How To Break Camp

On your final day of camp, there is plenty to do. In fact, breaking camp can be just as much work as setting up camp, if not more work.

The most important thing to remember about breaking camp is that you don’t want to leave anything behind. This includes your camping equipment, obviously, but it also includes trash. You should try to leave your campsite cleaner than when you arrived.

Here are some basic things to do on your last day of camping:

• Clean your camping equipment. Sweep out your tent. Check your equipment for food spills, tree sap or other dirt and debris. Wipe your equipment down with a wet rag if it is dirty.
• Pack your cooler. Get rid of any leftover food you might have been storing inside the cooler, and get some more ice so that your food will keep on the trip home.
• Try to pack things in the same places you packed them when you arrived. This helps to insure that everything will fit back into their containers, and that it will all fit just fine back into your vehicle.
• Separate dirty clothes from clean clothes. The best way to do this is to keep a separate bag for dirty clothes throughout the entire time you’re camping. That way, you can just wash the contents when you get home.
• Make sure your campfire is out. Douse it with water. If there are especially hot coals, wait for a while after pouring water on the campfire to make sure that it’s really out.
• Pick up your trash. Look around for small trash items, such as wrappers, cigarette butts or animal waste. Again, your objective should be to leave no trace that you were even there.
• Make one last look around the campsite to see if you’ve missed anything.
• Once everything is loaded up, make one last stop by the bathrooms. This saves you the trouble of having to stop on the way home.
• Don’t forget to check out. Some campsites may charge you for an extra day if you don’t check out with the office.