How to Preserve Things Found On Your Camping Trip

Preserving items from your camping trip depends on what you’ve collected—whether it’s plants, flowers, leaves, rocks, wildlife observations, or other natural keepsakes. Here are some tips for different types of finds:

1. Flowers & Leaves

• Pressing: Place leaves or flowers you want to preserve between wax paper inside a heavy book for 1-2 weeks.
• Laminating: Once dried, laminate for bookmarks or decorations.
• Resin Encasing: Embed in resin to create keychains, coasters, or jewelry.

2. Rocks & Minerals

• Cleaning: Wash with mild soap and water; scrub with a brush if needed.
• Sealing: Use a clear sealant or mineral oil to enhance colors.
• Labeling: Keep a small notebook or tag them with the location and date.

3. Pinecones, Bark, & Nuts

• Drying: Spread on newspaper and air-dry.
• Baking: Heat in an oven at 200°F for 30 minutes to kill pests.
• Sealing: Apply clear varnish to prevent decay and to preserve.

4. Feathers & Animal Findings (Non-Living)

• Cleaning: Soak in a mild bleach solution, then rinse and dry.
• Displaying: Frame or place in shadow boxes.
• Legal Considerations: Research laws about keeping feathers, bones, or shells, as some (like eagle feathers) are illegal to possess.

5. Photos & Journaling

• Photo Album: Print and organize your best shots.
• Scrapbooking: Combine pictures, notes, and small dried items in a scrapbook.
• Digital Memory Book: Create an online journal or blog post.

6. Wildlife Sightings

• Sketching: Draw animals or plants in a nature journal.
• Writing Notes: Record behaviors, habitats, and times of day.
• Apps: Use apps like iNaturalist to log observations without taking anything from nature.

Try this with your findings next time you stay at Camp Lakewood Campground!