Eco-Friendly Camping

Summer is an excellent time to experience the great outdoors with your family. If you are planning a camping trip this year, make sure it’s a green one. Camping is rarely as eco-friendly as it sounds.

Avoid Impacting the Environment

Camping usually involves setting up tents and campfires, as well as hiking through the woods. You should do your best to reduce your impact on the area where you plan to camp. There are several ways to do this.

Camp close to home and reduce pollution. The further you drive, the bigger the impact you have. Most towns have a national park or campground nearby. Choose to camp nearby and avoid the extra emissions.

Stick to marked trails. It might be fun to forge your path, but this can cause several problems. First, you can get lost very easily once you leave the trail. Every year, hikers disappear for days or weeks because they left the trail.

Second, you will be trampling local flora. This act could have a significant impact on the area. You might also wander into animal habitats without realizing it. The animals can be upset by the intrusion and may end up having to move their home. Engineers design trails with this in mind, so try to stay on them.

Choose the perfect camping spot. Your best bet for pitching a tent is a relatively hard piece of ground, free of most plant life. Avoid more delicate areas like riverbanks and small forest clearings. The weight of your tent can ruin these areas. If possible, stick to designated camping areas. When this is not feasible, look for firm ground that will not be disturbed by your camp.

Clean up your garbage. Never leave anything that will not decompose within a couple of weeks. Better yet, carry everything out with you. Even biodegradable waste can affect the environment.

Put your fire out correctly. If fires are permitted when you are camping, you should contain them within a circle of rocks or a small pit. However, the most important part of having a campfire is putting it out. Pour water over the fire and stir up the ashes. This action ensures that no embers can survive. You should put the fire out about an hour before you leave the area and watch as you pack to see if it is still smoldering.

Get Eco-Friendly Gear

When it comes to camping gear, you’ll find that used equipment is often better. Many of the older brands are very sturdy. This action also reduces your carbon footprint. Every new tent or sleeping bag that you purchase requires energy and chemicals to produce it. You can also save much money by choosing previously owned equipment.

If you do opt for new equipment, look for companies that make their products from recycled materials. Many now offer dye and toxin free tents and backpacks that are not only earth friendly but healthy, too.

Reduce Your Energy Use

You’re out in the forest to enjoy the outdoors. Why take along things you don’t need? Leave gadgets such as laptops and games at home. You can enjoy getting away and save on energy usage without them. It also means you can go further from civilization since you won’t need electricity. A cell phone is still a good idea, however. You may need it for emergency purposes.

Another way to reduce energy use is to bring along a hand crank or solar flashlight. These use renewable energy and are more economical.

It is possible to clean up your camping and make it easier on the environment. Think green and opt for the most eco-friendly products. The Earth will thank you.