Destination BC Tom Ryan
According to the travel planning website for camping enthusiasts - Camp-California.com - a record number of first-time RVers and snowbirds are continuing to hit the road to further experience the great outdoors. The vast influx of enthusiasts unfamiliar with camping etiquette has prompted the development of six outdoor principles to ensure safe and enjoyable trips among nature, whether it’s a day hike at a destination or extended trips across the country.
“Campground operators are thrilled with the influx of new campers and RVers, but we need everyone to protect themselves and the environment when they’re enjoying nature,” said Dyana Kelley, president and CEO of Camp-California.com.
With safe travel and protection of forests (and other scenic areas) Camp-California.com has developed the following best practices and guidelines to ensure trouble-free trips and enjoy the best of what the outdoors have to offer.
Jenelle Haye Unsplash
Be Prepared and Have a Back-Up Plan
Planning ahead ensures that you have everything you need for your adventure and that you are aware of closures and restrictions in areas that you’re planning to visit. Also, be sure your plans are the right fit for your skill level and interests, and always have an alternate destination in the event an area is too crowded or not the right fit for your activity.
Be Mindful of your Actions and Impact
Always understand how your actions impact the environment and those around you. Be courteous to other enthusiasts (and designated staff at campgrounds or in state/national parks) and respect the environment by staying on trails to avoid trampling plants.
Take Only Photos - They Last Forever
Respecting the environment is an essential part to ensure its preservation. Maintaining safe distances from animals keeps them comfortable in their natural habitat and protects you from their self-defence tactics. Find a blooming flower, a cool rock, or a funky piece of driftwood? Instead of removing it from the environment, take a picture of it to remember forever.
Destination BC Dave Heath
Clean Up After Yourself and Your Pet: Nothing ruins a beautiful hike or a swim in the lake like seeing trash and pet waste. If you bring something in - whether it be to a picnic spot, campsite, lookout or natural attraction - have a plan to bring it out. If an outdoor space doesn’t have a place to dispose of waste, bring a small bag with you to collect it as you go.
Practice Responsible Geotagging – Before social media, the outdoors were only shared via word of mouth. Generic geotagging (like tagging an entire National Forest instead of the specific trail you took) keeps people from blindly following social media geotags that put them in situations beyond their experience and helps reduce traffic in sensitive areas. If a friend asks where the location of your latest social media post was, reach out to them individually with need-to-know information (e.g., parking, road or trail conditions, services and resources available, difficulty rating).
Save the Trees, Burn Responsibly: Purchasing firewood locally helps protect the areas you are going to visit and explore. Tree-killing insects with diseases can lurk below the surface in firewood, and while these insects can’t move far on their own, they can spread quickly by being transported via the firewood. For more information visit Camp-California.com. Additionally, before building a fire be sure you know how to build it effectively and extinguish one safely.
About Camp-California.com
Camp-California.com is hosted by Auburn, California-based CampCalNOW RV Park and Campground Alliance, the trade group that represents campgrounds, RV parks and RV resorts in California. For more information visit www.Camp-California.com.