Have you ever heard the saying, “Leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but memories?” The catchy phrase is a common refrain among regular outdoor enthusiasts, as it implies that we should make as small an impact on the environments we visit as possible. That also applies to the RV lifestyle. Taking a vehicle into the great outdoors brings convenience and comfort, but it also creates a lot more opportunities for waste and damage to the environment. If you’re interested in learning more about how to leave no trace, read on.
Don’t Remove Items from Places You Visit
This one feels like it’s a given, but you’d be surprised at the number of people who take rocks, pieces of petrified wood, and other artifacts from protected lands. Leave everything as it was when you arrived, no matter how much your kids complain about the cool rock or fossil they found. It might not seem like much, but taking items can damage fragile ecosystems over time and remove what made the location so special to begin with.
Maintain Your Campsite
There are so many things going on in and around a family campsite that it can be easy to lose track of trash and other waste. Clean as you go and be sure to bring enough trash bags or other containers to safely dispose of your waste after the trip. This is also an important pointer, as it can help prevent unwanted wildlife visitors.
Stay On Marked Trails
If you’re planning on hiking, biking, and other outdoor activities, it’s best to stick to the marked trails and places where people are intended to walk. That also includes driving trails, as you should not take your RV or another vehicle off the beaten path.
Avoid Leaving Marks or Trail Markers
People love stacking rocks, drawing on rocks with chalk, and other ways to make their presence known, but it’s a good idea to avoid such activities. It might seem harmless to make such small changes to the environment, but it pollutes the scenery for other visitors and could disrupt wildlife and other natural processes. If you want to learn more about leave-no-trace camping or have questions about camping in an RV, stop by to chat with our knowledgeable staff. We can walk you through the ins and outs of lightly camping and would be happy to give you an in-depth demonstration of how to use your RV systems safely and without disturbing the environment.
