Forests and coastlines all over the globe boast vibrant greenery, diverse wildlife and if you know where to look – breathtaking camping spots! Adapting our camping trips to be mindful of preserving nature is key to sustaining these environments for others to enjoy.

How does Earth Friendly camping help?

• Preserving these areas means they will be clean, beautiful places that benefit everyone 
• Being mindful of Leave No Trace principles leaves us with habits we can inspire others to adopt
• Caring for our outdoor spaces allows wildlife to thrive and maintain its vast diversity

What can you do?

1. Practice Leave No Trace Principles

• Do not take anything from the site, including seashells or rocks.
• Opt not to geotag vulnerable areas or wildlife sightings. Keep spaces wild to prevent over-tourism.
• Practice ethical wildlife photography. Do not bait wildlife and give them plenty of space.
• Bringing your doggo? Make sure to pick up after them using biodegradable bags.
• Have you left any rubbish? Pick up all your waste! Use 3 bags: compost | recycle | garbage.

2. Build Responsible Campfires

• Use fire pits when available.
• Build small fires to not waste wood, and make sure they are completely out before leaving.
• Respect signs: Only build if hazard signs are low.
• Don’t bring in wood that isn’t native to the area.
• Avoid using driftwood; it contains toxins and has an adverse ecological impact on coastlines.
• Don’t burn plastic!
• Try to use DIY fire starters that are plastic free. See the end of this article for a recipe.

3. Use Earth Friendly Equipment

• Use liquid fuel stoves, or even better, bio-lite stoves. They offer the option of cooking using twigs, pinecones and leaves, with excess energy stored for charging your camera or phone.
• If you’re not in a van, tents, sleeping mats and sleeping bags from companies that make long-lasting products with recycled materials are a good way to go. Or even better: buy used gear/borrow.
• Go solar! Solar lamps and charging packs are good options, paired with rechargeable batteries.
• Invest in a water filter to avoid the use of packaged options.

4. Mindful Eat & Drink

• Don’t forget your reusable mugs, water bottles, food containers, natural wrappers and cutlery.
• Bring loose leaf tea and bulk coffee ground at home, instead of small packets.
• If you need ice, bring reusable ice packs rather than purchasing bags.
• Try to make your own food. Bulk stores offer lots of dehydrated options so you can make meals in advance, avoiding unnecessary plastics.

5. Non-Toxic Products

• Sunscreen & bug repellents are toxic for us and for lakes & oceans. Try to find plant-based, reef-safe, unscented options, ideally in reusable containers.
• Package & toxin-free toothpaste tabs and shampoo bars. Remember to brush teeth ~200 feet away from any body of water.
• Biodegradable cleaning products for your dishes.

Last but not least, here’s your DIY fire starter recipe. You’ll need:

Add the first four “ingredients”, cut up, to your egg carton and mix. Over a double boiler, heat up your wax and pour over the carton pockets (quickly as it solidifies pretty fast!)

That’s it – your own fire starter, package free and without toxic fragrances 🙂

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Keep the momentum going when you are back home! Camping means lots of laundry, so make sure to use the Guppy Friend Bag for any of your synthetics. This bag will help capture microplastics, avoiding their flow into our waters. The less microplastics we release into the environment, the better.

Camping in the wild outdoors is about respecting nature, leaving no trace, and being a conscious citizen before your trip. If you notice others that are not being kind, use your knowledge to educate and inspire.

The more of us that spread the word, the better we will protect the oceans, forests and wildlife.

Happy Earth Day, every day 🙂