This Plastic-free July, start your plastic-free pledge with a little extra challenge.
Plastic-free July only asks for you to do a simple thing. Choose one plastic item, from single-use coffee cups, to plastic bottles, and even pre-packaged produce, any of those would do. Then, make a pledge to refuse to use it for a month.
Efforts like these may appear small and negligible, especially when you consider that it is just one type of plastic to be avoided for 30 days. But when we do it consistently, and sincerely, our collective actions do make a big difference.
Here’s the challenge for you. Consistency comes easier when you have a community that motivates you and keeps you in check. So, talk to your family or friends and get them involved with the plastic-free movement.
If you are looking for a little sustainability inspiration, we have something for you up here in the mountains.
Inspiring a group to take action will more often than not require a little more from you. You will need to relate the overall vision of Plastic-free July to their personal values, bring them around to realizing the impact of making the plastic-free switch to our shared future, and most importantly, give them a tangible, achievable first step.
So, to begin your plastic-free journey, bring your family and friends to Mt. Camisong Forest Park and Events. From our daily park activities to big decisions made behind the scenes, sustainability is embedded in our park’s DNA.
Interested in taking that mountain trip? Here is what your plastic-free day in the forest can look like.
Embracing responsible development and ecotourism, Mt. Camisong strives to impart lessons in sustainability by encouraging eco-conscious, responsible traveller habits. Read on to discover how you can fully enjoy a day in our forest park while still keeping in harmony with nature.
- Prepare for a day outdoors before heading out.
To ensure a safe and enjoyable excursion in the forest, take time to plan out and equip the appropriate attire. Since Mt. Camisong is a forest park in the mountains of Itogon, we recommend you to wear shoes with rubber soles to help you explore the natural terrain, the gardens, and the hiking trails. Pick out a few layers of outdoor clothing that can protect you from the elements while still letting you move freely.
Mt. Camisong is also a great place to have a digital detox, where you can unplug and fully embrace what nature has to offer. So pack light. Just bring your essentials, an umbrella in case it rains, sunscreen to protect yourself from too much sun, and insect repellent to avoid bug bites
And most importantly, bring a reusable water bottle. Hydration is necessary when exploring the outdoors. However, our forest park does not allow the use of single use plastics, so it is best to grab a reusable tumbler or cup and refill at our Hydration Stations onsite.
- Ride our free electric shuttle service.
Mt. Camisong looked at ways on how to bring more people closer to nature without creating a huge negative impact to the environment. To make memorable experiences in nature more accessible, we offer a solar-powered free shuttle service that picks up passengers in Baguio City and drops them right at our entrance. To know more about our shuttle schedule and pick-up points, read this post: https://bit.ly/4pCYWCL
For those who want to experience driving through the winding roads of Benguet on their electric vehicles, we have an EV charging station in our onsite parking area.
- Take in the majestic views. But notice the small details too.
Whether you will be riding on our free shuttle, or driving up the mountains on your own vehicle, you are sure to be wowed by the crisp and cool air, lush greenery, and picturesque landscape. Mt. Camisong is situated in the heart of Itogon, so to preserve its natural mountainside terrain, we meticulously designed our park focusing on minimizing our impact on existing pine trees.
You can read more facts about our intentional decisions to make our park an example of a thriving ecotourism site through our sustainability signs placed across the park.
- Have breakfast at Marahuyo Café or sit down for snacks at Muni-muni Food Hall.
After taking group photos at our notable Alapaap Glass Viewdeck, and browsing through local artisan products at our Makers’ and Merchants’ Market at Marahuyo Viewdeck, you might want a quick fill to your stomach for the next leg of the adventure that lies ahead. Head down to Marahuyo Café for our signature grab-and-go dishes, or drop by Muni-muni Food Hall for delectable snacks offered by our local concessionaires.
You may notice that we only use reusable dinnerware and cutlery. This is because we ourselves also follow the no-single plastic rule in our day-to-day processes. If you are the type to feel full easily, bring a reusable container where you can pack your leftovers and carry it for a convenient bite while you continue your stroll around the park.
Just a friendly reminder to our guests, to help keep our forest park clean and pristine, we ask you to dine in at our onsite restaurants instead of bringing outside food. This helps us minimize waste generation inside, and allows us to effectively process and compost whatever waste we can.
- Give yourself food for thought and understand how we incorporate conservation and community in our park at Binhi Sustainability Wall.
After filling up on a savory meal, you might also want to fill up on new thoughts and ideas on environmental stewardship.
Mt. Camisong advocates that we all should be stewards of Mother Earth. Read up on how we protect our environment and empower the local communities in Itogon at Binhi Sustainability Wall tucked above Dagitab Amphitheater. We also have a book nook where you can sit down for a couple of hours, and go through our collection of local titles in Filipino, English, and even Ilocano.
- Take a refreshing stroll through Samyo Gardens and see a variety of plants and flowers, or challenge your group to a 2-hour hike at our Kahilom Hiking Trails.
There is more to Mt. Camisong than our famous Glass Viewdeck. Head down a little further and you will see our hidden gem, Samyo Gardens. Walk through the Tree Walk, built around tall pine trees, for a bird’s eye view of the rest of the garden, or take our sprawling pathways made of pervious concrete tiles and be close enough to admire our assortment of flowers. You can also find our man-made waterfalls and picnic huts where you can rest and simply enjoy the scenery.
If you are with a more action-loving group, head on over to Kahilom Ranger Station to start a hike on the mountainside where you just might be lucky enough to spot the unique Itogon flora and fauna we are helping protect. You can select from easy, moderate, and advanced trails after a quick orientation. Just be sure that you are physically ready and prepared before you take on our more daring routes.
After your relaxing stroll or exhilarating trek, reward yourselves with cool refreshments you can find at our food stalls in Luntian.
- If you are travelling with kids, stop by Dalisay Play Area to give them an unforgettable moment with nature.
We understand that having that memorable moment with nature is essential for one’s childhood. That is why we created our Dalisay Active and Sensory Play area for children to freely explore and connect with nature.
We used all-wood playground equipment for tactile play that helps kids develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, strength and problem-solving skills.
- Take home a piece of Mt. Camisong with you with a special souvenir from Kalupi Gift Shop.
Nearing the end of your adventure, you may find the need to keep this memorable mountain trip somehow. Step into Kalupi, our glass gift shop found in Samyo Gardens, and select from botanical gifts to hiking essentials. Whether you are an outdoor adventurer or an indoor plant lover, you are sure to find something to bring home from the mountains.
Remember to bring a tote bag or two for all the goodies you are going to purchase. Help us reduce the use of single-use packaging.
- End the day with an elevated dinner with breathtaking sunset views at Alapaap Dining.
To cap off your adventure, reserve a table at Alapaap Dining and relish in the stunning mountain views while appreciating elevated Filipino cuisine. We recommend trying our best-sellers that demonstrate how we follow zero-waste kitchen principles. Our version of Pork Ribs Adores is a stack of smoked pork ribs with pares sauce and adobo sauce that was crafted by slowly simmering pork trimmings. Similarly, we use beef trimmings for our Strawberry Cansi’s sour beef broth with batwan fruit and strawberry. You can also go for our cocktails garnished with edible fruit leathers made from fruit and vegetable peels.
Just a little heads up, Alapaap Dining requires table reservations. To book a table, you can contact +63 917 162 9479. Visit this page for the Alapaap Dining menu.
On your way back to the city, we hope that you take home new lessons on sustainability and that unforgettable connection with nature.
When you hop on our shuttle back to Baguio City, or drive back down the mountains of Itogon, we are counting on you to remember how you can be agents of change for the preservation of our environment. Joining movements like Plastic-Free July is just one actionable step to help in cutting down single-plastic use, and reducing plastic pollution overall.
As stewards of nature, keep sharing your knowledge on sustainable practices and build your own local, eco-friendly community. Educate and inspire more people to spend time in nature so they too can recognize that all of us have a shared responsibility of protecting it, and that, together, we can safeguard our planet for future generations.
