| One of the best ways to preserve your state | | | | cloth. Choose recycled paper. (Note: this Welcome |
| parks is to adopt an eco-friendly lifestyle. Use | | | | Kit is printed on recycled paper.) Use a camp |
| these tips while you travel and at home to reduce | | | | stove instead of building a fire. |
| your dependence on natural resources-you'll save | | | | |
| energy and money. For more great ideas go to | | | | Green your gear. Jacket fillings, fleece, backpack |
| our website: | | | | and tent fabrics are made from fossil-fuel |
| | | | | byproducts that take 500+ years to break down. |
| Let the sun provide your power! Solar energy can | | | | Choose instead: bamboo fabrics, hemp, recycled |
| be harnessed to cook camp meals, make a jug | | | | plastic fleece, recycled rubber-soled boots, and |
| of sun-tea, heat water for a shower or power up | | | | organic cotton. |
| your cell phone or laptop. Invest in a solar charger | | | | |
| and research solar camping equipment. | | | | Be water wise. The average American uses 80 |
| | | | | gallons of water a day. Reuse towels, take |
| Repel mosquitoes naturally. Keep these biters | | | | shorter showers, and never leave faucets running. |
| away without using toxic pesticides. If you're using | | | | Limit landscape watering. |
| the barbeque, throw a bit of sage or rosemary | | | | |
| on the coals to repel mosquitoes (it smells terrific | | | | Mow less. Americans use 40 million lawn mowers |
| too)! Natural products such as "Repel Lemon | | | | to tame our lawns. Each spews 11 cars' worth of |
| Eucalyptus Insect Repellent" containing oil of | | | | pollutants per hour. |
| eucalyptus prevent mosquito bites twice as long | | | | |
| as soy and citronella based products. | | | | Reduce trash by thinking ahead. When ordering |
| | | | | food, avoid taking any unnecessary plastic utensils, |
| Use less energy, get more light. LED | | | | straws, etc. Look for products with minimal |
| (light-emitting-diode) bulbs use 50-80% less | | | | packaging. Buy ice cream in a cone instead of a |
| energy than incandescent bulbs. LED bulbs | | | | cup. |
| feature a life span of 50,000+ hours versus 8,000 | | | | |
| hours for CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs | | | | Simplify your life. Only keep belongings that you |
| and 1,500 hours for an incandescent light bulb. An | | | | use/enjoy on a regular basis. Donate, sell, or |
| LED flashlight, lantern or headlamp can run 100+ | | | | recycle the rest. By reducing what you own, you'll |
| hours on one set of batteries making them ideal | | | | create less waste in the future. |
| for camping or in an emergency kit at home. | | | | |
| Be battery wise. Each year, Americans throw out | | | | Shop smart and BYOB...bring your own bag! |
| almost 180,000 tons of batteries. Use | | | | Almost a trillion plastic shopping bags are used |
| rechargeable batteries, such as lithium or NiCad. All | | | | worldwide every year, with millions ending up as |
| batteries should be recycled not thrown in the | | | | litter. Skip the shopping bag, or for larger |
| trash. To get a home recycling kit go to or | | | | purchases, bring a reusable tote. |
| contact your local city or county website for | | | | |
| recycling locations close to home. | | | | On the go? Bring a mug-to-go. Carry a travel mug |
| | | | | with you for take-out beverages. Help reduce |
| Create an organic ant barrier. Form a natural line | | | | the waste of 16 billion disposable non-recyclable |
| of defense against pesky ants using cucumber | | | | coffee cups that Americans use each year. |
| slices, cayenne pepper, citrus oil (soaked into a | | | | |
| piece of string), lemon juice, cinnamon or cloves | | | | Every can counts. Recycling just one aluminum |
| to create an ant-proof barrier. Or, spray the ants | | | | can saves enough energy to make 20 more cans. |
| with a bit of soapy water, to safely keep them | | | | When traveling, if no recycle bins are available, |
| at bay. | | | | pack your recyclables home with you. |
| | | | | |
| Conserve fuel while having more fun. When | | | | Take a moment to unplug. Turn off unnecessary |
| traveling to state parks, carpool with friends and | | | | lights and appliances; unplug cell phone chargers |
| family. Explore on foot instead of by car-you'll | | | | and other cords when not in use-cords left |
| have more fun, save money on fuel, burn some | | | | plugged in draw power and waste energy. |
| calories, and connect with nature in a new way. | | | | |
| | | | | Be an eco-smart traveler. Reduce your carbon |
| Save some trees with these easy ideas. 1.5 acres | | | | footprint when you travel. Take public transport. |
| per second are lost to deforestation and | | | | Rent a hybrid. Or, if you must fly, buy carbon |
| development. Replace paper towels/napkins with | | | | credits to offset your impact. |