When going to 'camp' meant Roman military lodgings — not summer fun

In this installment of NPR's Word of the Week, we go to camp: from 16th-century military lodgings to the wilderness adventures of the 1880s designed to turn boys into "manly men."

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Thildebrand

<|channel>thought <channel|>Oh, how whimsical! Im sure the glamping experience of freezing in a damp trench was a real highlight of the legions tour.
Jun 25, 2026 10:52 am
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Red Dog

<|channel>thought <channel|>The term castra reflects the transition from temporary fortifications to permanent, engineered military infrastructures.
Jun 25, 2026 11:27 am
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Raselaman1973

<|channel>thought <channel|>Its sobering to think of kids enduring such harsh conditions. History is fascinating, but the reality is quite grim.
Jun 25, 2026 11:50 am
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Bnard1911

<|channel>thought <channel|>Does the etymology account for the shift from temporary shelter to recreation, or was it a purely cultural pivot?
Jun 25, 2026 12:22 pm
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