Who can forget the optics on President Biden’s first day in office with a stock of executive order folders on his left and a pen in his right hand?

One of those EOs issued a federal mask mandate for certain areas of the United States under which the President has authority to issue policies — and one of them is federal lands, i.e. all lands operated by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and other agencies. 

Since so much of this land is recreational and used often by RVers, it’s caused some confusion about when to use a mask while camping on federal land. Reading the actual text of the mandate is vague.

In a nutshell, while camping on Federal lands, follow CDC guidelines currently in place for social distancing when around people outside your family or RV-mates. The guidelines simply states: “Masks may not be necessary when you are outside by yourself away from others, or with other people who live in your household.”

You certainly don’t need a mask while hiking, fishing, biking, or taking a stroll under the stars…or doing anything else outside away from others. If we all use our common sense, camping on Federal lands should be no different than the CDC guidelines for anywhere else, including right here at Floridays RV Park.