From Non-Camper to Confident Camper: How One “Yes” Changed Carol Thompson’s Life

What if one camping trip changed your life? That’s exactly what happened to Carol Thompson, Girl Camper’s New Jersey Guide. When Carol first climbed into Janine Petitt’s tiny 10-foot vintage camper, she had never camped before. She wasn’t an outdoorsy person, had never taken a girls’ trip, and certainly didn’t picture herself towing a camper across the country. Today? She confidently tows her own RV, hosts Girl Camper events, mentors new campers, and has inspired countless women to discover that they can do more than they ever imagined. In this episode of the Girl Camper Podcast, Janine and Carol look back on more than 45 years of friendship and the camping adventures that transformed Carol’s life. In This Episode You’ll hear: How one invitation led Carol to discover camping The hilarious story of buying a $200 vintage camper What it felt like to tow her camper solo for the first time How camping gave her confidence that carried into the rest of her life Why Girl Camper is about so much more than camping The friendships that have become like family Along the way, Janine and Carol share plenty of laughs, unforgettable road trip stories, and honest moments about stepping outside your comfort zone. More Than Camping One of the most inspiring parts of Carol’s story is how her confidence grew over time. She went from following Janine on every camping trip to planning adventures of her own. She even conquered fears that had nothing to do with camping, including taking horseback riding lessons in her 50s after regretting skipping a trail ride on an early Girl Camper trip. Today, she’s the mentor she once needed, helping new campers learn everything from towing to campground setup. As Carol says, every camping trip teaches her something new, and she’s always happy to pass that knowledge on to another woman. Friendship Is the Real Destination While the conversation is full of funny camping stories, it’s really about something bigger. It’s about friendship. It’s about finding the confidence to try something new. And it’s about discovering a community of women who encourage one another every step of the way. As Janine says, camping may bring women together, but the friendships are what keep them coming back. Watch or Listen If you’ve ever wondered whether you could camp, tow an RV, or take that first solo adventure, Carol’s story is one you’ll want to hear. ▶️ Watch the full interview on YouTube. 🎧 Or listen wherever you enjoy podcasts. We’d love to hear from you! Have you ever said “yes” to something that changed your life? Tell us in the comments below. Looking for more inspiring Girl Camper stories? Check out Janine’s interview with Girl Camper Lisa Dempsey. Click Here. Thank You to Our Sponsors A special thank you to Progressive Insurance for sponsoring this episode of the Girl Camper Podcast. Whether you’re planning your next camping trip or a cross-country RV adventure, check out Progressive for your RV, auto, and other insurance needs. We’re also grateful to RV Mattress. Ready to upgrade the factory mattress in your RV? Use promo code GIRLCAMPER to save 30% on the RV Mattress of your choice and start enjoying a better night’s sleep wherever the road takes you. https://youtu.be/HFrwN3pXJDg