July 14, 2020
In California, most of the states parks are open, and 85 of them have opened up with limited campground availability.
Does this mean that is actually safe to go camping again?
According to news site MLive, who spoke with public health specialists and ranked 36 different activities by their level of risk, camping is a relatively low risk activity. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest risk, they have ranked camping at a level 3 which is the same level of risk as grocery shopping.
Also according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), getting outdoors is a relatively safe way to remain physically active, get fresh air and reduce stress. Don't travel if you feel ill, have recently tested positive for COVID-19 or know someone who has. Camp and travel with those you live with and continue to follow safe social distancing practices, like staying 6 feet away from others and wearing your mask, on the road and at destination.
At the end of the day, whether taking the decision to go camping, depends on your risk tolerance, and you guessed it: your health.
If you decide going camping by yourself or with your family, here are some good tips so you can make the most of your next camping trip by keeping everyone safe and cozy:
PLAN, PLAN & MORE PLANNING
Campgrounds are filling up quickly and many people have turned to camping as a way to social distance while on vacation. This has caused an uptick in campground reservations. The key here is to book ahead of time to ensure yourself a spot or call ahead to the campground to see there's a spot open
MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING & WEAR A MASK
While out at a campsite or surrounding areas, continue to stay 6 feet apart or more from others that are not part of your household. If you’re planning to go on a hike, choose wider trails that allow for more separation. Don't forget to bring your face mask. It's more important than ever to use wear a face cover when out in public. It also allows you to keep bugs and dust of out your face - 2 in 1 combo!
DON'T FEAR THE TOILETS (BUT BRING YOUR OWN SOAP)
You might want to opt for campsites with toilets if only to make the experience more convenient, but don’t expect any of these bathrooms to have adequate hygiene supplies. Bring plenty of hand soap — along with toilet paper, paper towels and any other hygiene essentials. Don't forget to wash your hands always!
TRY TO STAY CLOSER TO HOME IF YOU CAN
Choose campsites that are closer to home. The further you travel, the more you are likely to promote the spread of the virus, especially if you choose to camp somewhere you need to fly to. Camping closer to home and somewhere you can drive to means a slower spread and less risk.
MAKE YOUR HAND HYGIENE PRODUCTS ACCESSIBLE
Be wise of bringing portable, easy-to-access hand sanitizer.There's a lot of people with these huge jugs, and those are fine for refilling, but it’s good to have a small dispenser you can put on your wrist or hook on your belt so that you don’t have to think about it and can always just reach for it. Any hand sanitizer will do so long as it contains at least 70 percent alcohol.
For even more tips, our retail partner REI has an awesome comprehensive checklist of everything you might need to make your camping experience as comfortable and convenient as possible, even if you are doing your first camping trip.
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