Plan Ahead for a Green Camping Adventure
Camping can be a great way to enjoy the wonders of nature. Enjoying the camping experience while having as small an impact on nature as possible is known as green camping. This is the most responsible way to spend time in the wilds. With some planning and forethought, the green camping adventure can be every bit as enjoyable as any time spent with nature.
Trash
Think about trash while you select the supplies for the camping adventure. Bottled water may be convenient but creates large amounts of trash with the empty bottles. Instead, have each person bring a reusable water bottle that can be filled from a container or potable water source at the campsite. Use a water filtering system if the water quality is questionable. Select food stuffs based on the amount of packaging. Look for items with as little waste material as possible. Plan on packing out and properly disposing of any garbage created during the camping excursion.
Transportation
Get to the camp area in the most fuel efficient and green manner possible. This may include public transportation, riding a bicycle or even traveling by the most efficient car possible. This can also reduce the overall cost of the camping adventure. In some instances, such as biking to the camp site, the transportation becomes part of the adventure of the excursion. Another option is to bring bikes along and use them as transportation for side trips or excursions from the central camping location. This allows the campers to enjoy more territory without utilizing fuels and contributing to emissions.
On the Trail
Hiking is often a part of any camping adventure and is among the best ways to enjoy the outdoors. Best practices include staying on established trails and avoiding walking on natural areas. Overtime, foot traffic can kill the native grasses and lead to soil erosion. Never remove any materials from a natural area. A souvenir rock or pine cone, for example, may not seem like it would damage the ecosystem. However, thousands of campers taking materials from an area can lead to problems. Take pictures to preserve the memories instead.
Play Nice with the Wildlife
Observing wildlife is another enjoyable aspect of a camping trip. The goal should be to observe without disturbing the animals. Some good ways to be less obtrusive on the wild animals encountered on the camping trip include watching with binoculars and moving slowly through wild life areas. The binoculars allow you to observe from a distance rather than having to crowd the animal. This can also serve as a safety factor while observing large mammals. Moving slowly when hiking allows shy animals the opportunity to avoid you rather than spooking the animal with a rapid encounter. Never disturb nesting animals or animals with young.
Take it all Home With You
A good camper takes only pictures and memories and leaves only footprints upon the paths. Take any garbage home with you and recycle as much as possible. Make a last minute check of the campsite for any garbage or waste and pick it up. Leave the campsite better than you found it.
This is a guest post by Ivana Butler. Ivana is an avid traveller, an animal lover, an eco fighter and, of course, a blogger. Her suitcases are always packed and while travelling the world and taking care of our environment she like to put her thoughts and experiences to the paper and share that with her readers. She enjoys exchanging ideas with people and learning new things whenever she get the chance to.
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