LAKEPORT - If you’re too anxious to wait until Halloween to see “Blair Witch 2,” you can create your own sequel at one of Michigan’s camping hot spots.

Go on Friday the 13th to augment the fear factor. Pack your tent, flashlight and map for a quick - or not so quick - nature getaway.

Camping permits travel on a student budget. Many campgrounds in Michigan, including 75 state parks, help campers get close to beaches, biking and hiking trails, forests and wildlife.

Into the woods

Camping in state parks after Labor Day is not very popular, but that’s changing, said George Rob, chief of operations for the Parks and Recreation Bureau of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The bureau oversees the parks.

“People camp primarily Memorial Day through Labor Day, but the shoulder times - May, September and October - seem to be increasing in the number of people, but primarily weekend-only use,” he said.

“The parks don’t get a lot of use in the winter time, but they do get some.”

Some people like to camp in the fall because the leaves on the trees are changing colors, it’s usually not hot and mosquitos aren’t as prevalent.

Packaging junior Shannon Duff went camping at Lakeport State Park with her friends last weekend.

“My family has gone to the spot two or three times,” she said.

Duff has visited different campgrounds around Michigan since she was young.

“We like being outdoors, so we go to places near beaches where we can go tubing and skiing,” she said.

If you’d like to spend a night or a weekend in the woods, it’s a good idea to make reservations, especially if you want a spot near bathrooms or water.

During the day you can walk along the beach, take a bike ride through the woods or hang out with your friends at your campsite. At night, tell stories around the campfire or watch the stars. Beaches and clearings in the woods provide opportunities to see the sky without obstructions such as trees or buildings.

Packing your bags

Remember to bring matches or a lighter to start a fire, particularly if you’re going to arrive at night. Take some newspaper or paper to start the flame. Some dry wood is also a good idea.

Don’t forget marshmallows to roast over the campfire - and bring chocolate and graham crackers to make s’mores.

You should also take charcoal and a grill that can be used over a fire, said Linda Whitfitt, who works in the sporting goods department at East Lansing Meijer, 1350 W. Lake Lansing Road.

If you don’t have a camper or a couple thousand dollars to buy one, you’re going to need a tent.

Most tents at Moosejaw Mountaineering, 555 E. Grand River Ave., sell for $179 to $400, but they can go much higher, employee Bob Bartels said. Moosejaw sells tents year-round.

The price depends on the quality of the tent and how many people it holds, Bartels said.

“There are other tents out there that are cheaper, but you get what you pay for in a tent,” he said.

During the summer, Meijer sells one-person tents, which can fit in a backpack, for $29.99. Group tents, which sleep six to eight people, run $189.99 at Meijer.

Bartels and Whitfitt agree a warm sleeping bag is essential for camping. Depending on the size of your tent, an air mattress might make things a little more comfortable. Keep the tent zipped to deter bugs and other creatures.

Sleeping bags at local stores range from $29 to $200.

Many campers use flashlights to set up their tents and walk around at night.

However, headlamps are growing in popularity, Bartels said. The lamps, which are similar to what miners use, cost $20 to $40 and free up campers’ hands.

Bartels recommends bringing clothes that are not cotton.

“Cotton doesn’t (keep) moisture away from your body, so when you get wet, you get cold,” he said.

Mosquito repellent, a rain suit and a mess kit are also essential, Whitfitt said. Mess kits cost about $5.99 at Meijer.

Leave only footprints

Since camping is cheap everywhere, you are not limited to Michigan - unless you need to worry about gas prices.

Many Michiganians take their tents across the border to Canada.

The Pinery, a campground in Grand Bend, Ontario, gets a lot of customers from the United States, employee Melissa Bullock said.

“It’s a mix of people who are retired, college students, high school students and families,” she said.

No matter which campground you choose, you need to respect your temporary neighbors, Rob said.

“Campers need to observe quiet times and make sure they confine their activities to their campsite or use common areas,” he said.

“You need to be considerate of what you’re doing so that it doesn’t spill over on your neighbor’s campsite.”

Rob also said to keep pets on leashes and clean up after them.

“That’s a major problem,” he said.