Carbon Offsets Help Leave No Trace Get Even Greener

Our longstanding partner, Clif Bar, contacted us early in 2007 and asked if they could, along with pledging an annual monetary contribution to Leave No Trace as well as thousands of bars for events, sponsor the carbon offsets for our Traveling Trainer Teams.

As we’re closing out the year, the three Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers logged a hefty 124,173 miles providing educational programs and training all over the lower 48. It feels great to know that Clif Bar was supporting the carbon offsets for each one of the important miles.

The next time you're choosing bars at the grocery story, keep in mind that Clif Bar has long, strong track record of support for the Leave No Trace, the outdoors, the environment as well as a selection of social causes and even breast cancer fund.

Life in the Middle of the World

I recently returned to the office after spending several weeks in Ecuador, a South American country approximately the size of Colorado. It's name, not surprisingly, provides geographic reference to its location along the Equator.

The trip was the inaugural year of an International Service-Learning course through the University of Denver focused on International Education. Two of the weeks were spent in the rural farming communities of Borja and Chaco, located in the Amazon Basin. The scenery provided a significant contrast to the Rockies in December...trade the snow for rain, the evergreens for broad-leafed cecropias, the big horned sheep for capybaras and you have Ecuador (almost).

The idea of the trip was to work with local schools in some kind of reciprocal manner: many of the participants on the course were studying education/social work/international relations, while also learning Spanish. All the students in the Ecuadorian schools were working on English, as part of a mandated curriculum.

While Ecuador and the United States share as many differences as they do similarities, one thing I can say for certain is that kids are kids, everywhere you go. Accepting, fun-loving, intelligent, creative and incredibly perceptive. One of the units at the local high school must have been environmental education because the school was covered with colorful student artwork reminding us to conserve natural resources, or to stop polluting. To a community that is very connected to the land through its ways of living and sources of income (farming), I would guess these ideas might be more intuitive.

Back in the States, we are excited about the recent Spanish translation of our Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids (PEAK) program. Through these efforts, we are hopeful that the program will be able to engage an even broader audience of tomorrow's environmental stewards.

That said, we look forward to continued growth of our educational programs in the new year and wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.

Feliz Viajes!

Christmas in the National Park

A few years ago, I had a break from the holiday tradition as I found myself not at home for the holidays, for the first time ever. Upset though I was, I quickly discovered the joy in creating your own holiday traditions and memories.

A Christmas snowshoe excursion in to the park: this is what has come to take place every year since then. I gather friends, a camp stove, some fixings for a Christmas lunch (including mulled wine), and after strapping on snowshoes, we set off in to the beauty of fresh snow, crisp air and blue skies of the Colorado Rockies. Finding our own “perfect” tree, we congregate under it and cook a feast together. Simple, yet fun.

Franklin Roosevelt said that, "There is nothing so American as our national parks." There is also nothing as pristine, fulfilling, majestic, and awe-inspiring.

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On the other side of the country, the White House is preparing for their holiday as well, where the tradition is to thematically decorate the gigantic Pennsylvania Ave. abode to the nines.

The theme this year: National Parks.

I’m guessing that President Bush probably did not choose this theme as a harkening back to holiday park ventures similar to mine, but I did smile inwardly at this year’s choice by the White House Executive staff.

The National Park decorations – including hand painted national park ornaments on the tree – were a decision that reflects President Bush’s Millennium Initiative: signed to invest over a billion dollars in parks over the next decade. The intent of this funding is to provide room for improvements in national parks, and the increased ability to hire more park rangers.

So whether it is inside or outside, spend a little time getting to know your local national park this year. What treasures does it hold? How can you come to love it year after year, and what value does it hold as part of an annual tradition?

For more information, please visit the White House or National Park Service websites.

All We Need Is You

Three years go, the powers that be from Keen Footwear, a growing West coast shoe company, had an epiphany after listening to a story about the tsunami’s devastation. In its wake, Keen funneled its entire 2005 print advertising budget into a foundation and gave that money, to a handful of nonprofit organizations, Leave No Trace being one of them. Since, Keen has distributed over a million dollars to environmental and social organizations and Leave No Trace has been on the receiving end of tangible funds to help our volunteers on the ground and build local support for the Leave No Trace program.

In three years, we’ve been able to give thousands of dollars and resources to Leave No Trace state advocates, build a new training grants program, distribute about 150,000 Leave No Trace educational pieces in communities like yours, and develop tools, such as the Community section on the Leave No Trace website, to support local advocacy.

Now, all we need it you. Get involved in three ways:

Get Involved: #1
Our latest is the new Community page at www.LNT.org. Click into your state and find events, training, education, volunteers, partners and learn more about your state advocate. Contact us to be added to the list if you are a Master Educator or Trainer who feel that you can make a difference. If you are conducting any sort of Leave No Trace training or workshop, let us, and everyone in your state, know about it by listing it on the Community page.

Get Involved: #2
Email the office if you would like to be put onto your state’s Volunteer Registry. We are collecting the names of people who can help at events or training sessions. Even if you only have a couple of hours, this is a great way to get involved.

Get Involved: #3
Another tool on this page is the Leave No Trace Community Blog. When you read something that interests you, add a quick comment to the blog or, better yet, contact us if you would like to contribute as a guest blogger. Make a New Years Resolution to add your voice and perspectives to the Leave No Trace community.

Hasta Luego Leave No Trace...

Well this is my last blog as the Leave No Trace Intern. I have wrapped up a 6 month internship at the Center and have loved every minute of it. I came on last June and immediately we went on a rafting trip. Not many interns are offered that opportunity when they enter a "hands on" learning environment. I was able to experience "leave no trace" camping techniques right away. The journey continued and every week, even Mondays I was looking forward to getting to work and not only learning skills in Nonprofit Management but hanging with these guys. The whole group is some of the coolest people I have met. They have so much dedication to their work and the cause, it has grown to be something I truly admire in them. December has now arrived and I must return home to the Northern Dakota to finish school. It will not be goodbye forever, I have decided to take on the duties of the new North Dakota State Advocate. I will then be graduating in the spring and hopefully returning to the great state of Colorado and the awesome people I've met along the way! Thank you Leave No Trace and Happy Holidays to all!

Thank You Dusty and Amy Allison!

We would like to take a minute to thank Dusty and Amy Allison for their three years of service to Leave No Trace as Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers. It has been my pleasure to work as a Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer with Dusty and Amy on the road in 2005 as well as the Outreach Manager here in the office since May of 2006. Dusty and Amy were instrumental in the evolution of the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program as the program has grown to include three traveling teams. Dusty and Amy helped the Traveling Trainer Program reach record numbers during their three year stretch. As if living out of a Subaru for three years isn't hard enough, Dusty and Amy were able to bring on at least a 100 new individual members each year! From January 2005 through December 2007, Dusty and Amy have provided Leave No Trace outreach in all of the lower 48 states, slept in the front seat of their car countless times, eaten their fair share of greasy road food and have hung out at numerous bookstores from South Carolina to Oregon.

On behalf of everyone at the Center, we appreciate their great work, will miss them dearly and wish them the best of luck as they move on to the next adventure. Thank you Dusty and Amy for you commitment and dedication to Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics from 2005-2007!

Consider Giving a Leave No Trace Membership for the Holidays

I read a recent article on MSNBC news titled "For Many, Charity Has Become a Holiday Tradition". The article outlined a number of people who find sharing their good fortune brings fulfillment during the crazy holiday time. This year I have found that giving my friends and family memberships to Leave No Trace demonstrates my dedication to the organization, as well as the environment. I urge everyone to consider a Leave No Trace membership as the perfect holiday gift. You may go online to LNT.org or you can call the Leave No Trace center at 1-800-332-4100. Happy Holidays!

My Latest Ecuador Adventure

I recently returned from a wonderful family adventure, our first, to Ecuador. My husband, Scott and our two kids, Ella (7) and Wynn (4) ventured out on November 9th to this foreign feeling land in South America to experience a different culture, landscape, visit with friends who recently moved there, and perhaps remove us from our daily routine - albeit for only a short time. Our great adventure started off in Cuenca, a small city in the south part of the country, nestled in the Andes at about 8500 feet. Cuenca is a fascinating city, a mix of authentic Inca culture with colonial architecture dating back hundreds of years. It was also an interesting and sometimes disturbing mix of relative wealth and unbelievable poverty. Since the climate remains fairly temperate in this area, the land produces an amazing array of fruits and vegetables. Twice a week, people sell their produce at outdoor markets in town.


The El Cajas National Park, was a highlight and beautiful part of our trip. These mountains combine cloud forests with rocky landscapes, scattered with lakes (more than 200 of them) that dot the landscape. We enjoyed a number of beautiful hikes among the peaks and along the Inca trail. Of course I noticed the signage and interpretation and was happy to see (and abide by) the local land managers recommendations (see picture below) loosely translated as “stay on the trail”.  Someday, I would like to see the Leave No Trace program officially expand to Ecuador and other South American countries. But for now I’m content to be a responsible ecotourist and enjoy the breath-taking environment these places offer.

What have you found?

What is the most random thing you have ever found while out on the trail?  The above picture is from near the Indian Peaks Wilderness here in Colorado.  While out on a very long day hike, we stumbled across this old couch.  Turns out, there were some old mining access roads that were not on maps.  Obviously we were not as far out as we thought we were going to be.

Other random finds include batteries, shoes, and even a high-end rainshell.  More notable were the old mining camp in the High Sierras with various rusting metal leftovers, and pottery shards and an old grain midden while canyoning in Utah.  Obviously the Archaeological Resources Protection Act and the National Historic Preservation Act protect artifacts such as these that are 50 or more years old.

Seems pretty simple, pack out the garbage so others don't have to see it, but leave the treasures for others to "find' as well.  Happy Trails!!

More Motorized Recreation in Yellowstone?

How active are we willing to be to preserve and protect our backcountry areas from potential impact? All the way to Washington, it seems, when that impact deals with motorized recreation usage in America’s most highly trafficked national park – Yellowstone.


A recent ruling by the Bush administration brought what may seem like a contradictory verdict to regulating winter, particularly snowmobile, usage: more, not fewer, snowmobiles. Studies of user trends in past years indicate that only 258 snowmobiles on average enter the park each day during the season.

Yet, under the new ruling, up to 540 snowmobiles will be allowed per day.

What is the right number? Moreso, where is the line between ruling for the sake of regulation, and cutting snowmobile usage cold turkey? Ideally, we wouldn’t go to either extreme, but work rather to instill education in these parks.

Would users listen? Will advocates and conservation agencies prevail?

Read more at: http://www.npsretirees.org/node/787

-Sara

Wanted: Recycled Materials for Giftwrapping!

Calling all Front Range residents!

We are so excited to participate in a giftwrapping fundraiser on Wednesday, December 19 from 5-9pm at the REI Boulder store (1789 28th St., Boulder, CO 80301). All donations from our fabulous gift wrapping will go directly to Leave No Trace.

In keeping with the Leave No Trace mission, we'd like to use 100% recycled materials to wrap the purchases of REI customers. We need your help to collect these materials!

Suggested materials include the following:
-Newspaper
-Webbing
-Rope
-Fabric
-Yarn
-Recycled bows
-Recycled gift bags

We are also in need of tape donations.

You can drop off your donations anytime at the Leave No Trace office (1830 17th ST., Suite 100, Boulder, CO 80302). Feel free to leave your recycled materials on the porch after regular business hours.

Another way to support the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is to stop by REI Boulder, do a little holiday shopping and have the lovely Leave No Trace staff wrap your gifts!  We always love the opportunity to meet folks supporting Leave No Trace in our own hometown.

Thank you for your support!

Monday Night Lights

Last night, as we settled in for a little bit of Monday Night Football, my son said, “TV rots your brain. It’s not good for you…(you can imagine the rest)”. He pleaded that we go outside, and I looked into his eyes and saw no irony.

I had a small panic. We were so warm and the wind was starting to blow. The Patriots were playing the Ravens (a game I suddenly cared deeply about). But how could we not oblige?

So we suited up, enlisted the dog, and headed out into the cold, breezy darkness.

As the story always goes, it was fun and felt sublime once we were out there. We talked, ran around in the park near our house, smelled the pre-snow, winter air. We had a phenomenal little clichéd family moment in the outdoors, right at home.