Around the World

Many people know about Leave No Trace from seeing signage or information at a park/natural area in their region. We come in contact with a number of people that are surprised to find out we are a nonprofit organization with not just a national reach, but an international one.

Check out these beautiful photos from Kakani Scout Camp in Nepal:

This Leave No Trace training was organized with the help of Initiative Outdoor. As, owner Chandra Ale describes:

Initiative Outdoor (I.O.) is an outdoor leadership school based in Kathmandu, Nepal. I.O. runs a variety of courses, including adventure camps for kids, wilderness first aid, whitewater rescue technician training, and leadership programs at local schools. The range of the course offerings results in a diverse clientele: I.O. students are river guides, kayakers, mountain guides, Nepali school children, international students, and employees of both local businesses and INGOs.

I.O. was able to incorporate Leave No Trace education into all of their training this year, including this camp near Shivapuri National Park. The Center is grateful for the work of all of our volunteers, partners, members and supporters in helping communicate the importance and universality of these principles in every corner of the world.

Leave No Trace Volunteerism

We are coming upon national volunteer month in another few weeks, so thought I'd take this opportunity to recognize our awesome State Advocate volunteers. These individuals serve as volunteer coordinators in their state, assisting Leave No Trace educators and volunteers with local efforts to promote and teach minimum impact outdoor ethics.

The State Advocate Program is sponsored by Keen Footwear’s Hybrid.Care, which helps fund community events and programs. This year, State Advocates will be instrumental in helping organize or promote the Leave No Trace "Backyard Sessions."

The "Backyard Sessions" are community social events to generate local support and volunteerism for the the Leave No Trace program. With successful Backyard Sessions having occurred already in San Diego and Houston, stay tuned for one near you in the coming months.

If you haven't already, check in with your State Advocate to find out what's going on in your area: http://lnt.org/01_community/index.php

If you notice a vacancy in your state, contact sarah@LNT.org to find out how to apply for this volunteer position!

Photo above: Our ID Advocate Paul Holle at a Sierra Trading Post event.

Student help hikers "Know Before They Go"

Students from Glen Cove Elementary in Roanoke, VA adopted their local Appalachian Trail Kiosk and gave it some much needed attention.

Check out the photos:

Before

After

Thanks to these students local hikers can learn how to take care of our shared public lands by leaving no trace. Glen Cove Elementary was a Leave No Trace grant recipient and also worked with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy's "A Trail to Every Classroom" program.

Our 2010 grant recipients have done some amazing work in their local communities and we'd like to thank them for all of their volunteer work! Check back in January for 2011 grant deadlines.

Master Educator Course Fun!

Thought I would share some photos from a recent Master Educator Course, courtesy of our South Carolina State Advocate, Stephen Wilson.

Cue the pomp and circumstance, here's a group shot of the most recent Master Educator Course graduates from our partner, Landmark Learning:

As part of the five-day curriculum, students are given a small service project, usually involving outreach at a local trailhead, park or school - a great way to move along the continuum from students to teachers! Here they are interacting with students from Western Carolina University:

Having a demonstration or activity that draws people in is a great way to start a conversation. Here's an example of the "Camp Oh No" or "Leave No Trace Crime Scene" set-up:

Finally, what significant life experience is not commemorated by a tattoo? Check out our new temporary tattoos via our online store:

If this looks like fun, check out our Master Educator Course page. Schedules for 2011 will be posted by early January!

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 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!

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!

The 1st Online Auction benefiting Leave No Trace is Officially Open!

On behalf of Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, we are excited to launch the inaugural year of our 1st Annual Online Auction! This unique event will bring 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.

Take a Good Look. Bids are now being accepted on exciting items from many of our Corporate Partners, Board of Directors, members and other partners. Whether you're looking for something unique for yourself, searching for a gift for a special someone, or looking to add a little adventure to your life, you're sure to find something of interest in our auction catalog.

Make Your Bid. Even if you've never taken part in an online auction before, it's fast and easy to bid on one or more items in our auction catalog. Step by step instructions will walk you through the bidding process so you can participate with confidence. And remember, every bid helps support our cause!

Tell Your Friends. The success of this online event depends on getting the word out to as many people as possible. We need your help. Please share (see sharing options below to share this post, or feel free to send a direct link to the auction) 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.

These items are open for bidding, and we will continue to add new items throughout the next two weeks. You have until Tuesday, July 6^th at noon to place you maximum bid.

What are you waiting for? Bid now!

View Auction Catalog

Service and Leave No Trace Outreach in Northeast Georgia

One of favorite parts of working at Leave No Trace is receiving follow-up stories and photos from our grant recipients. They all have a unique story to tell and the photographs are a visual reminder of how many different ways to Leave No Trace program is used across the country.

Here are some photos from a recent Tools for Teaching grant recipient in northeast Georgia conducting a trail rehabilitation project on over 13 miles of the Chattachoochee National Forest. They also hosted a Leave No Trace awareness program.

This project was a great example of various youth and adult community groups working together. Close to 700 people participated, representing: Boy Scouts of America - Northeast Georgia Council, Chattahoochee Trail Horse Association, Southern Off Road Biking Association and Georgia Appalachian Trail Association.

We love to see photos of your community programs in action! Grant recipients, Master Educators, Trainers, PEAK presentations--many of the Bigfoot Challenges incorporate photo or video elements. Thanks for taking the time to tell us your story. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Enhancing the lives of Urban Teens - Click here!

Supporting community programs continues to get easier with technology. The Pepsi Refresh Project gives away millions in grants each month to great "ideas" or community projects that support different sectors: arts and culture, health, education, food and shelter, neighborhoods and, of course, the environment.

With the click of a button, daily, you can support these great ideas. The top 10 receive a grant through the Pepsi Refresh Project each month. New applications are also accepted monthly.

One of Leave No Trace's community partners, Big City Mountaineers, is currently in the running. Big City Mountaineer's mission is "enhancing the lives of urban teens through wilderness adventures." BCM is a Connect Grant recipient and has done great work in combining Leave No Trace education with wilderness outings. They are in the running for $25K and voting for this round ends on February 28th.

In a year where it's a bit harder to give monetarily, take a minute to

support this community program, or one closer to home, by voting.

Have a great day!

Kids in the Valley, Adventuring!

As parents and educators, Chip and Ashley Donahue recognize the need for more opportunities that get families outdoors and encourage them to become environmental stewards of the next generation.

Through their free family nature club, Kids in the Valley, Adventuring (KIVA), the Donahues are bringing outdoor opportunities to over 350 families in the Roanoke Valley.

Activities include park visits, guest speakers and family-friendly events that incorporate games, music and art. Keeping with the trends of social media marketing, KIVA's website also features product and gear reviews, nature-themed book reading list, event listings and tips for starting your own community nature club.

As a recent Leave No Trace grant recipient, KIVA also recognizes the importance of partnering outdoor adventure activities with environmental stewardship information and discussions that leave our open spaces better than we found them.

Connect Grants Awarded to Community Programs

The Center recently awarded its last round of 2009 Connect Grants for Culturally Diverse Communities.

These grants partner the Leave No Trace program with organizations serving diverse communities to promote responsible recreation and environmental stewardship.

Students from the Wilderness Leadership and Learning (WILL) program in D.C. - previous Connect Grant recipient - on an expedition along the Appalachian Trail.

Connect Grants this round were awarded to:

• Campfire USA - Heartland Council, KS
• Sierra Nevada Journeys, CA
• Prairie View A&M University, TX
• Student Conservation Association - Community Crew Program, FL
• Valley View Elementary School, AZ

Connect Grants award educational materials, training and scholarships that support Leave No Trace community programs and strive to create long-term partnerships with recipients.

Know of an organization that you'd like to nominate for a Connect Grant in 2010? Have some tips on how to make the Leave No Trace program most relevant to your own community?

Email Sarah in the Education Department: sarah@LNT.org