Day 6 @ The Boy Scout Jamboree

A group of Cub Scouts enjoy experiential learning at "Camp Oh-No."

If you haven't already, come visit us in the Outdoor Ethics exhibit in Action Area C at the National Jamboree.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Day 5 @ The Boy Scout Jamboree

Leave No Trace and the Boy Scouts of America welcome the E-Tour team to the 2010 Centennial Jamboree! Stop by, say "hello", and learn more about enjoying the outdoors responsibly with Peggy and Barrett.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Inspiring Quote #2

"In Nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful."

-Alice Walker

Rocky Grass 2010

The news reports were accurate...Bigfoot spent 3 days at the Rocky Grass Music Festival in Lyons, CO this past weekend. We compiled a lot a pictures of Bigfoot enjoying the music, spending time backstage, cooling off by the St. Vrain River, and at the Elements Tour (sponsored by Keen, Clif Bar, and Kavu) with all the children! What a busy weekend for Bigfoot! Did you catch a glimpse of the big guy?

Along with dancing and music, Bigfoot also signed people up for the Bigfoot Challenge. Over 150 people challenged themselves to practice Leave No Trace while at the festival, both on the festival grounds and at the campsites. He also encouraged campers to take part in our How Green Is Your Grass? Campsite Challenge. There were many sustainable, clean, and creative campsites out there. We had three random finalists selected: Camp Flipping Out, Camp Zero Hero, and the Grassy Haven. Although all three camps did a great job in the competition, only one can win the grand prize of a free camping pass for next year's festival. And the winner is...Camp Zero Hero! Congratulations to you all (all 20 people that stay at this camp)! This is the second year in a row that Camp Zero Hero demonstrated they can be sustainable, clean, and creative, even with a large group. With that said, the challenge is on...Who is going to beat out Camp Zero Hero at Rocky Grass 2011???

Keep it green...Kate and Tracy

Day 4 @ The Boy Scout Jamboree

If you haven't made it to the Leave No Trace booth at the National Boy Scout Jamboree, we have fun, hands-on activities, free educational materials, and other goodies, so come visit us! Also visit our friends at Tread Lightly! and the entire Outdoor Ethics exhibit.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Ansel Adams' grandson challenges negatives bought at garage sale

Photo credit

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Ansel Adams' grandson is unconvinced that several dozen glass plates found at a garage sale were photographic negatives created by the famed nature photographer.

Matthew Adams, who runs the Ansel Adams Gallery, said even if the photos are proven beyond a doubt to be authentic, they are not worth the $200 million value estimated by an art appraiser.
A lawyer for Rick Norsigian, the California man who paid $45 for the negatives a decade ago, said that based on overwhelming evidence gathered by a team experts "no reasonable person would have any doubt that these, in fact, were the long-lost images of Ansel Adams."

Read the rest of the article from CNN here.

Day 3 @ The Boy Scout Jamboree

The most popular patch at the event this year could be the Bigfoot Challenge patch available at the Leave No Trace booth! Stop by and get yours before it is too late!

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Community Partnerships in Action

Just finished a great morning training with crew members from Groundwork Denver & Big City Mountaineers. The crew is headed up into Rocky Mountain National Park to camp and complete trail and conservation projects for the next three weeks.

Groundwork Denver (GWD) is a unique organization, whose mission is to bring about the sustained improvement of the physical environment and promote health and well-being through community-based partnerships and action.

"We have found that the interest in urban environmental improvements - ranging from tree planting, to toxic cleanup, to energy efficiency improvements, to transit-oriented design – cuts across income, ethnic, and language barriers." - GWD website

Similar to GWD, Big City Mountaineers works with urban communities, "offering transformative outdoor experiences to enrich lives, broaden horizons and instill critical life skills."

The Center's work with these organizations is critical in providing outreach and education to a broad cross-section of communities participating in a range of outdoor activities. What great projects are going on in your community?

Don't forget the next Connect Grant deadline is August 1. Nominate an organization in your community or apply on behalf of a group you work/volunteer with. Help incorporate Leave No Trace education into all outdoor experiences!

Day 2 @ The Boy Scout Jamboree

We are enjoying the second day of the Boy Scouts of America’s 2010 National Scout Jamboree. Over 45,000 boy scouts and adult leaders are celebrating 100 years of scouting in the United States and learning all about outdoor ethics.

Bigfoot Sighting!!!

...This just in... Eye witnesses report Bigfoot was seen at Rocky Grass Music Festival this weekend in Lyons, CO!! This elusive creature apparently loves Bluegrass and was encouraging all of the festivarians to Leave No Trace, just like he does. More to come later in the program...

Nature's camouflage - can you find the Ptarmigan?

Many a hiker has probably walked right by a group of Ptarmigans. With their incredible camouflage, and ability to remain motionless unless immediately threatened, these birds are rarely seen.

Osprey Packs, Kids Essay Contest

One of the greatest components to the Corporate Partnership program is finding unique ways in which bridges can be made between Leave No Trace, a brand, and a new community - ultimately affecting change and bettering the system as a whole through common vision.

Osprey Packs' "Sprint Series Kid's Reading and Writing Contest" is a great example of the success of this formula.

In 2008, Osprey Packs set out to bridge the gap between their products and kids who were recreating in the outdoors by establishing a more meaningful, creative connection: Leave No Trace. Each month, kids across the nation submit written essays which tell the tale of their "great adventure" - an outdoor experience that was memorable and unique. The twist: they must pick one of the Leave No Trace principles and tell how they applied it to their adventure.

If they are picked, the winning youth receive an Osprey backpack from a lineup of youth-specific packs. For some of the winners, such as Kimble Gray Horsak (7 years old), the backpack is the seed for future adventures: "And me and my dad are going to climb a volcano this summer. We are going to summit Itza... Itza is over 16,000 feet above sea level... I need a backpack because we can't find a good one that fits me. I am carrying my sleeping bag and all the food."

What is so beautifully apparent through this essay contest is the impacts that education programs and time spent outdoors can have on the youth of this world. May's Winner, Sophia Jannetty, was climbing Kilimanjaro with her family when she noted, "I couldn't help but realize the importance of preserving our wildlife. For the first time, I really realized the importance of the Leave No Trace principles. ... I will never forget the unbelievable sense of accomplishment I felt when I summited Kilimanjaro or the importance of preserving the beautiful wildlife with whom we share this planet."

Thank you on behalf of the Center for Outdoor Ethics to both Osprey Packs and the entrants to the contest. Keep up the great work - and never underestimate the ability of one person, one story, or one adventure to affect positive change for the future.

To learn more about the contest or to participate, visit Osprey Packs' Kids Essay Contest Page.

The winning essays can all be viewed at : http://www.ospreypacks.com/OspreyLifestyle/Winners/

Respect Wildlife: When Buffalo Attack

Learn about wildlife through quiet observation. Do not disturb wildlife or plants just for a "better look". Observe wildlife from a distance so they are not scared or forced to flee. Large groups often cause more damage to the environment and can disturb wildlife so keep your group small. If you have a larger group, divide into smaller groups if possible to minimize your impacts. Learn More ( + )

FARR WEST (Utah) - A Farr West woman was charged and flipped by a bison in Yellowstone National Park. She recorded the whole encounter. Cathy Hayes was recording with a small camera Monday evening as a friend approached the lone bison at the edge of a parking lot in Biscuit Basin. You can hear Hayes say, "Getting gored by a buffalo." Of course she was joking in those seconds before the large animal started bucking and charged her friend. He fell in the parking lot injuring his shoulder, but the bison had already turned to Hayes and caught her in a small grove of trees flipping her head over heel. "I could hear him over me stomping and snorting and I just knew," Hayes said. "I knew at that second that was it. I thought this is going to be my last moment in Yellowstone Park getting tromped by a buffalo." But the bison left Hayes alone after that. Minutes later she could see and feel her knee swelling to the size of a grapefruit and the bruises began to appear on her arms and legs.

She says she has always been wary of wildlife during trips to the park, but facing down an angry bison gave her greater respect. "They say stay a hundred feet away. We were about 30, 35 feet," Hayes said. "I zoomed in on him, but that wasn't far enough because they are fast and they can turn on a dime."

Source

Bigfoot is Back this weekend!

Keep an eye out for Bigfoot this weekend. Word around the web is that he may be making an appearance at Rockygrass Festival in Lyons, CO. Could be true? I don't really know, there was something about an event called Seek the Peak in New Hampshire, word around the east coast is that Bigfoot is making an appearance there too? Guess we will have to go to one of those events or check this blog again in a couple of days to see what happens.

If you would like Bigfoot to come to an event in your area, send him an email, Bigfoot@LNT.org.

Have a great weekend!

Summit Trail Running Series

We are on our way to Breckenridge, CO for the Summit Trail Running Series sponsored by The North Face. The 2010 Summit Trail Running Series consists of 6 trail running races in and around the Breckenridge area. Each race features a short and long course, and all races are open to runners of all ages and abilities. And get this- runners 18 and under race for FREE! We are going to be set up at the South Gondola parking area to educate the runners about Leave No Trace. We are going to have a heavy focus on the importance of traveling on durable surfaces. If you are around Breckenridge today, come on out and say Hi or challenge yourself to join in on the race! If you can't make it tonight, the next race is August 4th! Hope to see you out there...

Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Trailhead Sign Contest: Submit a photo, win KEEN footwear!

A good looking trailhead kiosk at the start of the trail to Grays Peak (14,270 feet) and Torreys Peak (14,267 feet) in Arapahoe National Forest.

Summer is in full swing, and we would love to see your favorite Leave No Trace-related trailhead sign photos! Post a photo on the Leave No Trace Facebook Fan Page with a caption including the location and be entered into a drawing for a free pair of KEENs!

Winners will be selected at random on August 16 at noon, MST.

Just Another Day In The Office

Working for Leave No Trace is not only about responsibly hitting the trail or dipping your paddle in the water. Here is a peek into one aspect of office life, where we are busy 'behind the scenes' shipping out teaching materials, store merchandise, membership/partnership materials, auction winnings etc to YOU, the good people in the Leave No Trace community. It's a full time job.. and we appreciate your support! Keep spreading the good word.

Partnership At Its Best

In case you missed this great interview with Ayinde Summers from the Greening Youth Foundation, here it is:

Partnerships with organizations such as the Greening Youth Foundation provide essential opportunities to combine Leave No Trace with personal and professional development. The Greening Youth Foundation provides interactive, hands-on programs for young people to develop a deeper relationship with nature, with others and with themselves, resulting in healthier individuals, communities and environments. Leave No Trace skills and ethics play a critical role in their work.

After a Leave No Trace training with these young adults, Catherine Smith talked with Ayinde Summers, the Senior Director of Programs and Training from Greening Youth Foundation, about the relevance of Leave No Trace in his work, what he is trying to accomplish with his program, and why his long-term personal membership to Leave No Trace is important to him.

Ayinde Summers: Leave No Trace is important because it allows us to have something to hold onto around culture. The simple principle of leaving things as you found them allows for future generations to have similar access.

Catherine Smith: For high school kids and young adults, what is most compelling about Leave No Trace?

AS: A lot of people are not having intentional conversations with young people about the Leave No Trace ethics and principles that are really kind of basic. Adults get it, but with all the media kids have access to… you don’t see them outside. You don’t see children riding bikes. So Leave No Trace actually engages them outside and they have conversations and actually interact with people in that context.

CS: What teaching technique works best with that age group?

AS: Experiential education. I may be partial.

CS: What do you typically teach this age group about Leave No Trace?

AS: I love the ethic. So when I introduce the theme (of Leave No Trace), I talk about it just as ethics. So then there are tons of principles to pull from. Being outdoors, Leave No Trace is a wonderful ethic to connect to multiple cultures, to multiple groups and greater understanding of the world.

CS: What are your desired outcomes for the kids? Do you hope they become more interested in Leave No Trace and teach it?

AS: This has never been done before with this particular group of young folks. Typically what I do is get our students to a place where they can take it back to their communities. Leave No Trace is the last thing we train them in before they go into the Wilderness because I want it to be fresh in their minds. I want them to see that in every area it really works, so, again, they can take it back to their communities.

CS: Why is Leave No Trace important to you?

AS: I’ve been doing wilderness work for about ten years and the impact I’ve seen is sad. To walk across a mountain ridge that my mother or father may have walked across and it looks completely different because there is a Cheetos bag or a tire with chrome and aluminum is sad. So for me, it’s an ethic that I hold near and dear.
I’m a member of Leave No Trace because the organization’s impact has been great. The communities, the outreach on the internet has been good…Being able to get people to come together around a subject, particularly this environmental issue, is really important.

L.L.Bean Outdoor Heroes: Amy Chapman

Each year, L.L.Bean recognizes individuals who are helping to preserve wild spaces and promote outdoor recreation. This year's Outdoor Heroes winners each received a commemorative award and a $500 L.L.Bean Gift Card. In addition, L.L.Bean recognized the conservation organization that each hero helps support. L.L.Bean contributed a $5,000 Outdoor Heroes grant to the Leave No Trace Center For Outdoor Ethics. Many Thanks to Amy Chapman and L.L.Bean.

Forecastle Festival 2010

This past weekend over 100 artist from across the country, environmental leaders, and outdoor organizations united in Louisville, KY for a historic moment. Merging education equally with entertainment, was the goal of the 9th annual Forecastle Festival. Leave No Trace was invited to participate in the Conscious Carnival presented by the Sustainable Living Road Show, a caravan of educators, entertainers, and activists that coordinate cross country tours that empower communities and individuals to utilize sustainable strategies for a healthier planet. At our booth, we challenged festival-goers to a game of How Long Does It Last?. An estimated 30,000 people attended this eco-conscious 3 day festival. Hats off to J.K. McKnight and the festival crew for creating a fun and educational atmosphere! Enjoy the slide show from the weekend.

Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Membership Benefit: Leave No Trace partners with The Clymb

Get 70% off premium outdoor and sports gear, and earn $10 for Leave No Trace.

ALL Leave No Trace members have been invited to join The Clymb, a private member network where you can access insider pricing on the planets most sought-after outdoor brands.

Not only do you get discounts up to 70% off of outdoor and sports brands, but your first purchase earns $10 for Leave No Trace.

To kick things off, the Clymb has partnered with Patron Corporate Partner, Keen, to bring access to discounted footwear.

Take advantage of your participation in the Leave No Trace community, and check it out!

Partner Highlight: Kathryn Beals

Discovering the art of Kathryn Beals, Small Business Partner of Leave No Trace. [Submitted by Kathryn Beals.]

Background: I grew up in a small fishing town on the northwest coast of British Columbia. As a kid, my parents took me camping frequently and taught me to love the outdoors. I met my husband Travis ten years ago and we moved to California in 2003. We are both long time promoters of Leave No Trace ethics and have lead backpacking trips in the Sierras and Rockies. In 2008, we hiked the West Coast Trail of Vancouver Island and the high Sierra section of the PCT. The places we see on our treks provide the inspiration for my paintings.

What is your motto? I don't have a motto, but I always strive to communicate my love of the backcountry in my work. In my paintings, I try to balance the look of a favorite place with the feeling of being there. Tents are a focal point in many of my paintings because I want to give the viewer an emotional and symbolic connection to the landscape. As an artist specializing in commissioned paintings, I try to get a sense of the story behind each photograph so I can help people capture the memory of special places.

What does your company do for the environment? I select eco-friendly materials and methods in all aspects of my business. I paint with acrylic paints, which do not require the use of toxic solvents, as oil paints do. I use sustainable packaging materials whenever possible when shipping my paintings. My art cards are printed on 100% recycled paper with vegetable inks.

What does your company do for the community? I donate spare art supplies to local public schools, and I donate paintings and gift certificates to local animal shelters. I also run an art technique blog, howipaint.com, featuring some of my current paintings in progress with advice and instructional videos for beginners. I am a self-taught artist and I hope to inspire and encourage people of all ages to learn to paint.

Why does your company partner with Leave No Trace? (Why we love you.) It is a privilege to work with Leave No Trace, since I have long supported their approach to wilderness preservation through access and education. I donate 10% of profits from my card sales to Leave No Trace. I hope that my paintings can inspire people to visit the backcountry and have the experiences that have taught my me why Leave No Trace ethics are so important. Having grown up camping, my husband and I are glad to say that trails are cleaner now than we remember as kids. We believe that Leave No Trace is responsible for this improvement and we want to do our part to help.

To learn more about Kathryn Beals, you can visit any of her websites:
www.bealsstudios.com <http://www.bealsstudios.com>
Landscapes: www.kathrynbeals.com <http://www.kathrynbeals.com>
Art Blog: www.howipaint.com <http://www.howipaint.com>

To learn more about Small Business Partnerships, please visit us online: http://lnt.org/support/small_business.php

My Backyard: Wildflower Photography Tips

As the wildflowers bloom in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, I find myself using my camera more and more for scenery and landscape shots. Wildflowers are one of my favorite subjects, and taking pictures of them is a great way to support the Leave No Trace principle, Leave What You Find. Considering some of the following tips will help you make the most of your next outdoor excursion.

• Consider using a tripod to steady the shot and produce a sharp image.
• Get up early and shoot the sunrise in the best location. Scout the area the day before or during the dead time during the high noon sun.
• Wait until sunset to shoot large fields of flowers, the light is golden and will render your subject much better than the harsh light of the day.
• Take plenty of batteries for your camera — or make sure your batteries are charged.
• Take more than enough film — or a sufficient memory card - you may just use it all.
• Fill your frame! It’s okay to not have the entire flower in photo. Just like shooting a portrait of a person, all we need is a head and shoulder, not a full length body shot. Consider portraits and landscapes for your shots.
• Shoot from a low level, just as you shoot at portrait on the same level as the subject (you don’t shoot down on the top of the head) flowers should be shot with the camera at the same level as the flower.
  

Dear Education Department: The meaning behind the "Swirl"

Dear Education Department,

I see the Leave No Trace logo many places. It’s a great reminder to take care of our open spaces. However, I’m been meaning to ask you for quite some time, what does the swirl mean? Does it represent something in particular? I have some ideas myself but I wanted to hear it straight from the source.

Thank you for your insight!

Sincerely,

Thoughtful Naturalist

**********

Dear Thoughtful Naturalist,

Thank you for your email! We are glad to hear the logo is becoming more recognizable and that it evokes a positive response. Many people have discussed the significance of the swirl over the years and here are some of our favorite theories:

• The dual lines and center dot represent something similar to the Chinese Yin and Yang, or the relationship between humans and the natural world and the need for balance.

• The lines represent the phrase “pack it in, pack it out.” One line symbolizes what you carry into the wilderness (the dot) and one line symbolizes what you carry back out. Again, there is a balance and the wilderness is left the same for better than you found it.

• The lines are the flames of a small, contained campfire (the dot). Fire safety and management is one facet of Leave No Trace and speaks to minimizing impact in general.

• The dot represents a concentrated environmental impact and how it can proliferate and spread (via the lines) if proper education, management and outreach aren’t in place.

In summary, there is no “one” explanation for what the Leave No Trace logo with the exception that it symbolizes what responsible recreation means to YOU. More importantly, it evokes thought, discussion and eventually action that have a future generation effect on conservation and environmental stewardship.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Education Department

Thirsty yet?

Now’s your chance! A must have for any thirsty outdoor enthusiast! These new bottles are made from stainless steel, have a screw off lid, and feature the Leave No Trace logo and seven principles. And, while regularly priced at $12.95, they are 20% off for the month!

You can find them in our online store.

Tim Horton Camp Kentahten, KY

Campers practice the 'rule of thumb' to respect wildlife.

Last week marked our second personal visit and the third annual visit for the Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers to the Tim Horton Camp Kentahten in Campbellsville, KY. Opened in 2001, this is the first Tim Horton Children's Foundation camp in the United States. The camp occupies 50 acres of waterfront property on Green River Lake, in the heart of Kentucky. The camp is full of high energy staff and campers from all over the U.S. and Canada. During two sessions we worked with over 120 campers and 30 staff members. We played activities from the Leave No Trace PEAK Pack to explore the 7 principles. The campers had many thoughtful questions and were particularly intrigued to learn about the use of a fire pan and a light weight back packing stove. A special thanks goes out to "Crocs" and her crew for the posh accommodations and the delicious meals. Keep up the great work Camp Kentahten. See you next year.

Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Road Wisdom: Event Highlight, Outdoor Nation Youth Summit

On June 19th and 20th, we traveled to Central Park in New York City to take part in a monumental event- the world’s first ever Outdoor Nation Youth Summit. The event hosted 500 youth ambassadors from all of the 50 states to discuss ways to reconnect youth with the outdoors and encourage healthy, active lifestyles and environmental stewardship.

According to the vision of the Outdoor Nation, there is one way to reconnect youth with the out of doors. “Ultimately, to succeed in reconnecting young people with the outdoors, youth must help lead the way – spurring a cultural movement where youth are empowered to redefine, reclaim and rediscover the outdoors.” The summit provided a platform to discuss the obstacles that limit the youth of today from accessing outdoor experiences. The youth ambassadors spoke about diversity, health and active lifestyles, influence from media and culture, outdoor careers, outdoor service, and outdoor recreation and education.

Leave No Trace was invited to join in on the discussion about outdoor education and recreation. Through thoughtful discussions, the youth ambassadors identified the hurdles that today’s youth face in building their connection with the outdoors including limited access to outdoors areas, a lack of training about the outdoors, financial restrictions, and a fear of the unknown. The ambassadors then shifted the focus of conversation to viable solutions, actions, and responses to the identified obstacles.

It was truly inspiring to be a part of this summit. We believe that in order to continue to protect the quality of the resources and the recreational experience for all to enjoy, especially our future generations, we need to embrace this movement that Outdoor Nation has begun. Having an outdoor experience at a young age can make a huge difference in life. Everyone deserves the opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy our public lands. We look forward to seeing what develops from this Youth Summit and the positive changes it creates for the youth of America!

To learn more about Outdoor Nation and ways to get involved, check out the website: www.outdoornation.org

Happy Adventuring…Kate & Tracy, Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers

Food just tastes better OUTSIDE!

As we travel around the country, we do a lot of cooking in the great outdoors. Lately, we have run into numerous people who have commented "Food just tastes better when cooked outside." We totally agree! Whether you enjoy a grilled hot dog, bbq chicken, or a nice veggie burger, chances are the best grilled item you have ever eaten was consumed in the outdoors. We have had some delicious meals during our time on the road. Here are a few of our favorites:

Shrimp and Veggie stir-fry with brown rice

Foil Packet Dinners

Banana Boats

What are some of your favorite camp foods?

Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Hang Tags: Don't Leave Home Without 'Em!

Our Reference Cards (affectionately called 'hang tags') serve as our handy dandy portable classroom explaining each of the 7 Leave No Trace principles. Tie it on your pack, keep it on your fishing vest, put it on your dog's collar, even hand one to someone who could use a bit of reminding (or first time learning) out on the trail. Staff secret: These make great party favors. Pick them up here: https://store.lnt.org/teach

High Sierra Music Festival

For the 4th of July weekend we met up with previous Traveling Trainers, Alexis Ollar and Topher Marlatt at the 20th annual High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, California. We hosted the 2nd annual Red, White, Blue, and Green Campsite Challenge encouraging festival goers to consider the seven principles of Leave No Trace while camping at the festival. We had a number of entries and in the picture above the judge, Jonathan Gelbard, Agata, and Alexis contemplate the entries.


We were excited to award the Grand Prize to Steve Van Zandt and the Banana Slug String Band for their campsite that is pictured above. The winning campsite had recycling and compost receptacles, solar powered lights, a solar shower, as well as creative and festive decorations. The Banana Slug String Band is based in Santa Cruz and is comprised of musicians and educators that bring science and conservation to audiences using music, humor and imagination.

Thanks to Debbie Crockett for making Leave No Trace a part of the High Sierra Music Festival once again.

All the best...

Agata and Jason

In the Field with Peter Newman, Ph.D.

Next week, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics will publish its Annual Report for 2009. If you subscribe to our eNews, you can access a copy there or just check out our Media Center at LNT.org. The report contains project and donor profiles, audited 2009 financial information, and updates on Leave No Trace research and programs. A preview profile is below:

Peter Newman, Ph.D., is Associate Dean of Academics at the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado and also serves on the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics’ Board of Directors. Dr. Newman’s research focuses on the human dimension of natural resource management and social carrying capacity decision making of protected areas management. He currently has research underway at Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, and recently talked to Susy Alkaitis about his work.

Susy Alkaitis: How did you begin your work with Leave No Trace?

Dr. Peter Newman: I was an instructor at the Yosemite Institute and became a Leave No Trace Trainer. Eventually, I became a park ranger because I found that I was really interested in the relationship between use and impact, and how best to manage it. I first studied the Human Dimensions of the Wilderness Experience in the Adirondacks and then in 2002, completed my Ph.D. in Natural Resources at the University of Vermont.

SA: Scientifically, what developed from there?

PN: I was particularly concerned with the human dimension of the wilderness experience, and peoples’ relationships to parks and protected areas. So I began working on studies that explored that.
Now, we I have a whole research program that looks at visitor capacity in parks and protected areas. Visitor capacity in this case is the balance of human use and protection of wildlands. We often define visitor capacity as having 3 dimensions, the social conditions, such as the number of people in a place and perceptions of crowding, the resource conditions such has the ecological resistance and resilience of an area as well as the managerial, such as the management intensity of an area, from hardened trails to trail-less areas.

SA: What is Leave No Trace’s role?

PN: Leave No Trace is vitally important to managing visitor capacity. The behavior of visitors will dictate the amount of use that an area can accommodate. If every visitor were savvy in the LNT principles, areas could probably accommodate more use with less impact. The principles are designed to limit the impact that we see as a result of increasing use.

SA: Have any themes emerged in your research?

PN: A great example has been our work in the protection of “soundscapes” which is the study of the acoustic environment. More and more, people want to get away and our studies show that people desire the experience to hear the sounds of nature. In open ended as well as quantitative portions of our surveys, we overwhelmingly find, “quiet, peace and solitude,” as well as a need to get away from urbanized environments as one of the most compelling reasons to visit protected areas.

In California’s Muir Woods, we worked with the National Park Service to to deal with issues of visitor generated noise. They really wanted to protect the quiet of the woods, so we worked on developing effective visitor messaging. We placed microphones in the woods and measured the ambient noise levels given the amount of visitor use. We then, posted messages pointing out ways for visitors to reduce noise and then alerted them when they were entering quiet zones. We measured ambient sound levels on days when we had the messages in place and then on days when we did not, based on an experimental design. During our times when the messages were in place, results showed that we were able to reduce ambient noise by three decibels —Although this seems small, it had the effect of a doubling in listening area, in other words what you could hear 100 feet away you could now hear at 140 feet away. The results were something that the National Park Service could really act on, and they created effective, permanent quiet zones. The results of this were recently published in the January issue of the journal Park Science. This shift in behavior is a great example of how principles of LNT can result in the protection of natural sounds, thus protecting wildlife and the visitor experiences parks provide.

SA: With limitless resources, where would your research go?

PN: I believe that we need to push the boundaries of systems thinking and systems modeling. Modeling is so interesting because it brings together people from multiple disciplines and creates linkages among different types of data that show potential unintended consequences of decisions, changes in population growth and provides great context for people to understand how their decisions and actions in one place may have an effect on some place else. These are great issues to think about whether you are in a park of even day-to-day in the grocery store.

Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, New Hampshire

It was a busy holiday weekend for Team East. We provided booth outreach at the popular Mount Washington trailhead, Tuckerman's Ravine Trail, where we spoke with hundreds of hikers who came out to enjoy the blue bird day. With a 60 degree day forecast for the summit of Washington, who wouldn't want to make the trek to the top! Although we did not get to summit this time, we enjoyed watching the excited hikers begin their journey in the morning, and see them exhausted and empowered on their return. We wrapped up the day with an evening awareness workshop for guests staying at the Joe Dodge Lodge, one of the many lodges and huts of the White Mountains.

Pinkham Notch Visitor Center is nestled in the beautiful White Mountain region and is run by the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). The Appalachian Mountain Club promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of the Appalachian region. AMC maintains over 1,500 miles of trails throughout the Northeast, including nearly 350 miles of the Appalachian Trail in 5 states. AMC and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics maintain a strong relationship as AMC is one of the seven Leave No Trace Master Educator course providers. The past few months we have explored the Appalachians from south to north and we applaud all of AMC's hard work to protect the Appalachian Mountains.

Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

How crowded is too crowded?

Our family went rafting on the 3rd of July on a local stretch of the Colorado River. I've been floating this section of river for almost 10 years and had never seen it this crowded. Here's a shot of the take-out by late afternoon.



We had a great float despite the crowds but it made me think, "how crowded is too crowded."

New items added to Online Auction! Only a few more days left to bid

Have you checked out Leave No Trace's Online Auction yet? This unique experience is bringing members of the Leave No Trace community from around the globe together for the first time, to share in their support and advocacy for the Center's mission.

We've added new items! Bidding began last week for exciting items from many of our Corporate Partners, Board of Directors, members and other partners.

Other things to remember:

• Check on your bids. It's fast and easy to bid on one or more items in our auction catalog. Once you've bid, be sure to keep checking back on your items to see how they're doing.

• Tell Your Friends. We need your help! Please share all of the auction news with your friends and encourage them to participate so they don't miss a single moment of the fun and excitement. (You can also share this email with them by using the links provided below.)

• You have until Tuesday, July 6th at noon to place you maximum bid! Join us in the fun and make a unique contribution to the health of your favorite Leave No Trace programs and initiatives.

Click here to view the Silent Auction and start your bidding!

4th of July Weekend Outings

This weekend, there's a good chance many of you will be heading to the outdoors to enjoy time with family and friends celebrating our country's independence -the 4th of July. I tried explaining exactly what the 4th of July was all about to my young children this morning. (I think I did a mediocre job since they seemed more interested in the Queen and whether or not she was still around).

In any case, our ability to get outdoors, seek experiences in nature that help nurture our beings seems very related to our freedoms gained more than 200 years ago. A 4th of July, State Parks video I came across this morning talks about our independence and the important role our State Parks play historically and currently. Take a look and enjoy a Happy, Safe 4th of July.

http://www.americasstateparks.com/article_68_video_independenceday.html

Traveling Trainers tune into the Radio Disney Safety Safari

On Saturday June 26th we were invited to teach about Leave No Trace and share free educational activities and information at the Radio Disney Safety Safari in Tigard, Oregon. The photo above drops in on the conversation between our Leave No Trace state advocate Georgia Bosse and some young folks learning about minimum impact outdoor recreation techniques focused on establishing a responsible campsite.

Below we have a few brave members of the audience learning more about the principle Respect Wildlife and how to use the "rule of thumb" to gauge a safe distance when viewing animals in their natural habitat.


A warm "thank you" to Georgia and Rex for their hospitality during our final 2010 visit to Oregon before we head back East for the second half of the year.

All the best,

Jason and Agata