How to Green Your Camping Trip

As much as I hate to admit it, Summer is more than halfway over. It seems that August is a month imbued with the imagery of "reintegration"... probably from 20-odd years of going back to school at this point in the year. Before your summer is over and your own reintegration begins - in to school or just in to the final stretch of the year - challenge yourself to get outside for at least one more excursion.

While you're at it, why not take it back to the basics of good old fashioned camping. In and of itself, camping is a great tradition to carry from year to year as part of your seasonal repertoire because of the ease of access in most parts of the country to good camping areas, and the ability to create a memorable experience that ranges in depth from a frontcountry car camp to a backcountry backpacking trip.

One advantage to an easier camping trip is that it doubles as a fantastic platform for teaching Leave No Trace to your family (and friends, for that matter) in a non-intimidating and hands-on way. Getting your Leave No Trace techniques dialed when you're close to home, and in a somewhat familiar environment, ensures that you'll be that much more of a habit in future outdoor excursions.

Recently, a coworker circulated "Take Only Photographs, Leave Only Catholes," an article that discusses Leave No Trace and camping. The author, Nina Shen Rastogi, touches on a wide array of ways that she was able to integrate Leave No Trace in to her family's recent camping trip, both at the campsite and on the way there.

What are some of the ways that you Leave No Trace when you're camping close to home? How does this help you prepare for trips that are a little further in to the backcountry?

National Parks Plan 3 Free Summer Weekends

WASHINGTON (AP) — The National Park Service will allow visitors free entry during three weekends this summer to encourage Americans to visit national parks such as the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Rocky Mountain National Park.

The fee waivers — one each month in June, July and August — will apply to all 391 national parks across the country, from Alaska to Florida.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the free weekends should help American families struggling with the recession afford a memorable vacation.

All 147 Park Service sites that charge fees for entry will waive entrance fees from June 20-21, July 18-19 and August 15-16, Salazar said.

Entry fees being waived range from $3 to $25. That does not apply to fees charged for camping, reservations, tours or concessions.