Everyone that goes camping share a few common goals, to be in the outdoors enjoying nature and to get away from the everyday rat race of life. Camping Etiquette will make everyone’s outdoor experience a more pleasurable and enjoyable time. Learning a few concepts and teaching them to your family and friends is the best place to start.
      One of the first and foremost lessons in Camping Etiquette is to respect other people’s privacy and equipment. You should be friendly with your fellow campers but know when to leave them alone. The best sounds in nature are from birds, frogs and running water. No one wants to here you yelling at the top of your lungs at your kids, spouse or over loud music. Not everyone has the same taste in music, so keep it low and to yourself.
      Most camping areas have a common area for games that everyone can enjoy. They usually have swings, sand boxes and other playground equipment to use. Camping Etiquette should be observed here, too. Families will bring balls, Frisbees and even a blanket to lie out in the sun while youngsters play. Try to avoid others possessions and areas. If you see smaller children playing, try to stay away from them with running games. Camping Etiquette also means keeping your children from getting in the way of other peoples activities.
     In the evening when it starts to get dark, everyone enjoys a campfire. Observe Camping Etiquette by not walking through other campers’ sites. Some couples like to snuggle up together with a cup of coffee, hot cocoa or even a glass of wine. This is their quite and maybe romantic get away time. Having a radio blasting or people running by their tents or fire ring can really ruin a mood. (I know this first hand) This could also be when families relax and reflect on the day’s activities or for religious reasons. Unless invited, others like to be left alone at this time.
      Another type of Camping Etiquette is cleanliness. Nobody wants to go to a campsite that has trash left behind by an inconsiderate camper. At campgrounds there are usually garbage containers randomly placed for convenience. Make sure when you are leaving a campsite or campground, that you walk and sweep the area with your eyes for anything left behind. This could save you money as you may find a pocket knife, flashlight or even eye glasses that could have fallen out of a pocket when packing up. Good camping equipment can be expensive, and nothing is worse than buying it twice. Five minutes before you leave could save you money and your good time.
     One of the biggest rules in Camping Etiquette is to appreciate and preserve our land. Camping is an affordable get-a-way into nature and, the only way to keep it that way is to take care of the area. If an owner or State Park has to put a lot of money into preventable up keep, the cost will definitely be passed on to us or it will be closed down. If everyone does his or her part, we will enjoy camping for a long time to come. Today’s generation is addicted to TVs., video games and microwaves. Teach them that the best picture is one that you see outdoors. Learning how to use a compass and going on a hike can be as rewarding as 10,000 point on any video game, and that food cooked over an open fire may take a little longer, but tastes much better than heat and serve foods.