Camping Etiquette
As we are in the midst of summer and enjoying the warm and sometimes hot days, most of us are out and about keeping ourselves cool and entertained. There are countless outdoor activities for all to enjoy as we take advantage of the long days that enable us to spend more time outside. From taking fun road trips to hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and water skiing, there is never a shortage of things to do. One quintessentially summer activity that most people enjoy is camping.
Recently, my husband and I ventured out on a camping trip in one of our province's most beautifully vegetated campgrounds. The spaciousness of the area and the trees that surrounded us only added to the beauty of this place. However, the quality of our trip was elevated by the people we met during our stay.
During check-in at the campground, each camper was given a pamphlet with guidelines to follow to ensure that we all had a good camping experience. These included tips that would guarantee our safety from animals, help maintain the pristine state of each campsite and encourage a relaxing time for everyone. Some of the guidelines read as follows:
Follow the driving directions and speed limit, and slow down within the loops to avoid blowing dust on other campers
Be "bear smart" by not leaving food and cooking tools unattended at all times, and never leave any food in the tents
Use pathways and don't cut through your neighbour's campsite as this will disturb them and can also damage the ecosystem
Vehicles and tents must be within your designated site and on the gravel pad, not on vegetation.
Once we got settled in and started interacting with the other campers, I was impressed with the calibre of people I would be spending a few days around. I noticed that they all seemed to follow an unwritten code of conduct that reinforced the guidelines in the pamphlet we had received.
For example, if a camper forgot a valuable possession in a common area, they could be assured to find it where they left it. My husband was one happy beneficiary of this honesty after he took off his wristwatch at a very busy public sink during handwashing. He recovered it an hour later, realising that he had left it on the basin.
Park staff drove around the campsites a few times a day to monitor their conditions, sometimes confiscating food and food-related items such as pans and kettles left out in the open. This is one rule that some campers easily overlook, especially when gathering firewood from the wood bins. Although, some neighbours advised the staff that the campers were within the campgrounds replenishing firewood. This intervention was appreciated by both the staff and the absentee campers and prevented the hassle of loading items and writing notes. It was heartwarming to be in an environment where people were willing to help.
This camping trip served as a good reminder that there is always a place to practise etiquette in our daily lives. Even when on holiday with people we do not know, simply helping each other to follow the campground's guidelines impacted the quality of our experience. I had a wonderful, relaxing time and appreciated the other campers I interacted with.
If you plan to go camping this summer, I hope you will have positively memorable experiences. Where possible, tap into your etiquette bank and be the reason someone else enjoys their experience too.
Happy camping!
