It is never too late to learn about how you can be a better camper, and that is why we are here to show you the ropes on how to be the best camper ever! You might be wondering what the difference is between a good and bad camper, so let us break it down for you: a good camper is prepared, has common-camper-sense and is courteous to their campsite neighbours, while a bad camper is unprepared, is messy and could care less about their camground neighbours. Think you could up your campsite behaviour? Here's our list on how to be a good camper:
Play by the Rules
Did you know that most campsites have their own set of campground rules? When choosing a site to visit, make sure to examine their rules to ensure it is the right camsite for you, your RV and your company. Many campsites have rules regarding quiet hours, open beverage restrictions, leashing pets, speed limits, campfires, generator use, parking expectations, food storage, check-in and check-out times and more! To be the most prepared camper there could be, read these rules and plan your vacation carefully around them.
Keep it Clean
The number one rule to follow that'll make you an amazing camper is to always leave your campsite how you found it... clean! The goal when you pack up your RV at the end of your trip should be to make it seem like you and your guests were never there in the first place! Tips to make this easier on yourself would be to regularly collect trash and properly dispose of it, to store your food items in a secure cooler or place and to try your best to leave the nature around you undisturbed. There is nothing more annoying than arriving at a dirty campsite, so do as you would want to arrive to and keep your campsite clean!
Be Courteous
To be the best camper you can be you also have to be a great campsite neighbour. Here's some ways you can do this:
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Follow Quiet Times
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Although you are on vacation, it is important to respect your neighbours and be quiet when the campground's quiet hours come into effect.
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Don't play the radio or TV and try to keep talking to a lower volume.
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Stay on the Path
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Ever think about taking shortcuts while walking around the campgrounds? Think again! To be a good and courteous neighbour, the easiest thing you could do is not cut through people's campsites to take the shorter path.
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Stay in the Lines
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When parking your unit, it's okay to not hit the mark exactly, but try not to cut over into your neighbours campsite too much. Ever heard of too close for comfort?
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Slow and Steady
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Your campsite has a suggested speed limit for a reason... to be safe! Speeding through a campsite can cause major accidents as people, children and animals tend to play and walk throughout the campgrounds. Following the maximum speed limit allows you to safely drive to your designated spot while keeping an eye out for the potential hazards.
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Little Ones
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While camping, be sure to keep an eye on your little ones, the human kind and the four-legged kind. The last thing your neighbours want is your child or your pets wandering into their campsite. Keep all pets on a leash when outside your RV and be sure to always pick up after them. Stay close to your children when outside of your unit and make sure they do not leave their toys all over the campgrounds.
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Hot, Hot, Hot
Everyone's favourite camping activity is to sit around the campfire making s'mores (or delicious recipes you've found on one of our social pages!), but here's how you can keep doing these things as the best camper version of yourself! When getting wood, make sure to buy from the designated campsite supplier, or if there are no rules on burning your own wood, bring some along with you. What a good camper will not do is harm their campsite environment by chopping down trees and collecting wood from the surrounding areas. To keep everyone safe while having a campfire, make sure your fire is out before you go into your unit for the night. A smouldering fire can very quickly catch fire while everyone is sound asleep.
Being a good camper takes a lot of work, but we belive in you! Take time to prepare and be mindful of your surrounding neighbours when at the campsite, to make not only your trip the best, but everyone at the campgrounds trip the best!