One of the decisive trends for 2011 is nature. Pure, rustic nature. The call of the wild and the desire to mingle with Mother Nature will manifest in our homes, travel plans, and urban environments. As technology continues to present shiny little devices to keep us connected, our innate desire to disconnect grows stronger. Here are a few ideas of how the hunger for nature will impact the fresh new year.

Ever heard of glamping? It’s the adventure of camping with the addition of glamour (which, in my opinion, drastically dwindles the amount of adventure). Glamping is the latest five star brush with nature. Yes, I said five star. The overwhelming movement toward luxury glamping destinations over the last few years may be about to shift toward less luxury, think National Parks and outhouses. Nothing takes away the temptation to plug in more than a travel destination without outlets.

As all classes of travelers start to feel the itch, I foresee a respective swing for fresh air. Those dining at five star restaurants and staying at five star hotels may take up glamping in its most luxurious form (butlers who serve s’mores and maids to tend to the ‘tent’ is pure luxury from my point of view). Travelers who danced with glamping and slept in yurts last year may be inclined to brave a simple tent in a simple campground this year. And last year’s campground campers may take to the trails and invite adventure with a complete lack of amenities.

Traditional camping and temporary escapades with the wild isn’t the only way nature will establish a firm hold in 2011. In my humble opinion, the charm of nature will find a significant place in design and décor. Natural materials in natural states will continue to allure home owners with tonal wood emphasizing organic wood grain furniture, green leafy plants and succulents will permanently reside in prominent corners, and photography that captures a glimpse of the great outdoors will dangle on walls.

The inclination of nature in our lives isn’t just intrinsic (the decisions of travel and design), but extrinsic, too. The wisdom of urban planners is about to sprinkle some green in the concrete jungle. The untamed success of The High Line park (click here for more information) in Manhattan is the likely beginning of urban industrial park development in a city near you. Is there anything more poetic than lifeless industrial skeletons being revitalized into green escapes for urban dwellers? JWT Intelligence includes the development of urban industrial parks as one of its 100 Things to Watch in 2011. According to the clever creatives at JWT, Philadelphia, Berlin, and Chicago are already slating projects to rival the High Line (not an easy task).

Catch up with the rest of our 2011 shelter trends while to plan your next trip to the woods.

Whether renting a cabin, climbing a mountain, or toasting marshmallows around a backyard campfire, don’t be shy about packing up your pooch and taking him along for the adventure. With a little preparation, your dog can enjoy the great outdoors just as much you do!

Find Pet-Friendly Destinations

Not all trails, campgrounds, parks, or cabins are pet-friendly. Use a resource like GoPetFriendly to locate the pet policies of various destinations. No matter where you go, be an ambassador for pet-friendly camping: Follow leash laws, pick up after your pet, and don’t leave him unattended.

Help Your Dog Have Fun

To make your trip more enjoyable, help your dog acclimate in advance. If Fido is typically a couch potato, go for longer walks leading up to your trip. If you will be sleeping in a tent, set it up in your backyard for a few days. Crawl in there with him and sit calmly for a few minutes to help him feel comfortable. Some dogs take longer to adjust to new or unusual things, so lay out any equipment or gear ahead of time to prevent unexpected surprises.

Pack Your Pooch’s Essentials

In addition to enough food and water for the entire trip – plus a little extra, just in case – pack a dog bed or blanket, a leash, and poop bags. Even dogs that are reliable off-leash can become distracted or disoriented in a new environment. To give your dog a little freedom while ensuring his safety, bring a 20-foot lead in addition to your regular leash. And while you may enjoy singing songs around the campfire, your dog may get bored, so bring some of his favorite toys to keep him occupied during people-only activities.

Plan for Your Dog’s Health and Safety

Start with a pest-prevention plan, and check your dog once or twice a day for ticks. Bring a pet first aid kit to treat any on-the-spot injuries. If temperatures soar, soak a bandanna in cold water and tie it around your dog’s neck. Be sure he has access to plenty of fresh water. If he starts to overheat, use the rubbing alcohol from your first aid kit to swab the inside of his ears and the pads of his feet – since dogs can’t sweat, this helps to cool them off.

Hiking Tips

There are extra considerations if you’re hiking: If you expect your dog to carry his own food or water, incorporate the pack into your daily walks a few weeks before the trip. Start with an empty pack and slowly build up to the full weight. In addition, hiking can be rough on a dog’s feet; pads can tear or lacerate. When you stop for the day, wash your dog’s feet and coat any cuts with an antibiotic ointment. And just as you need frequent water and trail mix breaks, your dog will require plenty of water and additional calories. Stop often and allow your dog access to clean water and healthy snacks.

Images: Laertes, jljohnstone

There’s been a lot of talk about glamping lately. If you’ve missed the boat on that one, it’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like: glamorous + camping. Luxury camping, so to say. An attempt at combining your love for the outdoors, and hopefully greener travel, with the finer things in life. As the second definition in the trusty Urban Dictionary states: “Satisfying your craving for the outdoors and your penchant for a good meal, nice glass of wine, and a comfortable bed.” We’ve already discussed sustainable glamping trips around the globe and glamping on the southern tip of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, but not everyone is a glamper.

Sure, if you’re not comfortable with backcountry treks, and not everyone is, glamping might be your best attempt at spending some time in the beautiful outdoors, which is an excellent vehicle for learning about and appreciating the natural world that we’re all working so hard to protect, but how green is travel of this kind? Well, it depends.

Despite the cringe-worthy factor of its name, glamping does in fact have quite a bit to offer those looking for a more sustainable, eco-friendly vacation. You just need to remember what to look for. Here are a few key things to keep in mind while planning:

Location

Wherever you go, you want to be sure that the facilities in which you’re staying exist harmoniously with the local environment. That means saying no to places that have chosen over development and scaled back on efforts to promote protection of local natural spaces. Choose destinations where the glamping operator gives back to the local environment, either through non-profit programs or the way in which they run their facilities. Think “conscious” and “aware;” since you’re there to enjoy nature you want to be sure that the places you’re staying are doing their part to protect them!

Activities

As with location and facilities, the activities that a glamping operator offers can have a negative environmental effect. Choose places that put an emphasis on carbon-free, or low carbon footprint, activities like hiking, running, cycling, etc. And no matter how much you want to snowmobile, just say no.

Amenities

Solar power, rain collection and permaculture gardens – yes please! There are plenty of glamping locations out there that are committed to running the most responsible operations possible. You can even score yourself an outdoor shower with an ocean overlook, the ultimate in getting back to nature à la luxe.

Food

The joy of glamping is not having to give up the things that make vacation oh-so-enjoyable, like fine cuisine. Many eco retreats offer organic and vegetarian menus, as well as cuisine that focuses on featuring local produce and delectables.

Plan, plan, plan

Above all, do your research. Glamping Girl features a variety of locations that factor in many of the above requirements. Go Glamping is another site with plenty of info and lots of locations to look through. For more ideas on eco-friendly glamping options, be sure to check out our round-up of 7 Sustainable Romps Around the Globe.

Happy travels!

Image: flourishpdx

School’s out for summer! But you can still further your child’s education in the off-season by sending him or her off to an eco-friendly summer camp. What could be better than experiencing the great outdoors firsthand while learning how to preserve nature via fun activities shared with friends? Here are five environmentally focused summer camps that will have your kids running with glee for the green hills!

Islandwood

Located near Seattle, WA on Bainbridge Island, the 225 acres of natural habitat at Islandwood offer an ideal backdrop for children to learn about the environment. Children from age four, up to teenagers in 12th grade, will reap all the rewards of attending the half-day, all-day or sleepover camp programs at Islandwood. Activities range from gardening, storytime in the forest, and exploration of critters and creatures to backpacking excursions, and learning how to cook using nature’s finest ingredients. Learn more about Islandwood here.

Maine Audubon

The Gilsland Farm Audubon in Maine features a modern environmental center and “a 65-acre sanctuary with more than two miles of trails winding along a pond and through woods, meadow, orchard and salt marsh.” Summer camp sessions for preschoolers to kids age 11, include opportunities to learn about wetlands, forests, wildlife and bodies of water.

Plantation Farm Camp

A farm situated on 500 acres in the coastal Sonoma redwoods in California is the setting for Plantation Farm Camp, which offers the quintessential summer camp experience for kids who want to learn how to work with farm animals by shearing sheep, milking cows, and feeding the chickens. Bareback horse riding and canoeing are also some of the 50 options children may choose from to tailor their unique experience based on their interests. There’s also a family camp program available that the entire family may enjoy together.

Camp Ecology

Located in Aspen, Colorado, Camp Ecology is a nature camp which teaches kids how to care for the environment. Science projects, eco games and crafts, hiking, exploring, good old-fashioned camping skills and overnight campouts are all on the roster, which is designed to engage kids in the outdoors and make them feel at home in the wilderness.

Girls Go Green

Girls Go Green is a live-in, week long summer camp program in Missouri created for high school aged women. This camp gives young women the opportunity to explore careers that both protect the environment and help society. Campers will learn about the science and engineering that are the foundation of building a green environment, including researching the safety of nuclear energy, and delving into topics including global warming and waste-water related issues.

Check here for a list of many more green summer camps that may be closer to your neck of the woods!

Image: Islandwood

Bungle in the jungle during the rain season and save on a Costa Rican getaway. Rates drop dramatically since many travelers are skittish about venturing anywhere near Nicaragua this time of year. Risky, perhaps, but for those who seek showers (thunder makes my hubby’s heart pound) then try the Corcovado Adventures Tent Camp resort in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica.

A ten minute boat ride southwest of Drake Bay on the western side and conveniently located near the Corcovado National Park and Biological Reserve, the natural setting of tropical beaches and wilderness has been called “one of the most biologically intense places on Earth.” Commune with the white face congo and spider monkeys on the beaches and enjoy sitings of the Blue Morpho Butterflies along with 350 species of birds.

The full-sized tents are shielded from the elements by a large tarp and furnished with wood-frame beds and feature a front deck with chairs providing a vantage spot for Pacific Ocean views. The meals are Tico and International cuisine and available activities include horseback riding, scuba diving, whale watching, surfing, snorkeling, hiking and kayaking. A six-night package is $765 ($70 saved per person) and covers the taxi and boat ride from Drake Bay or Palmar airport, three full meals per day, a tour of the park with a guide, lunch, a boat ride and a tour of Cano Island with a guide. Rates by the night are around $80 per person, if you prefer that route. This is my kind of camping, since I don’t love sleeping on the ground, even with the best air mattress.

For even more luxurious lodgings in a tent (above), check out the Rafiki safari Lodge, which was started by the Boshoff family in 1999 in hopes of using tourism to build a wildlife refuge to help tapirs and other species. It is nestled in the 822 acres of pristine jungle along the Savegre River, 30km south of Quepos and Manuel Antonio. Enjoy white water rafting and exploring waterfalls. Several multi-day packages are available from $480 to $780 per person during the dry season (now through Dec. 15).

Looking for a great green getaway offering an affordable way to commune with nature? Look no further. This is the first installment in a series by EcoSalon’s Senior Editor, Luanne Bradley.

Imagine being cast away on your very own desert island … a coral cay lush with greenery and bird life and fringed with white sand. Day after day you would swim in the clear blue ocean and spot giant green turtles, manta rays and rainbow-hued fish and coral.

This was the reality of my recent holiday on Wilson Island on the southern tip of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. It genuinely was a desert island – all the water had to be brought in by boat – but this was not an episode of Survivor.

I guess this is what you call “glamping” – glamorous camping. Our so-called tents were really canvas cabins with wooden floors, a double bed with heavy linen, a wardrobe and a deck with a hammock and ocean views. We also had hot showers, a chef to cook gourmet meals three times a day, and champagne and nibblies on the beach at sunset each evening.

Before the Green-Eyed Monster makes you start throwing things at me, I hasten to add that I am unaccustomed to such luxury on my vacations. This was my honeymoon and we were happy to splurge. While it might sound terribly exotic, it was actually relatively local considering I’m Australian and my wedding was in Sydney.

I was drawn to Wilson Island because of its natural beauty – particularly the fact it was a turtle breeding island and known for its fabulous snorkeling right off the beach. It’s part of the Capricornia Cays National Park and Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. The last thing I wanted was for my presence to harm the ecology of this natural wonderland.

Tourism can be a mixed blessing. In many places around the world, including Australia, natural beauty has been destroyed or diminished by over-development. Yet tourism makes conservation of this beautiful part of the world not just morally desirable but also economically viable – no mean feat given the amount of oil estimated to be buried beneath the reef. About 1.6 million people visit the reef every year, delivering revenue of more than $AUS1 billion.

The Great Barrier Reef has thousands of islands; some of them are quite developed, while others are closed to humans and you risk a fine of thousands of dollars even stepping on to the island.

I was impressed by the balance at Wilson Island. There are only 12 guests allowed on the island at one time, plus two hosts who do all the cooking and cleaning. There are no permanent buildings on the island and the tents are scattered to give maximum privacy. The water is brought in and the grey water is shipped back out again (while the sewage is held in sceptic tanks). There is no power generator on the island – the hot water and limited electricity in the kitchen and communal long tent all run off solar power. (Luckily there’s plenty of sunshine in this part of the world). All the garbage is shipped off the island and the bottles and paper are sorted for recycling.

As it is a national park and a marine park, guests are reminded not to interfere with nature. The rule is to look but not touch – to take only photographs and leave only footprints. That can be hard. If you come at the right time of year, as we did, you might see baby turtles hatching and racing for their lives down the beach. With seagulls circling overhead and reef sharks lurking just off the beach, ready to snack on tasty baby turtle, it can be tempting to give Mother Nature a hand. It is important not to succumb to the urge so that the eco-system of the reef can keep its natural balance.

If you find yourself in this part of the world and you are looking for a romantic break, then I recommend you check out Wilson Island. When we booked, they were offering five nights for the price of four. While the price of $AUS700 per night seemed steep at the time, it is all-inclusive. And when they say everything is included, they mean everything. It includes a free boat transfer from nearby Heron Island (also a nice island but more of a family resort and much, much bigger), all your food including picnic hampers if you prefer not to eat communally, an open bar stocked with copious amounts of wine, beer and spirits, and use of a wetsuit, mask and snorkel, flippers. Even the sunscreen is free. We actually ended up spending more money in total in six days on Heron Island than five days on Wilson Island, though admittedly that included two dive trips at Heron.

The Great Barrier Reef is considered one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World but like so many of Earth’s treasures it’s under threat from climate change.

UPDATE 5/28/2009 Wilson Island is certified under Australia’s Eco Certification Program. The resort is closed from 26 January to 28 February for the bird nesting season.

The writer and her husband took the holiday in a personal capacity and paid for it in full.

Images courtesy Caitlin Fitzsimmons