Leave No Trace Community Blog

First Hot Spot for 2012 Selected

2012-02-06T10:12:00.004-07:00

Leave No Trace designates Fourmile as first 2012 Hot Spot

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics selects the Fourmile Area near Buena Vista, CO as this year’s first Hot Spot, putting a check on excessive recreational impacts.

February 6, 2012 (Boulder, CO): The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has selected the Fourmile Area near Buena Vista, Colorado as a Leave No Trace Hot Spot. Near both Denver and Colorado Springs, Fourmile is one of the most heavily used areas in central Colorado and recreation-related impacts are significant and growing.

Impacts at campsites such as campfire scars, tree-cutting, and expansion of denuded sites as well as excessive trash and human waste have become major issues at Fourmile. Also, areas scarred and eroded by off-trail travel are still in the process of recovery. In response to the request of local land managers and volunteers, the Fourmile Area has been designated as a 2012 Leave No Trace Hot Spot.

Located in northern Chaffee County, the 100,000-acre Fourmile Area offers ample outdoor recreation such as camping, mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, ATV and motorcycle trails, and wildlife viewing. In partnership with the local volunteer-based Friends of Fourmile, the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management and several other key stakeholders, the Leave Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics will mitigate the growing impacts there by implementing an effective Leave No Trace program there.

Currently in its third year, the Leave No Trace Hot Spots initiative raises awareness about natural areas around the country facing the threat of irreversible environmental damage. As part of the initiative, The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics works with volunteers, nonprofit organizations, friends groups and governmental agencies to reduce the impact of recreational activities in the selected Hot Spot area. With local collaboration, this goal is achieved through community outreach, classroom and field education sessions, training, signage and distribution of educational materials.

Components of the Hot Spot include Leave No Trace training for key agency staff and volunteers, developing Fourmile-specific Leave No Trace information, hosting a Leave No Trace community-based event to raise awareness, a service/learning project to mitigate existing recreation-related damage, and providing consultation on best management practices for minimizing future impacts in the Fourmile Area.

“This is an important initiative on many levels,” according to Dana Watts, Leave No Trace’s executive director. “The Center’s long partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, as well as the popularity of Fourmile, make, this a perfect fit for extensive Leave No Trace education, outreach and training.”

For more information on the 2012 Hot Spots initiative, as well as ways to get involved, visit http://www.lnt.org/01_community/hotspots.php.

About the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics teaches people of all ages how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly, and is the most widely accepted outdoor ethics program used on public lands. As the leader in sustainable recreation practices, the Center trains a nation of outdoor advocates to put Leave No Trace principles into action. Through relevant and targeted education, research and outreach, the Center seeks to ensure the long-term health of our natural world. www.LNT.org.

Partner Support at Outdoor Retailer

2012-01-25T11:18:00.000-07:00

Salt Lake City, UT. Last week Team East and Team West teamed up in Salt Lake City to take part in the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market at the Salt Palace Convention Center. This bi-annual show gathers the top companies and organizations in the outdoor industry to showcase the latest gear, trends, and innovations for the outdoor enthusiast. Every year the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics hosts the Great Gear Giveaway, sponsored by Backpacker Magazine and Subaru of America, which is inevitably a highlight of the week! This year did not disappoint as 18 lucky people walked away with a sweet prize package of the hottest gear on the market. Thank you to all of those companies that donated to the Great Gear Giveaway, and a special thank you to Backpacker Magazine and Subaru for sponsoring the event!

In addition to the Great Gear Giveaway, a few other partners of Leave No Trace stepped it up to host a fundraiser happy hour during the show. On Friday night, Big Agnes hosted a happy hour, which not only raised money for the Center but also sent one lucky winner home with a brand new Wolf Mountain Tent!

On Saturday, we joined Osprey Packs for another happy hour fundraising party. Osprey Packs has been a long standing partner of Leave No Trace. It is because of partners, like Osprey, that help make Leave No Trace a successful organization. Pictured below are former Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers JD Tanner and Emily Ressler. They bought their raffle tickets to support Leave No Trace and walked away with the grand prize!

THANK YOU to Osprey Packs and Big Agnes for their support at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market!

Respect the Resource...Kate and Tracy

The Situation: Responses to December Situation.

2012-01-18T12:34:00.003-07:00

Every month in the Center's eNews, we pose a difficult Leave No Trace ethical and skills based situations for readers to comment on. Below is December's situation and a few of your responses.

What would you do?
As you approach your favorite wildlife viewing spot along a pristine alpine lake, a group of four has decided to set up camp right along the lakeshore. You know that camping 200 feet from water will protect the water source from becoming polluted. In addition, you fear the group's camping choice will impact wildlife in their natural habitat. How would you encourage these campers to select an alternative camping spot?

This is what you said:

Response from Keith Abraham: I would approach them and ask about the beautiful view and location they have chosen and ask about the wildlife in the area. Whether or not they want to see some of the wildlife will determine where you go from there. If they want to see wildlife but haven't, you may share the fact that the animals usually come to the lake to drink but they may be scared because people are so close. You may want to suggest that moving several hundred feet back from the lake is a good idea to allow the wildlife to come down and drink, you may even offer to help them move.

Response from Mark Katich: I would tell them that the following story.

“How the Fly Saved the River: A Native American Lore”
Many, many years ago when the world was new, there was a beautiful river. Fish in great numbers lived in this river, and its water was so pure and sweet that all the animals came there to drink. A giant moose heard about the river and he too came there to drink. But he was so big, and he drank so much, that soon the water began to sink lower and lower.The beavers were worried. The water around their lodges was disappearing. Soon their homes would be destroyed. The muskrats were worried, too. What would they do if the water vanished? How could they live? The fish were very worried. The other animals could live on land if the water dried up, but they couldn't. All the animals tried to think of a way to drive the moose from the river, but he was so big that they were too afraid to try. Even the bear was afraid of him. At last the fly said he would try to drive the moose away. All the animals laughed and jeered. How could a tiny fly frighten a giant moose? The fly said nothing, but that day, as soon as the moose appeared, he went into action. He landed on the moose's foreleg and bit sharply. The moose stamped his foot harder, and each time he stamped, the ground sank and the water rushed in to fill it up. Then the fly jumped about all over the moose, biting and biting and biting until the moose was in a frenzy. He dashed madly about the banks of the river, shaking his head, stamping his feet, snorting and blowing, but he couldn't get rid of that pesky fly. At last the moose fled from the river, and didn't come back. The fly was very proud of his achievement, and boasted to the other animals, "Even the small can fight the strong if they use their brains to think."

I would then say, you are the moose and I am the fly.

Response from the Subaru/ Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers Kate Bullock and Tracy Howard who posed this Situation: When approaching people that are exhibiting "less than Leave No Trace" behaviors, try using the Authority of the Resource Technique, developed by Dr. George N. Wallace. Using this technique, will not only give you a chance to speak for nature, but it will also allow you to educate others on the importance of practicing low-impact camping.

The technique involves three steps:

1. First, after opening conversation with the group, make an objective statement about the observed behavior (avoid value-laden terms such as "you shouldn't, don't, don't you know it's wrong, harmful, against regulations, etc.).
2. Second, explain the implications of the behavior. This is where you can EDUCATE the party about why it is important to protect the water source.
3. Finally, try to provide an alternative on what can (or should) be done to improve the situation. It is important to keep in mind that people are generally not trying to cause unnecessary impacts to the land and it is good to expect the best of people when we can.

Remember education can influence people's behavior. The hope is for long-term change in people's respect for nature in general and an intrinsically motivated stewardship of the out of doors!

Eleven People We Love

2012-01-18T11:46:00.003-07:00

Meet extraordinary member-activists who have impacted their communities with Leave No Trace. The Center has so much love to spread around that we are honoring 11 people for their 2011 contributions!

Rob Stevens: Rob Stevens worked diligently to bring Leave No Trace awareness and education to Central Arkansas. On the Arkansas River Trail, a 24-mile trail system through Central Arkansas, he volunteered to support the Center’s development of a Leave No Trace program there. In October, Rob and the Traveling Trainers hosted a successful Backyard Session in downtown Little Rock that brought together people interested in strengthening Leave No Trace within their community. Because of Rob’s herculean efforts, Leave No Trace will be the Trail’s minimum-impact education program.

David Polivy: Avid outdoorsman and owner of Tahoe Mountain Sports, Dave Polivy collaborated with the Center to bring a stronger Leave No Trace presence to Lake Tahoe. Dave conducted an online fundraiser through Facebook for the Center and organized Leave No Trace at Snowfest, an annual festival to celebrate winter sports in the area. Working with the Center, David also put together a program for locals to learn more about Leave No Trace winter skills.

Steve Kominsky: Climber and member-activist, Steve Kominsky, incorporated Leave No Trace in his 2011 initiative, The 10in6 Challenge, where he climbed Oregon’s 10 highest mountains in 6 days. He engaged scouts, state parks staff and visitors, as well as others as he traveled through Oregon. Steve organized great press coverage for this event and raised important awareness in Oregon for Leave No Trace.

Rita Hussman: Minnesota State Advocate, Rita Hussman, has offered a constant stream of Leave No Trace training since taking on the volunteer position with the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. She helped host the Center’s first Minnesota Backyard Session, and facilitated National Public Lands Day participation on behalf of Leave No Trace. She is consistently offering local outreach and truly advocates for Leave No Trace wherever she goes.

Jordan Mammal: U.S. Park Ranger Jordan Mammal led the Washington’s Mount Rainier National Park campaign to have the park’s Paradise Area designated as a 2011 Leave No Trace Hot Spot. Her vision and diligence to coordinate Leave No Trace work ensured that all National Park Service departments and volunteers shared her passion and support for the initiative, making it a great success.

Hamish Morin: Hamish Morin, chair of the Smartwool Advocacy Team, worked closely with the Center to increase awareness about Leave No Trace. Hamish organized community outreach within schools in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and led efforts to provide Leave No Trace volunteer opportunities to Smartwool employees.

Awanti Sura: Awanti Sura sought out the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and was a full-time volunteer and intern for six months at the Center’s Colorado hub. With a double Masters in Commerce specializing in Tourism Marketing and International Business, Awanti lent her skills to support constituent communication and education. She left the Center as a Master Educator.

Jeff Marion: Jeff Marion, recreation ecologists with the U.S. Geologic Survey and adjunct faculty at Virginia Tech, wrote a new Leave No Trace publication in 2011 addressing frontcountry environments. A long-standing member of the Center’s Educational Review Committee, Jeff’s volunteerism as well as his scientific research and publications have been important contributions to the organization.

Kelly Pearson: Ardent Leave No Trace supporter, Kelly Pearson, is wilderness tech and volunteer coordinator with the Shawnee National Forest. Kelly was instrumental in the 2011 frontcountry stock pilot Master Educator Course held on the forest. She managed logistics, camping, transportation and provided the key U.S.D.A. Forest Service support needed to make the new course offering a reality.

Paula Booth: Leave No Trace Trainer Paula Booth’s dedication and passion for educating both youth and adults in Leave No Trace has a 15-year history. Her work which began with Leave No Trace training for Cub Scouts and then in the Venturing program, evolved into work with day camps and community events. In 2011 Paula led eight field-based Leave No Trace Trainer Courses.

Reed Waite: Former head of the Washington Water Trails Association, member-activist Reed Waite has not only been a longtime supporter of the Center, but he has also provided important strategic guidance and offers Leave No Trace Trainer Courses in his community. Recently, Reed helped with the Center's Seattle-based Backyard Sessions to build support for the Mount Rainier Hot Spot initiative.

How Do You Practice Leave No Trace in Your Everyday Life?

2012-01-13T12:37:00.002-07:00

Cascade Locks, OR. Andy, a Leave No Trace Trainer and enthusiast, shares how he practices Leave No Trace in his everyday life. Leave No Trace can be applied not only to any non-motorized recreational experience, but can also be beneficial in the context of everyday life, even when you are not outdoors! Andy has adopted the Leave No Trace lifestyle, have you?
Enjoy the long weekend!
Respect the Resource...Kate and Tracy

Bigfoot Sighting at International Sportsmans Expo

2012-01-10T11:31:00.002-07:00

Denver, CO. The International Sportsmans Expo held at the Colorado Convention Center this past weekend brought in thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to check out the latest in fishing and hunting gear, guide and outfitter services, and had a chance to learn about responsible recreation in the Outdoor Ethics Center. Over 2,700 people stayed on the trail to talk to representatives from Leave No Trace, Stay The Trail, Tread Lightly, and The Wildlife Experience. With all this excitement, it was no surprise that Bigfoot came to Denver to share in the thrill. Enjoy a few photos from this weekend!
Respect The Resource...Kate and Tracy

Leave No Trace Hot Spot Program

2012-01-09T09:52:00.005-07:00

Many of the areas where we love to spend time outdoors are impacted by recreational use, some more severely than others. The cause of the impact is not generally malicious intent to do harm to the environment; rather it is most commonly a lack of knowledge or skills.

The end result, however, is usually the same:

Litter, dog poop, invasive species, habituated wildlife, trail and campsite erosion, water sources polluted with human wastes, names carved in trees, filthy campfire rings, cigarette butts along a trail, damaged cultural and historic sites, toilet paper “flowers” around campsites, pets chasing wildlife – the list goes on and on.

These impacted areas, or “Leave No Trace Hot Spots,“ can benefit from increased awareness about how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. If we know the consequences of our actions and the ways to minimize our individual and cumulative impacts, we can all go a long way towards protecting the places we cherish for future generations.

Building on the success of the 2011 Hot Spot program, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics actively seeks to make a difference across the country for these Leave No Trace Hot Spots. Through outreach, education, training, signage, educational materials, consulting and local collaboration, the Center aims to work with motivated individuals, groups, non-profits and governmental agencies to effectively use the Leave No Trace program to reduce impacts on lands used by the public for recreation.

The Center intends to do the following:

Accept nominations from individuals, groups, non-profits, partners, members and governmental agencies for areas – Leave No Trace Hot Spots – that have recreation-related impacts that could be successfully mitigated through effective Leave No Trace programming.
Nominations will be accepted on a rolling basis, with two Hot Spot being chosen per year, with additional "warm" spot designations possible.
For chosen Hot Spots, the Center will work with the nominator to determine the scope of the impact, the relevant partners for collaboration, and effective and creative solutions for reducing the impacts occurring in the area.
Chosen Hot Spots will receive some or all of the following: expert consultation on solutions and program implementation, training, educational materials, visits from the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, creation of locally-tailored programs to meet site-specific needs, volunteer support and overall assistance in putting the Leave No Trace program into action.

How to nominate an area as a Leave No Trace Hot Spot

The Center requires the following information on the nomination form:

• Name of the individual and/or organization

• List of impacts that are occurring as a result of recreation

• List of potential partners in the local area who would be well suited to collaboration on project efforts

• Intended outcomes of the project efforts

• Description of the potential reach of the project efforts and who will benefit

• Nominator(s) history with the Leave No Trace program

• Nominations MUST include either photographs or video of the area (both preferred). Nominations submitted without photos or video will not be accepted.

If your area is not chosen as a Leave No Trace Hot Spot, the Center can still provide information and ideas on mitigating recreational impact in your area.

The Center intends to measure success of efforts undertaken at chosen Leave No Trace Hot Spots using the following criteria:

• Measureable improvement in on-the-ground conditions
• Engaging a large number of volunteers to support efforts
• Enlisting new partners/members to get involved in the area
• Building sustainable relationships and programs that perpetuate effective Leave No Trace programming

For questions about the program or for more specific information, please contact hotspots@LNT.org, call 1.800.332.4100 or visit www.LNT.org

Catching Moments of Beauty

2012-01-04T14:31:00.003-07:00

As 2012 gets itself underway, the sky this morning made a point of reminding me to stop and appreciate the BEAUTY that is around us everyday.

International Sportsmans Expo

2012-01-03T09:48:00.000-07:00

Denver, CO. The International Sportsmans Expo will take over the Colorado Convention Center this weekend beginning on Thursday at 12pm and concluding Sunday at 5pm. With over 900 companies and organizations, there will be plenty of outdoor goods and services to check out. Here is a list of what you can expect to see at the show:

Fishing & hunting outfitters & guides
Fishing tackle & gear
Hunting products & gear
Fly-fishing retailers
Travel, vacations, lodges & resorts
Boats, kayaks & marine accessories
RVs, campers
Outdoor gear
Apparel & optics
ATVs, motorcycles & personal watercraft
Mountain-home furnishings
Outdoor clubs, groups & organizations
Trucks, trailers & aftermarket accessories

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics will be teaming up with Tread Lightly!, Stay the Trail Colorado, and The Wildlife Experience to educate visitors about responsible use of lands shared by the public and ways to minimize potential impacts on the land when out hunting, fishing, boating, or camping. Come check out the Outdoor Ethics Center for interactive activities, educational materials, and chat with knowledgable and friendly staff from all four of these organizations! Hope to see you there!
Respect Nature, Respect Others...Kate and Tracy

Leave No Trace thanks you!

2011-12-23T09:13:00.004-07:00

The end of the year for Leave No Trace, and most nonprofit organizations, is the time when we are blessed with the donations we need to continue the important work of educating people about responsible recreation. Personally, this is why I love what I do. I get to see how people with the means to help can make such a difference in the lives of others.

This year because of your donations Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has provided advanced Leave No Trace training to nearly 3,500 people. And of that group, we were able to provide many of those trainings at little or no cost because those outdoor leaders are sacrificing their time to take under-served children into nature and teach them to love and respect the wild.

And that is just part of our success this year. Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and our traveling teams have raised awareness about the need for outdoor ethics in more than 2 million people this year. This outreach effort is often the first step that people take to learn more about how to Leave No Trace when visiting the outdoors....and in their lives. As I'm sure many of you can relate, Leave No Trace ethics extend well beyond outdoor recreation.

On behalf of all of us at the Center, thank you for supporting this important cause. Your donations and your advocacy are making a big difference in the way people enjoy and respect the outdoors.

Happy Trails To You!

2011-12-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

Professional Development Day 2011

As we bid farewell to the year 2011, we are reflecting on the many successes of the Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program. For the past two seasons, we have had the pleasure of working with two fantastic colleagues. As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. We wish only the best to our associates who are moving on to their next great adventure. Thank you Jason and Agata Ketterick for all of your hard work. We look forward to seeing where the trail takes you and never stop making teeny tiny shadow puppets in your tent!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Guest Perspective: Leave No Trace in Brazil

2011-12-19T14:14:00.001-07:00

Rodrigo Cavasini is a Leave No Trace Master Educator and a Professor at Physical Education and Sports Science Faculty of Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, in the city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Outdoor activities are spreading in the world and the number of involved people is increasing, year-by-year, as it can be seen in Brazil, too. The environmental impacts that are being related to trekking, kayaking, abseiling, climbing, mountain bike and others outdoor activities are concerning different sectors in the Brazilian society, as educational institutions, outdoor activities related people, NGOs, etc.

During the last years outdoor areas have been highly impacted and, in some cases, the access is being limited or canceled, which highlights the relevance of efficient educational approaches, as the Leave no Trace Educational Activities, which are known for some people here, but is not so common in the Brazilian outdoors.

In the second semester of 2011, Leave No Trace Educational Activities started to be carried out in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, in an effort to promote the outdoor ethics discussion among participants in outdoor activities. Three Leave No Trace Awareness Workshops were promoted. The first two were carried out in September, for Physical Education students, during field activities in an outdoor activities related discipline and the third in December, during indoor and outdoor activities in a Basic Climbing, Abseiling and Trekking Course.

The formal and informal evaluations showed that the participants were pleased with these approaches and pointed the need of continuity of these Leave No Trace education activities and the inclusion of longer courses. By the end, for 2012 more Awareness Workshop are been planned, as well Trainer Courses are been prepared, which we hope that could be a good beginning / continuity for all these Leave No Trace experiences in Brazil.

Rodrigo Cavasini

Late night bear bag visit?

2011-12-19T10:26:00.006-07:00

Have you ever been laying in your tent, about to fall asleep, and realized that you either forgot to put that chapstick in your pocket into the bear bag or you just need one more piece of chocolate before dozing off? It seems to happen to me all the time, which is why I have used reflective cord for hanging my bear bags for many years.

While there are likely several options on the market these days, I have been using the Kelty Triptease Lightline (50 ft. Guyout Cord), and have always been very happy with it. The cord has reflective material embedded in it which makes it show up at night when hit with light from your headlamp. This makes those after dark trips to the bear bag a cinch.

I'm not sure how many times this cord has saved me from an epic late-night bear bag search but it's been several. It's worth a try on your next trip...

For more information on hanging bear bags, visit: http://leavenotracecommunity.blogspot.com/2011/11/hanging-bear-bag.html

Picture of the Week 12/16/11

2011-12-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

Hale Reservation in Westwood, MA

Bigfoot's Shopping Spree

2011-12-15T14:45:00.002-07:00

Checking out the tubes for fun on the hill!

Freeport, ME. While we were at LL Bean last week, we noticed some strange activity throughout the store.

Bigfoot loves the warm Bean flannels!

Every where we looked, crowds of people we watching as Bigfoot came to take care of some of his holiday shopping. LL Bean is one of the top stores where Bigfoot can find all kinds of outdoor products. And because they support Leave No Trace, Bigfoot gets even more excited!
Where else will Bigfoot shop this year? Check out the list of companies and organizations that support Leave No Trace through partnership here. Keep these companies in mind as you do your holiday shopping this year!

Why not just a little more fur?

Taking a rest after a long day of shopping

Explore Responsibly...Kate, Tracy, and Bigfoot

Reflection into the future.

2011-12-07T16:51:00.000-07:00

We've wrapped up life as the e-tour. We'd love to thank everyone who helped to make these last seven months such a successfully fulfilling adventure. We reached out to educate and share awareness with thousands of folks in more than twenty states. We were backed by dedicated sponsors, partners, and members. A tireless team of office staff in Boulder made sure we were stocked, scheduled, and connected. An endless stream of gracious hosts made nights out of the tent interesting, inspiring, and invigorating. Simply put, thank you.

Just as in this snapshot out of Big Blue's side mirror, the e-tour is also looking forward. Our reflection time home in Tahoe will allow us to focus momentum to roll into 2012 as Team West of the Subaru / Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers. We are truly grateful for this opportunity.

Let it Snow!

Mark and Tara

Backyard Session in Maine

2011-12-07T11:15:00.001-07:00

Freeport, ME. Team East traveled to LL Bean's Flagship store to take part in a Leave No Trace Backyard Session. Hosted by the Maine Steering Committee, this session brought together 45 key volunteers from across the state of Maine. The energy in the room was exhilarating as the group discussed ways to increase training opportunities and awareness of Leave No Trace within their communities. In the photo to the left, Marcia and Gabe Williamson, former Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers and current Maine State Advocates, lead a brainstorming sessions on ways to strengthen and promote Leave No Trace in the state of Maine.

Attending the meeting were representatives from local schools and universities, such as Colby College and the University of Maine, Council leaders from the Boy Scouts of America and US Girl Scouts, staff and volunteers from Maine Island Trails Association and other local conservation groups, the Nature Conservancy and Saco River Recreation Council, local summer camps, and the Maine Bureau of Land Management, just to name a few. It was amazing to see such a diverse group of outdoor enthusiasts and educators come together and share ideas.

As a special thank you to everyone for volunteering their time to participate in the Backyard Session, partners of Leave No Trace donated some fun gear to raffle off at the end of the workshop. Included were materials from the Leave No Trace store, Outdoor Research T-shirts, RestStop Portable Toilets Systems, and one lucky winner walked away with a Keen Shoe gift card!

A special thank you to Charlie Jacobi, Marcia and Gabe Williamson, and the rest of the steering committee for hosting such a rewarding Backyard Session. Also, thank you to LL Bean, a long-time supporter of Leave No Trace, for providing a space for the session!

Explore Responsibly...Kate & Tracy

Calling all Master Educators!

2011-12-07T10:31:00.004-07:00

Are you a Leave No Trace Master Educator? We need you!

As the demand for local Leave No Trace training continues to increase (yeah!), our Master Educators across the country play a crucial role in helping to provide a strong, local Leave No Trace presence. If you haven't already contacted The Center regarding joining our local outreach efforts, any interested Master Educator can get their name listed on the Community Page of their particular state as a local Leave No Trace resource. Our goal is to have far reaching local Leave No Trace training and outreach across the country and you, Master Educators, are the key to that success.

Please send an email to Jason to get your name added to our growing community of Master Educators. He will need your full NAME, CITY, STATE, and EMAIL address.

Thank you, Master Educators!

Bigfoot. Challenge. December.

2011-12-06T11:43:00.003-07:00

It's December. The Bigfoot Challenge is back. December is sponsored by the wonderful Industrial Revolution. Let's check out the challenges:

1. Minimize campfire impacts! Plan a winter outing and find an alternative to a campfire, such as using a lightweight stove for cooking and a candle lantern for light. Email a short story or photo to be entered into this month's drawing twice!

2. When wrapping your holiday presents this year, consider using newspaper, another eco-friendly wrapping paper, or reusing paper from other presents!

3. Bigfoot says put your money where your heart is! There were 11 billion visits to the outdoors last year; 2 million people learned Leave No Trace skills and ethics. With your year-end gift, we will attaint our 2012 goal of reaching 3 million people. Consider giving a year-end gift to the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics OR do some holiday shopping at the Leave No Trace store!

Thanks again to Industrial Revolution for sponsoring this month's Bigfoot Challenge! And thanks to those of YOU who will take the challenge this month and be entered to win a great prize from Industrial Revolution! Get out there and Leave No Trace!

P. S. - A hint on the first challenge; click here for some helpful ideas!

2012 Preliminary Master Educator Course Schedule

2011-12-05T11:10:00.005-07:00

A Master Educator course is typically five days in length and designed for people who are actively teaching others backcountry skills or providing recreation information to the public.

As of December 2011, there are over 5000 Leave No Trace Masters world wide representing nine countries and 50 U.S. states. This valuable training is recognized throughout the world by the outdoor industry and land management agencies. The profile of our graduates is highly varied from USFS and NPS backcountry rangers to scout leaders, from outdoor retail executives to school teachers, from college outing club members to outfitters and guides.

Successful graduates of the Master Educator course have the ability to train others in Leave No Trace skills and ethics, and can offer Leave No Trace Trainer courses (two-day) and Awareness Workshops (one-day or shorter).

While we're not quite finished putting together the 2012 Leave No Trace Master Educator Course schedule, we do have some preliminary course locations/dates as follows:

Landmark Learning

March 4-8: Sea Kayaking, Cumberland Island Nat'l Seashore

April 16-20: Backpacking, Cullowhee, NC

June 25-29: Backpacking, Cullowhee, NC

September 17-21: Backpacking, Cullowhee, NC

Appalachian Mountain Club

April 9-13, 2012 – Delaware Water Gap, NJ – Backpacking

April 30-May 4, 2012 – Berkshires, MA - Backpacking

May 14-18, 2012 – White Mountains, NH - Backpacking

June 18-22, 2012 – White Mountains, NH – Backpacking

July 23-27, 2012 – White Mountains, NH – Backpacking

September 17-21, 2012 – Lake Umbagog, NH – Canoeing

No change to our course fees. Still $629 (AMC member) $699 (non-member)

NOLS

March 1 - 5, (Location to be decided), Arizona – Backpacking

April 29 - May 3, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia – Backpacking

May 7 - 11, Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah – Backpacking

June 11 - 15, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming – Backpacking

August 4 - 8, (Location to be decided), Minnesota - Frontcountry base camp with day hiking

August 9 - 13, San Juan Islands, Washington - Sea Kayaking

August 20 - 24, Flat Tops Wilderness, Colorado – Backpacking

November 2 - 6, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - Backpacking

Adirondack Mountain Club

June 25-29 – (Mon-Fri) – Backpacking

July 27-31 – (Fri-Tue) – Backpacking

August 11-15 – (Sat-Wed) –Canoe-based

September 10-14 – (Mon-Fri) – Backpacking

To register for courses, please visit: http://lnt.org/training/mastereducator.php

We are still working with the Ninemile Wildlands Training Center, the Wilderness Education Association and the Adirondack Mountain Club to round out the 2012 course schedule, which we hope to have posted on our website in the coming days.

For more information on Master Educator Courses, please visit: http://lnt.org/training/mastereducator.php

The Situation

2011-12-02T03:42:00.006-07:00

In the November eNews, we asked: What would you do?

The weather is perfect, the dirt is tacky and you've driven far up into the mountains and camped get an early start on an epic bike ride with your crew. After hearing the proposed route you use your smart phone to double check the planner's itinerary. You learn that due to recent user conflicts there is an 'advisory' on a section of the route that asks that bikers should ride on even days only. Today is an odd day. What do you do?

A few responses:

Spend the day checking the bikes, get a training ride in, explore the mountains and shred the trail even earlier the next day. Minimize impact. Also, it is advised. Try a different route.
-Summer Pearson

Determine if there is sufficient information to resolve the conflict by timing, walking the specific section, or a reroute around the conflicted section. If none of these are a solution, I would look for a new route in the general area.
-John Konyn

Let us know what you would do.

Mount Rainier Hot Spot Success

2011-12-02T02:00:00.003-07:00

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics recently completed work at Mount Rainier National Park’s Paradise Area, a 2011 Leave No Trace-designated “Hot Spot.” Located in Washington, Mount Rainier National Park receives up to two-million visitors a year. At Paradise, the most heavily visited area of the park containing 26 miles of trails, recreation-related impacts have been severe. Miles of additional social trails and damage to subalpine meadows caused by off-trail travel have resulted.

In partnership with the National Park Service, the Center implemented a multifaceted education program to mitigate these impacts. The Center provided Leave No Trace training for key park service staff and over 50 volunteers, developed Paradise-specific Leave No Trace information, created Leave No Trace signage for visitors, and provided consultation on best management practices for minimizing recreation-related impacts. The Center also hosted three Seattle-based events to involve the local community and raise awareness about the initiative.

“The adoption of Leave No Trace at the park will play an active role in preserving it for generations to come. We are very proud of this important work with the National Park Service,” says Dana Watts, Executive Director for the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

In its second year, the Leave No Trace Hot Spots initiative raises awareness about natural areas around the country facing the threat of irreversible environmental damage. As part of the initiative, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics works with volunteers, nonprofit organizations, friends groups and governmental agencies to reduce the impact of recreational activities in the selected endangered area. This goal is achieved through community outreach, education, training, signage, educational materials and local collaboration.

For more information on the 2011 Hot Spots initiative, as well as ways to get involved, visit http://www.lnt.org/01_community/hotspots.php.

Pet For a Day

2011-12-01T14:04:00.002-07:00

Wrapping up our season as the e-tour we found that we had a bunch of photos of the animals we stayed with during our journey. Not being able to have pets of our own while fulfilling the duties of being a traveling trainer we are always delighted when our hosts can share their furry friends with us. Here is a slideshow showcasing *nearly* all the four legged friends we shared a home with. As always remember to be a responsible pet parent when visiting the outdoors.

Who's your favorite?! We loved them all.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Find or Host a Leave No Trace Training Opportunity

2011-12-01T13:26:00.006-07:00

With over 300 million people expected to recreate on our public lands in 2012, remember that without Leave No Trace education, additional people could mean additional impacts — resulting in potential damage to natural resources. With that in mind, make it a New Years Resolution to attend or facilitating a Leave No Trace training in your area.

Leave No Trace courses function like a pyramid. Master Educator Courses are at the top of the pyramid and train people to become comprehensive Leave No Trace educators, or Master Educators. Master Educators, in turn, teach the second level, the Trainer Course, to people who become Leave No Trace Trainers. Trainers (or Master Educators) are then able to conduct our third level of training called Awareness Workshops, which are designed for the general public and promote Leave No Trace.

Once you have decided which course is right for you, the next step is finding one in your area:

Here, you’ll see information on how to find or host an Awareness Workshop.
If you’d like to enroll in a Trainer Course, or if you’re a Master Educator wishing to facilitate a Trainer Course, more information can be found here.
If a Master Educator Course is more up you alley, you can learn how to enroll in a course and find more details here:

Leave No Trace Skills and Ethics play an integral role in reducing our impacts on these beautiful and limited natural places we enjoy. By attending or facilitating Leave No Trace training, you are taking important steps toward ensuring the integrity and continued access to these precious resources.

Team West At The North Face Endurance Challenge

2011-12-01T10:11:00.002-07:00

San Francisco, California -

This coming weekend brings the last event for Team West in the 2011 Traveling Trainer season at The North Face Endurance Challenge. The North Face has long been a strong advocate for promoting responsible outdoor recreation and has generously supported Leave No Trace over the years. Team West will be on site all weekend to provide information and educational materials to all the participants, friends, and family who have come out to support their favorite racers.

One of the many celebrities on the guest list this weekend will be our mascot (see photo above) Bigfoot, and the rumor is he will be out and about for the Karno Kids Race! Stop by and learn more about enjoying the outdoors with Leave No Trace in mind.

See you at the race,

Jason and Agata

Education in Motion: Where to find the Traveling Trainers in DECEMBER

2011-11-30T13:19:00.002-07:00

Although the 2011 season for the The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, as well as the Leave No Trace e-tour Team is winding down, they are conducting a few final training events across the country in December. For more information about these or to attend, visit their calendars. We hope to see you on the road!

Team East December Calendar
Team West December Calendar
E-tour December Calendar

California:

Boy Scout Pack 637 - San Clemente
The North Face Endurance Challenge - San Francisco

Colorado:

Parade of Lights - Denver

Maine:

Backyard Session with the Maine Steering Committee - Freeport

Do you want the Traveling Teams to come to your town? We are currently accepting event requests online for 2012.

Thank you Traveling Teams for your exceptional work ethic, positive attitude, and commitment to educating folks on the responsible enjoyment of the outdoors in 2011! YOU are the face of Leave No Trace and we couldn't be prouder of you 6!

Are You A "MAINE-iac" About Leave No Trace?

2011-11-30T13:08:00.002-07:00

Freeport, ME. This weekend marks the final Leave No Trace Backyard Session of the 2011 season. Backyard Sessions provide a platform for Leave No Trace Master Educators, Trainers, volunteers, and supporters to find ways communities can incorporate Leave No Trace into all of the ways they live and play. Throughout the 2011 season, more than a dozen sessions were held across the country. We are excited to close out the season at L.L. Bean to work closely with the Maine State Advocates, Marcia and Gabe Williamson, Charlie Jacobi and others from the Maine Steering Committee, and many key volunteers that work hard to promote the Leave No Trace program in New England.

This weekend is also the Winter Sports Weekend at L.L. Bean. This is a great opportunity to do some holiday shopping, test out some winter gear, take a clinic about winter camping or ice fishing, and learn about Leave No Trace! The Winter Sports Weekend begins Friday and will have free activities all weekend long. Come check it out!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Leave No Trace Backyard Sessions

2011-11-29T07:56:00.008-07:00

In 2011 the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics introduced a new social activism and environmental stewardship campaign called the Backyard Sessions. Backyard Sessions take many forms, but most of all they bring together and activate local Leave No Trace communities to incorporate Leave No Trace into all of the ways we live and play.

In 2011 the Center has held over 15 Backyard Sessions that were designed to encourage networking among volunteers and partners and included Leave No Trace training and/or outreach. An additional 20 Backyard Sessions were linked to existing service learning opportunities. These sessions incorporated "Leave No Trace Teachable Moments" along the trail in conjunction with a clean up or trail building project and were lead by State Advocates, Master Educators, Trainers, and other volunteers. Over 1,500 people have learned about Leave No Trace since August while participating in these trail projects.

The final 2011 Leave No Trace Backyard Session will be hosted by the Leave No Trace in Maine Steering Committee on December 2, 2011 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm at the LLBean flagship store in Freeport, Maine.

Backyard Sessions in 2012: The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics plans to engage our national network of hardworking volunteers and educators in vital outreach.

GOAL: Backyard Sessions hope to inspire volunteerism and motivate people to get more involved with Leave No Trace education and action at the local level.

CALL TO ACTION: The Center wants you to organize a Backyard Session in your Community.

Your role as a Leave No Trace volunteer and educator to help organize Backyard Sessions to teach people about Leave No Trace is critical!

Your valuable assistance is now needed in 2 key ways:

1. Mobilize your network of Leave No Trace supporters, youth groups, schools or others to organize your own outing at a trailhead. Provide a 20-minute introduction to Leave No Trace and then hit the trail with trash bags and gloves for an easy clean up. Look for “Leave No Trace teachable moments” along the way. Tell us about it!

2. Identify and attend outdoor and environmental events in your community and offer a 5-30 minute introduction to Leave No Trace concepts.Whether this is with a small crew at a trailhead on a trail-related service project, with volunteers at a river clean up, a youth event or with a group of multi-day backpackers, we’d like you to locate opportunities in your area (preferably in a natural setting) to help spread Leave No Trace skills and ethics. And one last step: Tell us about it!

How the Center can help you:

1. The Center will give you educational materials, merchandise and Clif bars (as available) to aid in your outreach efforts.

2. If you would like to distribute additional Leave No Trace educational materials, please visit our Education and Training Resources Page where you can find various items to view, download and print.

3. Use our resources. For a list of Master Educators and partner organizations within your area, please visit your state on the Center’s Community Page. Contact your Community: State Advocate, other Master Educators and partners in your area to get involved with your outreach.

4. Contact the Center to talk over your plan and to report the work that you have accomplished: 303.442.8222 or email Jason@lnt.org.

The Impact Monster!

2011-11-28T14:33:00.002-07:00

The impact monster is apparently alive and well in Utah!

Photo courtesy of Jeff Marion, Ph.D.

Enjoying the weekend?

2011-11-25T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! The e-tour hopes you had a fun, festive Thanksgiving. We know we did. Here are a few shots from our holiday time that we've been spending in Moab, UT.

After a scenic trail ride Tara whipped up an incredible camp stove style Thanksgiving feast. To answer your question, yes we wore the turkey hats biking (over our helmets of course:)).

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Picture of the Week 11/25/11

2011-11-25T11:19:00.003-07:00

Marbled Orb Weaver Spider - Araneus marmoreus

We spotted this spider during a hike in North Carolina.

Way Back Wednesday: Walking on the Wild Side

2011-11-23T11:40:00.001-07:00

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we would like to give thanks to all of the former Traveling Trainer teams that paved the way, or hiked the trail so to speak, for their efforts in making the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program the success that it is today. Here is a blog written in 2008 by former Traveling Trainer Amy Allison. This blog reminds us about the importance of respecting wildlife and doing all we can to keep wildlife wild!

Click here to check out Amy's blog: Walking on the Wild Side

Gobble, Gobble...Kate and Tracy

San Gabriel River Hot Spot Training

2011-11-22T15:00:00.000-07:00

Glendora, CA -

Earlier this week, Team West facilitated Leave No Trace educational trainings for the staff and volunteers who patrol and educate the general public on the San Gabriel River and in the mountains of the Angeles National Forest of southern California.

The San Gabriel river is located one hour east of Los Angeles, California and is enjoyed by tens of thousands of visitors (see photo above) over the busiest weekends of the year. The primary partner awarded the Hot Spot grant is the West Fork San Gabriel River Conservancy who will be working closely with the Center for Outdoor Ethics to educate the public about enjoying this area responsibly so it can be preserved for future generations of outdoor recreation enthusiasts.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Hanging a Bear Bag

2011-11-22T13:45:00.002-07:00

Bears are opportunistic omnivores who follow their nose to the next meal. This skill has kept them fed, but it has also resulted in "problem bears," or bears that associate humans with food. Once this association has been made, a bear is generally doomed. Most land managers give a bear two chances to reform, after that it is destroyed if it comes into someone's camp looking for a handout.

Bears are not cuddly, harmless pets. They have killed and mauled humans, sometimes without an understandable cause. But often the hype surrounding a bear attack overshadows reality. According to bear expert Steven Herrero, there were fewer than 200 grizzly-related injuries to humans between 1900 and 1980, with only 14 deaths. Black bear attacks are more common, but of the 500 people attacked by black bears between 1960 and 1980, 90 percent of the injuries were considered minor. The number of bears killed in those same time periods is unknown, but hundreds, if not thousands of bears that have lost their lives over the years because they couldn't get along with their human neighbors.

Hang food from tree limbs 12 feet off the ground, 6 feet from the tree’s trunk, and 6 feet below the supporting limb, or store it in specially designed bear-resistant canisters or on-site lockers. Canisters are available for rent and sale at sporting goods suppliers and some land management agencies. Hanging food can be tricky, so practice hanging techniques before venturing into the backcountry and allow yourself plenty of time before dark to get set up.

In order to properly hang a bear bag, there are a few necessary pieces of equipment:

1. 100’ of rope or parachute cord
2. 1-2 carabiners
3. stuff sack large enough for all food, trash and smellables (soap, bug spray, toothpaste, etc.)

The ideal site for a bear bag hang is a minimum of 100’ from your campsite (in grizzly country, consider placing your hang 300’ from your camp to be safe). Once far enough from camp, you’ll need to locate a suitable tree from which to hang your bag. Sometimes a single tree will have the perfect branch from which you can hang your bag (12’ up and 6’ out from the trunk or nearest branch). In this case, you simply need to attach something weighted to the end of your rope or cord. A rock can work well but you must be cautious when throwing rocks over tree branches, making sure to keep all group members at s safe distance and having a spotter to ensure no one (especially the thrower) gets hit by the flying rock. Another option is to use an old sock filled with gravel, small stones or a single rock. A sock can also be easier to attach to the end of the rope. If you can locate a single tree branch to meet your needs, all you do is throw the rope over the branch, ensure that it’s 12’ up and 6’ out, attach your bag to the rope with a carabiner then hoist your bag to the desired height and then tie the bag off on the nearest suitable anchor (rock, tree, etc.). In many areas finding the perfect tree for a single-branch hang is challenging. More often than not you’ll have to do a “two-tree” hang meaning you’ll have to use two shorter branches on two different trees. This is most easily accomplished by throwing the rope (weighted of course) over one branch on one tree then throwing the other end over the branch of another tree, and then attaching your bag to the center of the line. Have a helper pull on one end of the rope while you pull on the other, raising the bag until it reaches the magic 12’ and 6’. You might have to dig deep into your 8th grade geometry knowledge to get the right proportions but with a bit of forethought, you’ll eventually get it right.

Hanging a bear bag is far from an exact science and requires a lot of practice. Ideally, you’d try a few bear bag hangs in the backyard or at a local park before heading out into the woods. “Learning” how to hang a bear bag at the end of a long day, in the fading daylight, can be an exercise in frustration. Therefore, be sure to practice this skill so that you can do it right the first time when in the field. Also, choosing a bear bag site and getting the ropes hung should be a priority when you first arrive at your campsite. By properly storing all of your food, trash and smellables, you’ll ensure both a good nights sleep and a natural diet for bears.

Photo of the Week 11.22.11

2011-11-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the images depicted on state flags need a bit of interpretation. Arizona? No explanation needed. Take a look.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Green Lakes State Park

2011-11-21T10:26:00.001-07:00

Fayetteville, NY. On Friday, an extended training lent itself to a hike that explored a plethora of teachable moments. Green Lakes State Park has a trail system, a disc golf course, an eighteen hole golf course, a playground, and an abundance of picnic tables. All of these factors combined amounts to a front country area that is heavily impacted during times of high use. Along our hike, we were able to talk about picking up microtrash, cleaning up after our pets, invasive species, and traveling on durable surfaces, particularly staying in the middle of a trail even when it's muddy.

Two of the most distinguishing features of the park, are Green Lake and Round Lake. Both Round and Green Lakes are meromictic lakes, which means that there is no fall and spring mixing of surface and bottom waters. Such lakes have a high potential for evidence of ancient plant and animal life. Round Lake has been registered as a National Historic Landmark. When you come upon these lakes, there is no question about how Green Lake received it's name! If you are ever in the Central New York, be sure to make time to recreate in this gorgeous state park.

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

How do you like your Crust?

2011-11-20T17:45:00.001-07:00

Thick, thin, stuffed, or Cryptobiotic?

Mark and Tara

YVCA of Southern Arizona

2011-11-19T16:22:00.001-07:00

Yesterday and today the e-tour joined the Youth Volunteer Corps of America's Southern Arizona group. Through educational workshops and some down and dirty desert clean up we explored the importance of Leave No Trace in the sensitive desert environment.

Along with staffers from all parts of the country and some dedicated, caring local youth this organization serves its community through a variety of means. Whether helping repair low income housing units, painting murals where venomous graffiti once reigned, or pitching in to collect litter their projects benefit all involved. During our visit the staff broadened their knowledge and practice of getting the messages of the Seven Principles into the hands, hearts and habits of the youth they serve.

Tucson Mountain Park and it's saguaro nation standing at attention proved itself a perfect location for learning and understanding the importance of enjoying the outdoors responsibly.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Picture of the Week 11/18/11

2011-11-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

An Oasis in the Desert

Borrego Palm Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Outdoor Adventures in San Diego

2011-11-17T12:04:00.001-07:00

San Diego, CA - We spent this week in San Diego working with Outdoor Outreach and the Great Escapes program at Point Loma Nazarene University. Both programs take students on amazing outdoor adventures in the San Diego area and beyond.

Outdoor Outreach is a non-profit organization that serves at-risk and underprivileged youth through a variety of outdoor programs. Our first visit of the week was to KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy, where we introduced sixteen 7th and 8th grade boys to the basics of Leave No Trace. We followed this up with workshops with each of the Adventure Clubs that Outdoor Outreach has formed and facilitated in three San Diego High Schools: Crawford, Lincoln, and El Cajon Valley. Students participating in Adventure Club meet weekly after school to plan their trips and to participate in enrichment activities such as first-aid training, yoga, and Leave No Trace. The students also take part in environmental stewardship projects, such as beach clean-ups, and participate in monthly outdoor trips, which include rock climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding, and overnight trips to Joshua Tree National Park. We introduced the Adventure Club members to the basics of Leave No Trace through a variety of interactive activities.

We completed our time in San Diego with a workshop for the leaders of the Great Escapes outdoor program at Point Loma Nazarene University. Nine leaders joined us to learn more about effectively communicating Leave No Trace. We introduced these motivated college students to the Authority of the Resource Technique and gave the students an opportunity to practice the technique through a series of skits.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

The Bigfoot Challenge is Rolling!

2011-11-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

November's in full swing and now's the time to take the Bigfoot Challenge!

Hop on board with one of Bigfoot's three November challenges and support Leave No Trace by doing one (or more) of the following:

1. Like Grand Trunk on Facebook! For every "like" from a Leave No Trace follower, Grand Trunk will donate $1 to Leave No Trace!

2. Clean out your closet and donate to Leave No Trace! The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is holding an auction on ebay. Sell your old stuff and donate a portion of your earnings to Leave No Trace!

3. Take a hike! Get together with people you care about, go someplace you care about, discuss and practice one or more of the seven principles of Leave No Trace.

This month's challenge brought to you by Grand Trunk. Thanks to our sponsor for supporting the Bigfoot Challenge and to you for pledging to Leave No Trace!

Where will your Leave No Trace shirt be going?

2011-11-17T07:00:00.001-07:00

Taking an adventure?

Wear your Leave No Trace shirt and post a photo on our Facebook page to share the places it went.

Shown above: Leave No Trace Development & Membership Coordinator, Dean Ronzoni, getting his pump on at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.

Authority of the Resource Technique In Action

2011-11-16T09:23:00.001-07:00

Pickens County, SC. While hiking at Table Rock State Park in South Carolina, we came across this signage at the trailhead. This sign does a great job of not only citing the expectations the rangers have for pet owners in the park, but it also explains the "whys" behind the regulations. By educating visitors about why certain rules and regulations are in place allows the visitors to make more sound and responsible decisions while enjoying the parks resources. This is an effective use of the Authority of the Resource Technique, a concept developed by a man named Dr. George N Wallace. To learn more about this technique you can take a Leave No Trace Trainer Course or read the article by clicking here.
Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington

2011-11-15T19:29:00.001-07:00

Medford, OR - On Saturday, 35 Girl Scouts, leaders, and parents chose to spend part of their day learning more about Leave No Trace. We explored the 7 principles of Leave No Trace through several activities including What Principle Am I? & Minimum Impact Match. Both of these activities can be found in the Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids (PEAK) pack, which is a great resource for scout leaders wanting to educate their troops about Leave No Trace in a fun and interactive way.

The scouts also put their artistic skills to use and made awesome posters illustrating the seven principles of Leave No Trace.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

October Bigfoot Challenge Winners!

2011-11-15T10:53:00.005-07:00

October has come and gone, and the Bigfoot Challenge has new winners! Congratulations to the winners of the October Bigfoot Challenge, sponsored by Keen!

Our first winner is Patrick Joyce from Belleville, IL. Patrick writes:

"I am the Scoutmaster for the boys of Troop 13 out of Faith Lutheran Church, in O'Fallon, Illinois. We camp quite a bit and are starting to hike more as the boys' skills improve. I began to learn Leave No Trace ethics from my parents in Colorado, who taught me to leave a site better than I found it. My knowledge grew when I worked for the National Park Servce as a Ranger. In October I completed the Master Educator program in Sprinfield, Illimois. I hope to teach young men and women to enjoy the outdoors, while minimizing their impact so others can do the same.

Bigfoot...(t)hanks for your hard work. The scouts of our Troop plan on meeting you sometime when we are hiking.

Patrick Joyce

I am the Chief Goofball on the far right of the...picture."

Our next winner is Tanya Jacobs from Leavenworth, KS. Tanya writes:

"Hello my name is Tanya Jacobs and I am from Leavenworth Kansas. I am currently involved with Leave No Trace since my husband is a Leave No Trace Trainer for Boy Scouts and does a large amount of training. Many of the things that I hear him talk about I take with me into my everyday life and share with other youth. Since I am a teacher I try to influence the children that are not in scouts and promote how to help protect things that we don't own, and how to keep these area around for others to see.

I signed up to help promote some Leave No Trace over Halloween because in years past I would watch my husband walk around picking up the empty candy wrappers that kids would leave behind. So I tasked my self to see if I could change some of that. Would I stop everyone? No, but if I could get one child to think before they threw it on the ground or in the ditch I think I would have done my job. Well I got my class involved and had them pick up candy wrappers from the ground and we talked about it that Tuesday on how much they picked up. I hope that with this little effort that one or two of the kids will take this home and talk about it.

Tanya Jacobs"

Thank you Patrick and Tanya for your Leave No Trace stories! Thank you to everyone who took the Bigfoot Challenge in October! And, of course, thank you to October's sponsor Keen!

The November Bigfoot Challenge is up and roaring, check out Bigfoot's page to pledge today!

Photo of the Week 11.15.11

2011-11-15T08:35:00.000-07:00

Bighorn Sheep, near Willow Beach, AZ.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Tara and Mark

Montreat College Embraces Leave No Trace

2011-11-14T16:56:00.002-07:00

Outdoor Living Skills Class

Montreat, NC. Traveling Trainers have had the pleasure of providing awareness workshops at Montreat College for a few consecutive years. This year was no exception as we spent four days on their mountainous campus which is complete with its own challenging trail system. We had the opportunity to work with students from both the Outdoor Living Skills and Survey of Outdoor Education classes. Each class was filled with enthusiastic participants that were eager to learn about and discuss not only the 7 Leave No Trace principles, but also the ethics that accompany the program. A special thank you to Andrew Bobilya and Ken Kalisch for providing future outdoor educators with a strong foundation of outdoor ethics.

Additionally, we also got to facilitate our 27th trainer course during the visit! Five students from the outdoor education program dedicated their weekend to a backpacking Leave No Trace adventure. We hiked along the Lookout Trail towards Buck Gap Shelter, where we would spend the night under the stars discussing ways to incorporate the Leave No Trace skills and ethics into all of their future outings.

Below, enjoy a slideshow from the course:

Thank you Bubbling Brook, Rapids, Mountain, Tree, and Changing Seasons for a memorable course!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 11/11/11

2011-11-14T16:13:00.003-07:00

Pinnacle Trail, Table Rock State Park, SC

Nature's Bathtub...

2011-11-13T18:01:00.000-07:00

...Minus the soap:) One of the e-tour's favorite ways to spend time between events is to search out some hot springs and soak for a while. Here are photos from our latest pursuit. We'll let you figure out where these were taken and allow you the thrill of discovery too.

As with any trip to a new venue, be sure to do thorough research and 'Know Before You Go'. Talk to the locals, make new friends and always leave the area better than you found it. We call it our "five minute service project". Being a steward to the places you visit is easy. Whether you go there only once, or have been a million times, you can always make a positive impact.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Team West Goes Back To School

2011-11-10T16:28:00.002-07:00

Cave Junction, Oregon -

This week Team west has been traveling through southern Oregon and visiting with students to talk more about enjoying the outdoors responsibly. One of the many topics discussed has been the elusive nature of Bigfoot and how kids can learn more about the seven program principles while they participate in the Bigfoot Challenge online.

Above we see a few first graders excitedly offering their own ideas about taking care of nature and remembering to play safely and respectfully while enjoying their favorite outdoor activities!

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Kid's Kamp

2011-11-09T11:06:00.000-07:00

When we met the children at KOA Kid's Kamp we knew we had some camping experts on our hands. Imagine the schooling you'd get spending your summers growing up immersed in the culture of camping. We taught the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace through an intense game of charades and showcased some artistic talents as the youth drew out their ideas about recreating responsibly.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Thank you, Liz!

2011-11-09T10:24:00.004-07:00

A big shout out to our Leave No Trace California State Advocate, Liz Williams, who represented Leave No Trace at The North Face Speaker Series in San Francisco last night. Thank you for all that you do for Leave No Trace.. we appreciate you!

Connect with your Leave No Trace State Advocate here and get involved locally!

If It's FREE, It's for ME!

2011-11-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

Kate and Tracy visit their 40th National Park

USA. The time has come on this upcoming Veterans Day weekend for the Free Entrance Days in the National Parks. That's right-FREE! November 10-12 marks the last set of FEE-FREE days at National Parks in 2011.

Kate's family visits the Grand Canyon

Grab your family, grab your friends, and find a National Park in your neck of the woods. Hike, paddle, camp, or bike your way through this Veterans Day weekend!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Kamp Green Clean Up!

2011-11-07T18:30:00.002-07:00

Yesterday we joined over 100 dedicated volunteers at KOA's Kamp Green Community Partnership Event. Participants helped to clean up a section of Bureau of Land Management property which many are hoping becomes Tule Springs Ice Age Park.

Rich in paleontological diversity, the area had become a victim of littering and illegal dumping. Check out the Tule Spring's website and show your support to protect the land and resources that lie beneath the surface.

Find an opportunity to join a service project on your next trip. It's a fun way to gain local knowledge and meet new people.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

BAM! at AEE

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

Kate points out the Leave No Trace logo at the International AEE Conference

Jacksonville, FL. The 39th Annual International Association for Experiential Education Conference took place this past weekend in Jacksonville, FL. This conference brings together over 600 outdoor professionals to collaborate, network, learn, and teach about empowering individuals through experiential learning opportunities. The theme of the conference was crossing, building, and being bridges. Ultimately experiential education is a bridge between the content of learning (math, science, social science, humanities, history, etc) and activities to make the learning real, relevant, and part of the student's experience. Taken further, it is a bridge between these activities and a learner's opportunity to learn about themselves-their power and connection to a larger community. And beyond, it is about taking these activities and helping the individual see their role in making the world a more just and compassionate place.

We had the opportunity to present a 90 minute workshop on ways to incorporate Leave No Trace into educational programs. The workshop provided a platform for discussing the importance of using hands-on, interactive lessons when teaching Leave No Trace and how critical it is to explain the how's and why's behind the skills and practices of Leave No Trace. By utilizing these strategies, students can develop their own outdoor ethic and make sound decisions in the out of doors that will preserve and protect the quality of the resource. BAM!

Next stop...Montreat College!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Lasting Impacts:

2011-11-05T17:25:00.001-06:00

Conditions in desert environments are extreme, especially when considering the scarcity of moisture. We mentioned in our last blog that litter items left out to their own devices last an incredibly long time, even 'natural' items such newspaper or fruit peels. We often teach students the ingredients for good decomposition. Sunlight, soil, moisture and air, it's in everything we eat and everything we wear. Knowing this and the sensitivity of such specialized ecosystems, all the better to Leave No Trace.

These photos are just a few of the impacts we've seen during our desert travels.

Leaving your mark is overrated.

Tara and Mark

Green Girls!

2011-11-03T16:53:00.001-06:00

Tuesday we spent some quality time with Girl Scouts in La Quinta, CA. With placid Lake Cahuilla as a backdrop we discussed how long litter might last if it were left there to decompose. These young ladies were quick to realize that in their community, a desert ecosystem, items last significantly longer than in an environment where more moisture is present. Learning to 'Trash Your Trash' is paramount everywhere, but in dry places even items like newspaper and toilet paper can last years!

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Climber's Coffee

2011-11-02T21:40:00.001-06:00

Over the weekend the e-tour spent a perfect sunny Saturday morning with campers and climbers at Hidden Valley Campground in Joshua Tree National Park. Caffeine fueled conversation concerning climber ethics was a perfect prelude to people's day out on the rock. This place certifies itself as a veritable climbing mecca, where both complimentary coffee and multiple routes are merely steps from your tent. On hand was Ranger Bernadette Regan, dishing out advice on where to find climbs away from the crowds or for specific skill levels. A cup of joe and advice from a pro, what better way to 'Know Before You Go'?!

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Educating Youth at Crooked River State Park

2011-11-02T16:39:00.000-06:00

What gear should you bring on a day hike at Crooked River State Park to help you Leave No Trace?

Crooked River State Park, GA. After spending a few glorious days backpacking along Cumberland Island National Seashore, Team East moved inland a few miles to Crooked River State Park for an evening of car camping, a nice hot shower (which was needed after hiking and playing in the sand for days), and a little time to regroup before our evening awareness workshop.

With so many bugs also enjoying the park that night, we decided to host the workshop inside the group shelter and spare everyone a few itchy bites. More than 40 excited boy and girl scouts, along with their parents, came to the park to learn more about ways they can leave no trace when they are out with their scout troops. The group learned a lot as we explored the seven principles of Leave No Trace through various activities including What Principle Am I? and How Long Does It Last? from the PEAK Pack. The PEAK Program, Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids, is an ideal resource for scout leaders to use while educating their troops about Leave No Trace. It allows the children to explore the ideas of leave no trace in a fun and interactive way. Another great resource is the book 101 Ways to Teach Leave No Trace. Check them out in the store!

The Hunt for e-tour Team 2012

2011-11-02T13:29:00.011-06:00

APPLICANTS WANTED!
LEAVE NO TRACE TRAVELING TRAINER JOB OPENING

Are you interested in one of the premier outdoor jobs in the industry? Do you have a passion for teaching and working with youth? Are you looking to work with a friend or a significant other? If you answered YES to these questions then we have the job for you! The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is seeking a dedicated, savvy, dynamic team of educators (only teams of two are accepted as applicants) for a seasonal traveling position.

The Leave No Trace e-tour team, sponsored by the Coleman Company, The North Face and Subaru, brings hands-on Leave No Trace demonstrations, interactive activities and general Leave No Trace education to schools, camps and youth-serving organizations from February through July. The e-tour team promotes Leave No Trace information to kids and families. The e-tour provides basic Leave No Trace education programs that inspire youth to get outside while promoting responsible enjoyment of the outdoors.

Click here for the full job posting.

What YOU can do in YOUR community

2011-11-02T11:49:00.002-06:00

Every day we hear from people wanting to volunteer for Leave No Trace and last month, we challenged you to help make this happen by putting on your gloves, picking up your shovels and teaching people about Leave No Trace at community service projects in your area.

Several people have taken the initiative. Libby Dunn of Florida attended the Great Suwanee River Clean-Up and educated 39 individuals who each volunteered 4 hours of trash and invasive species removal. Then there’s Mike McHugh of Colorado who introduced Leave No Trace to 76 youth, each contributing 6 hours of volunteerism at the Eldorado Canyon State Park Adopt-a-Crag event.

Because of dedicated and hardworking folks like Libby and Mike, the center is proud to report that, since our Call to Action last month, Leave No Trace volunteers have attended over 20 community service events. These efforts have provided Leave No Trace education to 725 individuals contributing almost 5000 man-hours of trail reclamation, invasive species removal and river clean-ups in their communities.

We still have more work ahead of us and your valuable assistance is needed in 2 key ways:

1. Identify and attend outdoor and environmental events in your community and offer a 5-30 minute introduction to Leave No Trace concepts. Whether this is with a small crew at a trailhead on a trail-related service project, with volunteers at a river clean up, a youth event or with a group of multi-day backpackers, we’d like you to locate opportunities in your area (preferably in a natural setting) to help spread Leave No Trace skills and ethics. Tell us about it!

2. Mobilize your network of Leave No Trace supporters, youth groups, schools or others to organize your own outing at a trailhead. Provide a 20-minute introduction to Leave No Trace and then hit the trail with trash bags and gloves for an easy clean up. Look for “teachable moments” along the way. Tell us about it!

For more information, ideas and/or support from the Center, please call us at 303.442.8222 or email jason@LNT.org

Science Behind the Skills

2011-11-02T11:30:00.005-06:00

Have you ever been asked any of the following questions and didn’t know the answer?

• “Why do I have to wash my dishes 200 feet away from water sources?”
• “Does Leave No Trace change visitor behavior?”
• “Why should I not cut the switchbacks on the trail?”
• “Do resource conditions improve over time because of Leave No Trace?”
• “Why do I have to hang my food in bear country?”
• “How long does it take an apple core to decompose?”

If your answer is yes, you’re not alone. While the seven Leave No Trace principles are fairly straightforward and simple, the science behind them is esoteric and often difficult to find. When the Leave No Trace program was started, there was minimal science to back up the recommendations. However, as the program has matured and grown, so too has the body of science that reinforces the seven Principles.

The fields of science that the Leave No Trace program most heavily relies on are:
1) Recreation Ecology – the study of recreation-caused impacts, which looks at ways those impacts can be reduced by land managers and recreationists; and 2) Human Dimensions of Natural Resources – the study of visitor perceptions, beliefs, attitudes and behaviors, and gives insight on how to promote long-term behavioral change and adoption of best practices. Scientists who are associated with universities and colleges or in some cases, individual agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Geologic Survey or the National Park Service, carry out Leave No Trace-related research.

Over the years, many studies have been conducted to look deeper into various aspects of the Leave No Trace program, which continue to yield improved information and understanding of both outdoor enthusiasts behavior and the associated impacts. This allows for the dissemination of the most up-to-date techniques for minimizing recreation-related impacts and provides guidance for dissemination of Leave No Trace information to the recreating public. Some titles of Leave No Trace-related research include:

• Disturbance of natural vegetation by camping: experimental applications of low-level stress.
• Backcountry Visitors’ Leave No Trace Attitudes
• Recreation impacts and management in Wilderness: A state-of-knowledge review.
• Communicating Leave No Trace Ethics and Practices: Efficacy of Two-Day Trainer Courses
• The fate of feces and fecal microorganisms in human waste smeared on rocks in an arid environment and its impact on public health.
• Recreational trampling experiments: effects of trampler weight and shoe type.
• Recreation impacts in some riparian forests of the Eastern United States.
• Frontcountry Leave No Trace Program Evaluation: outdoor education, litter, dogs and behavioral change.
• A project to survey visitor behavior and receptivity regarding proper disposal of human waste in the Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado.

For more information or to obtain copies of any of the research projects mentioned above check out the research section of the Center’s website, which is perhaps the most comprehensive listing of Leave No Trace-related research available on the web: http://lnt.org/training/lntrelatedresearch.php

Consider visiting the following websites for additional research findings:

• http://www.wilderness.net
• http://www.scholar.google.com/

Now the next time someone ask you why a particular Leave No Trace recommendation is made, you’ll have the answer or at least know where to look for it!

-Ben Lawhon

November: The Bigfoot Challenge

2011-11-01T10:00:00.002-06:00

November is a month of change and the Bigfoot Challenge is no exception! New challenges have been posted so it's time to get out there Leave No Trace! The November Bigfoot Challenge is sponsored by Grand Trunk!

The first challenge for this month is to organize a family, friend, or neighborhood hike. Go outside, have some fun, and talk about one or more of the seven principles of Leave No Trace. While on your hike, discuss how these principles can be applied to your current adventure!

The second challenge asks you for a double-whammy - clean out your closet AND help the Leave No Trace center for Outdoor Ethics! Starting on November 10th, Leave No Trace is putting on an auction to raise funds for our educational efforts! Clean out your garage/closets/attic, list your items on Ebay's Giving Works and select Leave No Trace as your cause! Select the portion of proceeds you would like to donate to Leave No Trace and help us continue teaching people the importance of Leave No Trace. Please support Leave No Trace any way you can!

The third challenge for the month is simple and effective - like Grand Trunk on Facebook and for every new "like" they receive during the month of November, they will donate $1 to Leave No Trace! Click the link above to check out Grand Trunk's Facebook page and help support Leave No Trace!

Thank you again to this month's sponsor, Grand Trunk! Every pledge to take a challenge will give you an opportunity to win a great prize from Grand Trunk. Find out more about the Bigfoot Challenge and check out this month's calendar of events at the Bigfoot Challenge page!

Education in Motion: Where to find the Traveling Trainers in NOVEMBER

2011-11-01T08:00:00.003-06:00

The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, as well as the Leave No Trace e-tour Team are conducting the following training events across the country in November. For more information about these or to attend, visit their calendars. We hope to see you on the road!

Team East November Calendar
Team West November Calendar
E-tour November Calendar

Arizona:

REI - Paradise Valley
REI - Tucson
Youth Now Collaboration AmeriCorps - Tucson
Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona - Tucson

California:

San Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument - Palm Desert
Living Desert Reserve - Palm Desesrt
Boy Scoot Troop 772 - Dana Point
San Gabriel River Hot Spot - Glendora
Environmental Nature Center - Newport Beach
Crossroad School for the Arts & Science - Santa Monica
Outdoor Outreach - San Diego
Point Loma Outdoor Education - San Diego

Florida:

Association for Experiential Education International Conference - Jacksonville

Kentucky:

Jellystone Parks Tradeshow - Covington

Nevada:

KOA Convention - Las Vegas

New Mexico:

San Juan College - Farmington
Mosaic Academy - Farmington

New York:

Green Lakes State Park - Fayetteville

North Carolina:

Montreat College - Montreat

Oregon:

Oregon Caves National Monument - Cave Junction
Madrona Elementary School - Grants Pass
Rogue River Elementary School - Rogue River
Evergreen Elementary School - Cave Junction
Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington - Medford

Do you want the Traveling Teams to come to your town? We are currently accepting event requests online for 2012.

NOTE: You MUST request an event by December 1st for the 2012 January - June window.

5th Graders in Central Oregon Get Creative on Halloween Day

2011-11-01T05:00:00.000-06:00

Leave What You Find by Megan

Redmond, OR - On Halloween Day, thinking about things other than candy and costumes is quite the task, especially if you're ten, but the 5th graders of Tom McCall Elementary School were excited to learn about Leave No Trace.

Be Careful With Fire by Aaliah

We decided to draw on the students' creative sides and have them illustrate what they learned about the 7 Leave No Trace Principles. Each student chose a principle to focus on and we've shared three of the drawings here.

Respect Wildlife by Garrett

We also visited three classes of high school students at Redmond Proficiency Academy, a unique charter school that serves ninth through twelfth grade students who desire a more interest-based or self-designed course of study, or who seek an accelerated course of study, or desire a non-seat time based schedule to meet their personal needs.

Trick or Treat,

Agata and Jason

Fall Fishing

2011-10-31T09:58:00.004-06:00

Well, it's that time of year. Big fish are on the move, and when you find them it can be magical. I fished yesterday and managed to hook into a very nice brown trout...

When fly fishing, it's easy to create quite a bit of micro trash - spent split shot, small pieces of tippet, etc. It can be challenging to keep up with all of this stuff. However, there's a nifty little product that I've recently been turned onto that makes keeping up with all of this micro trash a cinch. The Piopod Microtrash container from Fishpond. If you're an avid angler, and you don't already have a solution for your microtrash, check out this nifty little gadget.

Photo of the Week 10.30.11

2011-10-30T11:26:00.000-06:00

Cholla Cactus Garden at Joshua Tree National Park.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Picture of the Week 10/28/11: Caption Contest!

2011-10-28T08:21:00.000-06:00

Caption Contest: How would you title this photo?

The Air of Angels

2011-10-27T10:00:00.000-06:00

Last week we continued working with local college students at both Lake Tahoe Community College and Sierra Nevada College. With programs dedicated to experiential outdoor learning it was a perfect setting to get a pulse of the student vibe regarding responsible recreation.

Over the weekend e-tour broke their bikes out of storage and hit the trail for some mountain bliss. With cooler temperatures, leaves changing, and recent precipitation keeping the dust at bay, better conditions could not have been found. Although sections of the Tahoe Rim Trail and Flume Trail are multi-use we found users' eager to 'Be Considerate of Other Visitors'. A good thing too, as hikers and bikers here can attest, the Flume Trail is quite narrow with a precipitous drop off toward the lake below.

See you in SoCal!

Mark and Tara

Leave No Trace in the San Juan Islands

2011-10-27T05:00:00.000-06:00

Lopez Island - San Juan Islands, WA

Sometimes it's not how many students are in a classroom that matters, but instead what they do with the information they have learned that counts most. Last weekend Team West was fortunate enough to share outdoor ethics educational programs with members of the Lopez Island community who directly work with the general public across a variety of environments.

In attendance were representatives from the Bureau of Land Management (Spokane District), San Juan County Land Bank, Lopez Island Conservation Corp, Washington State Parks (Spencer Spit State Park), and Whispers of Nature.

The photo above catches up with our crew on the beach talking through a few of the teachable moments that Leave No Trace speaks to with respect, science, and a little common sense.

Many thanks to our friends Nick and Susie Teague for hosting Leave No Trace and introducing us to so many fellow educators and outdoor enthusiasts!

All the best,

Jason and Agata

September Bigfoot Challenge Winners

2011-10-26T11:12:00.003-06:00

Every month Leave No Trace hosts the Bigfoot Challenge, a set of challenges that ask people to practice Leave No Trace principles at their local places of outdoor recreation. September was sponsored by our friend and partner Clif Bar! This month, the challenges were:

- This Labor Day weekend cook a meal outside with your family and practice Leave No Trace techniques in your own backyard!

- Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper in support of a local environmental issue.

- Plan ahead and prepare for next summer's adventures with friends and family by scheduling a trip and writing an itinerary.

Our first winner for the month is Tina Jackson from Calhoun, Georgia. When asked about her Leave No Trace experience, she writes:

"My name is Tina Jackson from Calhoun, Ga. I am an 8th grade social studies teacher at Calhoun Middle School. I have recently started an Outdoorsmen club at our school. I first became involved with Leave No Trace through Boy Scouts of America. My hardest concept for my students to implement is leave what you find. It is hard for them not to bring something back from our trips- we strongly encourage pictures."

Our second winner was Mrs. Rebecca Gillespie from Livonia, MI. Rebecca writes:

"I want to leave this earth a little better than I found it. I feel (the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics) can really help foster the community activism required to educate & promote good environmental awareness. It is difficult for the majority of the public to understand the earth is our gift, not out right. We have a duty to care for it.

"I feel the public at large needs more awareness. (I)f everyone felt compelled to Leave No Trace our urban areas would be greener, our parks would be preserved for future generations, and all people would have a feeling of responsibility toward keeping our world as it was meant to be.

"Leave No Trace has a simplistic, resonating message. It leaves no questioning as to what the purpose is of the organization. Its message crosses all boundaries - age, nationality, etc. I feel children, before they become prejudiced or feel entitled, are blank canvases we can paint a Leave No Trace picture on. They ultimately can carry on the legacy. Simply, stop, look around you & make a difference. Life is so fast, slow down & enjoy the gifts you've been given in the world."

Thank you Tina and Rebecca for sharing your stories! Thank you to our sponsor, Clif Bar for sponsoring the September Bigfoot Challenge! And finally, thank you to everyone who took the Bigfoot Challenge this month!

There's still time to take the Bigfoot Challenge for October, specifically a very special Halloween challenge and a BIG gift card from Keen for those who become members of Leave No Trace before the end of the month. Take the challenge and be like Bigfoot - Leave No Trace!

Explore Your Parks: California

2011-10-26T11:04:00.001-06:00

This past Friday the e-tour wrapped up the Explore Your Parks 2011 series made possible by The North Face, Good Solutions Group and Angel Island State Park. A perfect setting to teach local school children, Angel Island easily illustrated the importance of learning to 'Trash Your Trash'. With the waves lapping nearby it became very apparent where any loose litter would end up. The groups were also treated to a ranger led interpretive tour of the immigration station, a defining piece of American history. Warm sun and calm seas made for a fair weather ferry ride where onlookers soaked in visits from harbor seals, porpoises, cormorants, pelicans, and terns. Certainly a field trip to remember!

Be intentional, not conventional.

Tara and Mark

Stick 'Em Up!

2011-10-26T08:00:00.001-06:00

Bigfoot Warns: Take My Challenge!

With bubble gun in hand, Bigfoot "threatens" all outdoor enthusiasts to spend two minutes taking The Bigfoot Challenge. The end of October is right around the corner, so time is running out to win quality product from KEEN Here are this month's challenges:

On Halloween pick up 1 stray candy wrapper for every year of your age, challenge your friends to do the same.
Download a free PEAK activity from the Leave No Trace website and volunteer to teach a 15-25 minute segment to kids at a local school or youth group. Downloadable PEAK activities can be found at the bottom left of the webpage:
Take back 15 minutes of your day and just go outside! Grab a friend and take the 15 minute Keen Recess Pledge! After recess, try to leave your “playground” in better condition than you found it.
Score a $150 gift card toward Keen gear by becoming a Leave No Trace member at the Wanderer level ($171.60

If one of these simple tasks is jumping out at you as easily achievable, then take the challenge and become a steward of the land. Yes, it is that easy!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Photo of the Week 10.24.11

2011-10-24T10:39:00.002-06:00

Back home in Lake Tahoe, Mark cannot resist a quick mid-Fall dip.

Tara and Mark

Le Petite Roche

2011-10-24T09:13:00.002-06:00

Little Rock, AR. It was a whirlwind tour through Central Arkansas. We had many successful events in both Little Rock and North Little Rock, working with the Parks and Recreation Departments, local boy scout troops, and volunteers of the Arkansas River Trail. We were fortunate to meet the mayor of North Little Rock, Patrick Henry Hays, who attended our Backyard Session, held at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, and our awareness workshop at Burns Park in North Little Rock.
We woke before dawn to speak on Daybreak, the early morning news in Little Rock. Click here to see our video clip of that interview.
To end the weekend, we traveled to Damascus, AR to be guest presenters at the Quapaw Area Council Leave No Trace Trainer Course held at the state of the art Donald W. Reynolds Training Center on the Blass Scout Reservation. We want to thank all of the Leave No Trace Master Educators of the Quapaw Council for their hard work in training and educating the scouts and leaders of Central Arkansas in Leave No Trace. You guys rock!
With so many events in the area, it was no surprise that Bigfoot joined in on the fun. Check out some of the photos above.
One final thank you to Rob Stephens for being a stellar event host! We look forward to returning to Central Arkansas for future events.
Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Calling All Arkansas Leave No Tracers!

2011-10-19T08:04:00.000-06:00

Rollin and Strollin on the Arkansas River Trail

Little Rock Arkansas. The Traveling Trainers will be providing four chock-full days of outreach in Central Arkansas. Prominent Boy Scouts of America Council Advocate and Leave No Trace Master Educator, Rob Stephens, has worked diligently on the logistics for each of the upcoming events. We will be providing awareness workshops, facilitating a Leave No Trace Backyard Session, setting up a booth for trailhead outreach (at both Pinnacle Mountain State Park and The Big Dam Bridge) , running in A Race For the Cure 5K, and even making an appearance on the local news on Friday morning! For more information on times and dates, click here for the specifics of Team East's schedule. If you live in the area, we'd love to see you at one of our events!
Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

The North Face Speaker Series Features Ingrid Backstrom

2011-10-18T11:02:00.001-06:00

Seattle, Washington - Last week Team West was in the Pacific Northwest with local legend Ingrid Backstrom and Leave No Trace partner The North Face. Ingrid spoke in Olympia and Seattle on consecutive evenings about her inspirations and adventures as one of the top all mountain skiers in the world.

In the photo above a few members of the team from The North Face, Alpine Experience, and Leave No Trace get together before the speaker series kicks off in Olympia, Washington!

What makes events like The North Face Speaker Series unique is the opportunity for outdoor recreation enthusiasts of all ages to access and enjoy the "stoke" alongside the athletes who are members of The North Face team! Ingrid's accomplishments and accolades are only eclipsed by her humility and indefatigably positive attitude throughout all her adventures.

Stay tuned to the upcoming calendar with The North Face Speaker Series in your area to connect with an event that will make your year and get you stoked to get into the mountains!

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe

2011-10-18T06:00:00.000-06:00

Yesterday afternoon the e-tour visited the Boys and Girls Club in South Lake Tahoe, CA. Although we've been living out of Big Blue, our e-tour Subaru, Tahoe is where we feel at home. Educating youth in our own community is a supremely rewarding experience. We focused on two issues here by the Lake; the importance of meadow habitats, and the impacts associated with user created side trails, and worked them into several spirited games of 'Step On It'.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Tara and Mark

We're Not in Kansas Anymore...

2011-10-17T13:49:00.001-06:00

...but last week the e-tour stopped in to visit their title partner The Coleman Company in Wichita. Getting to show the folks at Coleman a snapshot of what they make possible for us on the road was a real treat. We joined employees for a barbeque and had candid conversation about life as the e-tour team. Strolling the humming factory floor we could not help but imagine the millions of camping memories being crafted there before us. It reaffirmed the importance of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. We hope that the faithful owners of this camping gear will enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Thank You Coleman.

Mark and Tara
e-tour team

The North Face Cares

2011-10-17T11:43:00.000-06:00

Pine Mountain, GA. This weekend over 1200 runners challenged their strength and endurance at The North Face Endurance Challenge outside of Atlanta, GA. The FD Roosevelt State Park trail system provided a technical course for the athletes that competed in either the 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, Marathon, 50k, or the 50 mile race. Once again, these athletes showed an unbelievable amount of determination and physical toughness as each person crossed the finish line.

Kids of all ages took part in the Karno Kids Race

There were many children in attendance that took part in the Karno Kids Race, including one of Leave No Trace's biggest kid at heart- Bigfoot! A local middle school brought 53 students to the 5k portion of the Endurance Challenge as part of the Fit Club at their school. We even watched as an eight year old boy completed his first 5k race on Sunday. Way to go!

The North Face takes many steps to minimize the impact placed on the event locations. In addition to encouraging all of the athletes to practice Leave No Trace during the race by packing out all trash, including goo packets, and staying on the established trail, they give each athlete a reusable water bottle and have staff scouring the grounds for microtrash. They even used clothes pins to hang up the trail markers along the route, instead of nailing them into the trees! We appreciate all of the proactive efforts The North Face takes to protect and enjoy the outdoors.

Trail Marker along the 50 mile race route

Be on the look out for Team West, Jason and Agata, at the final stop of the 2011 Endurance Challenge Series in San Francisco on December 3-4.

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Clean out your used gear and help Leave No Trace

2011-10-14T10:58:00.003-06:00

The change of seasons for me means bringing out blankets out of the closet, exchanging sandals for boots and swapping paddleboard for snowboard. It also means I take inventory of what wasn't used. Do you have stuff in your garage like me that won't be used again?

Here is a great opportunity to clear out your space and help a great cause at the same time.

Sell your used gear and donate the proceeds to Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. I challenge you to help us raise funds to support our education efforts. List your used gear on Ebay's Giving Works and select Leave No Trace as your cause.

Its easy and fun to do!
Step 1 - Clean out your closet and find all of your old gear
Step 2 - Sell it on Ebay through the giving works program
Step 3 - Donate the all or a portion of the proceeds to Leave No Trace

Just think -- your old snowboard could teach a classroom of children about Leave No Trace. Or the tent that used to house your whole family could mean that a new family would pledge to Leave No Trace on their family adventures. Each item you list with donations to Leave No Trace means that more people will know how to protect the place we all love.

You can sell your gear at any time. Visit the Ebay giving works for more information or list an item.

If you have any questions or to let us know about your listing email Dean at Dean@LNT.org.

Picture(s) of the Week 10/14/11

2011-10-14T08:27:00.000-06:00

Sometimes one picture of the week just isn't enough...

Leaf Peeping In West Virginia

Up Close and Personal With the Beautiful Fall Colors

Happy Fall Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Of Raptors and Rapture - Barn Again

2011-10-13T21:44:00.001-06:00

Dateline: Lyons, CO

The Colorado Tour

The harbingers of winter (read: Snow and Ice!) are making us keenly aware that our Colorado sojourn as Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers is drawing to a close, and that it's time to head for the barn once more. We reflected on this year's Colorado Tour as we hiked local landmark, Rabbit Mountain, a critical raptor nesting ground and cultural crossroads near Lyons, Colorado. We can't help but feel fortunate for the opportunity to experience the rich diversity of people and places we've encountered along the way. For the past six weeks, we've lived a nomadic life, sleeping in our tent by night and delivering Leave No Trace workshops and outreach by day. Throughout our 36 events and nearly four thousand-mile perambulation of the great state of Colorado, we've been enraptured by the state's wide variety of natural and cultural resource treasures, and equally impressed by the love and appreciation that Coloradans hold for this precious heritage.

Rabbit Mountain - enraptured beneath the raptors!

As we lead our trusty Colorado Tour Subaru into the barn for the winter, we're hoping that this is but another episode in our Leave No Trace travels, and that we will meet you yet down our nomadic trail, perhaps in another clime and another season, seeking to Leave No Trace as the story continues...

Special thanks go to Xcel Energy for supporting the 2011 Colorado Tour, and additionally to Coleman, Inc. and Subaru of America who continue to be dedicated champions for the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program and the Center for Outdoor Ethics. Of course, incalculable thanks go to our Traveling Team colleagues and the extraordinary folks at the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics for their dedication, support, and joie de vivre.

...along the Colorado Trail,

Peggy and Barrett

Ingrid Backstrom Speaks Tonight in Seattle

2011-10-13T05:00:00.001-06:00

Seattle, WA - Ingrid Backstrom, extreme skier and The North Face athlete, will be speaking tonight at the REI Flagship store at 7 PM as part of The North Face Speaker Series, which showcases the world's top outdoor athletes.

Ingrid has starred in ski films like the acclaimed 2007 film Steep, and was the sole female on Powder Magazine's list of Future Big Mountain Heroes. Her quest to ski has taken her around the globe, and she's tried adventure sports from climbing to BASE jumping. Tonight she will present "Whimsical Dreams: The Skiing Life."

General admission is free, so come out tonight to see Ingrid's presentation and to visit with Team West.

Where: REI Seattle Flagship, 222 Yale Ave N., Seattle, WA 98109

When: October 13, 2011, 7 PM

More information: here

All the best,

Agata and Jason

The Time is NOW to Request The Traveling Trainers for 2012!

2011-10-12T13:23:00.005-06:00

We have started to schedule the 2012 Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Teams and they want to come to YOUR town!

The Traveling Trainers are teams of elite traveling educators, who are on the road 11 months out of the year, traveling the country and educating folks along the way about the importance of practicing Leave No Trace.

The Teams facilitate experiential-based programs, providing the necessary tools to enjoy the outdoors responsibly while leaving less of an impact.

The Traveling Trainers have conducted these types of workshops for educators, children, college students, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, outdoor professionals, trail crews, hiking club members, retail store employees, and others interested in Leave No trace skills and ethics.
NOW is the time to invite the Traveling Trainers to join you in 2012. ALL REQUESTS FOR JANUARY-JUNE 2012 MUST BE SUBMITTED ONLINE BY DECEMBER 1ST.

World Famous Mountains Conference

2011-10-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

Portland, OR - This week in Portland, resource and recreation managers of mountains from all over the world are getting together to share ideas at the third annual World Famous Mountains Conference.

The World Famous Mountains Association is a non profit organization made up of policy makers, government officials and representatives of organizations that manage the world's most famous mountains. The Association was formed in China in 2009 and now represents 25 mountains from Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, Germany, Japan, the Philippines, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Tanzania, and the United States of America.

This year's conference is being held in the United States for the first time thanks to the generous support of the US Forest Service. The conference, which was held in China the first two years, is focused on natural resource protection, sustainable tourism, environmental education, and the conservation of our world's cultural legacies.

Team West was thrilled to have the opportunity to give a short presentation on Leave No Trace to the international audience present at the conference. It was also a pleasure to listen to Monday's keynote speaker, Stacy Allison, the first American woman to summit Mt. Everest. Stacy's dynamic presentation focused on the importance of partnerships when managing the world's most famous mountains.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Autumn in the New River Gorge

2011-10-10T15:49:00.002-06:00

Rock Climber on the Endless Wall

Lansing, WV. Team East spent last weekend in the New River Gorge in West Virginia to provide outreach at the Canyon Rim Visitors Center. The New River Gorge is a fantastic area to rock climb, white water raft, hike, camp, and sightsee at the many historical mining towns. Although the weather was unforgiving, this did not stop people from floating the river all weekend. We had the chance to speak to many visitors as they stopped in the Canyon Rim Visitor's Center to get local information and to gaze at the New River Bridge, which is the longest arch bridge in the western hemisphere. We were fortunate enough to enjoy a personal tour with Park Ranger Jodi French-Burr, who is also the Northeast Region Outdoor Ethics Coordinator, through the Nuttallburg Area. This is a newly restored mining town that will soon be open to the public. A special thank you to Jodi for taking the time to share the magic of this beautiful gorge!
Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Nutallburg Mining Complex

Fall into Autumn...

2011-10-07T14:25:00.000-06:00

Living outside has it's perks. The change of the leaves this year so far has been stellar. Moving from the Northwoods of Wisconsin and Minnesota down through Iowa, and into Kansas has shown us some brilliant Fall colors. It reminds us also that we are traveling with our summer wardrobe. With this in mind, we encourage outdoor enthusiasts to 'Know Before You Go'. As temperatures and leaves alike move to lower ground it is important to check local forecasts and engage local knowledge concerning the areas you are visiting. The fire in the Boundary Waters burning for well over a month is a vivid reminder, although caused by a lightning strike, of how ravaging wildland fires can be. Taking the time to be sure that your coals are cooled can make or break an ecosystem. Be safe out there, and enjoy every minute of it.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

New Trainer = New Member

2011-10-06T12:44:00.002-06:00

Each year more than 3,000 people take the Trainer Course to become Leave No Trace Trainers. Our trainers, many of whom volunteer their time, go on to teach an additional 66 people on average every year. Because Trainers play such a critical role in teaching Leave No Trace, the Center is extending a complimentary membership to new Trainers in their first year. As members Trainers will receive additional support, teaching ideas, learning from other Master Educators and Trainers, and special access to resources to help them teach, as well as other benefits of membership. For questions about memberships contact Paige (paige@LNT.org).

CALL TO ACTION FOR EDUCATORS & VOLUNTEERS

2011-10-06T10:37:00.002-06:00

Your role to teach people about Leave No Trace is critical, and we need you now more than ever. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics plans to engage our national network of supporters in vital outreach and volunteer efforts through March of 2012.

Every day we hear from people who want to volunteer for Leave No Trace in their communities. It is hard for us to identify local projects for people to get involved with so you are the key to mobilizing willing people to get involved. Let’s not miss this important opportunity! Collectively we hope to reach 25,000 with Leave No Trace.

Your valuable assistance is needed in 2 key ways:

1. Identify and attend outdoor and environmental events in your community and offer a 5-30 minute introduction to Leave No Trace concepts. Whether this is with a small crew at a trailhead on a trail-related service project, with volunteers at a river clean up, a youth event or with a group of multi-day backpackers, we’d like you to locate opportunities in your area (preferably in a natural setting) to help spread Leave No Trace skills and ethics. Tell us about it!

2. Mobilize your network of Leave No Trace supporters, youth groups, schools or others to organize your own outing at a trailhead. Provide a 20-minute introduction to Leave No Trace and then hit the trail with trash bags and gloves for an easy clean up. Look for “teachable moments” along the way. Tell us about it!

How we can help you:

• The Center will give you educational materials, merchandise and Clif bars (as available) to aid in your outreach efforts.

• If you would like to distribute additional Leave No Trace educational materials, please visit our Education and Training Resources Page where you can find various items to view, download and print.

• When we receive your reporting form, The Center will then send you a pair of Smartwool socks and offer a 25% discount on your next order in the Leave No Trace online store.

• Use our resources. For a list of Master Educators and partner organizations within your area, please visit your state on the Center’s Community Page. Contact your State Advocate, Master Educators and partners in your area to get involved with your outreach.

• Contact the Center for more details, a reporting form, or if you need to talk over your work with anyone.

Thank you for critical work on behalf of Leave No Trace. We look forward to helping you enhance Leave No Trace in your local area. If you have any questions or would like more information, please call us at 303.442.8222 or email Jason@lnt.org.

AND MORE IDEAS

Want some more ideas to help engage your community to Leave No Trace?

• What are some things going on in your state where Leave No Trace could be incorporated? Think about groups beyond those you currently work with.

• What clubs, organizations, colleges or universities are in your area for whom you could provide targeted Leave No Trace education in an hour or less?

• Stop by and say hello to schools and teachers, guides and outfitters, outdoor retailers, community parks and recreation officials, local, state and national parks and forest managers and any one else who might be involved in Leave No Trace. Let them know that you are a Leave No Trace resource in their area and ask how you can get involved.

• If you know a teacher, ask if they would be interested in having you facilitate a PEAK presentation for their students.

• If you know a local retailer, talk with them about upcoming events they may be planning. Providing a Leave No Trace presence at their event(s) could be an easy way to further promote Leave No Trace in your community.

• Talk with local park and recreation department staff about programs they offer for youth and adults. Is there a way that you can incorporate Leave No Trace into one of their already existing programs? Are they hosting any stream or park clean ups where you might be able to do a Leave No Trace activity?

• Contact city organizers to find out if you can set up a booth at your local farmers market, music festival or some other community event. Use these booth days to gather emails of others who may be interested in helping you with the Leave No Trace efforts in your area.

• You can organize volunteer trail/park clean-ups, invasive species removal projects, set up a booth/display at heavily used trails or recreation sites, engage youth by providing PEAK programs or simply organize a fun outdoor activity and include Leave No Trace into the activity.

Angel's Loft...

2011-10-05T12:19:00.002-06:00

There's a lot of buzz these days about reclaimed, reconditioned, recycled and restored materials going into construction projects. Perhaps it's the quest of procuring an interesting mix of old and new. It might be the warmth of historic barn timber, or the quirky flavor of hand forged square nails that brings together the atmosphere of home for you. For this avian friend it is something different entirely. We found this bird nest built with an infusion of used toilet paper in the backwoods of Maryland. Now, put yourself in this home owner's talons for just a minute. It's not junior's laundry that stinks, it's the walls of your humble abode. One more reason to 'Dispose of Waste Properly'. No wonder our feathered friends target your freshly washed ride. Payback.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Spokane High School Students Learn How to Teach Leave No Trace

2011-10-04T14:45:00.001-06:00

Spokane, WA - Today, we visited RiverCity Leadership Academy (RLA), a project-based high school that uses a hands-0n, interdisciplinary approach to learning. The students at RLA will be working with the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center and the Bureau of Land Management on various projects, including teaching community members about Leave No Trace at the Fishtrap Recreation Area, managed by the BLM.

Today's visit provided the RLA students with an introduction to the seven principles of Leave No Trace and equipped them with lesson ideas and teaching methods they will be able to use when working with the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center and the BLM.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Western Kentucky Trainer Course

2011-10-03T12:57:00.000-06:00

Cadiz, KY. Autumn has fallen upon us here in the Southeast. The leaves are beginning to change, the temperatures are dropping, and the fall harvest is abundant. Last week, we had the pleasure of instructing our second Leave No Trace Trainer Course with Kentucky State Parks. We had five engaging individuals that were eager to learn about the Leave No Trace program and put their new found knowledge to the test as we spent one evening camping at Lake Barkley State Resort Park. Four of the new Leave No Trace Trainers were Kentucky State Park employees and we even had one gentleman drive six hours from Missouri to take the course! He is a volunteer with his son's boy scout troop and was excited to challenge the boys to some of the activities he learned during the course.

We would like to extend a special thanks to Lisa Deavers for working out logistics for the course. In addition to being the Western Regional Recreation Coordinator for Kentucky State Parks, Lisa also finds time to be the Leave No Trace State Advocate for the entire state of Kentucky! We look forward to our next adventure with the Kentucky State Park System.

Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Photo of the Week 10.3.11

2011-10-03T12:18:00.000-06:00

Somewhere in Missouri...

rock, paper, scissor, power line.

Mark and Tara

October Bigfoot Challenges Have Been Posted!

2011-10-03T10:00:00.000-06:00

October is here and it's time for something new! This month's challenges focus on kids and being a kid. The first challenge takes place on Halloween - pick up one candy wrapper for each year of your age and challenge your friends to do the same!
Our second challenge asks that you educate a child - download a free PEAK pack activity from the Leave No Trace website and volunteer to teach a 15 - 25 minute segment to kids at a local school or youth group! PEAK pack activities can be downloaded here: http://www.lnt.org/programs/peak.php
Our third and fourth challenges focus on being a kid with Keen, who powers October's Bigfoot Challenge. Our third challenge is to take the "15 Minute Keen Recess Pledge!" Take back 15 minutes of your day and go outside! When you're done with recess, try to leave your "playground" in better shape than you found it. You can find Keen's Recess Pledge here: http://www.keenfootwear.com/recess
Our final challenge is to become a member of Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and show the world how important Leave No Trace is! This month, if you become a member at the Wanderer level ($171.60), you get a $150 Keen gift card! Find out more on how to become a member of Leave No Trace here: http://lnt.org/support/support.php
Check out the Bigfoot Challenge page at http://www.lnt.org to find out more about the Bigfoot Challenge and to get this month's highlights from Leave No Trace!

Picture of the Week 9/30/11

2011-09-30T19:27:00.000-06:00

Rock Bridge, Red River Gorge, KY. Where's Waldo, Where's Tracy?

Leave No Trace in Practice on the Appalachian Trail

2011-09-29T09:32:00.001-06:00

Earlier this year, we met Buckeye Flash, who was planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail. He completed his journey earlier this month and we asked him to explain how he used Leave No Trace while on the trail:

On March 22, 2011, I began my attempt to thru-hike the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail (AT). I started at Springer Mountain, Georgia (southern terminus) and hoped to reach Mt. Katahdin (northern terminus) in Baxter State Park in Maine before it closed in mid-October. To say that I was inexperienced would be a huge understatement. My previous hiking was basically limited to a dozen or so day-hikes of two to three hours per hike. As a hiker I had never spent one night camping. I came away with a new respect for the physical environment of the mountains and back country as a whole. A sense of stewardship by hikers is essential to the future of the trail.

Before the trek began I was introduced to Jason and Agata Ketterick, Traveling Trainers for Leave No Trace (LNT). They asked me to explain how my AT experience related to the principles of outdoor ethics which LNT promotes. So here is my story.

1. Plan ahead and prepare:
Before the hike I read as much as I could on the places where I would be hiking, such as, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), Shenandoah National Park and Baxter State Park in Maine. An example of an important regulation in the GSMNP is that a hiker must stay in a shelter, if space is available. If there isn't space available in the shelter, tenting nearby is permitted. This type of information was helpful in knowing the dos and don'ts in those areas. Starting my hike in March meant having warmer clothing and a 30-degree sleeping bag at the start and subsequently replacing it with lighter weight clothing and a 45-degree sleeping bag later on.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces:
The AT has approximately 260 shelters between Georgia and Maine. A shelter may sleep 4 to 20 people. A source of water and a privy are available at almost every shelter. In addition at most shelters there are campsites. Most of the time I camped near the shelter. A few times the need arose to camp where there were no shelters nor campsites. On those occasions it was important to camp at least 200 feet from the source of water, such as a pond or stream. Walking in the middle of the AT is easy when the trail is dry. The difficult part is to stay in the middle of the trail when there is standing water or mud "blocking" the trail. Yet it may necessary in order not to damage the vegetation in pristine areas. I hiked alone for much of my trek. In the latter part of my journey I hiked with other people and during that time we always walked single file making it easier to stay on the trail.

3. Dispose of waste properly: A basic principle of LNT outdoor ethics is to pack out what you pack in. No one enjoys seeing trash on the trail, at a shelter or campsite. Most thru-hikers follow this principle religiously. Unfortunately there are the rare times when the principle is not followed and litter dots the ground. Several times I picked up a candy or snack wrapper which may have fallen out of a hiker's pack or pocket. One major advantage of staying at or camping near a shelter is the presence of a privy. It saves the need to dig a cat hole to dispose of human waste. I did very little cooking during my hike so I did not need to wash dishes often. When I did cook, I merely boiled water and poured it into a plastic pouch containing dehydrated food. After eating the food, the pouch was packed out as trash saving the need to wash dishes. The few times that I did need to wash a cup or bowl, I was careful to be 200 feet or more away from a water source and use only a drop or two of biodegradable soap.

4. Leave what you find: I carried everything I needed on my back. I had no desire to take anything I saw or found on the trail as an artifact or souvenir.

5. Minimize campfire impacts: At most shelters and campsites there are established fire rings. Thru-hikers who cook carry a small stove. So on the AT fires are not typically used for cooking. They do provide a place to socialize in the evening. In some areas, especially in the northeast US, there are signs which state that no fires are permitted. In some cases shelters have had to be rebuilt due to fires.

6. Respect wildlife: The point that one should observe wildlife from a distance is common sense. Bears, moose and snakes are generally not aggressive, if they are not followed or approached. I saw bear, moose, snakes and other animals on the AT. At no times were any aggressive. Storing food and trash securely is important. In many areas bear cables or bear boxes protect wildlife and hiker food. Most hikers who bring their dog on the trail have a well behaved pet. I did not observe any pet that was out of control. Dogs are not permitted though in the Smokies or Baxter State Park.

7. Be considerate of other visitors
I was impressed by how courteous most AT hikers were in yielding to others on the trail. Stepping to the side when encountering hikers was widely followed.
-Buckeye Flash

Buckeye Flash is the trail name of Bob Grau, a retired educator from Cleveland, Ohio. He finished his thru-hike at Mt. Katahdin in Maine on September 7, 2011. He hiked the last 350 miles on a broken ankle. Check out the blog he wrote while hiking the Appalachian Trail.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Thanks to our New and Renewing partners this month

2011-09-28T14:55:00.004-06:00

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics would like to thank the following partners for their new and renewing support this month. Please take some time to check them out!

Corporate Partners:

Cleanwaste

Sea to Summit

The North Face

Industrial Revolution, Inc.

Grand Trunk

Grand Teton Lodge Company

Small Business Partners:

SoulTrex, Inc.

Viventura - South American Tours

Team West in the Sawtooth National Forest

2011-09-27T05:00:00.000-06:00

Ketchum, Idaho -

Over the past week Team West has been enjoying world class outdoor recreation and educational outreach in the Sun Valley area. Teaming up with old friends at Mountain Niceness Productions, and meeting up with new ones like local outfitter Backwoods Mountain Sports we had the opportunity to get out into some of the most beautiful country we have seen in 2011!

The community in Sun Valley embraced the seven principles of Leave No Trace where ever we had the chance to connect and share the programs we offer on the road as Traveling Trainers. The ethic of stewardship for public land in places like the Sawtooth National Forest is apparent in the responsible actions and attitudes amongst all user groups we encountered.

Keep an eye out for Leave No Trace in Boise later this week as team West visits REI and offers a PEAK workshop on Wednesday evening.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Education in Motion: Where to find the Traveling Trainers in OCTOBER

2011-09-26T15:15:00.003-06:00

The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, the Leave No Trace e-tour Team, as well as the Leave No Trace Colorado Tour are conducting the following training events across the country in October. For more information about these or to attend, visit their calendars.

Team East October Calendar
Team West October Calendar
E-tour October Calendar
Colorado Tour October Calendar

Arkansas:

Little Rock Parks & Recreation - Little Rock
Clinton Presidential Library - Little Rock
Bill Clark Wetlands Project - Little Rock
Backyard Session - Little Rock
North Little Rock Parks & Recreation Department - North Little Rock
Pulaski Academy - Little Rock
Ozark Outdoor Supply - Little Rock
Pinnacle Mountain State Park - Little Rock
Big Dam Bridge - Little Rock
Bicycle Friendly Community Committee of the City of Little Rock - Little Rock

California:

South Lake Tahoe Library - S. Lake Tahoe
Boys & Girls Club - S. Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe Community College - S. Lake Tahoe
The North Face Explore Your Parks - Clayton
Eco-Warriors at Santee High School - Los Angeles
Yucca Valley High School - Yucca Valley
Landers Elementary School - Landers
Joshua Tree National Park - Twentynine Palms

Colorado:

Red Rocks Elementary School - Morrison
Front Range Community College - Fort Collins
Poudre Community Academy - Fort Collins
Carmody Middle School - Lakewood
Colorado Horse Council - Denver
IMBA Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day - Morrison

Georgia:

Unicoi State Park - Helen
The North Face Endurance Challenge - Atlanta
Crooked River State Park - St. Marys

Kansas:

The Coleman Company - Wichita

Minnesota:

The North Face Explore Your Parks - St. Paul

Oregon:

Next Adventure - Portland
Project Wilderness - Troutdale
Redmond Proficiency Academy - Redmond
World's Most Famous Mountains Conference - Portland

Washington:

Clif Bar Day of Action with Spokane Parks & Rec Department - Spokane
GSI Outdoors - Spokane
BLM & West Valley Outdoor Learning Center - Spokane
REI - Spokane
REI - Olympia
REI - Issaquah
REI - South Center/Tukwila
Mount St. Helens Institute - Amboy
The North Face Speaker Series - Olympia
The North Face Speaker Series - Seattle
Washington Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, & Dance State Conference - Shoreline
BLM/Lopez Island Conservation Corps - Lopez Island
Youth Empowered with Leadership Strengths - Seattle

West Virginia:

New River Gorge National River - Glen Jean
75th Mountain State Forest Festival - Elkins

Do you want the Traveling Teams to come to your town? We are currently accepting event requests online for 2012.

NOTE: You MUST request an event by December 1st for the 2012 January - June window.