| One of the most important things to remember | | | | sites with strangers who might have come on |
| when you and your family go on a camping trip is | | | | their camping trip to escape the noise and bustle |
| your manners. Camping manners are more than | | | | of the city. Most campsites have separate areas |
| just “please and thank you.” Having | | | | for children to play in so make sure that you |
| camping manners is a combination of following the | | | | respect your neighbors and make good use of |
| rules of the specific campground and also | | | | these play areas. The same principles apply to |
| respecting the privacy of any other visitors who | | | | your pets. There are often more smells, sights |
| share the campground with you. Keep in mind | | | | and small animals for your pets to chase at a |
| that the campground rules vary whether you are | | | | campsite than in your backyard. With this in mind, |
| staying in a State or National Park or if you are | | | | it is in the best interests of your fellow campers |
| staying in a private RV or tent campground. | | | | as well as yourself to keep your pet on a leash |
| Regardless of where you are staying, first | | | | and always…clean up after your pets! |
| impressions are the most important. If you arrive | | | | Obey Campground Rules |
| at a camp site during the evening, keep in mind | | | | Please keep in mind that every campground has |
| that it is often very rude to have music blaring or | | | | specific rules regarding things like fires, smoking, |
| headlights blazing in the eyes of your fellow | | | | quiet areas and so on. It might be a good idea to |
| campers. If arriving late at night, without | | | | be prepared by bringing a small supply of your |
| jeopardizing anyone’s safety, dim the lights a | | | | own firewood. Camp sites frown upon chopping |
| little to make things easier on your neighbors. | | | | down trees for firewood or kindling; plus, you do |
| Selecting a Campsite | | | | not want to bother your neighbors in the middle |
| When choosing your spot from among available | | | | of the night by inquiring if you can have some |
| camp sites, you must first ensure that the spot | | | | wood from their supply, should you happen to run |
| you are trying to occupy is indeed vacant. Often | | | | out of firewood during your late night |
| times when a family goes on vacation, they will | | | | marshmallow roast. Before loading up your trailer |
| head off on day-long excursions thus giving the | | | | with firewood, however, check with the local laws |
| appearance that the RV campsite is vacant when | | | | in the area you will be visiting since some states |
| it is in fact not. Often times, if a family has left | | | | prohibit the carrying of firewood across state |
| the RV campground for the day, they will leave | | | | lines. Furthermore, when quiet hours are posted, |
| behind some sort of indicator that the space is still | | | | make sure that you turn your radio down and |
| theirs such as a couple of chairs or an awning. | | | | keep your voices to a minimum. You would be |
| Even if the site appears vacant, you might want | | | | surprised how well sound can travel in any |
| to ask some of the nearby campers if the spot is | | | | campsite! |
| available. | | | | The same principles apply early in the morning. If |
| Respect Your Neighbors | | | | you are planning to get an early start before you |
| Be respectful of your neighbors and pick up your | | | | head off to the next RV campground on your |
| trash. Not only can it be unsightly to have napkins | | | | tour, try to get your belongings packed up the |
| and soda bottles blowing around a campground, it | | | | night before. This includes any chairs, tables and |
| can also be dangerous in some places. Depending | | | | trash that you might have left lying around. |
| on where you camp, there might be bears in the | | | | Before you leave, make sure that your fire from |
| area. Bears love it when campers leave food out | | | | the evening before has been fully extinguished |
| or trash blowing around, therefore making the | | | | and that the ashes around the fire pit have been |
| tent campground their own personal playground. | | | | cleaned up. |
| Even if you are camping in an area where there is | | | | Respecting nature around you, as well as your |
| no risk of bears, it is simple common courtesy to | | | | fellow campers is a big part of what can make |
| pick up after you and your family. Camping is | | | | camping such a great experience. Following the |
| more fun when you can enjoy nature in its purest | | | | rules makes the whole experience enjoyable for |
| most pristine form. | | | | everyone, not to mention ensuring that the RV or |
| If you are camping with rambunctious youngsters, | | | | tent campground is as safe as possible for |
| please keep in mind that you are sharing camp | | | | everyone staying there. |