| Respecting nature should be a top priority | | | | burn to reduce the amount of waste you carry |
| anytime you relax or play in the great outdoors. | | | | out and to limit your use of firewood. Before |
| Camping safety and protecting yourself from | | | | leaving your campsite, completely extinguish your |
| common outdoor hazards should be just as | | | | campfire using water. Stir the ashes and pour |
| important. Each year, thousands of accidents | | | | more water on the embers. Make sure the ashes |
| occur in the outdoors as a result of camper and | | | | are cool to the touch before leaving the campsite |
| backpacker carelessness. Protect yourself with | | | | and remove any debris that didn't burn. |
| these camping safety tips. | | | | Always keep water close by whenever you have |
| Campfire Safety | | | | a campfire. Breezes and wind can cause embers |
| Campfire negligence is a leading cause of forest | | | | to spread quickly. Keep the campfire at a |
| fires and also causes many camping injuries and | | | | reasonable level and never leave it unattended. |
| deaths. Only build your campfires in designated | | | | Put your campfire out before going to sleep each |
| areas. Most campgrounds provide fire rings or pits | | | | evening. |
| for campfires or you can use a Coleman fireplace | | | | Wildlife Safety |
| to safely contain your campfire. Keep the area | | | | The wild animals you may encounter in the great |
| surrounding your campfire free of trash and other | | | | outdoors can be beautiful and amazing to watch, |
| debris that could ignite and set your tent, chairs, | | | | but can also be quite harmful and even deadly if |
| and other gear a safe distance from the flame. | | | | you're not careful. Anytime you see a wild animal, |
| Many campgrounds and state parks provide wood | | | | observe the animal from a safe distance. Never |
| for campfires for a small price, but supplies are | | | | try to feed a wild animal and avoid sudden |
| often low during peak seasons. Bring your own | | | | movements or closing in on the animal. Report |
| dry firewood to avoid taking wood from the | | | | any strange wildlife behavior to the park ranger |
| natural area. If you do gather firewood at your | | | | to warn of possible rabies. |
| campsite, only take pieces already on the ground. | | | | To reduce the risk of bears or other animals in |
| Never cut trees or branches within the | | | | your campsite, never leave food and drinks out in |
| campground or park and find your wood away | | | | the open. Cover all your food and keep the |
| from your campsite. | | | | containers inside your car or suspended from a |
| Begin your fire with a small stack of twigs. | | | | tree out of animal reach. Garbage should be |
| Aromatic cedar and pine and other soft woods | | | | burned, immediately disposed of, or suspended in |
| burn quickly and make excellent fire starters. Use | | | | the air as well. To prevent bears, hang your bags |
| a match to light the dry sticks and add larger | | | | at least 12 feet high and 4 feet away from the |
| pieces of dry hardwood as the campfire | | | | trunk of the tree. Avoid storing food inside your |
| strengthens. Burn any garbage or waste that will | | | | tent and take out any snacks before bedtime. |