Camping 'green'

When it comes to camping these days, green seems to be the color of choice.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources in Harris-burg has developed guidelines and a demonstration campsite prototype to help campers reduce their impact on the environment, said Bureau of State Parks Director John Norbeck.

"Normally, we think of tent camping as a fairly natural activity, but there are things that campers can do differently to limit the impact they have on their outdoor surroundings," Norbeck said. "Using a 'green' approach to camping is not only good for the environment, it also can reduce your costs and make camping more enjoyable."

The demonstration "green" campsite is being set up at state parks across the the state this summer as a weekend program for visitors, he said. It features a tent and sleeping bag made from recycled materials; fuel-efficient cooking stove; LED flashlight; solar battery charger and reusable batteries; reusable cook set; solar camp shower; non-toxic bug repellant; bear-proof food container; a clothes line; and reusable marshmallow sticks.

Park staff also will provide an outdoor recreation area, an amphitheater and family and children's programs that tie in with the "green" theme.

"I think it's a great way to educate people on how to use the limited resources we have," said Steve Volgstadt, park manager at Canoe Creek and Trough Creek State Parks (only the latter of which has campsites). "There's a lot of wear and tear on campsites due to tramping on surrounding vegetation, for example. With 7,000 campsites in Pennsylvania, that can take a natural toll after a while."

Volgstadt said campgrounds are particularly vulnerable to environmental degradation.

"Most campgrounds are trying to establish the next generation of trees," he said. "Normally, trees are not going to be naturally growing or regenerating because of compaction issues - things like driving and walking. Plus, it only takes five or six people to cut off hot dog sticks from a young tree before you realize, 'This tree's really not going to make it.'"

George Barner, regional outdoor recreation coordinator of south central regional for DCNR, parks from Schellsburg, Bedford County, thinks the program is a great idea.

"A lot of people go camping, but a lot of them really don't know how to camp in a way that's good for the environment," he said. "This gives those people guidance."

Barner added camping green can be as simple as using recycled plastic items, plugging a cell phone into a solar battery charger instead of an electrical outlet or using eco-friendly compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent bulbs.

"Camping is a great way to get out there with nature," he said. "But what better way to show your respect to nature than by being green."

Beth Grove, park manager at Parker Dam Park in Clearfield County, agrees. She's looking forward to her park's forthcoming demonstration, which will take place at Sunday at 3 p.m. at the camp grounds.

"Any camper, regardless of whether they're camping in an RV (recreational vehicle) or at a campsite, can make small changes and have a greater impact on bettering the environment," she said.

Grove noted this is the first year for green camping state tour, adding she hopes it gets passed on to other parks who didn't have the demonstration this year.

"We'll have everything from non-toxic bug spray to tents set up for people to see all the gear," she said.

Laurel Hill State Park in Somerset County was recently the site of one such demonstration. Unfortunately, inclement weather undermined attendance.

"All things considered it was fairly well-attended," the park's environment education specialist, Kimberly Peck, said. "About 15 people stopped by to check out things they could do and use to save energy. It really hit home with people how easy and accessible it is to keep camping green. These materials are not hard to find and are made right here in America.

"People were also pleased to see they could save money as well by using recycled materials," she said, citing the example of refilling a recycled water bottle with water from camp site stations instead of purchasing cases of water.

Peck hopes the tour becomes a yearly event, but that remains to be seen.

"This was just kind of a pilot program," she said of the tour. "But I can definitely see it catching on to other camp sites - more primitive camps sites as well, and in more specific ways. I can also see its use within the relam of hiking, too.

The ultimate message of recycling is paramount to the demonstrations, she said.

"Recycling is a full-circle thing," she said. "You're not only doing right by recycling, but buy buying recycled materials," she said. "And when you're out in nature camping, the concept of green really becomes applicable and noticeable - it's a really good connection."

Mirror Staff Writer Jimmy Mincin is at 946-7460.