Did you know that April is Keep America Beautiful Month?
Here at RV Trader, we’re committed to helping you make the most of RVing, whether that means getting the most bang for your buck during the purchase process or uncovering the best tips and tricks for the on-the-go RV lifestyle. This month, we’re providing you with a few key strategies you can use to protect the beautiful scenery around us while enjoying it on the road, in celebration of the meaning behind the Keep America Beautiful campaign and its mission: to end littering, improve recycling, and beautify communities.
–Try dry camping. While it can definitely feel much more primitive and more like “traditional” camping, giving your unit some time off from hook-ups might be exactly what you need to unplug- and obviously as a much lesser effect on the environment.
-Consider solar panels. These easy-to-use panels absorb the sun’s rays and convert the light to energy, providing you with a power source even in the most remote areas — without the excessive use of traditional electricity.
–Know best practices for waste disposal. A few tips RVers tend to use: dispose of human waste in catholes at least 300 ft. from bodies of water, preferably in catholes at least 8 inches into the ground.
-Invest in a good water filtration system. Doing so will not only save you money in terms of laying off bottled water, but will also the amount of physical waste you produce.
–Teach children to turn off the water when brushing teeth, scrubbing hands, etc. They may not see it as a huge deal at first, but little by little, every drop adds up!
–Keep campfires clean and local. Avoid burning plastics or non-wooden objects, and aim to only use wood harvested from the local environment, as certain pesky insects could be attracted to the flame and interrupt the balance of the ecosystem.
There are also a number of specific actions you can take to support the Keep America Beautiful Campaign as a whole. Just of few of these ideas specifically applicable to RVers include:
–Participate in the Great American Cleanup. Using their website, you can search Keep America Beautiful’s list of affiliate cleanup programs to find specific locations where you could participate with the program. The great part about this for RVers? No matter where you are, you can use the affiliate search tool to identify the program nearest you at any time, and see what you can do to help each community as you roadtrip.
–Share pictures of your group taking care of the environment and surrounding communities while roadtripping on social media pages. Use hashtags such as #cleanYOURblock, #GreatAmericanCleanup, and #KeepAmericaBeautiful to showcase how taking care of the environment truly can be done from anywhere – even on the road. These types of photos inspire others to join in the mission of Keep America Beautiful and gets them excited to pay mind to the benefits of the helping the natural world as well.
–Consider donating to Keep America Beautiful, as well as their thousands of communities across the country as you travel in your RV. Little by little, small contributions can turn into a huge impact. If you’re hitting the roads and traveling throughout the nation anyway, why not showcase your commitment over time to protecting environments all across the country?
National Geographic’s Intelligent Travel Blog recently noted that Rich Luhr, blogger and publisher of Airstream Life magazine, phrased the environmentally friendly side of RVing perfectly:
RVs may have the reputation of being gas-guzzlers on the road…but when they stop moving, they’re exemplary models of conservation.
According to Luhr, many of us go RVing to unplug from our typical day-to-day…why not use this mindset to unplug from excessive consumption of energy and technology, too?
Check out the Keep America Beautiful website to find out more ways you can conserve, protect, and beautify every environment around – no matter where in the world you are.
What are some ways you like to keep your RV adventures nature-friendly?
Comment and let us know!
0 Responses
I always try to leave my camping sites better than I found them. A good rule of thumb.
We always follow the 7 principles of Leave No Trace.
And ALWAYS leave it better than you found it. When hiking, always carry a small bag to pick up trash if you come across it.
We always follow the 7 principles of Leave No Trace.
And ALWAYS leave it better than you found it. When hiking, always carry a small bag to pick up trash if you come across it.
I have a question… When the length of the RV is posted for a trailer does that number include the hitch? tks