Leave No Trace

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Connecticut Yankee Council Connecticut Rivers
Council POWDER HORN 2004
Leave No Trace
Blaine Boxwell Connecticut Yankee Council
Venturing Roundtable Commissioner Connecticut
Leave No Trace State Advocate
BBoxwell_at_aol.com
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Leave No TraceOutdoor Skills and Ethics
A National Education Program Designed to Teach
Stewardship, Land Ethics, and Outdoor Skills on
Public Lands
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Overview of Visitor Impacts
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Social Impacts
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Cultural Resource Impacts
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Loving Our Public Lands To Death?

• Wilderness recreation visitor days rose from 7
  million in 1975 to 15 million in 1985 to 20
  million in 1999.

• National Park Service visitation increased from
  33 million in 1950, to 172 million in 1970, to
  287 million in 1999.

• Combined visitation to undeveloped public lands
  was estimated at 670 million in 1992.

Increasing visitation Increasing impacts?
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Leave No Trace, Inc. (LNT)

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

• LNT, Inc. partners with federal land agencies,
  outdoor product manufacturers, retailers,
  outfitters, user groups and others to promote
  minimum impact messages for public and private
  lands.

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Leave No Trace, Inc. (LNT)

• Leave No Trace, Inc. is based in Boulder,
  Colorado.

• LNT 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

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Why LNT ?

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

• 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.

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If recreation visitation is permitted
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. . . some degree of resource impact is
inevitable.
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The LNT Challenge

• Prevent avoidable resource and social impacts
• Minimize unavoidable impacts
• Preserve the quality of resources and recreation
  experiences

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The 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

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Leave No Trace

• 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
  perceptions and behaviors.

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1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

• Know the regulations and special concerns for the
  area youll visit.
• Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
• Visit in small groups, split larger parties into
  groups of 4-6.
• Repackage food to minimize waste.
• Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of
  marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.

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View of HulaHula River Valley looking north
toward Kikitat Mountains and the Coastal Plain
beyond.
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1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
Selecting Appropriate Equipment
Leave these at home !
Bring these along.
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1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
Repackage your food
Leave bulky trash at home !
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2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

• Durable surfaces include established trails and
  campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.
• Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200
  feet from water.
• Good campsites are found,
  not made. Altering a
  site
  is not necessary.

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Durable Surfaces
Previously Disturbed Surfaces
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Durable Surfaces
Grasses and herbs after 250 tramples.
Grass cover 100
Grasses are both resistant (durable) and
resilient (recover quickly).
Herb cover 40
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2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

• In popular areas
• Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites.
• Walk single file in the middle of the trail, even
  when wet or muddy.
• Keep campsites small. Focus activities in areas
  where vegetation is absent.

• In pristine areas
• Disperse use to prevent the creation of
  campsites and trails.
• Avoid places where impacts are just beginning.

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Traveling
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Camping
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3. Dispose of Waste Properly

• Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your campsite
  and rest areas for trash and spilled foods. Pack
  out all trash, leftover food, and litter.
• 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.
• Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
• To wash yourself or dishes, carry water 200 feet
  away from streams or lakes and use small amounts
  of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dish
  water.

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3. Dispose of Waste Properly
Strain wastewater and pack out food particles and
uneaten food.
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3. Dispose of Waste Properly
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3. Dispose of Waste Properly
Walk at least 200 feet from water, campsites, and
trails and use the cat-hole method to bury
human waste 6-8 inches deep. Carry out toilet
paper to avoid creating TP flower gardens
(below).
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4. Leave What You Find

• Preserve the past examine, but do not touch
  cultural or historic structures or artifacts.
• Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as
  you find them.
• Avoid introducing or transporting non-native
  species.
• Do not build structures or furniture, or dig
  trenches.

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4. Leave What You Find
Leave flowers for others to see. Picking them
prevents formation of seeds vital to their
reproduction and survival.
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4. Leave What You Find
Write on paper, not trees and plants.
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4. Leave What You Find
Examine, but do not pick up or steal cultural
artifacts such as pottery chards and arrowheads.
Leave them for others to enjoy.
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4. Leave What You Find
Snorkel carefully to avoid damaging coral. Avoid
touching and never collect live marine organisms.
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5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

• Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the
  backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking
  and a candle lantern for light.
• Where fires are permitted, use established fire
  rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
• Keep fires small. Use sticks from the ground
  that can be broken by hand.
• Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires
  completely, then scatter cool ashes.

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Minimize Campfire Impacts
Avoid campfire-related impacts by using a stove.
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5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
If you do build a campfire When an existing
fire site is not available, build a mound fire
or use a fire pan.
Avoid or minimize campfire use. Consider using a
candle lantern.
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6. Respect Wildlife

• Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow
  or approach them.
• Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages
  their health, alters natural behaviors, and
  exposes them to predators and other dangers.
• Protect wildlife and your food by storing rations
  and trash securely.
• Control pets at all times, or leave them at home.
• Avoid wildlife during sensitive times mating,
  nesting, raising young, or winter.

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6. Respect Wildlife
Keep wildlife wild. Never feed wildlife or allow
them to obtain human food or trash. Wildlife
attracted to human food often suffer
nutritionally and expose themselves to
predators and other dangers.
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6. Respect Wildlife
Wildlife should be wild. Dont teach them to be
beggars!
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6. Respect Wildlife
Feeding wildlife destroys their health, alters
natural behaviors, and teaches them
life-threatening habits.
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6. Respect Wildlife
Wildlife cant read signs, but you can. Keep
wildlife wild by not feeding them!
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6. Respect Wildlife
Protect your food, hang bear bags or use
bear-proof food canisters.
Bears that obtain food become problem bears
that must be relocated or killed.
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6. Respect Wildlife
Enjoy wildlife at a distance. You are too close
if your presence or actions elicit a response
from wildlife.
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7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

• Respect other visitors and protect the quality of
  their experience.
• Be courteous. Yield to other users on the trail.
• Step to the downhill side of the trail when
  encountering pack stock.
• Take breaks and camp away from trails and other
  visitors.
• Let natures sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices
  and noises.

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7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Which of these groups would you rather see in the
backcountry?
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7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Small, quiet groups see more wildlife.
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7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Reduce your visual impact in the backcountry by
using equipment with natural or subdued colors.
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7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Can you find Waldos campsite?
Camp out of sight of trails and other sites
whenever possible.
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7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Move off the trail onto resistant surfaces when
taking breaks.
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7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Be considerate of other visitor groups and types
of use.
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7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

• Stock users must exercise greater care to
  minimize their impact and that of their stock.
• Ghost Rider and Backcountry Horseman Associations
  provide additional low impact training and
  information.
• Hikers should step off the downhill
  side of the trail and
  speak to horse
  riders while they pass to avoid
  spooking horses.

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Benefits of Applying LNT

• Better planning leads to safer trips and lighter
  packs
• Prevents avoidable impacts, minimizes unavoidable
  impacts
• Protects the quality of natural environments and
  recreation experiences

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

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Leave No Trace Publications
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Leave No Trace Website
WWW.LNT.ORG
Comprehensive information on the Leave No Trace
program including Principles LNT
Courses Skills Ethics Booklets Traveling
Trainer Program
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Leave No TraceTraveling Trainer Program
Sponsored by Subaru
Traveling Trainers Stephen and Susann Paige
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Leave No Trace Training

• LNT Master training course Intensive 5-day
  field-oriented course offered over 15 times/year
  in different regions of the country. Over 1100
  trainees to date.
• LNT Trainer course Less intensive 2-day course.
  Designed for organized group leaders and agency
  seasonal staff who conduct LNT workshops and
  interact with the public.
• LNT workshops Variable length from 20 minutes
  to 1 day. Designed for the public.

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LNT Successes
The LNT ethic is rapidly becoming the standard
code of conduct on public land

• An estimated 10 million outdoor visitors are
  reached with LNT messages each year.
• More than 250 organizations print the LNT message
  on catalogs, hangtags, and outdoor gear.
• LNT training programs have educated more than
  1000 leaders across the U.S. who provide training
  for an estimated 850,000 students annually.

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What Can I DO?

• Visit the website (www.lnt.org) or call LNT, Inc.
  (1-800-332-4100) to obtain LNT
  information.
• Learn and apply LNT skills and ethics on future
  trips!
• Take an LNT Trainer or Masters course and then
  teach others about LNT skills and ethics.
• Become a supporting member of LNT, Inc.

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  REQUIREMENTS FOR SCOUT  
LEAVE NO TRACE STARTS EARLY IN THE SCOUTING
PROGRAM

• OUTDOOR CODE
• As an American, I will do my best to
• Be clean in my outdoor manners
• Be careful with fire
• Be considerate in the outdoors
• Be conservation minded

7. Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath
or Promise, Law, motto, and slogan, and the
Outdoor Code.
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LEAVE NO TRACE is a RANGER Core Requirement
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RANGERS are Trainers
Must share whats been learned as part of
Ranger Core Requirement
Front Country/Backcountry Leave No Trace
Venturers Provide Training
Provides Educational Resources
Suburban/Front Country Leave No Trace
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Scout/Venturer LNT 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, or do 3 under the Scouter
  requirements.
• 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.

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Scouter/Venturing Leader LNT 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. Share with another Scouter or Venturing
  leader your understanding and knowledge of the
  Camping and Environmental Science merit badges
  pamphlets.
• 4. Actively assist (training, advice, and
  general supervision) a Scout in planning,
  organizing, and leading a Leave No Trace-related
  service project.
• 5. Assist a minimum of three Scouts in earning
  the Leave No Trace Awareness Award.
• 6. Plan and conduct a Leave No Trace awareness
  for Scouts, Venturers, Scouters, or an interested
  group outside Scouting.

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