Preserving RV Boondocking

Above, boondocking near Kingman, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Thanks to irresponsible campers, areas in which people can boondock are being closed up.

According to RV Travel:

Boondockers prefer camping on public lands without hookups or amenities, moving from place to place. Boondocking is one of the best ways to experience America’s public lands’ natural beauty and diversity, from forests and deserts to mountains and lakes. It also saves money and fosters a sense of adventure and freedom.

However, boondocking is facing a serious challenge. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which manages more than 245 million acres of public lands in the United States, is systematically closing off boondocking access to many areas due to irresponsible and destructive behavior by some campers, like this popular area in Arizona. These thoughtless campers leave trash, overstay the posted limits, vandalize trails and installations, and damage wildlife habitats and the environment. These actions harm the natural resources, create safety and health hazards, increase maintenance costs, and erode public support for boondocking.

However, all is not lost just yet as a possible solution could save boondocking areas. 

A “New CCC”

I would offer a solution to this problem, one that could benefit boondockers, the BLM, and the public: The creation of a “New CCC,” a modern version of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) that operated from 1933 to 1942 as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. The original CCC was a work relief program that gave millions of young men employment on infrastructure and environmental projects during the Great Depression. The CCC planted more than three billion trees, built trails and shelters, fought forest fires, and improved soil and water conservation on public lands. The CCC helped to shape the modern national and state park systems we enjoy today.

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