When summer starts up, most kids turn to camps, and activities like swimming and hanging out with friends, to fill up those few months of freedom from school. But for one 11-year-old girl, those to-do items weren’t on her list for the summer. Instead she wanted to use her savings to make a purchase most kids want – an American Girl doll VW bus. The price tag? $650.
However, Lauren Nelson’s parents were not so sure. “She showed us a $650 little VW bus that they sell. My husband was like, ‘That’s ridiculous, you could buy your own camper for that price,’” Aimee Nelson, her mother, told WKBW. And to her parents’ shock, Lauren decided to accept that challenge. The pre-teen went on the hunt for a camper that she could afford, all the while beefing up her savings as much as she could. Luck was on her side when a neighbor in their Attica, New York, neighborhood decided to sell his rundown RV.
Lauren Nelson took up a challenge by her father – renovate an RV camper for less than the cost of an American Girl toy she wanted. Photos by the Nelson family
Lauren had $400 saved from selling items at garage sales, and using the money that would have gone to attending 4-H camp, as well. “Lauren really does have an envelope where she saves money,” her mother said. “And it’s just a little bit here and there from things, like $5 at Easter or Tooth Fairy money. It just added up.” Ever the hard-nosed negotiator, the young girl bargained with her neighbor over his $500 price.
It wasn’t very hard. He said ‘$500,’ and I said ‘$400,’ because that was the money I had in my bank account, and he said, ‘Sold,’ ” she said, grinning.
Finally having her own camper, she knew just where to go for design inspiration – her American Girl doll magazine. But first up was cleaning out the old camper. “It was a process,” said her mother. “We brought home a family of mice. So there was a lot of deep cleaning.”
The preteen was motivated to create her own hangout space. She used HGTV’s “Tiny House Hunters” for guidance, as well as her family’s help. Dull walls and beaten-up cabinets became a beachy blue. They made a working kitchen, and added pillows, flowers and patterned sheets to the bunk beds. They also hung a sign that says, “Lauren’s Lil’ Camper.”
Bunkbeds are seen in an RV camper that was renovated by 11-year-old Lauren Nelson. Photo by the Nelson family.
I was very motivated with this camper, I really wanted a place where I could hang out, like my own house.”
Between birthday gifts, thrifting and her own ingenuity, Lauren and her family was able to finish the camper renovation for an additional $400. They even included a working bathroom. Her mom said that while some of the camper’s items were birthday gifts, “most of the décor came from our house and potting shed though.”
“But I just don’t understand why my house doesn’t look like this!” Aimee said. She told reporters that Lauren had always enjoyed crafts. “She builds the furniture for her dolls and will make her own couches out of cardboard. We always just let her run with it.” Lauren named her camper “Camp Hygge”, which is a Scandinavian concept for coziness.
Her mom said she spends a good portion of her week in the camper. “I love the kitchen the most. It’s so beautiful, light and airy,” Lauren said. “I can just sit in it and feel very relaxed. Once we get the solar panels up, we can actually get it up and running. That’s what I’m saving up for next. I love cooking, especially lasagna.” See Lauren’s tour of Camp Hygge below.
