Leave Less Trace Program

Our Leave Less Trace program is an initiative we started in 2005 to conserve natural resources and reduce waste. It works by reusing and recycling things we previously threw away.

Washable Dishes and Utensils
CPC is providing washable dishes and utensils for Gathering participants as an alternative to the paper and plastic stuff the camp provides in the dining hall. The washable plates are large and sturdy, making it easier to carry your food to the table, without spilling stuff on the floor. You'll also find the metal forks and knives don't break nearly as often as those flimsy little plastic utensils.

Dishwashing Station
Behind the dining hall, you'll notice a table holding three buckets of water and a drying rack. That's the dishwashing station, where you can wash your plates and utensils after meals. The buckets will be marked to indicate the proper washing order:

  1. Soapy wash water
  2. Clear rinse water
  3. Sanitizer
Set your plates and utensils in the drying rack after dipping them in the sanitizer. Air drying is necessary to allow the sanitizer time to work properly. After it dries, the sanitizer's residue is non-toxic, environmentally neutral, and does not adhere to the plates and utensils. Be careful not to splash sanitizer on your clothes; it may cause colors to run.

Campers who do their own cooking are also welcome to wash plates and utensils at the dishwashing station. However, you should bring your own washtub for pots and pans; our dishwashing station is not adequate for cleaning pots and pans.

Recycled Paper Supplies
Washing dishes is optional. We will also provide recycled paper plates, napkins, towels and, hopefully, recycled paper cups and bowls too. Look for our sign identifying paper and plastic supplies made with 100 percent post-consumer recycled fiber.

Recycling Containers
Campers who do their own cooking can also help in our Leave Less Trace initiative by placing cans (aluminum or steel/tin) and bottles (glass or plastic) in our recycling containers. These materials will be taken to the county's recycling collection point after the Gathering.

Most of the paper forms and flyers CPC uses are printed on paper made of at least 30 percent post-consumer recycled fiber. Sometimes we forget to put a note on the bottom stating the recycled content, but it's there just the same.

Before you print out anything from this website, be sure to load recycled paper into your printer. Reduce, reuse, recycle, and Leave Less Trace!

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