This document provides tips and guidelines for proper environmental practices when camping. It discusses food management including repackaging food, disposing of food scraps, and organizing food lines. It also addresses hygiene practices like washing and brushing teeth. Specific tips are given such as hanging food bags 10 feet off the ground to avoid wildlife, using biodegradable soap, and disposing of toothpaste water away from water sources. The document concludes with an activity of setting up food lines to teach Leave No Trace principles.

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

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