ALL CAN BE HAPPY CAMPERS My wife and I have been camping for many years now and it always amazes us that somehow we end up having a site next to, or across from campers who are screaming and yelling at each other or at their kids halfway across the campgrounds. Or, some have dogs that bark constantly, play music loudly, while others, are just plain oblivious, or just don't care about other campers around them. I am sure we are not the only ones who have ever experienced this type of behavior at the campgrounds. I realize we all go camping to have a good time with family and friends while relaxing and enjoying our time with them. However, there are camping etiquettes that we should be aware of and try to remember while we are camping, so that other campers can enjoy their time also. I have listed 9 (and there are more) very important camping etiquette’s we should all try to follow. Basically, use common sense and remember their are other campers around you that want to relax and enjoy camping also.

#1. NIGHTFALL: In the evening the air is much lighter and sound will travel much further. Thus, your voices will carry much further at night than during the day light hours. Everyone wants to have a good time around a camp fire but just be aware you may be too loud. If you want to find out how much noise your party is actually making. Slip away from your party for a few minutes and walk a few campsites away. If you can hear your party, than you know your party is too loud. Be kind enough to your fellow campers around you and remind everyone in your party to keep the conversations and the laughter down.

#2. DOGS:

We always enjoy watching campers with their dog(s) walking by our campsite. My wife and I have even taken our dogs camping with us a few times. If you do bring your pet with you please remember these things. 1…. A dog barking all the time is quite annoying for other campers. Not every one owns a dog(s), some people don't even like them and are not used to the extra noise. Every one understands that a dog will bark from time to time and that's fine, but if you can’t control your pet from barking every time someone walks by or you know from experience your dog consistently barks, than plans should be made to leave your pet at home. 2…. Remember to keep your pet on a leash of 10 foot or less at all times. (Most State Park rules say a leash of no more than 6 feet.) Many campers have a fear of dogs and one that is loose and running around even as harmless as your dog maybe, will still make some fellow campers very uneasy. 3….Please make sure that you clean up your pets droppings. There is nothing more disgusting than to step in someone else’s dog dodo.

#3. MUSIC AND TVS: Some campers want to get away from radios and TVs, other campers can’t deal without them. If you are one of those campers that have the need to hear music or watch TV, please remember not everyone around you will like your choice of music or wants to hear your TV show. So please, keep your music and your TV just loud enough for you to hear. Rule of thumb, if you can hear the music or TV from more than 30’ away, it is too loud. In the evening, as sound travels further more attention needs to be paid to keep your radio and TV turned down.

#4. CHILDREN:

As I mention children, I must also include adults as well. We adults have the responsibility for our children and knowing what they are doing. Camping at State Parks or private campgrounds we can feel a bit safer letting our kids roam more without as much supervision. We must however, explain to them that it is not alright to enter or cut through someone else’s campsite. I am amazed at how many adults will enter or cut through someone else's campsite on a continual basis. By walking or cutting through someone else’s campsite shows disrespect for your fellow camper, you are also invading their space and it is considered very rude and should not be done. Many parents including me, will bring bikes for our kids so they can ride through the campgrounds. This is perfectly alright to do as long as we teach them to not yell and scream to siblings or other friends as they are riding through the campgrounds.

#5. TRASH: Now days, we are able to recycle most types of cans. Putting aluminum cans or foil into your camp fire is not recycling. I can’t tell you how many times I have had to clean out my campfire ring when I get on site to rid of someone else's glass jars and/or aluminum cans. Please help keep our campgrounds clean by throwing your unburnable items in trash bags and then dispose of them properly. Most campgrounds have dumpsters for recyclables and other trash, believe it or not, they put them there for us to use. Rule of Thumb: When you leave your site after camping, it should be just as clean if not better than when you first arrived.

#6. LIGHTS:

I have always had a screen house that we use for eating or playing games in. We will put up lights around the screen house so that we are able to play games and eat at night it also makes our campsite easier to find. What we often forget, myself included is: turning off the lights before we head in for the night. Leaving the lights on all night can be very annoying to other fellow campers. Remember, we all come from cities, subdivisions or rural areas. While those that live in subdivisions or cities may be use to having lights on around them at night, those who live in rural areas are not, which may cause them an unrestful night.

#7. DRIVING: My biggest pet peeve. Drivers think that campgrounds are race tracks. It doesn’t matter if you are in a State Park or a private campground there are speed limit signs posted. Most of speed limits are set at 10 to 15 miles per hour which may seem terrible slow but are set to help keep the campground safe. There are many, many distractions in a campground and by driving to fast you are taking the risk of injuring a child, pet or another fellow camper. I have witnessed several close calls because the driver was going way to fast. Please, Please, Please keep your speed to the limit posted at all times and lets help keep the campground safe.

#8. FLOW OF TRAFFIC: When entering a campground pay attention to the flow of traffic by the one way arrows on the payment or on a post. Most campgrounds have only a single wide road with just enough room for a camper or motor home. By going the wrong way, you can cause problems as it becomes very difficult for someone pulling a camper or motor home to get to their campsite, not to mention passing other vehicles. Some campgrounds have their sites arranged in such a way that backing into a site can only be accomplished in a certain direction. Let’s pay attention to those signs and keep the flow of traffic going in the right direction.

#9. CHECK CAMPGROUND RULES:

The best thing to do in any case is to make sure you read through the campground rules for which you are staying at. Whether private or State Parks, they all have brochures or signs of the property rules. They are not difficult rules to follow and are their so all campers can enjoy their stay. So the next time you go camping, remember to practice camp etiquette. If nothing else, think of the golden rule: “Do to others as you would want them to do to you”. We all can be happy campers if we show respect for each other.