Bigfoot On Base

Bigfoot with Scouts at Minot Air Force Base!

Stopping in at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, the Leave No Trace e-tour got to talk about the outdoors with families who have hiked and camped everywhere from Germany to Japan to Kyrgyzstan. Working with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Cub Scouts, we got to talk about all the different principles of Leave No Trace, help cleanup a city park that had been hit by a flood last year, and share a cookout with Bigfoot himself! With an audience of all ages, we got to play some PEAK games including a heated game of Step On It! and an informative How Long Does it Last? The highlight of the evening was an awesome talk about how to poop outside, showing the group how to dig a 6 to 8 inch cathole and passing around a Go Anywhere Bag. Then everyone learned how long 200 feet really is when they had to race the distance while holding Clif Bars between their legs -- symbolizing when they had to go bad.

We had an awesome time with this group and think that everyone learned a lot about Leave No Trace. Without question, we loved our time being on base and wanted to thank all of these Air Force families for their service to our country! We want to thank the Air Force for welcoming the e-tour onto the base, it was a privilege to visit and share the Leave No Trace principles with the Scouting community on base. Thank you for all that you do, and we can't wait to get back up to North Dakota for another great event!

From the Barracks to the Backcountry,

Quinn & Frank

Out West with Team West

Saguaro!

What's the only thing better than one Traveling Trainer team? Two Traveling Trainer teams! This past week we met up with Mark & Tara from Team West for a few days and an event together in Tucson. With our powers combined, we capitalized on our time in the desert amid the beautiful cacti of the Southwest. One highlight of our collaborative adventures was a PEAK session at the Tucson REI where we met various community members including our Leave No Trace Arizona State Advocate Cindy! State Advocates serve a vital role in the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethic's volunteer corps and Cindy does a great job of outreach in Arizona. Whether it's getting out the word about training opportunities or connecting people with valuable Leave No Trace resources, State Advocates like Cindy make the Leave No Trace mission truly possible. Thanks Cindy!

The e-tour also had the opportunity to work with Cindy talking to Venture Scouts from the Catalina Council of the Boy Scouts while in town. These dedicated outdoorspeople pursue a variety of outdoor adventures ranging from backpacking to climbing to rafting, and it was great to have an evening program with them where we got in depth about Leave No Trace. At one point we even passed around a Go Anywhere Bag to challenge both the youth and adults to really think about Dispose of Waste Properly and whether or not to pack out human waste! It was awesome working with a group that cared so much about the desert ecosystem around them and the scarce water resources that they strove to protect!

Heading to the Ocean,

Quinn & Frank

Boy Scout Training in the Sunshine State and Beyond

"Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I will remember. Let me do, and I will understand."
-Confucius

Throughout the 2010 Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer season, we worked closely with the Boy Scouts of America to share the fundamentals of practicing and teaching Leave No Trace in the scouting community. We led awareness workshops for packs and troops, attended regional camporees in ten different states, facilitated workshops with leaders, provided ten days of outreach at the National Boy Scout Jamboree, and most recently instructed our first Boy Scout and leader only Trainer Course.

The Boy Scouts of America have an estimated 4.5 million members nationally and as one of the nation’s largest youth serving organizations the fact that the BSA is adopting the Leave No Trace program as an organizational norm is critical for the outdoor recreation community.

In 2010, the unveiling of new awards and leadership positions within the ranks of the Boy Scouts of America has created a consistent demand for Leave No Trace Trainer Courses to be offered around the country to Scouts of all ages and experience levels. Last November, we facilitated a Trainer Course with Boy Scouts and leaders from various councils throughout the state of Florida. The 16-hour course focused on instructing the fundamentals required to teach others the skills and ethics of Leave No Trace. Throughout the course we drew on the words of Confucius as the Scouts enjoyed experiential learning opportunities and personally connected with the idea "Let me do, and I will understand." The participants were introduced to various methods to minimize impacts on the outdoors, and each led a lesson covering a different principle or topic for the whole group.

For the new position of Leave No Trace Trainer within a troop, completing a Trainer Course is required. The Trainer Course assists the student participants in learning more about the seven principles of Leave No Trace and techniques for disseminating these low impact skills. Opportunities for experiential education in the outdoors create connections between the human and natural communities for Scouts of all ages. Learning through doing develops the ethics behind taking on individual responsibility and a sense of stewardship for public lands. Trainer Courses also offer diverse student groupings with students of various ages and experience levels and allow for a unique learning dynamic promoting exploration and dialogue from varied life perspectives.

With so many millions of Scouts enjoying the outdoors with Leave No Trace in mind, outdoor recreation adventures can be safer and more responsible experiences for Scouts of all ages. With eight new Leave No Trace Trainers in the state of Florida, the Leave No Trace program will be taught to many new Scouts in several councils.

Connecticut Rivers Council Scout Show

Over the weekend, we provided outreach at the Hebron Lions Club Fairgrounds to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America with the Connecticut Rivers Council. An estimated 10,ooo Scouts and their families were on hand to join in the celebration. We met many Leave No Trace Trainers and Master Educators throughout the day, including Rex McRee, the Connecticut State Adcovate who generously provided us with a tasty lunch. We enjoyed booth space adjacent to Master Educator Scott Elkins who shared information specific to the guidelines of the Boy Scout Leave No Trace Achievement Award as well as information about upcoming trainer courses that are being offered. Thanks to all of the volunteers who donated their time to spread Leave No Trace awareness throughout the day!
Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

National Order of the Arrow Conference-NOAC

The National Order of the Arrow Conference is a six day celebration where Arrowmen from around the world come together to share their ideas on lodge leadership, activities, and ceremonies as well as participate in a large variety of competitions. The conference is held every couple of years. This year it was at the University of Indiana. It always promises to be a week filled with fun and learning.

Our booth was set up in the Experience tent. We spoke with over 3,ooo Arrowmen about ways they can Leave No Trace on their outings. We were also able to sign up nearly 1,500 scouts for the Bigfoot Challenge!

During our visit, we were invited to be guest presenters at a trainer course that was taking place during the conference to speak about the Traveling Trainer program and also resources that are available on the Leave No Trace website. Congratulations to the newest Trainers!

The Boy Scouts of America have been hard at work revamping their handbook to include a section on Leave No Trace training. Cheers to all their efforts and all of their hard work in putting together such an outstanding conference. Here is a slideshow that captures only a few of the numerous activities that took place. Enjoy!

Safe Travels...Kate and Tracy