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.

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.

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!

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!

Responsible Recreation - It Starts with Youth!

In addition to running a PEAK/Teen activity contest (Check out this month's Bigfoot Challenge), the Center recently added a second deadline to it's Packing with PEAK grant program - August 1, 2010.

PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) is an educational program that introduces youth to the concepts of environmental stewardship, responsible recreation and the principles of Leave No Trace.

Check out the PEAK page for a more in-depth look at the teaching resources.

As a partnership program between the Center and REI, many REI stores have PEAK resources available to borrow. Check out your local REI for more details

To apply for this small teaching grant, please visit our online application. The second deadline is August 1, 2010. If you represent and/or work with diverse communities, please consider our Connect Grant program. The second deadline is also August 1, 2010 and the application can be found in the same location.

Happy Summer!

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!

Master Educator Courses 2010

Beginning tomorrow, representatives of each one of the Center's Master Educator Course Providers will meet in Boulder to exchange ideas and plan for the upcoming Master Educator Course season.

A Master Educator course is typically five days in length and designed for people who are actively teaching others backcountry skills or providing recreation information to the public.

Course Providers include:

• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
• Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC)
• Landmark Learning
• US Forest Service - Ninemile Training Center
• Wilderness Education Association (WEA)
• Boy Scouts of America
• Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK)

Southern Illinois University - Carbondale (SIUC) students and staff participate in a Master Educator Course conducted by Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Team East.

If you are interested in participating a Master Educator Course, please check the 2010 schedule and contact the appropriate course provider.

Partial scholarships are available for course participants. Please check out the online application. Deadlines for 2010 will be set shortly, most likely mid-April and mid-August.

If you have any questions about scholarships, please email grants@LNT.org

Connect Grants- Deadline Extended!

Connect Grants for Culturally Diverse Communities provide Leave No Trace educational materials, training and partnership to programs working with multicultural communities.

The deadline this year has been extended to November 1, 2009.

For more information on Connect, and to apply, please visit: http://lnt.org/programs/connect_grants.php

View the photos below for information on past recipients. Please direct any questions, comments or inquiries to grants@LNT.org. We look forward to hearing from you!

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