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.
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
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.
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, [email protected]