How to Not be a Jackass in the Outdoors This Summer
When I first started hiking and camping, I didn’t have a lot of outdoorsy friends to teach me the rules so I’ve made my fair share of jackass mistakes. I peed and pooped too close to rivers and lakes; I buried my toilet paper, wrongly assuming it would quickly decompose and not cause any issues; I got too close to wildlife to get selfies and, instead of bringing a water filter, I was forced to buy bottled water then tossed the empty bottles onto overflowing park dumpsters. It wasn’t pretty. If you’re new to camping, hiking, kayaking, cycling, or whatever it is you plan to do this summer, that’s OK. You’re not expected to know everything when you’re just getting started, but it’s your responsibility to educate yourself on responsible outdoors practices and to respect the rules set forth by the entities charged with protecting our natural spaces.
If you’re planning on spending time outdoors this summer, here are some things to consider:
