Leave No TraceLeave No Trace for the Boy Scouts of Americafor the Boy Scouts of America

A National Education Program Designed to Teach Stewardship,A National Education Program Designed to Teach Stewardship,Land Ethics, and Outdoor Skills on Public LandsLand Ethics, and Outdoor Skills on Public Lands

Presentation ObjectivesPresentation Objectives

Provide an overview of resource impacts resulting from recreational use.

Review why a national Leave No Trace educational program is needed.

Introduce and describe Leave No Trace practices most applicable for Boy Scouts.

Overview of Visitor Overview of Visitor ImpactsImpacts

Vegetation ImpactsVegetation Impacts

Vegetation loss

Spread of non-native species

Tree damage

Soil ImpactsSoil Impacts

Loss of organic litter

Soil compaction

Soil erosion

Wildlife ImpactsWildlife Impacts

Disturbance of wildlife

Altered behavior

Reduced health & reproduction

Water Resource ImpactsWater Resource Impacts

Turbidity, sedimentation

Soap & fecal wastes

Social ImpactsSocial Impacts

Crowding

Conflicts

Cultural Resource Cultural Resource ImpactsImpacts

Theft of artifacts

Damage to historic structures

Damage to cultural features

Loving Our Public Lands To Death?Loving Our Public Lands To Death?

National Park Service visits: 33 million in 1950 172 million in 1970287 million in 2000

Wilderness recreation visitor days: 7 million in 1975 15 million in 1985 20 million in 2000

Increasing visitation = Increasing impacts?

Combined visitation to undeveloped public lands:

670 million in 1992

Leave No Trace Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor EthicsCenter for Outdoor Ethics

Partners with federal agencies, manufacturers, retailers and others to promote minimum impact messages.

A non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships.

Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service

National ParkService

U.S. ForestService

Leave No Trace (LNT)Leave No Trace (LNT)

Leave No Trace staff develop and

distribute educational materials,

promote LNT initiatives with federal

agencies and cooperating organizations,

and conduct fundraising.

For more information: 1-800-332-4100 or www.LNT.org

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is based in Boulder, Colorado.

Current StatusCurrent Status

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is guided by an Executive Director and a Board of Directors with corporate, non-profit and government representatives.

$700,000 budget and 11 staff in 2001

Funding is primarily derived from corporate manufacturing and retail partners (N=250 currently).

Why Leave No Trace Why Leave No Trace ??

One poorly located campsite or campfire may have little significance, but thousands of such instances seriously degrade natural resources and recreation experiences.

To protect our resources we must take the responsibility to educate ourselves and practice the skills and ethics necessary to Leave No Trace.

Leave No Trace might seem unimportant until you consider the combined effects of millions of outdoor visitors.

LNT practices are science-based:

The LNT MessageThe LNT Message

Recreation ecology research tells us about recreation impacts and how they can be reduced by managers and visitors.

Social science research tells us about visitor attitudes, behaviors, and social norms.

Prevent avoidable resource and social impacts

Minimize unavoidable impacts

Preserve the quality of resources and recreation experiences

The LNT ChallengeThe LNT Challenge

The Seven LNT PrinciplesThe Seven LNT Principles

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

4. Leave What You Find

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

6. Respect Wildlife

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

Poor camping & hiking skills that unnecessarily impact natural

resources or degrade the experiences of other visitors.

Problem:

Soap in streams

Expansion of campsites

Campfire impacts

Creation of new trails

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

Adult and youth leaders can learn, apply, and teach Leave No

Trace skills and ethics.

Solution:

Information & Training

Workshops, Trainer, & Master coursesWorkshops, Trainer, & Master coursesWWW.LNT.ORGWWW.LNT.ORG

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

Large group sizes that are noisy and crowd out other visitors.

Problem:

Displacement of others

at popular sites Noise Crowding Conflicts

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

Obtain sufficient leadership to travel and camp in smaller

groups, even when there aren’t group size limits.

Solution:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

Use of equipment that unnecessarily increase resource impacts.

Problem:

Do you really need

an axe or saw?

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

Select equipment that facilitates Leave No Trace practices.

Solution:

Use backpacking stoves for cooking

Bring a trowel to dig cat-holes

Bring a piece of screen to strain

dishwater

Use a candle lantern instead of a

campfire

2. Travel and Camp on 2. Travel and Camp on Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces

Widening trails by hiking two or more abreast, creating new

trails, and cutting switchbacks.

Problem:

2. Travel and Camp on 2. Travel and Camp on Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces

Solution:

Stay on formal trails when possible, walk single file in the center

of the tread. Don’t create new trails.

2. Travel and Camp on 2. Travel and Camp on Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces

Creating new campsites or enlarging existing sites by developing

new tent sites or trampling vegetation around campsites.

Problem:

2. Travel and Camp on 2. Travel and Camp on Durable SurfacesDurable Surfaces

Solution:

Use only well-established campsites that are large enough for

your group or split the group and camp on separate sites.

Focus activity in core use areas on the most durable surfaces.

Durable Surfaces:Durable Surfaces:

Sand

Previously Disturbed Surfaces

Grass

Rock/gravel

3. Dispose of Waste Properly3. Dispose of Waste Properly

Trash left behind, food spilled, left-over food buried or partially

burned. Wildlife attracted to campsites.

Problem:

3. Dispose of Waste Properly3. Dispose of Waste Properly

Pack it in, Pack it out: Inspect campsite for trash and spilled foods, including “micro-garbage.” Don’t burn trash or food.

Strain dishwater through a screen to remove food particles. Pack these out, along with leftover food.

Solution:

3. Dispose of Waste Properly3. Dispose of Waste Properly

Pollution of water from washing or improperly disposed human

waste.

Problem:

3. Dispose of Waste Properly3. Dispose of Waste Properly

Carry water for washing dishes or your body 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap.

Solution:

3. Dispose of Waste Properly3. Dispose of Waste Properly

Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6 to 8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp and trails. Cover and disguise the hole when finished.

Solution:

4. Leave What You Find4. Leave What You Find

Souvenir collection and artifact theft (e.g., flowers, fossils, historic

or cultural artifacts, deer antlers, wild animals as pets).

Problem:

4. Leave What You Find4. Leave What You Find

Explain why souvenir collection is not sustainable. Leave natural

and cultural objects for others to see.

Solution:

Proliferation and migration of campfire sites.

Problem:

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

Use a lightweight stove for cooking and a candle lantern for light.

Only build a campfire when permissible, in areas with an adequate wood supply, and if an existing fire site is present.

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

Solution:

LNT “virtual” campfire!

Damage to trees from axes, saws & knives, depletion of firewood,

large fire pits filled with charcoal and unburned trash and food.

Problem:

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

Troop 375

If you do build a campfire … keep fire small and burn for a short

time to conserve fuel. Use sticks from the ground that can be

broken by hand.

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

Solution:

Burn all wood to ash, put fires

out completely and scatter

“cleaned” ashes to keep fire

pits small.

6. Respect Wildlife6. Respect Wildlife

Disturbance of wildlife, displacing them from areas of preferred

habitat.

Problem:

6. Respect Wildlife6. Respect Wildlife

Solution: Enjoy wildlife at a distance.

You are too close if your presence or actions elicit a response

from wildlife.

6. Respect Wildlife6. Respect Wildlife

Feeding wildlife (unintentional or intentional), attracting them to

people and developed areas.

Problem:

Feeding wildlife damages

their health, alters natural

behaviors, and exposes them

to predators and other

dangers.

6. Respect Wildlife6. Respect Wildlife

Never feed animals or allow them to obtain human food or trash. Even a few

pieces of GORP are a meal for many animals. Don’t teach wildlife to be

beggars!

Solution:

6. Respect Wildlife6. Respect Wildlife

Bears that obtain human food become “problem bears” that must be

relocated or killed. Wildlife should not pay with their lives due to our

carelessness with food.

Problem:

6. Respect Wildlife6. Respect Wildlife

Protect wildlife and your food by

storing rations and trash securely.

In bear country hang bear bags or

use bear-proof food canisters.

Solution:

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Crowding, particularly at attraction sites, along trails during rest

breaks, and in popular camping areas.

Problem:

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Take breaks off-trail, don’t monopolize attraction sites and

popular camping areas. Camp away from trails and other

visitors.

Solution:

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Conflicts with other groups,

particularly with visitors seeking

solitude.

Problem:

7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.

Let nature’s sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises.

Solution:

Better planning leads to safer trips and lighter packs

Prevents avoidable impacts, minimizes unavoidable impacts

Protects the quality of natural environments and recreation experiences

Benefits of Applying LNTBenefits of Applying LNT

Avoids or minimizes the need for restrictive management regulations or use limitations

What Can I DO?What Can I DO?

Visit the website (www.lnt.org) or call the Leave No Trace

Center for Outdoor Ethics (1-800-332-4100) to obtain LNT

brochures, booklets, and other information.

Learn and apply LNT skills and ethics on future trips!

Complete the BSA LNT Awareness Award, take a Trainer

or Master’s course and then teach others.

Become a supporting member of Leave No Trace.

Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of AmericaLNT Awareness Award RequirementsLNT Awareness Award Requirements

1. Recite and explain the principles of Leave No Trace.

2. On three separate camping/backpacking trips, demonstrate and practice the principles of Leave No Trace.

3. Earn the Camping and Environmental Science merit badges.

4. Participate in a Leave No Trace-related service project.

5. Give a 10-minute presentation on a Leave No Trace topic approved by your Scoutmaster.

6. Draw a poster or build a model to demonstrate the differences in how to camp or travel in high-use and pristine areas.

The EndThe End

Happy trails and remember to . . .Happy trails and remember to . . .Leave No Trace !Leave No Trace !

This slide set was developed for the national Leave No Trace program. Copies may be obtained from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

Shorter versions can be developed by omitting slides or local images may be substituted to adapt the program to specific areas.

Developed by Jeff Marion, Ph.D.

Leader, Cooperative Park Studies Unit, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA

540-231-6603, jmarion@vt.edu