California University of Pennsylvania

Today we visited California University of Pennsylvania in California, PA just south of Pittsburgh. Over 70 Parks & Recreation Management, Biology, and Environmental Science Majors attended our two workshops. The first workshop was a general awareness workshop intended for students to get a sense of Leave No Trace as a concept and organization. The second workshop was more in depth focusing on using Leave No Trace as a resource tool in resource management and its role in promoting stewardship of public lands.

Special thanks to Dr. John Confer for putting this day at Cal U. together.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Bigfoot enjoys hearing from you...

Each month Bigfoot and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics have introduced new challenges, to inspire people to get more involved in practicing, teaching, and promoting Leave No Trace.

Thanks Rudy for sharing your story with Bigfoot and thanks for all that you do for Leave No Trace!

Hey Bigfoot,

As part of my September challenge I took a group of children on a hike. This is a group of home-school kids that I have been teaching outdoor skills to for several months. We completed a session on map and compass, so I planned a hike as a test for the little critters. First, of course, we reviewed our understanding of Leave No Trace - I told the kids that if we left any trace, you might follow us home! We planned a hike on several acres of town conversation easement land. The children oriented their maps, took bearings to a waterfall about a half mile into the woods, and off we went. For a bunch of 8-11 year olds, the kids did very well. Since there were no trails in or out of the woods we used backcountry principles and kept spread out so we would not create a trail and to keep compacting to a minimum. We managed to stay on durable surfaces (pine needles) most of the time, no plants were picked and the kids managed to leave what they found. The kids carried in their trail mix bags and carried out their trash. You would be proud of them - not only did they leave no trace, they also found their way in, around and out of the woods by themselves using their maps and compasses.

Let's see you come up with a real challenge for October!

Rudy Bourget

Weare, NH

New Trainer Course Posted!

Leave No Trace Trainer Course on the River

Leave No Trace Master Educators, Alexis Ollar and Topher Marlatt have teamed up with Redwoods and Rivers to put on this one of a kind, Leave No Trace Rafting Trainer's Course. Participants who book this course will not only have the opportunity to raft the Trinity River as an overnight experience, they will also learn to become a Leave No Trace Trainer. This course is an exceptional value and the perfect chance to gain technical and soft skills that will enhance your knowledge of the outdoors. This course will prepare you with the concepts and skills to effectively teach a Leave No trace awareness workshop. It will go over Leave No Trace principles:

• Plan ahead and prepare
• Travel and camp on durable services
• Dispose of waste properly
• Leave what you find
• Minimize campfire impacts
• Respect wildlife
• Be considerate of other visitors

Saturday, October 23: 9:00am-Sunday, October 24: 5:00pm (overnight program)

Location: Redwoods & Rivers Rafting Company in Del Loma, CA (Trinity County) on the CA-299.

Cost: $200

For more information or to register, please

• Visit www.NorthCoastAdventureCenters.com/training
• Email Jeremy@NorthCoastAdventureCenters.com
• Call 800.808.2836 x9 (Trainings)

Our eyes did not deceive us! During a game of disc golf, or folf (frisbee golf) as we heard the locals call it here in Missoula, we came upon the basket on hole 12 to find Bigfoot! He was playing a solo game and he apparently has quite a bit of skill as he easily sunk this putt from twenty feet away. Bigfoot seemed a bit concerned about the trash, mostly cans and cigarette butts that littered the course. As more and more people are getting out to recreate on our public lands, Bigfoot reminds us to Leave No Trace like he has been doing for years and to 'Pack it in, Pack it out'.

Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Leave No Trace is hiring a Development Director!

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an international nonprofit organization committed to the protection and enjoyment of the outdoors for all people. We are seeking a sharp and savvy, conservation-oriented individual for a full-time fundraising position in Boulder, Colorado. If you are interested in working for a dynamic, interesting, fun and active outdoor non-profit, read on.
Leave No Trace has had tremendous success raising millions of dollars through corporate partnerships. It’s time to dramatically diversify our portfolio, broaden our funding base and take our programs to the next level. Are you the right person for this challenge?
The Development Director works in partnership with, and reports to the Executive Director. We need a person with proven fundraising experience who can take charge of our current development plan, lead and direct the fundraising team in order to successfully execute Leave No Trace’s annual fundraising goals.

Primary Responsibilities include:
• Overseeing and executing an effective annual strategy that secures funding from individuals, corporations and foundations.
• Researching and writing proposals and/or grants to secure financial support.
• Oversee various aspects of corporate fundraising and providing services to Leave No Trace’s 400 current partners.
• Working with key staff to identify, cultivate and solicit major donor gifts that may include presentations, special informational meetings, events, follow-up coordination and communications.
• Managing all aspects of the individual membership program (currently 4000 members) including the donor database and staff responsible for data entry and gift processing.
• Working with the Executive Director and the Board of Directors in carrying out their specific fundraising functions.
• Overseeing special events (on-line auctions, partner fundraisers at trade shows, etc)

Qualifications:
1. Undergraduate degree is required;
2. Minimum 5-7 years experience in fundraising, development/membership;
3. Outstanding writing and communication skills;
4. Working knowledge of database management;
5. Demonstrated experience with nonprofit membership programs is preferred;
6. Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills including leadership, communication and teamwork;
7. Creative thinker with the ability to develop or seek out innovative approaches and ideas;
8. Ability to manage and prioritize many projects simultaneously.

Staff at the Center take a great deal of responsibility for their individual roles, thrive in a team oriented atmosphere, and always make time for their favorite outdoor pursuits.

SALARY/BENEFITS: Annual salary TBD based on experience, healthcare and dental, paid vacation, retirement plan.
CLOSING DATE: October 12, 2010
SEND RESUME, COVER LETTER and SALARY REQUIREMENTS TO:
Development Director
Leave No Trace
P.O. Box 997
Boulder, CO 80306
-OR-
employment@LNT.org (Subject:Development Director)

***NO CALLS PLEASE***

Leave No Trace is an equal opportunity employer
and does not discriminate.

College Students: Help us with outreach!

Many of you have read the recent posts about Leave No Trace programs in the Red River Gorge.

As part of the Hot Spot program, the Center is also working with the Forest Service to improve outreach to college/university students visiting this region.

If you are a college/university student that recreates in this area - Kentucky, West Virginia, Ohio, Virginia, Indiana, etc. - please take five minutes to complete this survey:

http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/334068/red-river-gorge-university-outreach

With your help, we can keep the Red River Gorgeous!

Living Archeology Weekend in the Red River Gorge

Last Friday and Saturday, we visited the Gladie Cultural-Environmental Learning Center in the Daniel Boone National Forest to participate in the Living Archeology Weekend, which saw over 1,600 visitors over the two-day event. Since 1989, this annual event has been providing quality educational experiences for school children and the general public. Primitive technology experts, professional archaeologists and Native American tribal representatives presented and demonstrated how native and historic people lived in Red River Gorge.

The Red River Gorge was the first Hot Spot selected by the Center this year. A Leave No Trace Hot Spot is an area heavily impacted by recreational use. Through the Hot Spot program the Center aims to increase awareness on how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly and to reduce impacts on lands used by the public for recreation.

We had the opportunity to work alongside our Educational Programs Manager, Sarah Folzenlogen, throughout both days of the event. On Friday, the programs were open to only 5th grade school groups. In the photo above, 5th grade students are playing the role of "archaeologists" piecing the stories of various native peoples and wildlife together as a part of our sessions focusing on the Leave No Trace principle Leave What You Find.

On Saturday we were able to offer outreach to the general public and awareness workshops for small groups who were interested in learning more about how they can enjoy the outdoors in a responsible manner and preserve the history and heritage of the Red River Gorge.

A warm Thank You to Jessica Santangelo and all the staff whose hard work and passions enjoying the history of the Red River Gorge made this event possible.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Spokane River Clean Up

Saturday September 25th marked National Public Lands Day. Team West spent the day in eastern Washington and took part in the 8th annual Spokane River Clean Up. Last year 8 tons of trash were hauled out of the river and surrounding areas. We have yet to receive the total amount of trash and recyclables removed this year, but we are feeling that the 400 locals that came to participate removed at least as much this year as they did last year! The pictures below show our efforts, with the help of Annie, to remove a tire that had likely been left in the woods years earlier.

When we finally unearthed the tire, metal rim still intact, we had to roll it up to the road, where the crews could come by and dispose of it properly. Whew, this was an exciting event to take part in! We were invited to participate by Washington State Advocate John Wilmot. A special thanks to John for inviting the Traveling Trainers to keep the Spokane River clean.

Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Invasive Species - A growing problem in the pacific northwest

Washington state: Inspectors stop boat with invasive mussels

State officials say they stopped a boat that was contaminated with zebra mussels before the invasive species could spread in Washington waters.

The Associated Press
BELLINGHAM, Wash. —

State officials say they stopped a boat that was contaminated with zebra mussels before the invasive species could spread in Washington waters.

Officers with the Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington State Patrol in Cle Elum inspected the 57-foot boat being hauled from Michigan to British Columbia. They found the tiny zebra mussels attached to a light fixture on the boat's stern and sent it to be cleaned in Bellingham.

Officials say the mussels have caused damage in other states. They multiply quickly, threatening native fish and clogging pipes used for irrigation and municipal water supplies.

The Bellingham Herald reports that state agencies have been inspecting boats hauled into the state since 2006 and found quagga and zebra mussels on more than 20 boats.

Inspecting, washing and sanitizing equipment between trips is one effective way to help iminimize the spread of invasive species. For more information on invasive species, visit: http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/

10TH ANNUAL LUMPY TRAILS DAY October 1-3rd

We hope you’ll join us for a weekend of activities on Lumpy Ridge as well as in Estes Park, CO.

Come visit the Leave No Trace table and join your friends, crack climbing guru’s, notable first ascensionists of the past, off-width enthusiasts, and granite lovers, for a historic weekend on ‘The Lump’. Weekend festivities include: gear demo’s, climbing clinics, historic images programs, casual grub and grog, and an opportunity to be part of the longest running Adopt-a-Crag in the USA.

This is the tenth (yes 10th !) straight year of climbers partnering with Rocky Mountain National Park and stewardship of the climbers access trails. Over the last ten years, the partnership has provided over 500 participants and 4000 hours of service work on Lumpy Ridge. These are not your tourist trails but the steep, narrow and rugged climber access trails to each of the crags we enjoy. Destinations include: Sundance, The Pear, The Book End, Book Mark, Left Book and Book, Batman and the Twin Owls. Some of these access and descent trails are 800 vertical feet in length. Some now have over 60 wood water-bars and 100 stone steps each notched into place to prevent erosion and improve the hike. On Sunday, October 3rd the day will begin by staging at the Estes Park, Town Hall parking lot at 7am. Breakfast and lunch are provided for all volunteers.

For more information please contact: haliku@yahoo.com or g_sievers57@q.com

Beginning Backpacking at Miami University

On Wednesday September 22nd we visited with the Outdoor Pursuit Center at Miami University in Oxford, OH to talk about Leave No Trace Frontcountry practices. We met with a Beginning Backpacking class of about 20 students and program staff to discuss how considering the 7 principles of Leave No Trace promotes stewardship of public lands and responsible enjoyment of the outdoors. The students had plenty of personal experiences and opinions about outdoor ethics and were a pleasure to learn with during our time on campus.

A warm thank you to Jen Silica for hosting the Subaru Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers and we look forward visiting again in the future.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

School Outreach in Winthrop, WA

Happy first day of autumn! This week we visited seven classrooms, educating more than 200 students, in Winthrop, WA. Winthrop is a small town nestled in the Methow Valley in north central Washington, just outside of the Cascades Mountains. We were pleasantly surprised to see how connected these students are to their natural world. After reading "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv, we learned that children, on average, spend approximately 30 hours a week in front of a screen- TV, video games, internet, cell phones etc. The students we worked with in Winthrop were not in that average by any means. They all shared with us how they rarely watch TV and spend the majority of their free time outdoors! It was such a pleasure to share our stories and experiences with this school district and to hear their stories as well! It is so critical for a child to spend time in the natural world and feel a strong connection with the nature. The Methow Valley School District does an excellent job of embracing this philosophy within their academic world. We learned about their community garden, their recycling and composting programs, and their outdoor trips that the students in this district are involved in. We were truly inspired by this visit and look forward to returning to Winthrop in the future!

Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Reminder: Upcoming Events at Red River Gorge

Leave No Trace will be participating in two upcoming events at the Red River Gorge, in Daniel Boone National Forest, KY.

Red River Gorge was named the first "Leave No Trace Hot Spot" earlier this year. The Center is working with the Forest Service to increase awareness and education around protecting this natural/historic area.

Come visit with the Traveling Trainers and Center staff at these events and learn how to get more involved!

Living Archaeology Weekend, Sept. 25-26

Rocktoberfest, Oct. 8-10

Hope to see you there!

Respect Wildlife isn't just for the woods

From the Cody Enterprise. Full article here: http://tinyurl.com/35j6ueh

The North Face Speaker Series - join the adventure starting September 28th!

As an organization focused on people doing their part to be both participants and activists in the outdoor conservation moment, we are proud to partner with companies like The North Face who put these values in to action, every day.

Join us this Fall as we meet athletes from The North Face on the road for The North Face Speaker Series, held in select cities across the nation through December 3rd.

Check out the full North Face Speaker Series schedule here, and see which exciting show is happening in your area of the country!

Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers and Staff will at the Speaker Series in the following cities: Boulder, Denver, Santa Fe and Burlington.

See you there!

Hartwood Days

On September 11th, we attended Hartwood Days Festival in Fredericksburg, Virginia. This 11th annual youth and community fair offered families and youth opportunities to have fun and learn new things. Boy and Girl Scouts even had opportunities to earn many different badges. We offered several classes and in the picture above Agata is working with a group of Brownies on their Leave No Trace Try-it Badge.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Partner Highlight: Chipper and IAG Media make a splash with youth engagement

IAGmedia is a Bay Area based family-lifestyle Company that playfully delivers good characters, programs and products that help instill positive life values and a respect for the environment.

The Company sells the physical products along with providing in school story times, kids nature zones, and event participation with its live mascot – Chipper. IAGmedia received iParenting Media’s “Hot Product” award for the series, and recently teamed up with Leave No Trace as a Small Business Partner in the Spring of 2010.

Since then, Leave No Trace and IAG Media have watched Chipper "excite, engage and educate children about nature" through a series of of books, outreach at local events, and other creative initiatives.

IAG's newest and exciting initiative engages both social and mobile media with the creation of a Let's Go Chipper! application for the iPad/iPhone. In conjunction with the launch, IAG Media is also introducing a give back program, of which Leave No Trace is the inaugural beneficiary! A portion of proceeds of each app sale are donated to Leave No Trace for all sales in the next two months.

Please check out the full press release, and join us in welcoming and supporting the creative endeavors of Chipper and IAG Media!

Road Wisdom: Lighting a Fire

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

-William Butler Yeats

While traveling and teaching, we have the opportunity to work with an incredibly diverse range of audiences. From youth-serving organizations like the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, to Ivy League campuses and from federal land management agencies, to non-profits and guide services, we always teach using the framework of the Seven Leave No Trace principles as guidelines for responsible decision-making while recreating outdoors.

Sounds pretty simple so far, right?

The reality is that each presentation is altogether unique because each audience is different, and each individual in every audience brings a different background and perspective to what it means to recreate responsibly. This is where we, as Traveling Trainers, approach our task from a simple but convincing perspective expressed so eloquently by William Butler Yeats: “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire”.

Audiences always want to know what the “rules” of the program are so they can acquire and adhere to the parameters of the Leave No Trace program. However, there are none to offer, and this is where the “not the filling of a pail” part of our approach comes in to play. The Seven Leave No Trace principles are intended to be a set of guidelines to consider while enjoying outdoor recreation rather than a step-by-step set of directions for personal conduct.

So how do we inspire outdoor recreationists without pedantic rants and emotive appeals to preserve the quality of the natural environment and experiences for future generations of outdoor enthusiasts?

That is the true crux of our work and we attempt to approach it with creativity and passion to allow us to connect with each audience. Personalizing the program to each outdoor enthusiast is a matter of discovering how that person enjoys the outdoors and making the connection with them between the Leave No Trace principles and their experiences in nature.

One of the keys to our approach is emphasizing that our past actions are behind us and our work is to consider how we can Leave No Trace in the future. We focus proactively on the individual as the answer to protecting natural lands from recreational impacts and not on limiting access to the places we all enjoy so much. By approaching our presentations and trainings with “the lighting of a fire” in mind, we hope to provide enough information rooted in scientific studies and common sense so that each individual is equipped to make the best choices with whatever scenario they are faced with while recreating outdoors.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

eNews You Can Use: Age Requirements for Training

Dear Education Department,

I recently completed my Master Educator Course and am scheduling some upcoming Trainer Courses.

I am writing to see if there is a minimum age requirement for taking a Trainer Course. I thought I had read something in your literature, but I can’t seem to find it. I’ve received a number of inquiries regarding this and want to make sure I am passing along the right information.

Can you help me answer this question?

Sincerely,

Active Master Educator

*************

Dear Active Master Educator,

Thank you for your email and congratulations on completing the Master Educator Course! As the number of people taking Trainer Courses continues to grow, we’ve received this inquiry many times.

Here is our answer to the question:

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics does not have a set minimum age for Leave No Trace Trainer Course participants. However, the youngest participants we’re aware of on Leave No Trace Trainer Courses have been 13, and these have been offered by youth serving organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America.

Here are some things to keep in mind:

1. We leave it up to the individual Master Educator to determine the minimum age of participants for courses they run, keeping in mind the potential legal ramifications of having minors participate in their courses. If you’re running courses under the auspices of your organization, for example, it may be fine to have minors participate. Whereas if you’re running courses on your own, you might find that you’re not comfortable with the risk/liability associated with having minors on your courses.

2. Be mindful of how younger course participants will be able to (or not) deal with certain subject matter such as human wastes, feminine hygiene products (proper disposal of), etc. Sometimes young people can easily handle this subject matter and other times they don’t handle very well (or at all).

3. Keep in mind that the intent of the Trainer Course is to teach participants how to effectively disseminate Leave No Trace information (e.g. Awareness Workshops). While some young people are fully capable of this, others simply aren’t and may be better suited for an Awareness Workshop themselves rather than the Trainer Course.

4. Your organization may have internal guidelines regarding age of participants.

Should you have further questions please contact the Education Department. Thank you for your support. We wouldn’t be able to work with millions each year if it weren’t for volunteers like you.

Sincerely,

The Education Department

Photo Caption: Participants stop to watch a lesson during a Trainer Course in Acadia.

Living Archaeology Weekend - Red River Gorge

If you are in the Kentucky area next weekeed, come support the first Leave No Trace Hot Spot: the Red River Gorge!

Living Archaeology weekend will take place September 24-24 at the Gladie Center in the Red River Gorge:

Have you ever wondered what life was like in Kentucky a thousand years ago? Then join us at Red River Gorge, and watch the prehistoric past come alive as Native Americans and other craftsmen demonstrate the way ancient cultures went about the daily business of living.

The weekend’s events will be held on an open terrace near Gladie Creek, similar to sites inhabited by Kentucky’s first people. This enjoyable program of outdoor activities is designed to promote an understanding of the technologies that Native Americans used in the area, and the appreciation and protection of Kentucky's fragile archaeological sites.

Note: Friday’s programs are for school groups by prior arrangement; contact Jessica Santangelo at the Gladie Center, 606-663-8100. Saturday’s programs are for the general public.

Hope to see you there!

Whidbey Island Trainer Course

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we traveled to Whidbey Island in WA to provide a Leave No Trace Trainer Course. This is the second year in a row for us at Whidbey Island. We had participants from the US Forest Service, North Cascades Institute, Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, as well as staff from the US Naval Recreation Program. With all of this diversity, the course was beaming with insightful and thoughtful discussions of the skills and ethics of Leave No Trace. We had perfect weather for the course and spent an afternoon hiking at Deception Pass State Park. We are excited at the prospect of having this be an annual course held at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station! A big thanks to Dave Meyers for hosting an amazing course and congratulations to our 8 new Leave No Trace Trainers! Please enjoy this slideshow of photos taken during the course.

Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Outfitter Highlight

I recently went camping in Colorado with the Traveling Trainers, which gave me a chance to feel like I was a Traveling Trainer once again. I quickly realized that our current teams have it much cushier than teams of the past thanks to all of their outfitting partners, Chaco, MSR/Thermarest, the Coleman Company as well as Smartwool. I was lucky to try out some of the current gear that our teams were using and quickly realized why our teams love what they do so much. They are camping in style all across the country thanks to the support of these outfitters. So for that I say thank you to our outfitters and to everyone else who has opened their doors, hosted one of our teams or provided a good recommendation to the Traveling Trainer teams this year!

Would you like have a Traveling Trainer team come to work with you next year? We are currently working on the 2011 schedule so now is a good time to let us know your event dates. Please request a visit online, Team East or Team West.

We look forward to working with you soon!

A Big High Five to the Pikes Peak Community College Outdoor Leadership Group!

It is a treat for us here at the office to get a peek into what is happening 'out in the field', and we LOVE seeing that these stories are literally coming in from all over the country. We want to give a big shout out to a group of students from the Pikes Peak Community College Leave No Trace course, which have been focusing their efforts in the very special William Canon in Manitou Springs, just outside of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Kristen Sherwood, Outdoor Leadership instructor, took the time to fill us in on her groups' effort, and we are excited to share this project with you! Hey students.. you rock!

Here is Kristen's story:
My Leave No Trace Trainer Course at Pikes Peak Community College has been working towards building a partnership with local landowners and USFS to protect a really special place called Williams Canon in Manitou Springs, CO. Classes have mapped terrain, surveyed stream beds, assessed trail impacts, led hikes with local land managers, learned about user conflicts and ecology vs. economy, begun taking inventories of canon resources, all while learning the principles in the field. All of their classes are held in (and underground) in the canon and its caves, and the students really take ownership in the land, which I believe really serves to help them understand Leave No Trace on a deeper level.

Last Saturday, we spent a full day hiking the length of the canon. Each class we try to leave it better than we found it by packing out trash, but this week, the students took it to a whole new level! The canon has many historic sites and structures dating back to the 1870s, and what was probably an old hunting camp has been used by partiers and campers since then. Layers and layers of broken glass, old carpet and a fallen-in roof have been added to the original shelter walls and the place is a mess. The students decided to start cleaning it up -- not just the obvious chunks of junk, but everything that wasn't an artifact. They sifted through the fireplace area, leaving old tin that could be dated and considered part of an archeological site but packing out shotgun shells, Coors cans, shingles, etc.

We were one mile down in a rocky, remote, old-growth forested canon, but the students' motivation took over and they decided they were going to pack it out, no matter what. By using a piece of old sheet metal nailed to a burnt pine pole, para cord, and a tarp, they creatively devised a travois-style sled on which they piled 30-40 lbs of sodden rotting carpet, sooty glass, roofing shingles and the like. Mostly by carrying it over their heads, this giant eyesore was packed out over extremely rough terrain, through creeks, under fallen trees, and down loose scree slopes.

This effort was not without costs -- the sled was like a freight train, and once it got going the students carrying it could not really stop. Heads were bumped, falls were taken, hands bloodied, clothes ruined... everybody got dirty, sooty and tired but at the end of the day they were still all smiles and well-deserved feelings of accomplishment.

The motivation here to get this stuff out of the canon speaks volumes about how much our students enjoy being in the outdoors, protecting it, and the also of camaraderie they develop taking classes together in our Outdoor Leadership program. We have made Leave No Trace a pre-requisite for many of our other classes, and each semester the students seem to find new and impressive ways to protect Williams Canon, and most importantly, identify and express their own outdoor ethics.

Nice work Kristen and her Pikes Peak Community College Outdoor Leadership students! Your efforts DO make a difference!

Glen Cove Elementary School

On Friday of last week, Glen Cove Elementary School in Roanoke, Virginia invited us to tell them what Leave No Trace was all about. We started the morning off by visiting all four of the 2nd grade classes and introducing them to the concepts of Leave No Trace through activities from the PEAK pack such as What Principle Am I? and Step On It.

In the afternoon, we presented to the entire school. They enjoyed the new Leave No Trace video by Michael Ramsey and over 450 students were involved in figuring out how long common trash item take to decompose during How Long Does it Last?

Thanks to Chip Donahue for organizing the visit!

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Teaching in Treehouse Paradise

Last week we held a five hour workshop at one of the more unique and magical venues we have had the opportunity to train at. Vertical Horizons Treehouse Paradise is a bed and breakfast located in southern Oregon near the Redwoods, Oregon Caves National Monument, and the beautiful coastline. This oasis is a retreat worth checking out. Each guest stays in a private treehouse (we stayed in the one pictured below) and is treated to a gourmet breakfast each morning! Guests can come and relax by the campfire, climb trees, play disc golf, play with Cosmo and Sadie (the friendly "guard" dogs), go fishing, and enjoy the beautiful scenery, all without leaving the property. We highly recommend getting "High Up In The Trees" at Vertical Horizons! A SUPER HUGE thank you to Jodie Cowan and her family for their hospitality during our stay.

Community is very important to Vertical Horizons Treehouse Paradise and the surrounding area. Staff from the Siskiyou Field Institute and the Oregon Caves National Monument joined us at the treehouses for a day of Leave No Trace training. The morning session was devoted to our PEAK Program, while the afternoon session focused on educating adults about Leave No Trace skills and ethics. Tracy leads a lesson on Minimizing Campfire Impacts, pictured below.

People For Bikes

I just learned about a great new website to support pro-bike policies and spread the joy of bikes! Check out peopleforbikes.org! They're collecting one million names in support of a better world for biking -- one that's safer, more convenient, and more appealing for everyone.

Last Grant Deadline - October 1

The Center has had a successful year working with a diverse range of organizations through our four grant-giving programs:

Packing with PEAK

Tools for Teaching

Connect Grants for Culturally Diverse Communities

Master Educator Scholarships*

October 1 marks the final grant deadline for the year for most of these programs, with the exception of Master Educator Scholarships. These grants are a great opportunity to offset educational/training costs of fall programs.

For more information on how to apply, visit: http://lnt.org/programs/grantproposal.php

Please email grants@LNT.org with any questions!

Art or Impact at Quincy Quarries

Over the Labor Day weekend we headed out to enjoy one of our favorite urban climbing areas at the ever popular Quincy Quarries just south of downtown Boston, MA. The area is known for challenging routes and the endlessly changing inspirations and hues of the local graffiti community.

We asked some local climbers "Is all this graffiti art or an unacceptable impact?" The climbing community was definitely divided on this question.

Some climbers feel the images and colors on the granite walls make Quincy Quarries unique and represent multiple user groups who come to enjoy various forms of outdoor recreation. While others feel that the damage done to the granite surfaces is irreparable and should be banned as the graffiti can make the purchase on granite slippery and the green space loses some of its luster.


With so many of us enjoying the outdoors in different ways, we welcome your thoughts on the matter. . .

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Pocket Guide & Front Country Guides on sale!

Happy Memorial Day!

Both 12 page guides offer concise, general information about the skills necessary to minimize recreational impacts wherever your outings take you. These are excellent, low cost alternatives to the Skills & Ethics booklets. The Pocket Guide is also available in Spanish. Both guides are regularly $0.65 each, now 20% off through the end of September!

You can find them in our online store!

Yo Bigfoot!

Bigfoot...

I am attaching a photo of our group of ten guys that spent the weekend backpacking, fishing and exploring near Three Finger Jack peak in Oregon. Three of the guys had never been backpacking before and shared that they liked it when it was all over. They experienced setting up a campsite on a durable surface, disposal of waste properly, and cleaning up the site when it was time to trek out. They even got a taste of camping in a summer rainstorm Saturday afternoon. A great weekend overall.

Kevin Penner

Portland, Oregon

Leave No Trace featured on American Rivers

Check it out! American River Blog - Leave No Trace

Outdoor Action Program at Princeton University

On Wednesday this week we presented to student leaders of Princeton University's Outdoor Action Program as they gear up for one of the country's largest freshman outdoor orientation programs. In small groups of 12, these leaders will be venturing out on week-long backpacking, canoeing, rock climbing, bike touring, community service, and sustainable farming trips with over 800 new students on campus. We were excited to attend a pre-trip planning day to share with the leaders various methods for teaching Leave No Trace to the trip participants. Our goal was to inspire the 230 leaders to approach their opportunity with the perspective of William Butler Yeats: "Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

The group leaders asked thoughtful questions and were very appreciative of the opportunity to develop their leadership skills around all things Leave No Trace for their upcoming adventures!

All the best,

Agata and Jason

FAQ's From The Road

Interacting with people from all over the country is one of the definite perks of our job as Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers. Two questions we commonly hear on the road is "How can I get you guys to come do a FREE training?" and "Where can I find out if there are other training opportunities if you aren't in the area?" Here are the answer to those two frequently asked questions:

HOW DO I SCHEDULE AN EVENT WITH ONE OF YOUR TRAVELING TRAINER TEAMS?
The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers provide unique hands-on educational workshops and trainings. They work with a wide range of audiences such as youth serving organizations, college students, outdoor guides, clubs, land management agency personnel and outdoor companies. Our teams of educators are split into East and West Coast teams. Please request all Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer visits online. If you live in the West, click here,if you live in the East click here. You will generally hear back from us in 4-6 weeks to discuss a possible visit from one of our teams.

Each year the Center juggles the challenge (and opportunity) of increased requests for Traveling Trainer visits. As more organizations and individuals learn about the Traveling Trainer program, the demand for training continues to escalate. Due to this ever-increasing demand there is no guarantee that we will be able to attend your event. Thank you for your understanding.

I DON’T SEE ANY TRAINER COURSES OR AWARENESS WORKSHOPS LISTED IN MY STATE. WHEN WILL THERE BE A TRAINER COURSE OR AWARENESS WORKSHOP IN MY STATE? OR, HOW DO I FIND A TRAINER COURSE OR AWARENESS WORKSHOP IN MY STATE?
1. Visit the community page for your state (and nearby states) to see if there are any Trainer Courses/Workshops listed.

2. Contact the State Advocate and Master Educators listed in your area and work to set-up a Trainer Course/Workshop by clicking here to reach the Community Page.

3. Check the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer schedule and request an event (3+ months in advance).

4. Contact the Center with questions or for more information?

You can find the answer to over 60 other Leave No Trace FAQ's regarding Leave No Trace and the Center for Outdoor Ethics, membership and partnership, education and training materials, training education and outreach, and techniques and practices. Click here to reach the FAQ page.

Pictured above are Leave No Trace Trainers from a course last season at

Government Canyon State Natural Area.