Green Camping
by Blake Frino
Camping is one of the most eco-friendly ways to vacation if you do it right. It’s enjoyable to sit by the roaring fire under the stars after a meal cooked on the grill and a walk on a nature trail, but don’t forget that all creates an imprint on the earth. Even when camping, we must remember that we are closest to Mother Nature and still need to be very mindful of her.
Many campgrounds nowadays have separate trash cans for recyclables and alert you to when fires are not permitted because of dry or windy conditions. Some campsites go above and beyond these basics to create a greener camping experience.
Set up your tent at places like Mancos State Park in Colorado where they have a facility for disposal of all waste water to protect water quality and maintain a clean and healthy environment within the park.
Washington State Parks ask campers to use the trash cans and dumpsters to help keep their parks clean. Recycling is encouraged, and the parks with a pack-it-in/pack-it-out program require visitors to carry out everything they have brought in. They also ask that people not harm wild plants or animals, and feeding wildlife is strictly prohibited.
Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve in Sonoma County, California, and its watershed Fife Creek, has become The Armstrong Redwoods Habitat Protection and Restoration Project, funded purely by donations. Years of recreational use have created an unnatural erosion, compaction, and scarification of the forest floor, damaging the sensitive plant life.
A demonstration greenhouse, used for propagation of redwood seedlings, was constructed near the visitor center and provides educational opportunities for visitors. A low-impact, low-level, floating fence line has been placed alongside trails and roadways to outline appropriate routes through the Grove. The Pioneer Trail, having an eco-friendly trail surface, absorbs impact and pressure from foot traffic while providing a firm, flat trail surface that is disability accessible.
Abram’s Creek Retreat and Campground, near Mt. Storm, West Virginia, is an eco-friendly place where they do organic gardening, have low-flow shower heads, and use an on-demand and tank-less hot water propane heater and alternative energy when possible. And they do not use chemicals or pesticides in any fashion. The founder even drives a Prius and the laundry facility has bio-degradable laundry detergent. It is also an educational center hosting workshops with topics ranging from spiritual awareness and health to botany and wilderness survival skills.
Even though many campgrounds are taking action to be eco-friendly, us campers can improve that factor by using less water, recycling, respecting nature and animals, and just appreciating the great outdoors