The most daunting part of a camping trip can be just getting there, especially if you're not used to roughing it.

The idea of packing up, setting up, and tearing down can seem like a chore, but Parks Canada is hoping to change that — especially for new immigrants — with its Learn to Camp program.

Offered at parks across the country, the program tries to teach participants the basics of outdoor survival.

Teresa Chan came to Canada from Hong Kong in 1993 where she says camping was not a common pastime.

But within five years of her arrival, a couple decided to give her a crash course in the great outdoors — and Chan fell in love.

'A real Canadian experience'

Now, she teaches young Chinese immigrants to camp.

"I find that camping is a real Canadian experience that I really wanted them to enjoy," she said.

So she got involved with Parks Canada and its Learn to Camp program at Rouge Park four years ago.

"Camping is a lot of fun and it includes lots of cool activities," she said. "We have to bring simple tools, simple gear and live [for] four days and three nights in a campground — and we have to be real creative."

Although Jacky Lau used to camp in his homeland of Hong Kong, he said the experience in Canada is a very different one.

"Camping in Hong Kong, you have to pack very light," the camper said. "Everything you have to combine in one backpack and then usually you have to hike for two to three hours to find a campsite."

Jacky Lau and Teresa Chan tell CBC's Matt Galloway about how, as immigrants, they embraced a critical part of Canadian culture: camping. (John Rieti/CBC)

But it's much easier to go camping here, because of the provincial and national parks that have sites available online, he said. That meant this Canada Day weekend, Lau was able to take 40 teens to Darlington Provincial Park, to teach them how to camp.

"It is a great learning opportunity for them to embrace the Canadian culture," he said. "It takes a lot of leadership to set up tents, to build a tub, to [cook] — because most of the Chinese immigrant young people usually stay around at home, go to school, they rarely have this kind of experience."

For Lau, the best part is the campfire.

"In Hong Kong, we're not used to lift up our voice and sing in nature. I really appreciate how Parks Canada lead us through this experience. I think that's something very memorable."