5 of the Best Ways To Connect With Nature While Camping
Posted on: May 3, 2023
Picture by Claudio Gregolin - IG: @Gregolinus
Perhaps one of the best ways to truly connect with nature is to just get out there and spend time in it. Camping is one of the most popular ways to disconnect from the rat race and spend some time away from everything.
How long you go camping can vary from a quick overnight trip to weeks at a time. In this article, we’ll give you five of the best ways to connect with nature while camping, from the mindset going in to the activities you can to do.
Be More Mindful
The best way to put yourself in a more mindful mindset is to just stop and breathe. Really take in your surroundings and notice all the small details around you. Taking note of all the sights, sounds, and feelings of nature is perhaps the best way to connect.
Being more mindful of the world around you can also be understanding your impact and paying attention to what you leave behind. Leaving behind only your footsteps is a famous saying on beaches, but it’s great to apply everywhere!
Minimize the amount of plastic and other synthetic materials you bring, stuff that won’t naturally decompose. That can include plastic water bottles, Tupperware, cooking utensils, or even your tent. The Green Collection from CanvasCamp provides tents of outstanding quality that are also environmentally friendly.
Go Out And Explore
No good camping trip is completed by just staying in the campground. Before the trip, check out what hiking trails and natural features are in the area. Waterfalls, river landings, mountains, beaches, and other landmarks are all great options.
Always stick to well-marked trails and get a good lay of the land before the trip. Straying off-path is the quickest way to get lost and turn a fun camping trip into a sticky situation.
Leave The Tech At Home
It’s not a bad thing to bring along your phone to snap pictures while camping, but being glued to a phone screen will ruin any chances of connecting with nature. To get in touch with your base instincts and connect to the natural world, ditch as much technology as possible.
There’s also nothing wrong with bringing along a camper and sleeping comfortably. It’s just a lot easier to put things in perspective sleeping under the stars or feeling the vulnerability of being in a canvas tent.
One of the biggest benefits of camping is that it allows us to disconnect from our daily lives for a while and recharge. It’s pretty hard to do that if you’re getting work emails or checking social media the entire time.
By all means, take pictures of any wildlife or cool spots you find, just maybe consider waiting to post them until you get home.
Do Some Foraging
People who live off the land feel significantly closer to the natural world than people who only buy food at the grocery store. While hunting may not be up your alley, there’s no harm in a little foraging.
Every region has different wild edibles that you won’t be able to find at the local store. Some varieties of wild plants are very different compared to the ones people farm and grow. A little research before a trip and an identification guide can help you add some new ingredients to your campfire dinner and help you connect with nature more.
Please always know exactly what you’re looking at before you eat it. It’s best for novices to only go for the easily-recognized plants and even experts should probably bring along guidebooks. Don’t try eating anything unless you’re 100% sure of what it is, especially berries and mushrooms.
Find A Camping Style That Fits You
There are all kinds of ways to camp and a style of camping that will fit you. It’s all about what you need for you to feel comfortable, balancing that with leaving no trace and connecting with nature.
Backpacking is more of a minimalist style of camping where campers bring nothing in with them that they can’t carry. Glamping with a glamping tent is the opposite, letting you camp with the full luxury and amenities one could expect at a highly-rated hotel.
In between, there are plenty of options, from camping in your car or just a tent to renting a cabin or finding a site with no amenities at all.
No matter how you want to connect to nature, no matter your budget, and no matter what experience you’re after, there’s a style of camping out there for you.