- Form a "green committee" of staff and volunteers. Get
everyone's
input on ways to stay green!
- Start a Captain Planet® (or some type
of other environmental) program for campers. Use awards and/or badges
to make it fun and encourage involvement.
- Switch to compact fluorescent
light bulbs in your facilities.
- Keep camp beautiful! Pick up litter
and clutter; make your green space enticing. Eliminate as much paper,
plastic, and Styrofoam® as you can from program, food service,
and maintenance areas.
- Get campers involved in conserving electricity
and water. Put up friendly signs by faucets and light switches as reminders.
- Have a land management plan for your camp.
- Research recycling
methods for your area, and put a recycling plan into action at your
camp.
- Compost plant material and install composting toilets.
- Review
what you buy. Buy recycled supplies from local sources and buy in bulk,
which uses less packaging. Avoid purchasing products that have been
shipped around the world in containers.
- Conduct an energy audit
for utilities such as water, gas, electricity, and heating and cooling.
Upgrade to newer equipment and recycle older equipment.
And always, take time to smell
the roses, count ants, enjoy butterflies, listen to the wind in the trees,
and watch sunsets!
Originally published in the 2007 November/December
issue of Camping Magazine. |
