Months of having to stay indoors ignite an outdoor craze. With the four walls of our homes beginning to feel more constricting than protective, it’s understandable where the craving to go out is coming from.
And as camping areas and national parks are slowly reopening, people are beginning to consider whether it’s safe to be out and about again. We can’t stay cooped up in our homes forever, and we all need some fresh air and sunshine after breathing urban air for months on end. Camping never seemed so tempting—open skies, fresh air, sunlight on your skin, no walls. It’s the exact opposite of the past few months we’ve all collectively went through. But how should you go about camping in these turbulent times?
What’s Near?
Before you even pack your outdoor gear and other equipment, check what national parks are near you. It’s a lot smarter to not have to travel farther than necessary, as it’s vital that you stay closer to home in case anything happens. You might be surprised by how many parks and reserves are near you.
Mask Up and Sanitize
Even though you’ll be in the open air (opposed to the enclosed areas the virus thrives in), it’s better to keep your mask on as it drastically reduces the chance of contracting and viruses. That’s especially true if you’re camping with other people. And while handkerchiefs and bandannas might work, nothing works as well as a medical mask.
Bring your disinfecting materials with you, too, from hand sanitizer to alcohol wipes. You’ll probably be toughing a lot of stuff along the way, and it’s the fastest and easiest way to disinfect. By and large, you won’t have easy access to running water and soap, so the alcohol spray should do for now.
Go Few
Resist the urge to organize a large number of your friends to go camping with you. We know it can be hard. We haven’t seen friends and family for a while, but a large group of people making social distancing hard—and many campsites limit the number of campers entering. Some campsites and national parks prevent any group larger than ten people, and insisting can result in losing camping privileges.
Instead of a large group, go with those who are very close to you as this could be the best way to de-stress and re-energize after months of staying inside the house. You can go with your family or very close friends instead.
Get Everything and Don’t Share
Part of camping 101 is to prepare everything beforehand. That doesn’t change here; as a matter of fact, it’s amplified. You don’t want to suddenly find out you’re missing a key item and have to visit a convenience store. That’s just unnecessary risk.
Another thing to remember is to try to limit sharing. Just as social distancing rules should be followed, sharing of items should be heavily limited. This ranges from very personal items like water bottles or cutlery, and tents too. While a tent is not an indoor space, it does mean sleeping next to someone else in a small space for long hours.
Camping is a great respite after the months of panic and worry, but we still need to be careful. So keep these tips in mind and have fun on your camping trip.
