Here is a list of some ways you can minimize impact when camping.

How far away is your destination and how do you plan to get there?

It is common for people where I live to pile into an over-sized vehicle and drive 4, 8 or even 12 hours to their destination. We all know that this is not an earth-friendly thing to do.
Consider the following to reduce your impact:

• rent heavier equipment from a local outfitter so you carry less weight
• choose closer destinations, especially for shorter trips
• carpool when possible
• investigate alternative travel options (bus or train)
• if you don't already drive one, rent a hybrid vehicle for the trip
• ensure that your vehicle is well-maintained and the tires are properly inflated
• drive efficiently (gradual starts and stops, proper gear shifting, etc.)
• plan your stops ahead of time to avoid lengthy delays in finding washrooms, etc. in unfamiliar areas
• pack a lunch and/or snack for the drive; you can control your food choices and number of necessary stops better this way
• when carrying a kayak on a vehicle, use cockpit covers to reduce mileage

Your Campsite

Your home away from home is a place you borrow from nature.

• respect the areas you visit as you would the home of a friend
• travel and camp in small groups
• only camp in designated or well-established areas
• leave the site as you found it: do not dig trenches, hammer nails into trees, collect rocks or plants etc. or otherwise alter the site in any way
• the best souvenirs from wilderness trips are photos

How do you plan to handle waste?

Camping waste comes in several forms: food wrappers, "bathroom" waste, graffiti, and clothing and gear items left behind are the things my family and I find most often.

In general:

• bring less waste in the first place: buy less-packaged items, re-pack what you can, and remove packaging from new items you bring
• pack out what you pack in: don't rely on items to biodegrade, no matter what the label may promise, it is likely to take much longer and have a negative impact if you just toss them aside or leave them behind--ALWAYS PACK IT OUT!


Personal Hygiene

always use any facilities provided; if there are none, choose an area well away from a water source and the main tent and campfire area, and away from any trails. Dig a shallow trench and bury your waste in the top 15 cm of soil

toilet paper should be burned or packed out unless there is a proper facility (thunder box, outhouse, flush or composting toilet) in which to dispose of it

feminine hygiene product should be packed out; consider using a Diva cup or similar to reduce waste

diapers must be packed out, no matter what kind you use

For more detailed info, see How to Sh*t in the Woods by Kathleen Meyer.

Food Preparation:

cook only what your group will eat, and save or burn any leftovers

wash your dishes well away from any water source, and dump your dish water well away from any water source

if you fish, burn the inedible parts, be sure to pack out as much fishing line as you pack in, and use lead-free weights

do not feed the wildlife; wildlife fed by humans becomes annoying and unpredicatable, can become dependant on handouts, and can lead to the death of animals

hang your food or make it animal-proof according to your location

use a small portable stove for your cooking


Fires:

check if fires are permitted in your area before you set out

limit or eliminate your use of campfires

do not rely on fires for your cooking (use a portable stove)

use a candle lantern for evening light

only burn dead wood and burnable waste

keep all fires small; sticks and twigs you gather should provide plenty of fuel

burn your fire in the established fire ring

only add the fuel you can burn completely to the fires; when you are done, only ashes should be left

be sure to burn any fires away from rocks or other natural features that could be marked by the fire

never surround your fire with river rocks--water absorbed inside can cause the rocks to explode when heated


Lost and Left Items:

do not hammer nails into trees, cut down living trees, plants or bushes, or in any other way desecrate the areas you visit

always do a second and third site-check to be certain you haven't forgotten anything (we always seem to find a pair of socks on our trips)

carry a separate bag for garbage, and possibly another for recyclables

whenever possible, pack out garbage left by others

when purchasing small tools (especially rope, pocket knives and pot scrubbers), choose bright colours that will be easily seen and are therefore less likely to be left behind




For more information about low-impact camping, read Soft Paths by Bruce Hampton and David Cole, or visit the Leave No Trace Canada website