After a year we’d all frankly like to forget, it’s fair to say we all need a vacation.
Back in March, this seemed implausible. However, with lockdown restrictions beginning to ease, some people are looking for creative ways to take a break while remaining safe.
This has seen camping become an increasingly popular vacation choice. It’s perfect for social distancing and, after lockdowns, people just want to get outside! That being said, we’re not out of the woods yet (no pun intended). According to four public health specialists, camping is ranked at a 3 on a risk level of 1 to 10. Despite being relatively low, there’s clearly still an element of risk.
So, what can you do to minimize those risks and COVID-proof your camping trip? We’re going to cover this topic and more in this guide.
Keep it Small and Intimate
In the current climate, solo trips and outings with people you live with are the best way to go.
Bigger groups increase the risk for you and your family. However, families who share a home shouldn’t need to worry more about sharing space while camping.
But if you do want to go camping in a larger group, it can be done. There’s just a few things you’ll need to remember:
- Adhere to social distancing while hanging out together
- Don’t share food or cutlery
- Make sure you have a strict no entry policy to your own tent
Moreover, if you are going with another household, stick to your own transportation. While this is not as environmentally friendly as car pooling, it’s much safer.
Be Prepared
This is quite a generic one. However, it’s important to remember if you want to minimize your risk while on the road, you need to have a plan.
If you’re used to family camping, this should be no surprise. Carefully planning what to take camping with kids is essential in normal circumstances, but in 2020, it’s especially important.
Packing everything you need before you go limits your stops and human contact on your journey. Moreover, if you don’t have everything you need to stay clean and hygienic, this is going to increase your stress and risk levels.
So, as a little pro tip, make sure you put together a seperate list of hygiene essentials. These include:
- Face masks (or a bandana or Buff for versatility)
- Disinfectant wipes
- Hand sanitizer
- All of your toiletries (you don’t want to be caught out if the camp site’s running water goes)
It never pays to be over prepared and overly cautious! This way you and your family can relax knowing you’ve taken all necessary precautions.
Camp Relatively Close to Home and Avoid Popular Destinations
While international travel is ill-advised right now, so is long distance domestic travel. Therefore, it’s best to camp locally.
Traveling long distances requires additional stops and contact with others. Moreover, if you’re looking to visit popular – and often crowded – camping destinations, you also increase the risk of spreading COVID-19 should one or more of your family become infected.
Instead of seeing this as a limitation, see it as a chance to explore your local area more.
It’s more than likely that there are many beautiful camping destinations right on your doorstep. Well, now’s the time to do it!
Skip the Campsite and Go Really Remote
Traditional campsites are likely to have neighbors and shared bathroom facilities. Furthermore, others may not be as vigilant and careful as your family. If that’s a concern, head to the boonies.
One way to do this is to look into dispersed camping. This is camping in a national forest or national park land that’s not part of an official campground. However, make sure you have permission first.
In terms of COVID safety, the more remote the better. However, this may be more difficult if you’re camping with children and/or are an inexperienced camper. If it’s a consideration, make sure you make the necessary plans and, for safety reasons, let others know where and when you’ll be there.
Or Alternatively, Consider Glamping
Another option is to opt for glamping this year. Glamping offers two key benefits in the current climate. Firstly, the tents, pods or Yurts found on glamping sites are usually professionally cleaned after each stay (check with each site for specifics). And secondly, you’re still going to be outside in nature for the majority of your vacation, which as we all know lowers the risk factors.
For the uninitiated the things needed for glamping aren’t that different to camping, apart from the fact you don’t need to lug around any tents, cooking or sleeping gear. So if you have limited luggage space in the car with the whole family squeezed in or simply enjoy a bit more of the comforts of home, this is another great reason to opt for glamping rather than camping.
And Remember
While camping is a whole lot safer than other types of vacations, there’s still an element of risk.
However, by following the above steps, you can help ensure you and your family have a stress free, COVID-proof camping trip.