Green Camping

Camping is a way of really connecting with nature, giving you the opportunity to connect with the nature inside of you. Your camping experience might even turn you green, if you're not green already. Being green or going green is another way of saying that you help take care of the environment. You can be eco-friendly and ecologically responsible in many different ways. Love the earth and she will love you back. Green camping is on the rise. It is very important that people are more aware of the environment and are ecologically responsible. There are many ways that you can turn your camping trip green. Here are some easy ways to celebrate the earth and respect our natural environment.

• Bring cutlery, dish towels and dining dishes rather than disposable.
• Use biodegradable soaps and detergents. Be sure to use them at least 200 feet away from water sources. All soaps, even biodegradable ones can contaminate water sources and damage the natural ecosystem.
• Use biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning supplies. The eco-minded among us often make their own.
• Never bury or burn trash. Always take it with you and dispose of it properly.
• Collect rain water. Use it to rinse dishes, as a face rinse, to wash clothes or any other way you see fit.
• Recycle all recyclable materials.
• When building a fire never cut down branches from a living tree. Use only fallen wood or drift wood. You can also purchase local firewood. Be sure that you buy local firewood and check the laws when bringing firewood with you. There are many laws against transporting firewood because of the threat of invasive species. It is often easiest to purchase from a local, selling firewood from their home.
• Purchase an eco-friendly tent and other eco-friendly gear if possible.
• Stay on designated trails. Not only does this keep you safe, but it protects native plants from you. It also protects against erosion of the soil.
• Choose LED flashlights and lanterns.
• If possible use propane instead of charcoal for the BBQ. Propane burns much cleaner.
• Recycle batteries. Use rechargeable batteries when you can.
• Use organic bug sprays and sunscreens.

If you want to tour the country without hurting the environment or just tour your neighborhood, traveling around in a green RV has never been so fashionable. The RV industry has created an entire market of products with the environment at heart. The RV's themselves have been given a green makeover with lighter-weight, more fuel-efficient vehicles built with eco-friendly materials and components designed to reduce energy consumption. There are many easy ways to turn your RV into an environment-friendly, nature loving, energy-efficient den-on-wheels. So whether you buy a RV already green or decide to paint it green yourself you have options when it comes to going green on the road.

• Invest in a wind generator or a solar panel.
• Replace chemical toilet with a composting model or use bacterial additives rather than toxic chemicals to cut odors in waste tanks.
• Work with nature to reduce air conditioning and heating use. In cold weather, park in areas protected from winds. In hot weather park in the shade.