Etiquette for Camping

I know you probably can't imagine someone in the etiquette profession

roughing it in the mountains, sleeping in a tent, cooking over a campfire,

and having to be in the woods for various other duties... if you know what I

mean. Nevertheless, I love camping. My husband and I make every effort to

go camping each year. It's a great way to relieve the pressures of city life,

get back to nature, and to simply relax.

Here are a 8 tips and courtesies to help you enjoy your next camping trip:

1. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE. Don't set up camp too close to another camp. In a

public or forest service campsite, with toilet facilities, tables, and

parking, set up your camp as far away from others as possible. If you like to

pick a spot in a national forest or the back-country, camp far away from

trails and other camps so that no one can see or hear you. Never walk or

drive through another's campsite.

2. BE AWARE OF NOISE AND LIGHTS. If you play music, watch TV, or turn on a

generator, stop by 9 p.m. or earlier, if neighbors appear to be quiet or

retire. In the morning, make sure they are up before you make noise. If you

arrive after dark or before dawn, keep noise to a minimum and dim your

headlights.

3. PRACTICE "LEAVE NO TRACE" CAMPING. Leave your camp as clean or cleaner

than you found it. Pack out your rubbish or put it in the proper containers.

Never put metal, glass, or plastic into your campfire because they do not

burn. Don't bury metal, glass, plastic, paper, or food scraps because animals

will dig them up or wind and water will unearth and scatter them. For more

"no trace" tips, see http://www.usscouts.org/camping/bslowimp.html

4. KEEP NATURE BEAUTIFUL. Do not wash dishes or clean fish in streams or

lakes which will pollute the water. Throw the dishwater and entrails onto the

ground at least 200 feet away from any camp, stream, or lake. Animals will

dispose of the entrails.

5. USE PROPER TOILET FACILITIES. Always use the provided bathroom facilities.

If there are none, set up your latrine 100 yards or so from any camp. Try to

make it downwind, downstream and at least 200 feet from a stream or lake. Do

not urinate on trees or plants, because animals desiring salt will eat the

tree bark or plants, often destroying them. Try to urinate on bare soil or

rocks away from streams or lakes. If you're hiking, the best place is often

on the trail, where no harm can be done to any plants.

6. KEEP TREES HEALTHY. Never drive nails or shoot guns into trees. The holes

allow access for insects that could destroy the tree. Don't leave wire or

rope around a tree trunk or branch when you leave. Never cut live trees or

brush for firewood. Instead, find dead wood, unless you see a sign

prohibiting the gathering of firewood. In many improved campgrounds you must

supply your own firewood. Some campgrounds sell it at the office or host's

site.

7. STAY SOMEWHERE APPROPRIATE IF YOU HAVE SMALL CHILDREN. Choose a

family-friendly campground where they are welcome and have safe places to

play. Keep children under age 8 or 9 under direct supervision. They can

wander out of your sight in a moment and be miles away before you find them.

Teach older kids these camp etiquette tips so that they, too, will be welcome

in any camp.

8. MANAGE YOUR DOG. Dogs are never a good idea in the woods or wilderness

because they can terrorize wildlife, bark too much or leave messes that

people don't clean up. If you must bring your dog, it must be quiet and under

control. Keep it on a leash no more than 6 feet long, never let it free to

chase birds, squirrels, deer, or other wildlife. And you must clean up after

it around the campsite.

What other items do you think should be added to this list? Do let us hear

from you by locating this article at www.AdvancedEtiquette.com/blog. You may

also reach us at www.AdvancedEtiquette.com. If you enjoyed this article and

want more, subscribe to our "Etiquette Tip of the Month" newsletter---at no

charge---filled with great monthly tips on all sorts of topics from

international business and social etiquette and protocol to everyday life

subjects. It will be great to have you as a member of our happy family of

subscribers.

HAPPY PRACTICING!