Environmental Practices

1. Unit 3 – Lesson 7
Environmental In-Camp Practices
Aaron Koop – HKR 3220

2. • Food Management
– Repackaging
– Food Scraps
– Food Lines
• Hygiene Practices
– Washing
– Brushing teeth
Environmental In-Camp Practices

3. To keep the wilderness pristine we follow Leave No
Trace (LNT) principles and whatever is brought
brought in gets brought out.
Tips
• Plan your meals in advance.
– Prepare food early if possible.
• Bring reusable packing material.
– Plastic bags and Tinfoil can be reused if properly cleaned.
• Reduce sources of microtrash (plastic caps/twist ties/etc).
– These trash items are small and easily overlooked when cleaning up your
campsite.
• Be proactive!
– While cooking ensure trash is dealt with immediately, it is easy for
wrappers or caps to be set aside and forgotten or lost in the foliage.
Food Management – Pack In/Pack Out
Check out this quick video for more information on
Microtrash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQuz0G0YOlI

4. Having food around your campsite can attract
unwanted attentions from pests and wildlife.
excess
Tips
• Pack meals that have as little excess as possible.
• Left over food should be put in a airtight, sealed container to be
brought home and composted.
• Avoid burning/burying excess food as it can attract wildlife.
• Liquids can be disposed of in a cathole.
– Catholes are dug 6 inches into the organic layer and then covered after liquid
disposal.
Food Management – Food Scraps

5. When planning an extended stay in the wilderness
food should be suspended in the air out of reach
of wildlife.
Food Management – Food Lines
Tips
• Hang your food at least 10 ft off the
ground and 8 ft away from the trunk and
5 ft from the nearest branch.
• There are many ways to make a food
line, learn a couple that will work in
different situations
• Knowing your knots will be very helpful
for this! •For additional information read
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-
bin/backpackinglight/bear_bag_hanging_technique#.VYImgFV
Viko

6. Don’t go days before you bathe. Staying clean and
keeping up your overall hygiene will make yours
and your camp-mates trip a success.
Tips
• Pick a shower/bathing site.
– Should be private area away from any water supply (at
least 60 meters).
– Can use a tarp to create a secluded area.
• Use biodegradable soap.
• Rinse – Lather – Rinse – Dry off
Hygiene Practices – Washing

7. Just because you are in the woods doesn’t mean
you can’t get cavities.
Tips
• Use filtered or treated water.
• Use environmentally safe toothpaste.
– Baking soda based.
• Dispose of liquid at least 60 meters away from any water source.
– Use a cathole.
Hygiene Practices – Brushing Teeth

8. Activity – set up a food line (Bear Bag)
Participants – small groups or individual
Time – 15 min
Equipment – 2 ropes and 2 bags for each group/individual
View introductory bear bag video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG_cmwNuAbA
Teaching Points
• Discuss methods of creating food line.
– Tie down, counterbalance etc.
• Review how food lines line up with L.N.T. policy.
• Review truckers hitch and double half hitch.
Environmental In-Camp - Activity

9. References
Jordan, R. (May 30, 2004). Bear bag hanging techniques. Backpacking Light.
Retrieved from http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-
bin/backpackinglight/bear_bag_hanging_technique#.VYImgFVViko
Redmond, K., Foran, A., & Dwyer, S. (2010). Quality lesson plans for outdoor
education. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Romaine, R. [How To Wilderness], (Oct. 2, 2011). Bear bag basics. Retrieved
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bG_cmwNuAbA
Pictures from:
http://looneytunes.wikia.com/wiki/Pep%C3%A9_Le_Pew_(character)/
http://media.backpacker.com/wp-
content/uploads/2010/01/Skills_bearbag_4451.jpg
http://www.meetup.com/Santa-Clarita-Community-Hiking-Club-Meetup-
Group/events/66738692/
http://childrenstorytales.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Toothbrush-and-
toothpaste.png