If you enjoy camping, you likely love nature and want to take care of it in every way possible. That’s why it’s important to plan camping trips that are sustainable. Small, responsible choices can help nature thrive so the next generation can enjoy its beauty.
IMAGE CREDIT: Alexandr Podvalny from Pexels
Go for Biodegradable
Toothpaste and soap don’t have a neutral impact on the environment. Choosing the wrong ones to take camping can mean causing damage to the land you are using to camp. That’s why it’s important to choose biodegradable options that won’t leave a lasting trace.
Make sure you use toothpaste and soap 200 feet away from a water source, even if it is biodegradable.
It’s also not a bad idea to pack biodegradable storage bags. You won’t have to worry if you lose a bag on a hike because, unlike plastic, it will eventually biodegrade and have less of an impact on the earth. You can even incorporate these items into your everyday life at home to store food items when you return.
Choose Reusable
Packing a ton of water bottles or prepackaged snacks is not a great way to take care of the planet. The waste these items produce is major. Luckily, you can avoid this by planning ahead and choosing reusable options.
Invest in large, stainless steel water containers, and don’t forget a water filter that can be used while camping. You can prepare snacks at home in large batches and then bring them camping in reusable storage containers. This reduces the trash you create and keeps more plastic out of landfills.
It’s also important to avoid the convenience of paper plates and cups. These are not convenient for the environment at all. Reusable dishes are easy to pack, use, and clean, and they can come with you on every camping trip you take. This is better for the earth and your wallet.
Find Ways to Avoid Unnecessary Purchases
You don’t need to purchase a ton of new gear to go camping. Though you will need essentials, reducing consumption is one of the best ways to help the planet. Know what you absolutely need and then try to find it second hand. You can even rent or borrow many camping supplies.
There are even camping and glamping options that have most of what you need already provided. Bayou d’arbonne camping allows guests to show up to a tent and bed that are waiting. Chairs are even provided, so you don’t have to purchase items you might use only occasionally to have a good camping trip. The less you have to purchase to prepare, the more sustainable your camping trip will be.
Be the Trash Monitor
Ideally, everyone who goes camping will leave no trace like they are asked. Realistically, this doesn’t always happen. Make it your mission to leave the campsite you stay at better than you found it. This can mean bringing extra trash containers and some gloves so you can pick up litter that was left behind by others.
This small act of kindness can keep the planet cleaner, and you will receive an instant emotional boost for helping the earth. You can pick up trash while hiking or exploring, and you can even make it a game to see who in your group can find the most trash.
Camp Where You are Allowed
It’s normal to see a beautiful place in the woods and want to throw up a tent and stay. However, designated campsites exist for a reason. They are in areas that are the least likely to disrupt fragile ecosystems, and camping in other places means you are likely to harm the planet and put yourself at risk.
You want your camping trip to impact the land as little as possible, and campsites are set up to help you achieve this goal. You are also usually safer at a campsite that has already been established than you are setting up where other creatures may have already made a home.
Spending time outdoors is proven to help you thrive. Make sure you give back to the land as much as you get by making sustainable choices that will keep the environment safe and clean.
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