Imagine this, you’re lying in your tent while it’s bucketing down rain outside. But instead of listening to the sound of the water hitting and trickling down the tent, all you can hear for the past 3 hours is a car engine running. Turns out a family was sitting in their vehicle, waiting for the never-ending rain to cease before setting up their swags. This was my first encounter with rude campers! When they finally turned off their car I heard the campers next to me exhale and say “thank God.” That’s how I knew it was a shared frustration across the campground.
So it got me thinking. What’s the bare minimum we owe other campers when we’re all taking refuge in a campsite? Courtesy! Whether it’s not yelling and laughing at all hours of the night when others are sleeping, or not walking through other people’s sites, there’s a lot we can be mindful of to ensure everyone enjoys their time.
Here are a few we think you should keep top of mind.
Noise
Making noise is a big one. A lot of people hit up the campsites for a weekend in nature, surrounded by the natural sounds of running rivers and native animals. No one wants to hear you and your mates up at 1am laughing and shouting around the campfire. Keep the noise to a bare minimum during the times you know people are sleeping. Many get up early to hit up a hike or go for a fish, so be mindful that camping isn’t a party for everyone.
Yamaha Generator
This goes for your gear as well. Everyone needs power (unless you like to go full bare essentials) which is why many of us bring a generator along for the ride. The problem with this? They’re noisy, can be disruptive to those around you and may force you to speak louder over the noise which in turn makes even more noise. If you hadn’t already guessed it a noisy generator is not popular on a campsite! If you want to get specific, most generator noise levels are measure in decibels at 7 metres from the unit (dBA @7m). Not sure what that means? Well, as a point of reference 60 dBA is about the level of an average conversation. When comparing noise levels, it is important to remember the decibel scale is logarithmic, not linear. This means 70dBA is actually twice as loud as 60dBA. Every 10dBA increase is twice as loud. Yikes! Thankfully the Yamaha EF2000iS has a noise level of 51.5dBA @ 7m (1/4 load) or 61dBA @ 7m (full load).
The Yamaha EF2000iS ensures your devices can be powered to their full potential, while making the smallest noise pollution impact.
To reduce noise even more, you can place your generator the furthest away from your campsite and run a 15amp extension cord. All you need to do if you with that option is make sure the cord doesn’t become a tripping hazard. Especially important for after a few cold ones have been enjoyed around the fire that night!
Keep things clean
Ever heard the saying “take nothing but photos, leave nothing behind but memories” of course you have. And as lovers of the outdoors you abide by that and wouldn’t dare litter it with your rubbish. But in case you need a reminder, it’s imperative that you clean up after yourself. Not only is this courteous to the campsites and the campers who come after you, but it protects the native wildlife around you.
Don’t walk through other people’s campsites
There’s a reason campsites have lines that outline their borders. Privacy is a difficult thing to maintain when you’re not surrounded by four walls, so be mindful of other campers’ boundaries. Although it might save you 30 seconds or so to get to the toilet when you walk through another person’s campsite, it’s inconsiderate to assume you have the right to. Be courteous and allow people the privacy and space of their own campsite by staying outside the marked borders.
Extinguish your campfire
Bushfires that begin from escaped campground fires aren’t rare. It’s imperative that you properly extinguish your campfire for the safety of campers around you, wildlife and the bush. Emphasis on the words ‘properly extinguish’, as even when the fire appears to be out, the coals or embers that are buried under the top layer of ash can flicker in the breeze. This can then result in the nearby scrub being lit up and a bushfire begins brewing. As we’ve seen, bushfires can quite quickly get out of hand and leave behind devastating destruction. Be courteous to those around you by ensuring their safety.
Help a neighbour
Recently my partner and I were having a great deal of difficulty reattaching our caravan to our ute’s towbar. It was our first trip away with the caravan in tow, so it was safe to say we were newbies and a little nervous. Instead of assisting us, the couple in camp chairs in the caravan site directly across from us just stared on. Eventually we sorted it out ourselves, but promised next time we saw someone struggling that we’d step and try to help. So although it’s not required, it’s the friendly and courteous thing to do. Help your neighbour, whether that be helping them erect their tent if they’re struggling, or even offering a log of firewood if there’s starts burning out.
Watch your language
We’re Aussies, so typically our slang can be a bit how’s-it-going. Not to mention there are always a few swear words thrown in there for extra emphasis. However, it pays to be aware of your surroundings and most importantly who is occupying the surroundings. When a young family with kids are camping nearby, it’s courteous to watch your language.
So although you’re not going to be dragged away in handcuffs if you do any of the above, courtesy goes a long way in ensuring that everyone enjoys their outdoor adventure. Have any other pointers? Let us know!
