This weekend was our annual camping trip about 2 hours north of Orlando, FL. It is always fun when we reunite with friends we haven’t seen in a long time! We float down a beautiful river with our cooler full of beverages, and we get to see beautiful natural springs and wildlife of all kinds.
It is the perfect weekend to unwind, relax, and really enjoy what Mother Nature provides us. That is, until you see the trends of other campers who may not share the same sentiment.
Here is the list my camping partner & I came up with as the top 5 things that you should not do while you are camping. Of course, this list only pertains if you want the earth to be around for your children’s children…
1. Paper plates, cups, cutlery, and 48 bottles of water.
This tactic is a mainstream idea for campers of our generation. It speaks to today’s world of convenience. While I understand the logic and ease behind it, a two day trip could easily contribute to 50 pounds+ of garbage in a landfill.
2. Batteries that are discarded on the ground.
Believe me, even this is not a mainstream idea for campers of convenience. This was something witnessed as someone’s laziness for proper disposal. It could have even happened as an accident from years ago, but the implications battery acid could have on our land, seeping into our waters, and feeding our wildlife is devastating.
3. Crazy squirrels.
The squirrels have grown accustomed to ravaging through campers’ sites to have their meals. While we cannot account for their habits and unconventional scavenger techniques, we can be conscious of where we place our bread. The moral of this point is: Don’t feed the animals. They get used to it, and then are unable to fend for themselves or eat a diet that works for their digestive system. (Not to mention make them crazy, ravenous beasts, that will attack and feed on anything not theirs - including plastic bags and backpacks - it wasn’t really a fun experience for those parties involved)
4. Campfires that consist of more than wood.
Contrary to some beliefs…Aluminum, plastic, and anything living is not fuel for the fire. It is not wise to place those chemicals into the air we breath. Nor is it advisable to cut down a living tree to put it in the fire. Not only does that kill the tree, but you don’t have a successful fire.
5. Not Abiding by this rule: “Don’t Trash where you Splash”
This one is so true. The facility allows for and encourages coolers, beverages, and anything else consumable be brought down the river for your journey. What is not encouraged, however, is emptying your cooler into the river to create a floating trash heap of bottles and garbage to rival the mysterious plastic mass in the Pacific Ocean.
That concludes the list of things to NOT practice while camping. If you are new to camping, it can be a wonderful experience, but remember, you are a guest in Mother Nature’s house - and you should definitely leave it the way you found it. What you pack in, you pack out.
If you should need some further ideas on eco-friendly camping, be sure to check out our post “Ah! The Great Outdoors.”