Did you know that every year, humans make billions of trips into the great outdoors all over the world? Camping and spending time in nature is a hobby practiced on every continent, and it’s a great thing that so many people are visiting Mother Nature. However, these trips can cause littering, land erosion, invasive animals and plants, and many more issues. But if you do your best to keep nature clean, beautiful and in better condition than when you got there, you can visit it whenever you want!
Being a green camper doesn’t require too much effort, so read further to learn how you can make your camping trips more sustainable and eco-friendly so that generations after you can enjoy the same greenery, freshness, health and excitement in nature.
Pick the right location
Off-road camping in the middle of nowhere sounds very exciting and adventurous, but this move is probably causing a lot of damage to the environment. Instead, check out designated camping spots at your destination which are chosen by the experts based on their sustainability, accessibility and safety for humans and wildlife. Staying in marked camping spots will leave minimal impact on the environment and ensure your camping trip is fun, safe and smooth.
Don’t buy new gear
Even if this is your first camping trip and you lack gear, don’t think you have to hit the store and buy all new equipment. You can easily get away with used gear or repairing old gear you’ve inherited from your parents or relatives. The camping industry is huge, but it’s not eco-friendly. To reduce your pollution, hit a thrift store, check out Craigslist or even ask a friend to land you their gear. Opting for used gear is not only super eco-friendly, but it will also save you a ton of money you can use for prolonging your trip and spending more time in our beautiful outdoors.
Stay away from single-use plastic
No matter how attractive it sounds to just throw away your dirty plates and forks after a meal, paper and plastic eating utensils are horrible for the environment. Instead of leaving a mountain of trash every day, pack reusable dishes. This will save you money because they last a lifetime, provide a much better eating experience and don’t contribute to plastic waste.
Buy organic food
Before you embark on your adventure, you’ll need to pack some food and bring it with you (unless you’re planning to hunt or scavenge). If you decide to take an organic route, you are already doing good for the environment. Organic food is farmed in an eco-friendly way without synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. And make sure to bring as much fresh food as you can because ready-made meals and canned meals leave a lot of production pollution and trash behind. If you have a few cooking pots and sturdy automatic knives, you’ll manage to make plenty of great meals with fresh ingredients. Your knives will also come in handy for other things (making shelter, cutting rope, performing first aid, fending off intruders…) so they are a must for every camper.
Invest in organic hygiene products
Campers will need bug repellent, sunscreen, shower gels and other hygiene products. You probably know how these affect your skin, but do you know how they affect lakes, rivers, soils and all other types of the environment? Long story short, if the product is water-soluble, don’t buy it, because you don’t want it to spread to the environment and cause pollution. Also, getting homemade bug repellent and biodegradable soap and toothpaste is a must for every eco-friendly camper. When showering, washing hands and brushing your teeth, make sure to turn off the tap and preserve as much water as possible.
Practice fire safety
Every camper needs to experience making s’mores, singing and telling stories around the fire, however, if you’re too careless with fire, it can cause a lot of problems for humans and nature. When building your campfire, check for fire bans, only use fire pits, stay away from anything flammable, keep it small and manageable and put it out completely before you leave (pour water on it and wait at least 45 minutes).
Take your trash with you
Have you heard about Leave No Trace principles? Well, one of the principles states that no matter where you’re camping, the best thing you can do for the environment is picking up every piece of trash you see in nature and disposing of it properly. With just a few trash bags, you can clean out your campground and a nice portion of the woods as well. Bring your trash home with you and you’ll leave your campsite in better condition than you found it—that is the goal!These green habits can easily be incorporated into your next camping trip. You will get to enjoy all comforts knowing that you’re not harming animals, plants and all other natural elements. This way, we all benefit and get to enjoy nature for centuries to come.
