Easter Holiday Camping Essentials!

Easter and camping. These two words conjure up childhood memories filled with family time, campfires, fresh air, & maybe one too many Easter eggs.

The cooler temperatures around Easter make it the perfect time to unplug from our busy society and recharge in nature. It’s not just the fun involved with camping that make it so appealing. The Japanese were onto something when they coined the term Shinrin-yoku.  This term translates to taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing. The benefits of camping and spending time in nature are plentiful and include better sleep and the resetting of our internal circadian clock. Furthermore, it can help reduce stress and stress markers including cortisol, blood pressure and heart rate, vitamin D synthesis (through sunlight exposure). Not forgetting the benefits that come with exercises such as bushwalking, and a general feeling of wellbeing. 1-3

Now you know some of the benefits of camping and spending time in the great outdoors, here are some of the top sustainable camping essentials to help you enjoy your time while leaving little impact on our environment:

Natural mosquito repellent

Products such as Moo Goo’s Tail Swat contains mosquito-repelling essential oils that are safe and effective for the entire family including babies. Natural mosquito repellents are chemical and DEET-free.

Zinc-based sunscreen

Natural zinc-based sunscreens like Surf Mud and Little Urchin are eco and reef-friendly and safe for sensitive skin. They are free from UV absorbers, titanium dioxide, parabens, synthetic preservatives or synthetic fragrances and importantly provide protection from UVA and UVB rays.

Reusable drink bottles & food storage

Cut down on single use plastic drink bottles and invest in a stainless-steel drink bottle. Cheeki have a huge range in a variety of sizes which also includes cups, mugs and food jars. Reusable stainless-steel containers and straws help to cut down on plastic and are ideal for the camping kitchen. If you like your 2 litre water intake, we also recommend the 2.2L Enviro drink container.

Food wraps

Reusable food wraps like beeswax-based Apiwraps help to avoid the use of plastic cling film and come in a range of sizes perfect for camping.

Bamboo clothing

Thermoregulating, naturally anti-bacterial, antifungal, hypoallergenic, breathable and moisture-wicking with UPF50+ sun protection. That’s bamboo clothing for you. These properties make it the perfect choice for camping and better still the Boody range of bamboo clothing has everyone covered with underwear, socks, shirts, tights and body suits for children, women and men.

Biodegradable soaps

Vegetable oil-based biodegradable soaps such as Dr Bronner’s Castile soap can be used as a hand and body wash. Furthermore, it can also double up as a dishwashing and laundry liquid. Just remember though, that no soaps (even if they’re biodegradable) should be used in natural water sources like rivers and lakes.

Biodegradable and compostable bags

Biodegradable and compostable bags such a Compost-A-Pak are made from GMO-free corn and can be used for food storage as well as waste collection. Cut down on your plastic use while camping with these environmentally-friendly bags that break down in your compost.

DIY snacks

A little planning goes a long way. Pre-making a range of healthy snacks helps to cut down on those over processed options. Our Flannerys website – snacks recipe page  is full of camping friendly snacks that suit a range of dietary needs. If you’re not up to making snacks from scratch, head to our bulk section in-store to mix and match your own snacks or grab our OWN pre-made versions 🙂

By Alinda Boyd ~ Flannerys Naturopath

References
1. Bowler DE, Buyung-Ali LM, Knight TM, et al. A systematic review of evidence for the added benefits to health of exposure to natural environments. BMC Public Health 2010 Aug 4;10:456.
2. Park BJ, Tsunetsugu Y, Kasetani T, et al. The physiological effects of Shinrin-yoku (taking in the forest atmosphere or forest bathing): evidence from field experiments in 24 forests across Japan. Environ Health Prev Med 2010 Jan;15(1):18-26.
3. Wright KP Jr, McHill AW, Birks BR, et al. Entrainment of the human circadian clock to the natural light-dark cycle. Curr Biol 2013 Aug 19;23(16):1554-8.