Hello everyone. This is Gemma N. Coca with Women Adventure Entrepreneurs E-Zine. I recently contacted Ramona Ayala, founder of Stone Soup Mobile Hostels. I asked her about her venture and the inspiration behind it. The following is her response:

Thank you for your interest, Ms. Coca.

First, I will say, this is about THEM. Not me. After reading this, everyone will quickly understand who “them” is.

I’ll start with the inspiration. It started out simply enough. I love camping.

We explore and sight-see and relax and have adventures. My husband and I camped with our boys all their lives. I took our boys camping by myself. They experienced the change from the simplest, most naked campsite—you know…we have a tent!—to having much, much camping gear…I even have a mobile kitchen in a suitcase!

We camp, we meet other campers. We meet people who love meeting and spending time with new people. We love to get together at each other’s campsites, adventure together, cook, share meals, play games or simply enjoy the crackle of the fire and talk. Sometimes we’d simply sit in silence, mesmerized by the fire.

My husband and always shared our camping and adventures. We love the outdoors and spending time outdoors with others. Day hikes or camping…it didn’t matter. I just wanted to be out there.

We motivated others to get out. Go hiking, go camping. And of course with kids!! That’s the best!

Often, we’d plan a trip and camp with another equipped camper.

But I knew so many people who wanted to go camping but didn’t have the gear…no worries…we have an extra tent and gear…just hop in! drive to our site…just get there! We took lots of people camping.

After retirement, my husband and I graduated to an RV. (And I learned how to haul and park that beast by myself.) But that didn’t mean we discarded the other camp gear. At our home we have everything from near minimalist backpacking gear to a well-stocked RV and lots in between. We are blessed and we know it.

Since owning the RV, I’ve had people in their 70’s go camping with us for the first time their life. They LOVE it!

We were fine giving them the bed in the camper and pitching the tent for us. At that time, we had a small camper with only one bed. Now, we have an RV with rooms for crying out loud. Several extra beds in there. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

How could I help more people get out camping, adventuring, sight-seeing etc.

I could only do so much. I was one person with one camper and some tents.

I couldn’t drive a caravan of campers myself—I actually entertained a business idea along those lines.

There are the RV caravans that people can pay to be part of a planned camping trip—but you need your own camper.

What about all the people I know who want to camp but lack the gear and cannot afford it right now? What about the people who’ve never gone and don’t know if they’d even like it? Those who, rightly so, wouldn’t invest in the gear and give it a go?

And one day it struck me. There are SO many RVs around me. I see RVs in so many yards and at storage facilities. There are SO many campers. I’m surrounded.

What extra camping gear do THEY have? What if THEY were willing to share their campsite? Campsites usually allow multiple tents even if an RV is parked there.

What if they were willing to offer extra beds in their camper to another like we do?

My mind just started racing.

We could camp “Stone Soup” style. What do you have? What can you offer? Connect those with to those without.

We could have a caravan of campers. We could fill all those beds and tents.

So, I did it. I just started mentioning the idea to other campers. Mentioning what we do.

And it happened.

We now have people all over who camp and simply offer their extra beds, tent allowance, tents, mattresses—whatever. The supplies needed to get people out camping is abundant—lots of it gathering dust in peoples’ garages. It just takes sharing. Between all we campers with extra gear, it’s no issue.

And the food…it’s like Jesus with the fish and loaves. There is always more than enough. Some can only bring hot dogs and that’s enough; nothing is enough. It fills the soul to see someone’s face light up cooking their first hot dog over a fire on a stick. And the shock and laughter at flaming marshmallows…be careful not to fling them…but it happens and it’s all alright. It’s better than alright. It’s magical fun.

It’s a special breed of people who are willing to bunk or bunk with strangers.

But I knew they’re out there because I’m one of them. I’ve stayed in hostels and “shared-room” and “shared bathroom” lodging all over the place. There’s the “couch-surfing” phenomenon. People can rent a room through Airbnb.

It’s the same concept—with a camping twist.

And it’s fantastic. Campers offer what they can. People can check the places people are going and join. Sometimes is a solo camper heading out and offering extra beds or tents for another to join.

Sometimes we plan caravans so there’s a lot more sleeping space available. We may be on site for weeks and people are coming for just a couple days. It’s very fluid.

But it’s kinda simple. Camping hostels on wheels. Don’t have the gear, can’t afford it, have nowhere to keep it?…it’s all good…we gotcha covered! Plenty to go around! Drive yourself or hop in and ride with.

It’s not a business. There is no money made by anyone. The wealth exchanged…now, that’s completely different.

You’ve heard of nursing homes being turned into or I should say, shared with children’s daycares? How brilliant it is!?! How it effects young and old alike? The residents come alive with the vigor of the children and the children are blessed with the love, wisdom, calmness and patience of the elders. This is something that’s been lost in our society. We all separate by ages now in school. Elderly are placed in homes. It didn’t used to be that way. Multi-generation families lived together. Worked together.

Anyway, someone came up with the brilliant idea of combining daycares and nursing home and those involved are thriving.

The same phenomenon is happening with our Stone Soup Mobile Hostels. People of all ages are hanging out together again. Inter-generational people from all walks of life and cultures are thrown into the mix. The dynamics and interactions are breathing life into people. People who thought it was the craziest, stupidest idea and would “never share their camper” with someone else have changed their tune. Crusty old people who wanted nothing to do with “those youngsters” are engaging with them. The young are being exposed to so many new things and ideas and are blossoming in phenomenal ways. Elderly are being invigorated and educated by youngsters. Young parents are getting breathing space and breaks as “a village” tends to the children. I could go on and on about the miracles and blessings happening while camping but I suggest you learn for yourself.

It is just sheer bliss to witness and hear the stories of people’s experiences. It’s amazing.

Yes, it’s a movement that I started. But has a life of its own now. As it should. It is humanity engaging with one another.

This is about them, not me.