Andie Balenger photo At the base of Kite Lake, I do “The Hunger Games” three-finger salute in reference to the second film, when poisonous clouds were introduced to the arena. This picture was taken just after we finished setting up our tent, and just before the rain started to pour down.

At the end of this semester, I will be embarking on a weekend camping trip for my outdoor living skills class. This trip will be one of the most outdoorsy things I have ever done in my life. Not only will I be carrying a hiking pack full of my food and clothing for the entire weekend, but it will also contain my tent, sleeping bag, and all other essentials needed to survive in the outdoors.

Over the past 10 weeks, I have been learning the ins and outs of backcountry camping — including methods of water treatment, campsite selection, and human waste disposal. I have also been working with a classmate to ensure we have packed the right amount of food to sustain our caloric needs for the three days we are out in the wild.

While incredibly excited to be isolated with a few classmates in the great outdoors, the entire preparation process has me a bit nervous. As someone who considers themselves to be well-versed in the camping arena, this class has opened my eyes to a whole new realm of outdoor recreation. This revelation inspired me to reflect on the several types of camping styles and my experience with each.

The most comfortable camping style would be staying at a cottage or rustic cabin. Whether a family camp or a rental, these shelters usually come equipped with electricity and (if you are lucky) running water. They are also fully furnished, which means you will not have to sacrifice the coziness of clean sheets and a mattress for your vacation.

While I cherish my family camp and its amenities, it is not the first thing that comes to mind when I hear the word “camping.” In my opinion, cabins provide too much comfort and accessibility to the outside world, which is something I am trying to escape when adventuring outdoors.

A step up from a rustic cabin would be using a camper, which includes anything from a pop-up to an RV. I would throw renovated camper vans into this category as well. Campers are great because they are mobile, secure, and oftentimes have standard amenities — like a kitchen sink or bathroom.

I lovingly refer to this type of camping as “glamping,” or glamorous camping. Yes, you may cook s’mores over the campfire and lounge in an uncomfortable lawn chair, but you still have access to tools that can put you at ease if something were to go wrong. While campers can technically be hauled into the woods, they are most commonly seen in rows with several others — almost like a mobile suburb.

Growing up, my family owned a camper and we would spend our summers traveling from one campground to the next. While fun, especially if your friends were staying at the same campground, this type of camping does not provide you with the tranquility that other types have to offer.

For those who are a bit more comfortable in the outdoors, drive-in camping (or car camping) would be a step up from glamping. This style of camping is defined by the fact that you are quite literally living out of your car. You can either drive to a remote campsite and pitch a tent, or you can choose to sleep in your vehicle if you have enough room. All of your supplies stay stored in your car, and all of your meals must fit in a cooler.

Car camping is what I do whenever I go on a hiking trip. I find it to be a bit more extreme than glamping, but I still have an escape route (my car) if things go wrong. Car camping is really what you make it. You can choose campgrounds that have no amenities, which are more remote and often have less foot traffic, or you can choose campgrounds with amenities, which means you will have to pack a roll of quarters in your cosmetics bag if you want to take a hot shower.

One of my favorite drive-in camping experiences was pitching a tent at Kite Lake, which rests just below four 14,000 ft. mountains in Colorado. After we parked our car and walked our gear to the tiniest campsite, which had no fire pit, tent pad, or picnic table, we found ourselves to be racing Mother Nature. A bad rainstorm was about to strike, and we had to get our tent set up quickly.

As we pushed the last stakes for our rain-fly into the ground, a thick fog began to roll up from the side of the mountain. Although we knew this was happening due to the high elevation, we could not help but be amazed by the immense white cloud as it slowly rolled toward us. We were able to snap a few pictures before the rain started to pour down.

While I have several other experiences similar to this one, including a night spent on the Lake Superior sand during peak black fly season, my weekend backpacking trip with my class is going to test my outdoorsmen skills. With no cellular device and no escape route, I will be partaking in the most extreme camping style: “Roughin’ it.”

So while I am off the grid, probably frolicking through the woods and identifying Upper Peninsula vegetation, I hope you consider which camping style may best suit you this summer. There is no right answer, with each style having its own perks. Don’t be afraid to try each of them before deciding what works best for you. Happy camping.

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Andie Balenger is a native of Gladstone and is currently attending Northern Michigan University. Her column focuses on college life and runs Thursdays in the Daily Press.