For the least impact on the environment, try to camp at an established campsite, where the damage has already been done, and is confined. Before you set up camp, examine the site to see how you can return it to the original condition before you leave.

Try not to redecorate. One moved stone can disrupt the natural balance of the local insect population. A single hole can break a leg (human or animal), and a peg in a tree can be the stab of death. When smoothing out your bedsite, be gentle. Don't go beyond what you can fully repair afterward.

Consider the effect of anything you do to manipulate the environment to suit your needs, and keep in mind, most park workers spend hours returning stones to the river banks or original locations at the end of each camping season.

Hiking boots are appropriate for trails. However, keep a pair of soft-sole shoes for leisure activity, as they are less damaging to the earth. Never camp on fragile alpine meadow vegetation. It takes many years to recover.

The rivers, creeks, streams and puddles in the forest are not just bodies of water. They are ecosystems. It is essential that your waste water which includes soap, grease, oil, and other detergents doesn’t mingle with other liquid environments of the forest.

A single quart of oil can cover the surface of a stream for miles, suffocating the aquatic life below. Detergent can act like acid on the skin of delicate invertibrates. Harsh cleaners can be toxic in any water source to all who drink from it.

Never wash your dishes or dump your waste water in bodies of water. To wash, jump or wade in the water, and fill a bucket which you need to take at least 150 feet from the water line. Use biodegradable soap and wash there.

Most parks have designated places for washing and disposal of waste water. Use them if available. If not, sprinkle the waste water over a large area, or in a shallow hole.

Try to avoid crushing plants underfoot by walking on rocks and already compacted earth, and remember, in this environment, insects and creatures have the right-of-way. On trails stay on the path. Walking along the edge expands the width of the trail over time. When hiking through a meadow or heavily laden flora area without a trail, spread out.

Try to avoid stepping on delicate vegetation. West Virginia state parks are home to many endangered plant species.

We’ve all heard some version of the question, "Does a bear go in the woods?" Yes, he does. But does he use toilet paper? No, he does not. While the use of toilet paper may be one of the few things that separates us from animals, it is also affects the natural environment.

If your campsite doesn’t have bathroom facilities, you’ll have to make your own. Try to select locations as far from trails as possible, and no less than 300 feet from any known water source.

Dig a six-inch deep hole at your chosen spot called a "cat hole," and when finished, place your toilet paper in a zip lock sandwich bag for proper disposal in a designated trash receptacle. (Feminine products should be burned as soon as possible.)

Cover your hole with earth before returning to your camping activities. You’ll need a number of cat holes during your trip, so try to spread them out over a large area.

We all know that a wayward campfire kills. But, even a small, contained campfire alters the environment. Always use an established fire pit if one is available.

Don’t cut trees for firewood. In national forests, even breaking a branch is illegal. If firewood isn’t available for purchase near your campsite, gather fallen branches as far from your site as possible to keep from stripping a single area of all downed wood.

Before leaving, pour water over your fire pit. Spread the ashes out, and douse with water again. If you have any firewood left, donate it to a neighbor or take it home with you.

Camping is about the natural environment. All tent camping should be low-impact camping. With a little effort we can preserve our forests for the future.