For Kids and All New Campers
For someone who has never gone camping before it is a new and exciting experience. Just as with any other new experience, it is important to learn how to be considerate of others. When camping outdoors there are many differences from normal life. It can be easy to accidentally do things that others might find impolite. There are many points that could be mentioned, but here are 10 Rules that everyone agrees on. Teach these to your kids or anyone else who is new to camping. Some veterans of camping might benefit from a refresher also.
Some of these rules may seem extreme. But to someone who has spent many nights sleeping outdoors they are vital if you want to be a happy camper. Others may seem obvious, but people tend to forget their manners outdoors. So memorize the 10 Rules of Camping Courtesy and teach them to others so that everyone can have a fun and happy time.
10 Rules of Camping Courtesy
1. Say excuse me.
2. Do not complain.
3. Keep everything as clean as possible.
4. Remember to do your share.
5. Never step over the food or cookware.
6. Be quiet after quiet time.
7. Stay with the group or tell someone where you’re going.
8. Cut only downed trees.
9. Leave things nicer than you found them.
10. If it doesn’t grow there, it doesn’t go there.
If you didn’t catch on already, these rules were modeled after the 10 Commandments in the Old Testament. When teaching these to campers, it offers a great opportunity to talk about how the 10 Commandments in scripture are a set of simple straight forward rules that help us remember how to follow God and treat our fellow humans with respect. You can share why the 10 Commandments are still important today, how Jesus summarized them in Matthew 22:35–40 and Mark 12:28–34, and how the 10 Commandments are a foundation of other laws and commands in the bible and in our society.
For more info on preparing new campers for their first trip read this article. For great info on camping hygiene check out this article. Check out this article to learn more about outdoor ethics.