| For some people, camping is a way to get back | | | | around for recycling. You can then easily |
| to nature while for others it means bringing | | | | take this stuff back with you and recycle it |
| out the big toys and having some fun. For the | | | | appropriately when you get home. Also, |
| people who bring out the big motor home | | | | consider composting your trash in a bucket if |
| equipped with satellite television, cook | | | | you can. |
| tops, refrigerators and other neat gadgets, | | | | |
| camping can leave a negative impact on the | | | | Go Low -Tech |
| environment. For the people who wish to camp | | | | |
| and do so while leaving the smallest | | | | A tent and sleeping bag is far more |
| ecological footprint possible, there are some | | | | environmentally friendly than a motor home or |
| clever tricks to keeping your camping "green" | | | | camper trailer. Motor homes require large |
| and safe. | | | | amounts of fuel and energy to keep in |
| | | | operation every day. With the cost of energy |
| LED Flashlights and Lanterns | | | | and fuel where it is right now, your camping |
| | | | trip could cost you a lot less if you |
| LED lights are the most energy efficient | | | | consider more green camping alternatives. |
| light source currently available for | | | | |
| flashlights and lanterns. They produce a | | | | You can enjoy a true outdoor camping |
| brighter sustained light while still using | | | | excursion more if you do it electricity free. |
| less battery power than a traditional | | | | Leave the games, portable TVs, and computers |
| flashlight. In fact quality LED flashlight | | | | at home. Pack a cell phone or PDA in case of |
| can provide over 600 hours of light from one | | | | emergencies but turn it off or just plain |
| set of regular AA or AAA batteries. The | | | | leave it alone. Every little bit helps when |
| combination of battery savings and bulb | | | | it comes to reducing how much energy we |
| efficiency results in up to 90% less energy | | | | consumer every year. |
| consumption than any other flashlight. LED | | | | |
| lanterns use the same bulb technology making | | | | Cookstoves |
| them a good idea for having around the | | | | |
| campsite as well. | | | | Unless you're allergic to smoke or have |
| | | | strong asthma symptoms, the campfire is still |
| Wind-up LED flashlights are an even more | | | | the most ecologically friendly way to cook |
| environmentally-conscious light source. These | | | | food. Fueled grills require propane or |
| are fairly easy to use. All you have to do | | | | electricity to operate. Campfire requires |
| is wind them up to create power creating | | | | wood that can be easily picked-up off the |
| friction and turn it on. These lights don't | | | | forest floor and a light source. It may not |
| put out as strong of a light as a regular LED | | | | be practical to cook everything you want on a |
| but they are an excellent option for short | | | | fire but you can use it for some things to |
| hiking excursions. | | | | help reduce the amount of time you cook on a |
| | | | fueled cook stove. |
| Cookware | | | | |
| | | | Going on a green camping trip can actually be |
| Don't use styrofoam cups while camping, no | | | | one of the more fun vacations you take this |
| matter how convenient they may seem. The | | | | summer. Look into ways you can help make less |
| same goes for paper plates and disposable | | | | of an impact on the environment the next time |
| plastic forks. Instead, camp with reusable | | | | you venture out into your home state's |
| dishes and utensils and wash them after each | | | | mountain country or forested parks. |
| use. This will drastically decrease the | | | | |
| amount of trash you burn (bad for the | | | | ~Ben Anton, 2008 |
| enviro-gases pollute the air) or throw away | | | | |
| (plastics don't biodegrade quickly, | | | | Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR and writes |
| overfilling our landfills). | | | | for Discount Lights and Knives. |
| | | | |
| Recycle | | | | Get what you need for your next green camping |
| | | | trip, including energy-efficient LED lanterns |
| Think about what you do at home to be | | | | and flashlights on the DLK website for LED |
| ecologically friendly and institute it on | | | | recreational lights for camping, hunting and |
| your camping trip. Keep paper bags or bins | | | | hiking. |