With Earth Day last month, and family vacations quickly approaching, it’s a good time to talk about how we can show our respect in nature parks with a few nature park etiquette tips. Whether you’re hiking up a mountain, camping in the woods, or simply observing the wildlife, keep these few tips in mind.
Familiarize Yourself with the Wildlife: Before entering a nature park, stop into the visitor’s center or do your own research to determine what kind of plants and animals you might find. Know ahead of time the safety precautions when encountering a bear, mountain lion, snake, or poisonous insect.
Stay on the Trail: Whether it’s a paved walkway, dirt path, or series of markers to follow, staying on the trail will prevent you from getting lost, getting hurt, or damaging your surroundings.
Shhh: You’ll have the best experience in nature, and provide others with a good experience as well, if you keep your voice down. Animals are more likely to show themselves in a quiet environment.
Take Everything With You: Everything that goes into the park should come back out with you, whether it’s the gum you were chewing when you walked in, the coffee cup you’re done with, or even your dog’s cleanup bag if there’s no trash can in the area.
Leave Everything As You’ve Found It: Feel free to absorb the beauty that surrounds you, and take as many photographs as your phone or digital camera will hold, but don’t physically take anything with you. Flowers, branches, animals, insects, and all other life should be kept in place for others to enjoy.
Follow Each Park’s Rules: It might be encouraged to climb rocks in one park, but be prohibited in another. Similarly, it might be okay to build a campfire at the beginning of the week, but be too hot, dry, and at-risk of a forest fire by the end of the week. For your own safety, follow the guidelines each park sets.
