1- These blogs, these Sit. Reps. are written primarily for Scouts, parents, and Scout Leaders. I also try to make the information useful to anyone that is beginning or refreshing their camping and outdoor skills. At best I consider myself an Outdoors Person. I am not a good hunter or fisherman. But I love going camping, hunting, and fishing. I am most happy with a fly rod in my hand trying to outfish or out-think a largemouth bass. Or quietly waiting in the chilly morning fog for a buck to show.
My dad spent about 3 years in Army tents and did not like camping. He took us camping once. I fell in love with camping. Mr. Wells and his son went with us. Just the 5 of us and all of mother nature. I learned to cook on a camp stove at about age 8 on that trip. The dads spent that evening trying to show us the difference between stars & planets. Even after all these years (and decades); I continue to learn about the outdoors.
Nikola Tesla urges us forward with ‘the boldness of ignorance’ and I have that in spades. Let’s learn together.
2- If you were to distill me; I hope that you would find a love of nature and the outdoors, a love of sharing and teaching, and a rising talent for research and writing.
A: What do you get when you cross a chicken with a cow?
B: Roost Beef.
3- Campsite selection and ethics thoughts.
- Camp on sites that are flat as possible
- Camp on durable surfaces, established sites, gravel, dry grass
- Stay away from riparian zones, zones close to bodies of water, camp at least 200 feet / 75 meters away
- Stay away from any & every known wildlife nesting sites or trails
- Do not block wildlife from water sources
- Do not alter any part of the site / no digging or moving rocks
- Small as possible campsite
- Look for sites without vegetation
- Avoid pristine areas
- If necessary, break up camp into multiple very small sites
- Plan to have latrine and cooking areas apart from each other
- Set up a wash station that will not leave reminders of that location’s use
- Set up latrine/s that will not leave reminders of that location’s use also
- Do not camp near cultural or historic sites
- Camp away from other campers (avoid the snoring et. al.)
- Listen and observe nature
- Avoid being loud especially after sunset and before sunrise
- Be courteous to other campers at all times
- Do not remove anything (plants, rocks, animals) except trash
Camp like a Ghost – Sit. Rep. #106.
Google Docs List for Low Impact / Leave No Trace Camping:
C: What was the name of the ship did the vampire bat captained?
D: The Blood Vessel.
Thank you for letting me into your world,
Gaither