Sometimes people don’t realize the impact even small actions can have on the environment. Seemingly insignificant things can end up being an accumulative problem — especially if everyone thinks no one else is doing it! Here are some ways that you can be friendlier to the environment on your camping trips.
1. Stay Within Designated Areas
Although it can be tempting to go where no man has gone before, campsites and trails are generally planned and designed in such a way as to let people enjoy the beauty of nature, but not disturb local flora and fauna. Nature has a wonderful array of complex ecosystems, and can be quite susceptible to damage by unwitting humans.
2. Be Mindful of Your Water Use and Disposal
Consciousness of water applies to careful disposal of water you use for cooking and washing, otherwise known as “grey water.” Never dump grey water into a nearby water source! Contaminants introduced to freshwater sources can cause real problems down the road.
Again, if you think you’re the only one doing it, you’re probably not. Most campgrounds will have a place to dispose of grey water, and it’s not in the empty land behind your tent.
3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
This one is a no-brainer. Most people nowadays are learning this mantra and embracing it in their everyday lives, and camping is a great place to exercise these practices. Reducing the amount of trash you generate on a camping trip by planning meals that don’t entail a ton of packaged foods.
Instead of disposable plateware, napkins, and cutlery, invest in a durable set that can be washed and reused. If you’re staying in a campground with a waste area, dispose of garbage and recyclables in appropriate containers, and if there are none, always take it back with you where it can be disposed of properly.
4. Build Fires Responsibly
There is no doubt that the campfire is a quintessential element of camping, and doing it responsibly will ensure you get to have many of them. Build a fire within a designated pit, and bringing your own firewood not only eliminates time spent foraging for kindling and wood, but it will help preserve the ecological balance of the area you’re in.
Do not burn plastics, aluminum foil, or cans. Plastics release toxic chemicals when burned, and aluminum simply doesn’t break down in fire. Always make sure your fire is completely out before abandoning the campsite!
5. Avoid Chemical Products
It may seem difficult to eschew chemicals for camping, but it most definitely can be done. LED lights in place of gas lamps are safe, energy efficient, and offer plenty of bright light in the dark. You can find biodegradable soaps, sunscreens, and insect repellent online if you’re unable to find it in your town.
If you can’t start a fire without a bottle of lighter fluid, maybe you need to brush up on some techniques. Remember, chemicals introduced into natural habitat can have severe consequences for the life contained within it, and they don’t just go away.
Featured Image from James Fitzgerald/Unsplash
