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Camping
Find sustainably managed campgrounds
Abram’s Creek Lodge and Campground (Mt Storm, West Virginia)
This progressive campground has a list of over 20 eco-principles it uses to manage its facilities, covering everything from recycling to chemicals and pesticides, meal planning to water use, and energy generation to vehicle choice.Camp Green Canada!
A group encouraging campgrounds and RVers alike to use eco-friendly, nontoxic, biodegradable products to treat effluent and for on-board holding tank odour control. Member campgrounds can advertise their chemical-free dumping facilities.Delamere Forest (England)
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Dubbed the UK’s first carbon neutral campsite, this location features rain water harvesting, wood burning stoves, solar panels, locally-sourced materials, native plant cultivation, and sustainable forest management.EcoBusinessLinks Yurt Camping
Find yurt campgrounds throughout the country. Many feature solar power, composting toilets, energy saving devices, and low-flow bathroom fixtures.ECOCAMP Patagonia (Chile)
This unique, beautiful campsite manages itself in an eco-friendly manner, recycling garbage, allowing the landscape to recover each season, and more.ECOCAMPING.net (Europe)
This campground association promotes environmental protection and conservation in all of its member campgrounds. With over 166 campsites in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, eco-camping in Europe should be a breeze.European Union (EU) Eco-Label Campsite Service
Campgrounds certified with the EU Eco-Label must conserve energy and water, reduce and recycle waste, use eco-friendly products, and promote environmental education. Use the interactive catalogue (choose “Campsite” from the “Category” menu) or explore the EU Eco-Label Tourism site.National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) Plan-It Green!
The ARVC is developing a program for campground managers to create eco-friendly facilities for their guests. Find campgrounds in your area that are going green.The Bosque Village (Michoacan, Mexico)
An eco-tourist’s dream, this sustainable eco-village offers camping, as well as cabanas for those seeking something less rustic. Volunteer on the organic farm or enjoy an artistic retreat.The Green Key (Europe) International Eco-Label for Tourism Facilities
Although this label applies to tourism services of all types, it does include campgrounds. Members must meet a long list of criteria. On average, most use 20 percent less electricity, 25 percent less heating energy, and 27 percent less water per guest than other facilities.
Practice Leave No Trace camping
A Guide to Leaving a Good Impression (Individually) by Tread Lightly
This little guide will give you good ideas for leaving a positive impression when exploring outdoors. It covers basic Tread Lightly Principles and provides information on finding trails for your next trip.Backwoods Ethics: A Guide to Low-Impact Camping and Hiking by Laura Waterman and Guy Waterman
This is a down-to-earth guide for those aiming to practice Leave No Trace camping. It’s humorous and thoughtful, addressing low-traffic camping methods.Leave No Trace: A Practical Guide to the New Wilderness Etiquette by Annette McGivne
Out with the old, in with the new—camping methods that is. This simple LNT guide for hikers, mountain bikers, climbers, skiers, and paddlers makes a great resource for anyone wanting to do their part while enjoying the natural beauty of the world.Leave No Trace: Minimum Impact Outdoor Recreation by Will Harmon
This book covers both practical, commonsense practices, as well as the ethical considerations inherent in protecting the natural, fragile world around us. The author's approach: taking care of the outdoors is everyone’s responsibility.Wilderness Ethics by National Outdoor Leadership School
Addressing some of the biggest issues for wilderness protection, the authors tackle subjects like animal rights, tree rights, reasons for wilderness protection, and more. Their hope is to provide a history of the wilderness movement and survey the public structures that have been put in place to protect wild lands.
Observe eco-friendly campfire safety rules
AdjustAGrill Campfire Pan and Dutch Oven Table
A compact little unit, this grill and fire pan combo can adjust to many cooking environments. It folds up for easy storage and even comes with a handy carrying case. This unit meets the US Forest Service’s standards.BCB International Ethanol Cooking Gel Fuel
For use in solid-fuel camp stoves, these little gel packs burn clean, smokeless, and odorless. A quick lighter, it’s even nontoxic if inhaled or ingested (although we don’t recommend going in for a taste).Cambridge Welding Steel Fire Pan
This oversized fire pan is great for larger crowds or longer stays, and comes with a stand and a lid, making it super convenient and easy to set up. It’s also approved by the Forest Service.Coleman 2 Burner Dual Fuel™ Powerhouse™ Deluxe Stove
A camp-stove classic, this little green machine uses Coleman-brand fuel or unleaded gas and can burn over two hours on high with one tank. It’s got two burners, but is relatively small for its power.Coleman Select-E-Fuel™ 2-Burner Stove
This liquid-fuel, two-burner stove can operate on up to 10 percent ethanol fuel and puts out a lot of heat. It comes with wind-blocking shields to keep your flame in control and at its max.Cook Partner Fire Pan Mini Fire Pan
This one’s as simple as they come. It’s stainless steel and comes leg- and stand-free, making it ideal for longer backpacking trips where light weight and small size are key considerations.Forest Stewardship Council Registered Certificates
If you’re carrying in your own firewood, you want to buy sustainably-harvested pieces. Find FSC-certified firewood by using the international database for FSC certificate holders. Use the “Product” field to search for firewood, and choose the appropriate country to filter your results.MRS Reactor Stove
Get windproof, fuel-efficient cooking with this fast-heating little stove-pot combination. The radiant burner is enclosed, making it safe to operate, and the internal regulator puts out a consistent amount of heat.Primus EtaPower EF High Efficiency Camp Stove
Achieve fast boiling times with less fuel using this small stove. The package comes with a burner stand, windscreen, and pot (with pan and handle), as well as a carrying bag. It’s got a wide base, making it extremely stable.Woodgas Camp Stove
This handy stove will burn fuel—leaves, twigs, pinecones—completely and thoroughly, creating a low-smoke, high-efficiency heat source for cooking while in the wild. It also eliminates the need to pack liquid fuel.
Use a Leave No Trace toilet
BioBags Biodegradable Bags
Find all sorts of biodegradable bags for all of your camping needs with BioBags' wide selection. Sure, some may be for doggie doo or kitchen garbage, but no reason they couldn't be used for your LNT toilet or trash needs.Leave No Trace Wag Bag
It’s a biodegradable toilet bag waste kit that’s puncture resistant and comes with a zip close disposal/transport bag. Also includes: Pooh Powder waste treatment, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. The kit packs out up to 32 ounces of waste.Poop Bags
These biodegrabable poop bags are made from wheat, corn, tapioca, and potatoes and come in both black and green. Great Dane owners may want to opt for the jumbo poop bags. Poop Bag Holders are also available.Seventh Generation Bathroom Tissue
Seventh Generation brand toilet tissue contains 80 percent post-consumer waste, 20 percent pre-consumer waste, and is 100 percent chlorine-free. It is hypoallergenic and safe to use with septic systems.
Properly dispose of campsite trash
Bear Vault BV350 Solo Bear Resistant Food Canister
Keep all of your food and scraps safe from a bear break in this clear, polycarbonate canister. With a wide mouth and tool-free opening, you’ll be able to stop bears without causing yourself undue frustration.BioBags Biodegradable Bags
Find all sorts of biodegradable bags for all of your camping needs with BioBags' wide selection. Sure, some may be for doggie doo or kitchen garbage, but no reason they couldn't be used for your LNT toilet or trash needs.Garcia Bear-Resistant Container
Made from stainless steel and strong ABS polymer, this bear bin will protect your food and leftover scraps from bears and other wildlife. It can hold up to 614 cubic inches of material.L.L.Bean Sea to Summit® Dry Trash Bag, 20 Liter
Line this flexible trash bag with a regular plastic garbage bag and then seal food scraps inside to avoid mess and odor during your next outing. This 20-liter bag even comes with chain loops and a clip making it easy to hang it out of bear’s reach.Poop Bags
These biodegrabable poop bags are made from wheat, corn, tapioca, and potatoes and come in both black and green. Great Dane owners may want to opt for the jumbo poop bags. Poop Bag Holders are also available.
Practice nontoxic cleaning methods while camping
Country Rose Castile Liquid Soap
Made with 100 percent pure olive oil, this soap has no added foaming ingredients that can pollute natural waterways. It can be used to wash hair and skin, as well as laundry and dishes, and is completely biodegradable.Kirk's Original Coco Castile soaps
Kirk's carries on the all-natural castile tradition with everything from bar soaps to liquid soaps to shampoo and conditioner. All products are biodegradable, cruelty-free, and contain no harsh preservatives.Mountain Equipment Co-Op Source Liquitainer Drinking Bottle
It’s a flexible, strong bottle for carrying liquid (like shampoo or dish soap) that collapses down to fit into your pack or jacket pocket. The polyethylene material is Glass-Like™ and comes in four sizes with either twist tops or push/pull sport caps.No Rinse Body Wash
No Rinse soaps are perfect for hikers and backpackers as they require no rinsing! Simply apply to skin (a shampoo is also available) and towel off. They’re alcohol-free, too.Platypus Water Tank™
This collapsible water container comes in three sizes (70 oz, 140 oz, or 210 oz) and is equipped with the Big Zip™ wide-mouth opening to allow for no-hassle filling and cleaning. It’s got a nylon handle and corner spout.Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dishwashing Soap
Seventh Generation Free & Clear dishwashing liquid is nontoxic and biodegradable, and contains no dyes, fragrances, chlorine, or phosphates. They've got some automatic dishwasher detergents, too.The Blue Ridge Soap Shed Eco Bar Soap
The Blue Ridge Soap Shed, a North Carolina-based purveyor of soaps made the traditional way, crafts (from scratch, naturally) this 100 percent olive oil soap for crusty nature boys and girls who want to bathe in freshwater streams without impacting the environment.Vermont Soap Organics Castile Bath and Shower Gels
Made with USDA Certified Organic ingredients (oils of olive, coconut, and jojoba), these soaps come in a variety of sizes and fragrances, including unscented. Good for all skin types.Your Guide to Green Oasis Biocompatible Soap
Totally biodegradable and biocompatible, this 22 oz bottle of dish soap is infused with tea tree oil for cleaning and aloe vera for conditioning. The bottle is made of recycled plastic and a portion of the profits is donated to organizations like the Sierra Club.
Sustainably gather wildflowers and edible plants
A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants: Eastern and central North America by Lee Allen Peterson
Learn how to easily identify edible berries, roots, and leaves, and get great recipes for preparing them, too. You can search this durable book’s photos and drawings by color, plant-type, and more.The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, Mushrooms, Fruits, and Nuts by Katie Letcher Lyle
More than just a simple guide, this book gives you the folklore and history surrounding many of the edible plants, mushroom, nuts, and fruits available for foraging in the wild. It’s fully illustrated and easy to follow.Tom Brown's Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants by Tom Brown
Take a spiritual journey with this philosophical look at wild edible plants. In this un-illustrated book you’ll discover which plants to use and which to avoid, and you’ll gain practical advice on how to harvest, cook, and store those that are edible.
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