Ahh, the great outdoors...fresh air, beautiful views, great hiking trails, swimming holes. The fun parts of camping are endless and there's really no better way to combine recreation with relaxation. However, when done without care, camping can be harmful for humans and nature! So, whether you are going on a deep woods backpacking trip in the Sierras or just doing a little car camping at Mt. Diablo, it's important to follow these eco-trip-tips... Don't Get Trashed. Americans generate tons and tons of trash each year. Everything you bring with you (even the wrapper to your Clif Bar) should come out with you. If you leave something in the woods, chances are no one will come by and pick it it so make sure you clear your campsite before you leave. Read the Leave No Trace principles before you go and practice them while you are on your adventure Go Where You Know. While it's fun to explore, there is a reason that parks have designated campsites and hiking trails. Not only can going off-course be harmful to the environment, it can be harmful to your health (poison oak, bugs, things that go bump in the night). Unmarked trails and campsites are more likely to have these things. The Flame Game. Smokey the Bear might have been onto something -- every year thousands of acres of open spaces are destroyed by wildfire. Many of these fires are preventable. Do your part in preventing forest fires by checking with California's Department of Forestry and Fire before you camp. It is especially important to build and maintain your fire correctly to ensure safety during high fire season (Spring through Fall). If you are going to build a fire, make sure to burn only fallen wood. Don't cut down branches from a living tree. Don't clear a new piece of ground to make a fire. Some campgrounds provide you with a place to build a fire. Only clear new ground if you have to. Always keep an eye out for previously cleared places. Reuse those if possible. When You Gotta Go. Thankfully, many campsites have bathrooms. If there is no bathroom, all human waste should be disposed of by digging a hole. Did your hike get you super sweaty? There might be a shower facility at the campsite. Feel like going au naturel? Feel free to jump in the nearest lake or pond, but don't scrub with soap -- it can cause serious damage the water's fragile ecosystem. Camping is awesome. There's not better way to get away from city and school life (apparently the woods don't have the internet...yet). So get out there and have fun. Happy trails! Source: www.planetgreen.discovery.com, "Eco-Friendly Camping Trip", viewed on July 16, 2009.




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