Earth Day 2024: Become an Eco-Friendly Camper!

This April 22nd is Earth Day in Canada! Earth Day is a yearly event that promotes environmental protection and conservation and celebrates the achievements of the environmental movement¹. For this Earth Day, I’d like to highlight one of my favourite outdoor activities: camping! As the weather gets warmer and we gear up for the spring and summer camping seasons in beautiful British Columbia, it’s important to consider how to minimize your environmental impacts while enjoying the great outdoors.

Eco camping is camping in a way that is sustainable and environmentally friendly². You may think that a weekend camping trip spent relaxing at your campsite is a harmless activity. In reality camping can have numerous detrimental effects, such as chemical pollution, rearranging the local environment, and introducing invasive species to the area⁴.

Keep reading for ways you can become an eco-friendly camper!

Camping Gear

Rent or share: From tents to sleeping bags to headlamps, camping requires a lot of gear. If you don’t think you’ll get enough use out of your equipment, consider renting equipment from a company like Packlist or share gear with friends. If you want to purchase gear, check out your local outdoors shops for a second hand section, browse online buy & sell groups or check out brands such as Patagonia’s Worn Wear initiative.

Shop sustainable brands: If you don’t find used gear that matches what you’re looking for, buy new gear made from recycled materials or organic fabrics grown without fertilizers and pesticides. Check out brands such as Cotopaxi and The North Face for eco-friendly equipment⁹.

Repair your gear: Maximize your gear’s life and keep it out of the landfill by repairing it when a break occurs instead of throwing it away. Try your hand at at-home repairs with the help of MEC’s product care and maintenance instructions or look for a local repair shop in your area. Brands such as Patagonia also offer repair services to fix their products. When your gear has lived its life to the fullest, donate it, sell it or give it to a friend.
Bring non-toxic products: It’s also essential to be mindful of only bringing all-natural, non-toxic products on your camping adventure. When sunscreen, bug spray and other water-soluble products find their way into lakes, rivers or streams, they can bioaccumulate in the environment over time and result in chemical pollution of the local ecosystem. In addition to non-toxic sunscreen and bug spray, bring biodegradable soap and toothpaste⁸.

Food and Cooking

Make homemade meals and snacks: To make your camping meals more sustainable, give homemade camping meals a try. Making meals at home gives you the chance to buy local, organic food that benefits the environment by avoiding the pesticides and fertilizers used in traditional agriculture⁸. Instead of buying pre-made snacks that are individually packaged, try buying the ingredients in bulk to make your own and then store them together in a reusable container⁸.
Use a camping stove: Using a camping stove instead of a campfire to cook brings several environmental benefits, including reduced impact of natural resources such as wood and a reduction in air pollution⁷. Lower your carbon emissions by choosing a sustainable fuel for your stove such as biofuel³. Go for a liquid fuel stove instead of the more-popular compressed gas stoves as the canisters can be refilled and then reused².
Dispose of dishwater properly: If your campsite allows you to dispose of dishwater on site instead of packing it out, be sure to scrape off food scraps into a bag to be packed out. Use a bit of biodegradable dish soap to clean your dishes, then bury the dishwater in a hole at least 6 inches deep and 200 ft away from your campsite or a body of water².

Waste Disposal

Reduce packaging: You can greatly reduce the amount of waste you create by minimizing packaging you bring. You can do so by using reusable containers instead of single use plastics. Try packing food in bulk in a single container, or using reusable silicone bags or beeswax paper instead of plastic². I never go on any outdoor adventure without my trusty Nalgene water bottle!
Use disposal facilities or pack out: For waste that cannot be avoided, be sure to dispose of it in the appropriate garbage or recycling facility. If your campsite does not have appropriate disposal facilities or you are in the backcountry, pack out your waste⁵. You must pack out everything you pack in, including leftover food, packaging, cigarette butts, and anything else you have brought².
Bury or pack out human waste: Dealing with human waste responsibly helps prevent harmful chemicals and bacteria from entering the local ecosystem². If you find yourself at a campsite in the mountains, alpine tundra or desert, you must pack out poop in order to avoid damaging these sensitive ecosystems⁶. Kits exist for this purpose, such as a WAG Bag². If you’ve chosen a forest campsite, human waste can be buried in the ground at least 6 inches deep and 200 ft away from another campsite, a trail or a body of water, but be sure to pack out your toilet paper⁶.

Campsite Selection and Transportation

Choose your campsite carefully: If you’re looking to enjoy a frontcountry camping trip, opt for a campground that has incorporated sustainable practices. Examples of practices to look out for include proper recycling facilities or amenities that rely on solar power instead of traditional fossil fuels³. You can also consider visiting a lesser-known camping destination in order to reduce the strain on ecosystems that see many visitors each year².
Carpool or take public transportation: Try carpooling with friends going to the same campsite or take public transportation if possible. For instance, YVR Skylynx offers bus services between Vancouver, Squamish and Whistler.

Reconciliation and Respect for the Land

Be thoughtful and respectful: Remember that the campsite you are visiting is located on the traditional lands of Indigenous Peoples - near Vancouver, you’ll find yourself on the land of the Coast Salish Peoples. Be conscious not to impact cultural artifacts or heritage sites. Take the time to acknowledge the history of Indigenous cultures on the land⁵.

Benefits of Eco Camping

There are numerous benefits of eco camping, here are only a few examples:

Reducing your greenhouse gas emissions²
Contributing to conservation efforts²
Preserving delicate ecosystems³
Safeguarding our natural resources for future generations of all life on Earth³

Remember these tips and enjoy your next eco camping adventure!

Earth Day Giveaway

To celebrate Earth Day, Sea Smart is partnering with Tire Stewardship of BC for a Clean Water Champions program giveaway for Teachers.

Stay tuned for more details coming soon!

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