Out at CampOne of the most honest things we can do out there is leave a place exactly as we found it. Nature doesn't owe us a spotless campsite; that part is on us. At OAC, caring for the land is as much a part of the trip as the portage, the midnight swim, or the fire we're about to put out properly.
We follow the seven principles of Leave No Trace, developed by the Centre for Outdoor Ethics. They're our shared framework for being genuinely good guests in wild spaces, not just well-intentioned ones.
The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Know the regulations and any special concerns for the area you're visiting.
- Be prepared for all weather conditions and emergencies.
- Travel in small groups and schedule trips outside of peak use times when you can.
- Repackage food to reduce waste. Use a map and compass rather than marking trees or rocks.
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Stick to established trails and campsites wherever possible.
- In more pristine areas, spread out to prevent new paths and bare patches from forming.
- Keep campsites as you found them: no digging, no rearranging, no alterations.
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
- Pack it in, pack it out. That means all trash, leftover food, and litter.
- Use toilets where available. Where they aren't, bury human waste in a cathole at least 60 m from any water source, trail, or camp.
- Pack out all toilet paper and hygiene products.
- Wash dishes and yourself at least 60 m from water. Use biodegradable soap and scatter the grey water broadly.
4. Leave What You Find
- Cultural artefacts and natural objects belong where they are. Look, appreciate, move on.
- Don't pocket rocks, plants, or anything else from the wild.
- Leave the site as you found it: no structures, no trenches, no "improvements".
5. Minimise Campfire Impacts
- A camp stove is almost always the better call. Use one for cooking when you can.
- If fires are permitted, keep them small and use an existing fire ring or fire pan. Never start a fire directly on bare ground.
- Burn only dead wood gathered from the ground, and burn it all the way down to ash.
- Extinguish fires completely. Scatter the cool ashes before you leave.
6. Respect Wildlife
- Observe animals from a distance. Don't approach, follow, or feed them.
- Store food and scented items securely to keep both wildlife and your provisions safe.
- Keep dogs under control, or leave them at home.
- Give wildlife space during sensitive periods: nesting, raising young, winter.
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Let the sounds of nature do the talking. Keep noise levels low and voices down at night.
- Yield on the trail and keep campsites a respectful distance from others.
- Treat everyone you meet out there with courtesy. The trail is a shared resource.
By joining an OAC trip, you're committing to these principles. We hold ourselves to them, and we ask the same of everyone in our group. The goal is simple: leave the wild in better shape than you'd leave a friend's living room after a party.