Campground Etiquette

How to Camp in Harmony with Nature and Other Campers

Camping is a fun, adventurous way to spend a summer holiday. While many of the dos and don'ts of camping are passed on from camper to camper, many of us can use a refresher course on camping etiquette. Here are some tips for campers whose accommodations are thegreat outdoors.

1. Don't play your radio, especially at night. People camp for the peace and quiet of the great outdoors. If you must have your music, pack a headset.

2. Don't hammer nails into trees or cut branches off for firewood. Firewood can be bought at your campground, nearby stores or gas stations. If you need a laundry line, please tie it.

3. The only thing that goes in a fire is firewood and paper. Plastics, aluminum, and other materials need to be disposed of in a nearby trash can.

4. Lock your food up in your car or in a cabinet provided by the campground. If you leave it out, raccoons, rodents, bugs, and bears will find it by morning.

5. Don't cut through people's campgrounds to get to the restroom, dumpster, or ranger station. It's the equivalent of cutting through someone's backyard. There is no fence, so you need to respect the invisible boundaries. Stick to the roads or paths please.

6. The woods are not your potty. If you don't want to make the trek to the restroom at night, invest in a camper's port-a-potty. If you're backpacking, pack out your paper, use a large leaf, or bury your biodegradable paper. (Bury your waste, too)

7. Leave your campsite better than you found it. The next person doesn't want to choose between picking up your trash or looking at it for the next week. This includes cigarette butts and bottle caps. Once again, the fire pit is not a trash can.

8. Keep your voices down after dark. There are no walls and campers across the campground can hear every word you say as they try to get some sleep so they can get up before dawn for a fishing trip or all day hike. A sing along with a guitar is usually acceptable as long as it isn't too loud or doesn't go too late. Remember that people get up early to fish or watch the sunrise.

9. Follow posted speed limits. There's no rush especially when the safety of children and wildlife are at stake.