Go Green: A Guide to a Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Camping
Go Green: A Guide to a Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Camping
Camping is a great outdoor activity that not only helps us relax and create memories but also brings us closer to nature. As more people seek to find comfort and fun in the great outdoors, it is vital to be a sustainable and eco-friendly camper. At the same time, it is also significant to be able to help protect and conserve the beauty of natural spaces so that the future generation would also be able to enjoy it. If you are thinking about going on a camping trip and want to engage in specific practices to minimize your impact on the environment, you might want to consider the following tips!
Choose a sustainable campsite
When choosing a campsite, it is good to consider the amenities available and the sustainable practices it follows. Check if they use renewable energy, have water preservation protocols, and do safe practices that minimize the harm to the environment and respect the wildlife that lives in the area.
Pack sustainably
One of the key steps to reduce your environmental impact is to choose eco-friendly camping gear. Find durable products that are made from recycled or organic materials and can be used for a long time instead of disposable or single-use ones. Here are some products you can invest in for your trip!
Environmentally friendly clothing, tents, and sleeping bags.
Foldable solar panels that you can use for charging small electronics.
Portable water filters
Biodegradable shampoo, soaps, toothpaste, and toothbrush.
Natural sunscreens and DIY bug sprays
Bamboo cutlery set
Beeswax wraps to wrap your foods and silicon storage for your leftovers or snacks
Other reusable items such as utensils, straws, dishware, water bottles, thermos flasks, and many more.
Use what you own, rent what you do not have
It might be tempting to buy the latest camping gear or clothes but let us not give in to the urge to buy especially if we still have things that can function and be used. Reuse what you have at home and if you really need gear such as a tent or camping stove but probably won’t use it many times in a year, just rent it or in any case, you can borrow from your friends who are regular campers or try looking at secondhand stores or the Facebook marketplace or community groups to save more money.
Follow the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles
The ‘Leave No Trace’ principles are best practices that aim to create minimum impact when we are outdoors. Some of these include:
Proper disposal of waste: The main thought of this is simple, leave nature or your campsite cleaner than you found it. You must carry out everything that you brought in the first place. Do not dispose of your waste in nature. You must know how to properly dispose and segregate it and use the designated waste disposal facilities in your campsite. Do not leave any garbage in the environment or your campground, even if it is not yours, pick it up. Never bury food waste either as it can attract the animals near your campsite.
Leave what you found: Refrain from collecting or altering the environment. Leave it as you found it so that other people can enjoy where they are. Do not pick flowers, rocks, and other natural items. Do not cut branches off trees and carve your initials or other drawings on trees and rocks.
Minimize campfire impacts: Do not lit up fires in the wild. If your campsite does not have a fire ban, make sure to do your campfire in the designated or existing fire pit and you have the ability to control it. Only use dead wood and do not cut trees. Never leave the fire unattended and once you are done, put it out completely with water.
Respect the wildlife: Observe distance from the wildlife and do not disturb them in their natural habitat just to get a picture. Never feed the animals as it can damage their health and alter their natural behaviors. Always ensure that you give animals plenty of space as it’s not only for their safety but for yours too.
Buying local produce
When planning for your meals, try purchasing from local businesses near your campground as it not only supports the local farmers but it also offers you a variety of foods that are fresh and healthy, without any chemical additives, and with a price lower than those foods that are mass-produced. Using local foods while camping adds to your experience as it allows you to interact with locals and the community.
Camping is as fun as it can be, however, we must always do it with nature in mind. The tips outlined in this guide do not compromise our camping experience rather, they teach us to be more conscious of our actions and the products that we carry and minimize our impact on the environment while building a deeper connection with nature.
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