Camping Greener

You’re outside, breathing in the fresh air, enjoying the great outdoors, taking in the views of trees, wildlife…garbage? And so much plastic!

If you’re cool with that, we’re cool with that. But if you do want to reduce your impact to make camping a bit better for Mother Earth, there are a few simple steps you can take.

Here are some tried-and-true principles of “Leave No Trace,” made EZPZ for your next trip:

  1. “Take only pictures; leave only footprints” is the simplest way to sum up good camping principles. In other words, don’t leave your stuff and don’t take any stuff. Another good rule of thumb is to make sure those footprints—as well as your tents and other gear–are in designated areas. This doesn’t rule out overlanding and such, as long as it’s allowed. (Check local regulations to see if you need a permit—here’s a good resource for camping on public land in the U.S.)

  2. Be fire-smart. A lot of campers don’t know how important it is to source wood locally, either by buying it on-site or gathering it (if allowed). It turns out bringing in wood from elsewhere can introduce new diseases and teeny species that we’d rather not think about lurking in those logs. Also be sure to light fires only where allowed, and put them out completely before walking away or going to sleep. A collapsible bucket (for water) or shovel (for sand or dirt) is one space-saving way to make sure you can put fires out quickly when needed.

  3. Reduce, reuse, recycle, respect. Find the ways that work for your camping crew to create less waste and respect the wildlife. Reusable plates, cups, utensils, and a dishwashing tub can often be found at your local dollar store, and you can use safer soaps to wash them. Or maybe compostable or recyclable paper products work better for you. Just be sure to keep your trash and all food away from the wildlife in order to keep animals and fellow campers safe.

All your choices add up, so start small. If you camp with a group, ask their input so it feels like everyone’s decision and responsibility. With the right swaps, you can go greener and have fun doing it.

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