Question One asked:
“For cooking do you use ( ) Gasoline Stove ( ) Campfire ( ) Both?”
The results show that 57 percent of all campers used gasoline stoves exclusively, 16 percent a campfire, and 23 percent both. Miscellaneous and no answer, 4 percent. The interesting thing on this tabulation is that 60 percent of the campers at least had gasoline stoves with them. This figure was exactly the same in the 1937 questionnaire. Of course, the shortage of firewood in Yosemite Valley may have something to do with the number of people coming here who bring stoves with them, and this percentage might not be applicable to other campgrounds in other areas.
Part two of the same question asked:
“Do you have a campfire of your own in the evening? ( ) Yes ( ) No.”
Fifty-two percent indicated that they had an evening campfire, 42 percent did not, and 6 percent did not answer the question. Certainly this is an interesting item. It probably illustrates more clearly than any other one the extreme changes there have been in camping habits in the past twenty years. Formerly, the communal spirit of sitting round an evening campfire, talking, singing, and telling stories, was considered one of the prime advantages of going camping. However, the present condition is right in line with modern social trends which do not give much emphasis to self-entertainment in the evening, or any other time. Obviously if 42 percent do not have evening campfires, this same 42 percent must not stay “at home” in the evening. And, if they do not stay in their own camp, they must go to some of the entertainments provided: talks, programs, dances, and shows. And, there are some advantages to this. It reduces the number of fires and the consequent scattering of ashes, which are detrimental to tree growth. Also it provides an opportunity to expose these visitors to some of our National Park Service educational efforts.
These figures are particularly interesting in connection with planning any campground layouts. Obviously each camp will not need a cooking type of fireplace. Possibly the best equipment would be a fire layout that could be used either for cooking or an open fire in the evening, with fires confined to these places only.
Question Two:
“Have you ever camped before in Yosemite Valley? ( ) Yes ( ) No. How many times?”
On the 1938 questionnaire, 54 percent had camped here before as compared with 51 percent in 1937. In 1938, 43 percent had not camped here before, and 48 percent in 1937. The balance did not answer the question. Average number of times was 3.67 for the 1938 group, and 3.36 for the 1937 group. One interpretation of these figures would be that the percentage of our “permanent” camp population is increasing slightly and along with that is a normal increase in the average number of visits. Apparently those who come in time after time must be satisfied. Figures from the 1937 questionnaire indicate that 11 percent of all campers had never been camping before. Reasoning from this, it would seem logical that the acceptance of overcrowding, and the casual toleration of camp surroundings far removed from the normal forest environment they supposedly come to seek, is at least in part a responsibility of the Park Service. The people don’t know any better, merely taking what is offered. If many of them were forced to move to a really isolated spot, it would scare them out. Observation further bears this out. In the fall, when camps become scattered, many people move just to be near to other camps.
Also, if this observed increase of the percentage of repeaters is a true increase and not a minor fluctuation due to inadequate sampling, we may expect an increase of campers year by year, assuming that the number of newcomers remains about constant. This makes a study of what they do and why they come of even more interest to the park administration.
Question Three asked for an indication of age group. Results were: No answer, 2 percent; over 50, 16 percent. 31-50, 46 percent; 26-30, 13 percent; 21-25, 13 percent; 15-20, 10 percent. One reason for getting this data was to determine if the younger part of the campground population—age fifteen to twenty—was really as high a percentage as it seemed, or if they were mainly conspicuous by reason of their greater activity, noise, and spectacular dress. A Forest Service questionnaire used in 1937 gave only 7 percent for this group. It would have seemed reasonable to assume that this figure was off by at least 15 percent. However, our figures indicate that the juveniles are really only a minor part of the camp population picture. By comparison, the 1930 U.S. Census figures give 9.5 percent as the number in this age group.
Question Four:
“In choosing a campground, do you prefer one that is (1 ) , busy and near the center of things, or (2 ), quiet, several miles from a recreational center?”
On this question the answers were about even, with a slight majority preferring the busy campgrounds. The results in 1937 were the same. There does not seem to be much room for doubt that the Yosemite Valley campgrounds are “Busy and near the center of things,” rather than “Quiet, several miles from a recreational center;” and under those circumstances the most obvious conclusion is that about half of the campers do not know what a really isolated campground is like. There have been a number of contributing factors to this situation. Many visitors date their camping experience to the construction of good roads to the mountains, bringing crowds that overloaded the existing campgrounds. And, as new campgrounds were opened, even if there were room for only very few campsites, these were put right beside each other for greater ease of administration. So, again, if many of the visitors think they are in a really quiet and isolated spot when they camp in Yosemite Valley, the responsibility for this misapprehension is not theirs. There has been no opportunity to learn anything different.
Further along this line, the campers in Camps 11 and 12 furnish the majority of those voting for a “quiet” campground. Relatively speaking, Camps 11 and 12 are more quiet than Camp 14, yet they are still short of an ideally isolated camp. Thus, we have campers coming in here because it is a busy place with many things to do located in one area, while others come in sincere in the belief that because they go across the river or the road to Camps 11 and 12, they are in a quiet place. It provides considerable insight into the mental processes of the campers to learn this.
Question Five
This question listed fifteen campgrounds in Yosemite National Park outside the valley, and along automobile roads, and asked if any of the campers had at any time used these campgrounds. Twenty percent checked one or more of the outlying camps. The most popular of these camps in the order named were: Tuolumne Meadows, Mariposa Grove, Tenaya Lake, Glacier Point, Wawona, White Wolf, and Yosemite Creek.
Part two of the same question asked reasons for camping in the valley this time if the camper had checked the first part of the question. Eight reasons were given for checking with write-ins requested. Of the eight listed, the three most outstanding were: more diversified recreation for all the family, more conveniences, and a more extensive naturalist program. Following were: better recreation provided for children, more company, dances, bears less bothersome than in outlying camps, and better advertised. The write-ins were sporadic, totaling only twenty-five. Of these, seven wrote in “I like it,” evidently a vague, nostalgic sort of feeling towards the place.
These results tend to prove what was suspected—that the lure of the Yosemite Valley campgrounds is mainly in the things to do and the conveniences provided. Good roads, piped water, and modern comfort stations seem to outweigh the call of the wild in most campers’ minds. The easiest thing to do is the one that gets done. Consequently, the easiest place to drive, and the one where there is the least thinking to do about recreation, is the one that is used. This throws some light on the problem of encouraging the use of the outlying camps. To accomplish much along these lines it will probably be necessary to make these camps seem as attractive as Yosemite Valley. This attraction would not be limited to the provision of all the physical details of a well-equipped camp, but would include things to do— drives, hikes, and programs. After all, one of Yosemite’s chief charms is that it is almost an ideal camping place for families. There are recreations geared to every age group. If the outlying camps are to compete with the valley attractions, either these same attractions must he installed in reasonable amount, or the valley entertainment curtailed.
Question Six:
This question listed twenty-three activities and asked for check marks to indicate in which of them the visitor participated while in the valley. Since the correlation between this list in 1938 and the one in 1937 is .968, the 1937 list is omitted, and only the 1938 rating given here. “Museum Visits” came first in visitor participation with 80 percent. This was followed by “Hikes With Own Party,” 75 percent; “Drives to Scenic Points,” 71 percent; “Bear Feeding and Talks,” 69 percent; “Just Resting,” 62 percent; “Camp 14 Program,” 57 percent; “Visit Museum Garden,” 55 percent; “Campfire Program, Own Campground,” 53 percent; “Visit Indian Demonstration,” 51 percent, and “Swimming in the River,” 50 percent.
Following these first eleven items, there was a definite break in the percentages. Fishing interested 21 percent, as did dances. Twenty percent read in the Museum library. The same number—17 percent —went bicycling and attended nature hikes. Sixteen percent joined the auto caravan, and 13 percent swam in the Lodge or Curry Pool. Ten percent went to movies, and 5 percent on horseback trips. Three percent played tennis, and 1 percent took tours by bus. Only five played golf—less than one-half of 1 percent.
When these items were listed by campgrounds, the average correlation between the camps was .955. This is so high that it is safe to assume that there is no great difference among the various campgrounds as to the amount, extent, or priority of participation in the various activities. While the visitors in Camp 11 voted 81 percent in favor of a quiet campground, they then took part in nearly as many activities as those in Camp 7 who voted 65 percent in favor of a busy camp. Also, there was no appreciable difference in the quality of the activities they liked. This further bears out the idea that the majority of those who state that they favor a “quiet” campground really don’t know what they mean.
The average number of activities per person was 8.03. On the basis of age groups, the number of activities showed a steady increase from 7.40 for those over fifty, to 8.83 for those fifteen to twenty. There was no significant difference among the various campgrounds as to the number of activities.
Question Seven:
This question asked for double-checking of the three items in which there was the most frequent participation. It represents the repeat value of any activity. Obviously a visitor might like to go fishing every day while one auto caravan might satisfy him—not that he has seen it all, but he has seen all that interests him. Thus, there is a qualitative difference that might normally be expected to show up in these tabulations. Also, a length of stay has considerable bearing on the results of this question, but inasmuch as there were some campers who stayed the full thirty days and double checked four or five items, as well as those who stayed only one or two days and double-checked none at all, it was felt that this factor would about average up the data as a whole. The percentages given represent the number of those participating in an activity who then double-checked it, and have no direct relation to the total number checking an item:
“Hikes with Own Party,” 45 percent; “Fishing,” 45 percent; “Swimming in River,” 44 percent; “Drives to Scenic Points,” 41 percent; “Camp 14 Program,” 39 percent; “Naturalist Conducted Hikes,” 37 percent; “Campfire Programs, Own Campground,” 36 percent; “Dances,” 35 percent; “Just Resting,” 34 percent; “Curry Program,” “Horseback Trips,” and “Tennis,” 23 percent. The rest tapered on down to “Visits to Indian Demonstration,” with 6 percent.
In applying these figures, it would seem reasonable that the activities having a high repeat value should be those stressed in any development of outstanding campgrounds planned to relieve the load in Yosemite Valley. Trails for hikes, heavy planting of fish nearby, a good swimming pool in a lake or stream, drives, and a campfire program area.
Of this list, fishing seems to be the item which is most likely to misinterpretation. Observation indicates that usually the man of the family is the one who goes fishing while the rest of the group takes in other activities. Thus, since father is presumably the boss and must be consulted in choosing a vacation site, fishing would play a far more important part in the general picture than might be indicated by the number fishing.
Further, in planning developments elsewhere, care must be taken to include items having an appeal to the whole family. Of this list, the educational opportunities for children offered would be quite important. There are few incentives more powerful in influencing parents than that of offering educational advantages for children.
Written comments were asked for on every page. Thirty-nine percent wrote a comment of some type. Nearly half of these implied general approval by some phrase such as “Swell,” “O.K.,” Perfect!,” or “Well pleased.” The rest of the comments were divided among criticisms of sanitation, roads, Yosemite Park and Curry Company operations, praise for rangers and ranger-naturalists, and a general miscellany of odds and ends. Here, as in most of the items on the questionnaires, the public cooperation in filling them out was highly satisfactory.
From special tabulations the following data are taken: (1) Of all campers, 40 percent had children of school age. (2) There was an average participation of 50 percent in the “Indigenous” activities; 46 percent in the “Educational” activities; and 18 percent in the “Exotic” types of activity. These figures were exactly the same on the 1937 study. (3) If only one activity was joined, “Just Resting” was the most frequently indicated. If two were marked, “Hikes with Own Party” were added. If three activities were checked, there was time for “Museum Visits,” or “Drives to Scenic Points.” If four activities were indicated, “Visits to the area below the Old Village to see the bears and hear the talks” were added to the list.
In conclusion, probably one of the most interesting results of this study was the amount of camper cooperation received. Most of the campers are substantial, reasonable individuals with a feeling of love and respect for Yosemite. The manner of presentation of any problem to them will largely determine the response, as they start with a very friendly attitude towards the Park Service and would be glad to be of help in supporting moves that seem reasonable. In other words, it might well be possible to increase the quality of use in Yosemite Valley by a well thought-out, aggressive, educational campaign. Certainly some of the problems now facing the National Park Service, both in the campgrounds and in other areas, might be ameliorated by presenting them and a proposed solution to the people who create them.
Certainly campers are human beings with human, understandable ways of thought and action. It is interesting to know what they consider worth doing on their visits to Yosemite Valley, and still more interesting to get some insight into their mental reactions to the conditions they meet while here.