CAMPING

Camping Etiquette

Respectful and Responsible Camping 101

When it comes to camping, be that person who is mindful of other campers and the environment. It’s important to honour camping etiquette in Canada.

7 Principles of Leave No Trace

Here are some helpful considerations for campers to ‘Leave No Trace’ while camping:

Plan ahead: Knowing where you are going to camp and preparing ahead will help minimize the impact on the land and help you be prepared in case of any emergencies.
Camp on Durable Surfaces: An ideal camp is set up at least 60 meters away from the shorelines and on the existing campsites or trails. Stay on durable surfaces: bare ground, sand, dry grass, and deep snow to avoid altering a campsite.
DND the Nature: Don’t disturb the natural objects and leave them as they are in their original place. Respect the land, flora and fauna and avoid destroying any sites.
Dispose of Waste Properly: Inspect thoroughly and clean up your campsite for trash, micro-waste, or food scraps. Avoid damaging trees, spreading soiled water in large streams, and leave the place looking better than when you arrived.

Minimize Campfire Impacts: Your firepit is not a trashcan and avoid burning garbage in it. Always attend to your campfire and keep it small. Make sure you extinguish the fire completely and let the ashes cool down before leaving the area.
Be Respectful: Avoid feeding or approaching wild animals and if driving, only pull over in designated areas. Minimize noise and respect quiet time. Always keep your pets quiet and on a leash/under control.
Leave No Trace: Don't litter your space and ensure you pick up all the garbage before leaving your campsite.

It is important to check what you bring to the campsite. Parks Canada has unique rules to help protect different places. For a safe trip, look at the regulations before you leave for your big adventure.

Guide For Camping With Your Pets & Kids

Camping with kids and your pet means double the fun but double the planning. Although planning a family camping trip can be tedious, it is necessary. From choosing a campsite to prepping food, here are a few tips to keep in mind before you head out into nature:

Camping with Pets

Prep before you go: Schedule a check-up with your vet. Find a pet-friendly campsite and understand its regulations. Most of these campsites have leash requirements and barking ordinances. It’s also ideal to camp at a site that has dog-friendly amenities.

Pro tip: Have a trial run in your backyard. Take your dog on long walks or test your dog’s social skills if they have never camped before.

Pay attention: Never leave your dog unattended while travelling or camping. To keep your dog safe, make sure you constantly monitor them while playing. Watch out for wildlife, ticks, and allergies. Make sure you have the most recent pictures of your dog in case of an emergency.

Plan dog-friendly activities: Make your camping trip fun by incorporating pet and kid-friendly activities. Go kayaking, hiking, visit a beach or even do outdoor activities that can keep everyone entertained.

Pro tip: While camping calls for fun, it is important to follow camping etiquette for everyone’s safety and enjoyment.

What to bring: It is very important to keep your dog safe in the heat and toys, a first-aid kit with your dog’s vet records, nonstick bandages, pet-safe sterile eyewash, medications, and a digital thermometer.

Shop Dog Training & Supplies

Camping with Kids

Establish your camping goals clearly: Have at least one conversation with your family and narrow down the location. Score a pet friendly and family-friendly campsite for an enjoyable experience. Keep in mind to check the regulations for pets at the campsite and adhere to them.

Get your kids involved: Kids love to be a part of things and giving them some tasks to do from the outset will help them gain camping knowledge.

If it’s the first time your kids or pets camping, you can either do a trial run in your backyard or go to the closest campsite. This will give everyone an idea of what to expect during their camping trip.

Smart food prep: The goal is to keep it simple so you can spend more time in nature and have fun with your family. Carry enough liquids for hydration, pre-prepared food, chips and dip, s’mores, pasta, or some bread and lots of protein bars that can help you get to your hungry kids quickly.

Pro tip: Make sure you always cook outside your tent in an open space to avoid setting your tent on fire and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Things to carry: Restock your first-aid kit and add essential medications (if any) for your children. Carry their favourite toys and games you can play while camping – squirt guns, bubbles, card games, colouring books or balls would be a great option as they can be easily transported.

Pro tip: Label and pack your children’s things in a separate box for easy accessibility.

Shop All Games

Camping with Pets

Pro tip: Have a trial run in your backyard. Take your dog on long walks or test your dog’s social skills if they have never camped before.

Pro tip: While camping calls for fun, it is important to follow camping etiquette for everyone’s safety and enjoyment.

Shop Dog Training & Supplies

Camping with Kids

Get your kids involved: Kids love to be a part of things and giving them some tasks to do from the outset will help them gain camping knowledge.

Pro tip: Make sure you always cook outside your tent in an open space to avoid setting your tent on fire and the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Pro tip: Label and pack your children’s things in a separate box for easy accessibility.

Shop All Games

Camping with Pets

Pro tip: Have a trial run in your backyard. Take your dog on long walks or test your dog’s social skills if they have never camped before.

Pro tip: While camping calls for fun, it is important to follow camping etiquette for everyone’s safety and enjoyment.

Shop Dog Training & Supplies

4 Camping Knots to Know

Knot-tying is a valuable skill especially when you are in outdoors. From setting up your tent to performing first aid, knowing strong knots will prepare you for situations that may arise while camping or backpacking.

Here are four crucial knots to learn this camping season.

Taut-Line Hitch

Taut-line hitch is one of the trusted knots for any backpacker or a camper. Taut-line is known for its ability to adjust. It slips when loose but holds tight under a load (keep tension on the knot). This knot is perfect for a tarp or a tent.

How to Tie

Pass the end of the rope around a secure object beneath the standing end.

Wrap the working end of the rope towards the secured object and pass it into the loop, then wrap it around the standing end twice.
On the opposite side of the coil, pass the working end of the rope beneath the standing end.
Move back towards the coil, pass the working end around the standing end, then through the resulting loop.
Pull the working end of the rope to secure and tighten the knot.
If you need to adjust the tension of the line, move the knot closer to or further from the secure object by holding the standing end of the rope and moving the knot to the desired position.

Square Knot or Reef Knot

Square knot is often the first knot campers learn as it’s a simple way to join two ropes together. This knot is used in different situations and works best when both ropes are of the same diameter. Square knot is used for holding something light.

How to Tie

Hold one end of the rope in each hand.
Pass the right end over and under the rope in your left hand.
Pass the rope end now in your left hand over and under the one now in your right.
Pull both running ends at the same time to tighten the knot.

Bowline Knot

Bowline knot is one of the most essential knots to learn in case of emergencies. This knot is used as a rescue knot in most mountain climbing, or fire accident cases. As bowline knot opens a loop, it becomes easy for someone to grab onto and be pulled out of danger.

How to Tie

Hold one end of the rope in your left hand (this will be your standing end). Pass the rope around the standing end.
Create a loop and pass the standing end through the loop.
Pill the tail up through the loop.
Pinch the tail onto itself and pull the standing end tight.
Pull all parts of the bowline to make the knot completely secure.

Tip: To make the knot secure, pass the better end longer than normal and the bitter end beneath the loop.

Clove Hitch

Clove hitch knot is a good binding knot. It is simple and can be used to attach a rope to a ring or a pole. You can use for things like a towel rack, a tower or for a table. A clove hitch knot can slip or come undone if constant pressure is not maintained on the line.

How to Tie

Take the loose end of the rope and wrap it around a post.
Cross it over itself and wrap it around the post again.
Slip the working end of the rope under the last wrap and pull it tightly.

Taut-Line Hitch

Taut-line hitch is one of the trusted knots for any backpacker or a camper. Taut-line is known for its ability to adjust. It slips when loose but holds tight under a load (keep tension on the knot). This knot is perfect for a tarp or a tent.

How to Tie

Pass the end of the rope around a secure object beneath the standing end.

Wrap the working end of the rope towards the secured object and pass it into the loop, then wrap it around the standing end twice.
On the opposite side of the coil, pass the working end of the rope beneath the standing end.
Move back towards the coil, pass the working end around the standing end, then through the resulting loop.
Pull the working end of the rope to secure and tighten the knot.
If you need to adjust the tension of the line, move the knot closer to or further from the secure object by holding the standing end of the rope and moving the knot to the desired position.

Square Knot or Reef Knot

Square knot is often the first knot campers learn as it’s a simple way to join two ropes together. This knot is used in different situations and works best when both ropes are of the same diameter. Square knot is used for holding something light.

How to Tie

Hold one end of the rope in each hand.
Pass the right end over and under the rope in your left hand.
Pass the rope end now in your left hand over and under the one now in your right.
Pull both running ends at the same time to tighten the knot.

Bowline Knot

Bowline knot is one of the most essential knots to learn in case of emergencies. This knot is used as a rescue knot in most mountain climbing, or fire accident cases. As bowline knot opens a loop, it becomes easy for someone to grab onto and be pulled out of danger.

How to Tie

Hold one end of the rope in your left hand (this will be your standing end). Pass the rope around the standing end.
Create a loop and pass the standing end through the loop.
Pill the tail up through the loop.
Pinch the tail onto itself and pull the standing end tight.
Pull all parts of the bowline to make the knot completely secure.

Tip: To make the knot secure, pass the better end longer than normal and the bitter end beneath the loop.

Clove Hitch

Clove hitch knot is a good binding knot. It is simple and can be used to attach a rope to a ring or a pole. You can use for things like a towel rack, a tower or for a table. A clove hitch knot can slip or come undone if constant pressure is not maintained on the line.

How to Tie

Take the loose end of the rope and wrap it around a post.
Cross it over itself and wrap it around the post again.
Slip the working end of the rope under the last wrap and pull it tightly.

Taut-Line Hitch

Taut-line hitch is one of the trusted knots for any backpacker or a camper. Taut-line is known for its ability to adjust. It slips when loose but holds tight under a load (keep tension on the knot). This knot is perfect for a tarp or a tent.

How to Tie

Pass the end of the rope around a secure object beneath the standing end.

Wrap the working end of the rope towards the secured object and pass it into the loop, then wrap it around the standing end twice.
On the opposite side of the coil, pass the working end of the rope beneath the standing end.
Move back towards the coil, pass the working end around the standing end, then through the resulting loop.
Pull the working end of the rope to secure and tighten the knot.
If you need to adjust the tension of the line, move the knot closer to or further from the secure object by holding the standing end of the rope and moving the knot to the desired position.

Happy Campers!

Got a camp lover on your shopping list? You’re in luck! We have curated a list of great camping gift ideas that will surely put a smile on your loved ones’ faces.

Camping Etiquette

Respectful and Responsible Camping 101

When it comes to camping, be that person who is mindful of other campers and the environment. It’s important to honour camping etiquette in Canada.

7 Principles of Leave No Trace

Guide For Camping With Your Pets & Kids

Camping with kids and your pet means double the fun but double the planning. Although planning a family camping trip can be tedious, it is necessary. From choosing a campsite to prepping food, here are a few tips to keep in mind before you head out into nature:

Camping with Kids

4 Camping Knots to Know

Knot-tying is a valuable skill especially when you are in outdoors. From setting up your tent to performing first aid, knowing strong knots will prepare you for situations that may arise while camping or backpacking.

Square Knot or Reef Knot

Square knot is often the first knot campers learn as it’s a simple way to join two ropes together. This knot is used in different situations and works best when both ropes are of the same diameter. Square knot is used for holding something light.

How to Tie

Happy Campers!

Got a camp lover on your shopping list? You’re in luck! We have curated a list of great camping gift ideas that will surely put a smile on your loved ones’ faces.

Gifts for Campers