Dear Education Department: The meaning behind the "Swirl"

Dear Education Department,

I see the Leave No Trace logo many places. It’s a great reminder to take care of our open spaces. However, I’m been meaning to ask you for quite some time, what does the swirl mean? Does it represent something in particular? I have some ideas myself but I wanted to hear it straight from the source.

Thank you for your insight!

Sincerely,

Thoughtful Naturalist

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Dear Thoughtful Naturalist,

Thank you for your email! We are glad to hear the logo is becoming more recognizable and that it evokes a positive response. Many people have discussed the significance of the swirl over the years and here are some of our favorite theories:

• The dual lines and center dot represent something similar to the Chinese Yin and Yang, or the relationship between humans and the natural world and the need for balance.

• The lines represent the phrase “pack it in, pack it out.” One line symbolizes what you carry into the wilderness (the dot) and one line symbolizes what you carry back out. Again, there is a balance and the wilderness is left the same for better than you found it.

• The lines are the flames of a small, contained campfire (the dot). Fire safety and management is one facet of Leave No Trace and speaks to minimizing impact in general.

• The dot represents a concentrated environmental impact and how it can proliferate and spread (via the lines) if proper education, management and outreach aren’t in place.

In summary, there is no “one” explanation for what the Leave No Trace logo with the exception that it symbolizes what responsible recreation means to YOU. More importantly, it evokes thought, discussion and eventually action that have a future generation effect on conservation and environmental stewardship.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Education Department

What Does the Leave No Trace Logo Mean to You?

We’re frequently asked around the Center about the meaning of the Leave No Trace logo. It’s not uncommon to get a least 1 call a week with some reference to the logo. The following are a few of the terms we hear:

• swirly gig
• pinwheel
• hurricane
• whirlpool
• galaxy

With such creative terms for the logo, you can imagine that the explanations of the Leave No Trace emblem get quite original as well. I’ve heard folks incorporate everything from water to space in their meanings of the symbol we’re all so fond of (side note: we know of at least 3 people who have Leave No Trace tattoos!).

I thought it was time to share the Center’s “unofficial” definition of the Leave No Trace logo. Consider the circle in the middle to be a fond outdoor experience or your favorite place to play outside. The surrounding lines represent the ways we interact with that experience or in that space: with enjoyment, wonder, appreciation, and awareness we come into and out of the experience with as little impact as possible.

This is, of course, up for interpretation. Leave us a comment and let us know what the Leave No Trace logo means to you!