Resources for Outdoor Recreation

With summertime recreation in full swing, it's exciting to see the variety of resources available to support outdoor programs, specifically those focused on youth. The Center offers a number of successful programs that promote responsible recreation to all ages and recreation groups.

PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) is a great resource for educators, providing kid-friendly activities to teach the principles of Leave No Trace. The e-tour is on the road, conducting fun, family-friendly workshops and presentations. Finally, the Center's Grants and Scholarships help support local initiative programs and training that educate the public about Leave No Trace.

In 2010, the Center received a generation donation from Gear to Grow, a non-profit program that acquires donated gear - such as backpacks - from outdoor retailers and manufacturers and places them into the hands of non-profits that promote outdoor recreation. Gear to Grow has also worked with several of the Center's grant recipients, including: Big City Mountaineers and cityWILD.

This year, Gear to Grow will be hosting a gear-drive at this year’s Outdoor Retailer Summer Market August 4-7.INVISTA’s CORDURA® brand booth (#38213) will serve as the official collection site for Gear to Grow’s Summer Market gear-drive. Exhibitors are encouraged to participate by dropping off surplus samples and equipment at the CORDURA® brand booth (#38213) during show hours. Additionally, exhibitors can ship donations prior to the show along with gear they plan to exhibit.

If you are at the show, support this great initiative and let other know about this available resource. For more information, email: contact@geartogrow.org.

Bigfoot sightings at Summer Outdoor Retailer

Lucky winners of the Great Gear Giveaway, sponsored by Backpacker Magazine and Subaru
Our youngest winner ever of the Great Gear Giveaway
Bigfoot entertains the crowd during the Great Gear Giveaway
High 5's for all of our daily winners
The eager crowds await the daily drawing

Winter Outdoor Retailer

Outdoor enthusiasts, the latest and greatest gear, and Bigfoot sightings, all mixed up in the chaos that is the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City, UT, made for a busy but exciting weekend for the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics!

The Outdoor Retailer Show is a bi-annual event that showcases the newest gear and trends in the outdoor industry. With over 15,000 people in attendance, this show is a great venue for us to share Leave No Trace education. Our best opportunity to reach people is through the Great Gear Giveaway sponsored by Backpacker Magazine and Subaru of America! This year, we had over 500 people take part by testing their Leave No Trace knowledge, as well as taking the Bigfoot Challenge. 18 very happy participants walked away with sweet prize packages that included lots of fabulous gear. Thanks to all the companies that donated products to the Great Gear Giveaway, and to Backpacker Magazine and Subaru of America for sponsoring the event. This was a wonderful kick-off to the 2010 season for the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers!

Safe Travels...Kate and Tracy

Winter Outdoor Retailer, Day 2

Even more pictures from our Bigfoot Photo Booth today:

Complete album can be viewed here.

Winter Outdoor Retailer, Day 1

The Leave No Trace Bigfoot Booth saw lots of activity today as folks flowed through taking the Bigfoot Challenge. As an added bonus, photo opportunities with the Center's own Bigfoot were available. Here are a few shots from the booth this afternoon. Stay tuned for more pictures throughout the weekend!

For the complete album, please visit our Facebook Fan page!

Bigfoot is heading west!

Everyone here at the Center in Boulder are working hard to get ready for the Outdoor Retailer Show in Salt Lake City later this week. Much to our surprise, we had a special guest come by to get ready as well. Yep, you guessed it, Bigfoot is Back!

Bigfoot had a pleasant hibernation period and now he is rested and ready for another fun-filled year of outreach, awareness and adventure! He will be joining us in Salt Lake City, so be sure to look out for him if you are heading to the show. If you are not going to be at Outdoor Retailer, be sure to check out Bigfoot's web page and take the Bigfoot Challenge! There will be new challenges posted every month and a chance to win some sweet gear from our partners to use on your next outdoor adventure.

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009

We spent the better part of last week in Salt Lake City, Utah for Outdoor Retailer Summer Market 2009. With over 20,000 people in attendance, the bi-annual event is considered to be the largest outdoor sports industry gathering in the world.

Thanks to the help of Subaru of America and Backpacker Magazine, we were able to host the Great Gear Giveaway again this summer! We gave away a total of 18 fabulous prize packages of gear, donated by dozens of our friends in the outdoor industry. It's pretty exciting, but the best part is that through the Great Gear Giveaway we were able to sign hundreds of people up for the Bigfoot Challenge.

We want to give a big thanks to everyone who took the Bigfoot Challenge at OR. We'd also like to thanks all of our incredible partners who find the most creative ways to help us out and highlight our educational efforts during the show!

Last Week in the West

What a week! Our final days as Team West were spent in Salt Lake City at the Outdoor Retailer Show and capped off in Lyons, CO for Rocky Grass Music Festival. These two events were a great opportunity to provide outreach and encourage people to take the Bigfoot Challenge! Over 800 people signed up for the challenge and pledged to do their part to Leave No Trace this summer. Have you taken the Bigfoot Challenge yet? If not, here's your chance...just click here! It's fun. It's free. It's fast!

After over 25,000 miles of western travel, we are ready to reach outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds east of the Mississippi! Hope to see you out there...

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy

Crazy Hat Day at Jordanelle State Park in Utah

We spent the weekend at Jordanelle State Park in Utah. On Saturday, we joined park naturalist, Kathy Donnell, for a walk about at Hailstone Campground. On our walk we spoke to over 130 campers about the importance of practicing Leave No Trace while enjoying the splendors at Jordanelle. The park is home to Jordanelle Reservoir, which is a future water supply for Utah. In addition to industrial, municipal, and irrigation water, the reservoir provides critical wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities. It is the largest man-made impoundment within the Bonneville unit of the Central Utah Project- the largest water development project in Utah history. If you get a chance to visit the park, be sure to check out Rockcliff, which is at the east end of the park. Rockcliff has walk-in tent sites, a boat ramp, river and reservoir access, and a beautiful nature center, where you can touch a grizzly bear (if you dare!). It is considered a hidden gem of the park, as many park visitors do not know about it! We want to thank Kathy for a wonderful weekend of fun, exploration, and outreach. We are off to Salt Lake City for the Outdoor Retailer Show...

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy

Bigfoot on the Iron Goat Trail?

Last night, Team West spent a lovely evening with folks that were part of a volunteer vacation for the American Hiking Society. This year marked the thirteenth consecutive year of this event taking place on the Iron Goat Trail, approximately 80 miles outside of Seattle. During the awareness workshop, one of our favorite PEAK games-How Long Does It Last?, was the avenue for a lively discussion on the importance of disposing of waste properly and recycling. We applaud the trail crew that is taking time out of their busy schedules to volunteer to help keep the Iron Goat Trail of the Cascades as beautiful as ever!

On the ride up to our workshop, we were shocked to run into a friend. We were awestruck as we cruised down Stevens Pass Highway and out of nowhere, there he was. It was Bigfoot himself! He was just finishing up a day on the slopes and let us know that he was getting excited for the upcoming Outdoor Retailer show in Salt Lake City. He hadn't begun packing yet, but he assured us that he would be there. He even offered to help us give gear away at the Leave No Trace booth. The big guy is so thoughtful. He is looking forward to the event, but if you are not planning on attending OR, he wanted us to remind everyone to take his challenge. It takes less than 2 minutes and you could win some sweet gear from our partners. Sound good? CLICK HERE to participate.

Safe Travels...Kate and Tracy