Everything You Need to Know to Camp Sustainably – Our Guide

Whether your upcoming camping trip will be the first time you do so or you’ve already lost track, one thing you should strive for is to camp sustainably. This is especially important if your trip involves children, as imparting the same care for nature is crucial during their formative years.

To help you get a better understanding of what sustainable camping means, we’ve written a guide to walk you through the basic essentials. From minimizing waste to protecting the wildlife that you’ll encounter, here are the ways you can guarantee that your next camping trip is a sustainable one.

Choosing the Right Location

Your first concern should be deciding where to have your camping trip. Not only will the actual location affect the entire experience, but it will also factor into how much of the earth’s resources you’ll be consuming. Think of it this way: if you’ll need to travel long distances to simply arrive at your destination, you’d have consumed some type of fuel in order to get there. This is why camping locally is a good idea. You’ll save on resources, and you might end up supporting local businesses while you’re at it.

Minimizing Waste

You also want to ensure that you leave your campsite as if you were never there in the first place. You can do this in a number of practical ways. We’ll outline it for you below:

• Reduce the need for cooking by preparing your meals ahead of time and reheating them when necessary.
• Make use of reusable products such as cutlery, plates, cups, and towels to minimize your waste.
• If the campsite is one that is managed, you can call ahead to find out if they have any supplies you can use.
• Invest in high-quality camping gear that won’t fall apart and potentially leave damaged components around the campsite.
• Always pick up after yourself and, if need be, clean up someone else’s mess.

Protecting Wildlife

Many camping grounds will put you in direct contact with the local wildlife. To ensure both your own safety and that of the animals, keep your distance and don’t give them any reason to come to you. That means you shouldn’t leave food lying around. You should also be careful about toiletries and similar products as their scents can sometimes attract wildlife.

Taking Care of Your Personal Needs

Speaking of your personal use items, you need to be certain that these are free of toxic chemicals and other hazardous substances. You might be unwittingly contaminating the campsite for the next group as well the animals who live in the area. Some of the things you’ll need are toiletries, sunscreen, and bug spray. These are all available in eco-friendly variations.

Other Important Reminders

Apart from the information above, other ways to ensure sustainable camping include:

• Prioritize safety when building a campfire. Make sure you are permitted to do so in the first place and ensure that the fire is fully extinguished before leaving it unattended.

• Be mindful of human waste. Some campsites have outhouses scattered throughout the area. If these are not available, properly dispose of your waste by burying it in soil.

• Greywater should be discarded properly as well. Activities such as washing dishes and bathing should be conducted with proper care. You may be permitted to dispose of it by scattering it on nearby plants, but it’s best to collect it in a container and carry it to the nearest disposal site.

Conclusion

Keep the information provided above in mind at all times whenever you go camping. The whole point of camping is to experience the wonder of the great outdoors, and this means that you have to do your part in protecting it.

We sell a variety of camping gear and equipment that can be perfect for your next sustainable camping trip. Visit our store to browse our selection of products.