Teresa the Traveler says "TAKE THE PLUS ONE CHALLENGE" - Whenever you are out on an adventure take out all your garbage plus one extra piece that you found along the way.
We have the most beautiful clean and pristine lakes and parks in the world, let's keep it that way. Here are some tips.
Tips For Reducing Your Environmental Footprint While Enjoying Nature
1. Switch to E-Cigarettes
If you are a smoker please leave your cigarettes at home. Cigarette butts not only litter our trails and shores, they also cause many of the forest fires that devastate our province every summer. E-Cigarettes are a safe and clean alternative.
2. Buy a Kayak or Paddleboard
Large speedboats have no place on our small lakes. They spread milfoil which ruins the lake for swimmers and they also disrupt spawning areas and other wildlife that make their homes on small quiet lakes. Paddleboards and Kayaks are an affordable, healthy way to stay in shape and connect with nature in an environmentally responsible way.
3. Take the Plus One Challenge
Always carry an extra garbage bag in your backpack to carry out any garbage you bring and to keep our environment clean look for an extra piece of garbage, cigarette butt or bottle to take with you.
4. Put Your Campfire-In-Can
In order to prevent forest fires many people are bringing along propane campfires which are safer and allowed during campfire bans. My favorite is the campfire in a can, it looks just like a campfire, gives out tons of heat and you can cook on it. It is available in Kamloops at www.jwalshandsons.ca
5. Head out and Spread Out!
If you are heading to a lake where you don't have reservations always have a back up plan. If you get there and it is overcrowded, don't add to the chaos go to a less busy lake for the day and come back at a quieter time. CLICK HERE to listen to an interview about the damage caused to one of our pristine lakes due to overcrowding.
6. Keep Your Food Secure From Animals
Be sure to bring any food waste with you or dispose in a proper bin as animals get attracted by food and could start to linger in human areas potentially causing harm. And be sure never to feed an animal, getting them used to people food causes them harm in their natural environment.
7. Don't Post the Names of Places on Social Media
While it is fun to share pictures of the amazing places we visit online with our friends, it is important for us to keep the names of the places secret. Too many "hidden gems" have been exposed through social media and are now overrun by people and being environmentally threatened. When you post your pictures, do not publically post the names and locations of them. If your friends ask, you can private message them, or encourage them to go out exploring and uncover their own hidden gems.
If you are a smoker please leave your cigarettes at home. Cigarette butts not only litter our trails and shores, they also cause many of the forest fires that devastate our province every summer. E-Cigarettes are a safe and clean alternative.
2. Buy a Kayak or Paddleboard
Large speedboats have no place on our small lakes. They spread milfoil which ruins the lake for swimmers and they also disrupt spawning areas and other wildlife that make their homes on small quiet lakes. Paddleboards and Kayaks are an affordable, healthy way to stay in shape and connect with nature in an environmentally responsible way.
3. Take the Plus One Challenge
Always carry an extra garbage bag in your backpack to carry out any garbage you bring and to keep our environment clean look for an extra piece of garbage, cigarette butt or bottle to take with you.
4. Put Your Campfire-In-Can
In order to prevent forest fires many people are bringing along propane campfires which are safer and allowed during campfire bans. My favorite is the campfire in a can, it looks just like a campfire, gives out tons of heat and you can cook on it. It is available in Kamloops at www.jwalshandsons.ca
5. Head out and Spread Out!
If you are heading to a lake where you don't have reservations always have a back up plan. If you get there and it is overcrowded, don't add to the chaos go to a less busy lake for the day and come back at a quieter time. CLICK HERE to listen to an interview about the damage caused to one of our pristine lakes due to overcrowding.
6. Keep Your Food Secure From Animals
Be sure to bring any food waste with you or dispose in a proper bin as animals get attracted by food and could start to linger in human areas potentially causing harm. And be sure never to feed an animal, getting them used to people food causes them harm in their natural environment.
7. Don't Post the Names of Places on Social Media
While it is fun to share pictures of the amazing places we visit online with our friends, it is important for us to keep the names of the places secret. Too many "hidden gems" have been exposed through social media and are now overrun by people and being environmentally threatened. When you post your pictures, do not publically post the names and locations of them. If your friends ask, you can private message them, or encourage them to go out exploring and uncover their own hidden gems.