Leave No Trace
Encyclopedia
Leave No Trace is both a set of principles, and an organization that promotes those principles. The principles are designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or climb. The organization strives to educate all those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is an educational and ethical program, not a set of rules and regulations. Leave No Trace information helps public land visitors understand and practice minimum impact skills and ethics.
The Leave No Trace message is framed under seven principles:
, the Bureau of Land Management
, and the National Park Service
started to teach their non-motorized visitors how to have a minimal impact on the land. Also in the 70s, groups such as the Sierra Club
were advocating minimum impact camping techniques. The BSA had been actively advocating training and implementation of Leave No Trace and outdoor ethics principals early in the 70's at such places as Philmont Scout Ranch in Northern New Mexico. A pilot program in the 80s between the Boy Scouts of America
(BSA) and the High Uintas Wilderness
tried to reach a wide audience. Finally, a national education program was developed in 1990 by the United States Forest Service
in conjunction with the National Outdoor Leadership School
(NOLS). Jim Ratz, of NOLS, was the first Chairman of the LNT Board. Jim Landmann, of L.L. Bean and NOLS, was the founding Executive Director.
Historian James Morton Turner has examined the cultural and political history of "Leave No Trace." Turner charts a broad shift in wilderness ethics, from an early 20th-century ethic of 'woodcraft' (where wilderness travelers prized themselves on their ability to rely on the resources of wild lands as a way of escaping modern society) to a post-WWII ethics of Leave No Trace (that often required backpackers to rely on modern technology to minimize their impact in wilderness areas). Turner attributes the creation of the LNT ethic to sharp increases in wilderness visitation during the 1960s and 1970s, the advent of new backcountry recreational equipment (white gas stoves, synthetic tents, and sleeping pads), the commercial interests of a growing outdoor recreation industry, and the imperative to protect the wilderness system from degradation. He notes that this confluence of factors aligned with the interests of wilderness advocates, who both wished to cultivate popular support for wilderness designations and aimed to minimize impacts on wilderness areas -- severely limiting wilderness access would have jeopardized support for the Wilderness Act.
formerly Leave No Trace, Inc., which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship by all people worldwide. This mission is accomplished through education, research, volunteerism and partnerships. Leave No Trace tries to build awareness, appreciation and respect for our wildlands. Since its founding in 1994, the Center has provided training in every state in the U.S. and over 25 countries. There are more than 25,000 active volunteers and members who help provide training and outreach that impacts more than 22 million people annually in the U.S. alone.
, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management
, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Boy Scouts of America and the US Army Corps of Engineers. The "Leave No Trace" method is encouraged strongly and used by youth serving organizations, college and university outing programs, outfitter and guide services, outdoor clubs, non-profit organizations and state and local governments. An example of how this partnership works is that wilderness areas managed by the U.S. Forest Service actively promote adherence to Leave No Trace principles. The Center has also developed partnerships with other parks, municipalities, and agencies that wish to incorporate the Leave No Trace program in information provided to the public. In 2010, the Boy Scouts of America incorporated Leave No Trace into its advancement and leadership programs.
Each course is staffed with a minimum of two highly experienced outdoor professionals who are Master Educator Instructors. Participants learn Leave No Trace techniques through skits, discussions and hands-on activities. To practice Leave No Trace teaching strategies in a supportive, educational environment, each participant teaches a short session geared toward minimum impact Leave No Trace concerns.
Currently, there are over 4000+ Leave No Trace Master Educators worldwide representing dozens of countries and all 50 states. This valuable training is recognized throughout the world by the outdoor industry, land management agencies and the outdoor recreation community. Successful graduates of the Master Educator Course have the ability to train others in Leave No Trace skills, as well as facilitate Leave No Trace Trainer courses and Awareness Workshops.
Leave No Trace Trainer Course s are two-day trainings facilitated in an outdoor setting by Master Educators. Trainer Courses are designed for educators, guides, agency employees, and other outdoor professionals. There are currently over 17,000+ Leave No Trace Trainers worldwide. Successful graduates of the Trainer Course gain the skills to teach Leave No Trace techniques and ethics to their clients, friends and family. Participants learn the concepts of Leave No Trace and prepare to teach Leave No Trace curriculum in a variety of settings-schools, camps, parks, wilderness and frontcountry areas. Workshop topics include the underlying ethics and seven principles of Leave No Trace.
Leave No Trace Awareness Workshops are any type of formal Leave No Trace training that are one day or less in length. These presentations may be 30-minute chats about the Leave No Trace principles or full-day workshops.
The Leave No Trace message is framed under seven principles:
- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Leave What You Find
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Respect Wildlife
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors
Origins
The roots of Leave No Trace (LNT) can be traced to the 1970s and 1980s. In those decades, the United States Forest ServiceUnited States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
, the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
, and the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
started to teach their non-motorized visitors how to have a minimal impact on the land. Also in the 70s, groups such as the Sierra Club
Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is the oldest, largest, and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States. It was founded on May 28, 1892, in San Francisco, California, by the conservationist and preservationist John Muir, who became its first president...
were advocating minimum impact camping techniques. The BSA had been actively advocating training and implementation of Leave No Trace and outdoor ethics principals early in the 70's at such places as Philmont Scout Ranch in Northern New Mexico. A pilot program in the 80s between the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
(BSA) and the High Uintas Wilderness
High Uintas Wilderness
The High Uintas Wilderness is a wilderness area located in northeastern Utah, United States. The wilderness covers the Uinta Mountains, encompassing parts of Duchesne and Summit counties. Designated as a wilderness in 1984, the area is located within parts of Ashley National Forest and Wasatch...
tried to reach a wide audience. Finally, a national education program was developed in 1990 by the United States Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
in conjunction with the National Outdoor Leadership School
National Outdoor Leadership School
The National Outdoor Leadership School , is a non-profit outdoor education school based in the United States dedicated to teaching environmental ethics, technical outdoor skills, safety and judgment, and leadership on extended wilderness expeditions...
(NOLS). Jim Ratz, of NOLS, was the first Chairman of the LNT Board. Jim Landmann, of L.L. Bean and NOLS, was the founding Executive Director.
Historian James Morton Turner has examined the cultural and political history of "Leave No Trace." Turner charts a broad shift in wilderness ethics, from an early 20th-century ethic of 'woodcraft' (where wilderness travelers prized themselves on their ability to rely on the resources of wild lands as a way of escaping modern society) to a post-WWII ethics of Leave No Trace (that often required backpackers to rely on modern technology to minimize their impact in wilderness areas). Turner attributes the creation of the LNT ethic to sharp increases in wilderness visitation during the 1960s and 1970s, the advent of new backcountry recreational equipment (white gas stoves, synthetic tents, and sleeping pads), the commercial interests of a growing outdoor recreation industry, and the imperative to protect the wilderness system from degradation. He notes that this confluence of factors aligned with the interests of wilderness advocates, who both wished to cultivate popular support for wilderness designations and aimed to minimize impacts on wilderness areas -- severely limiting wilderness access would have jeopardized support for the Wilderness Act.
Principles
Leave No Trace provides a framework for outdoor recreation decision making, which is summarized in the following 7 principles:- Plan Ahead and Prepare: Poorly prepared people, when presented with unexpected situations, often resort to high-impact solutions that degrade the outdoors or put themselves at risk. Poor planning can result in improperly located campsiteCampsiteA campsite or camping pitch is a place used for overnight stay in the outdoors. In British English a campsite is an area, usually divided into a number of pitches, where people can camp overnight using tents or camper vans or caravans; this British English use of the word is synonymous with the...
s because groups failed to plan enough time to reach their intended destination, or improper campfireCampfireA campfire is a fire lit at a campsite, to serve the following functions: light, warmth, a beacon, a bug and/or apex predator deterrent, to cook, and for a psychological sense of security. In established campgrounds they are usually in a fire ring for safety. Campfires are a popular feature of...
s or excessive trash because of failure to plan meals or bring proper equipment. - Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Damage to land occurs when surface vegetationVegetationVegetation is a general term for the plant life of a region; it refers to the ground cover provided by plants. It is a general term, without specific reference to particular taxa, life forms, structure, spatial extent, or any other specific botanical or geographic characteristics. It is broader...
or communities of organisms are trampled beyond repair. The resulting barren area leads to unusable trailTrailA trail is a path with a rough beaten or dirt/stone surface used for travel. Trails may be for use only by walkers and in some places are the main access route to remote settlements...
s, campsites and soil erosionErosionErosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
.- In high-use areas, Leave No Trace suggests that people concentrate activity, which makes further damage unlikely.
- In areas of very little or no use, Leave No Trace encourages people to spread out. Taking different paths when hiking off-trail will avoid creating new trails that cause erosion. Dispersing tentTentA tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using guy ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs...
s and equipment, and moving camp daily will avoid creating permanent-looking camp sites.
- Dispose of Waste Properly: Though most trash and litter in the backcountry is not significant in terms of the long term ecological health of an area, it does rank high as a problem in the minds of many backcountry visitors. Trash and litter are primarily social impacts which can greatly detract from the naturalness of an area. Thus, Leave No Trace recommends that trash and litter should be packed out. Further, backcountry users create body waste and waste waterWastewaterWastewater is any water that has been adversely affected in quality by anthropogenic influence. It comprises liquid waste discharged by domestic residences, commercial properties, industry, and/or agriculture and can encompass a wide range of potential contaminants and concentrations...
which requires proper disposal according to Leave No Trace.
- Waste water: Avoiding soapSoapIn chemistry, soap is a salt of a fatty acid.IUPAC. "" Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. . Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford . XML on-line corrected version: created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN...
and dispersing dishwaterDishwashingDish-washing is the process of cleaning cooking utensils, dishes, cutlery and other items. This is either achieved by hand in a sink or using dishwasher and may take place in a kitchen, utility room, scullery or elsewhere...
far away from natural water sources will prevent contamination. - Human waste: Proper human waste disposal prevents spread of disease, exposure to others, and speeds decomposition. CatholeCatholeA cathole or cat hole is a pit for human feces. Catholes are frequently used for the purpose of disposing of bowel movements or waste water by hikers and others engaging in outdoor recreation....
s, 6 to 8 inches deep and 200 feet from water, are often the easiest and most practical way to dispose of fecesFecesFeces, faeces, or fæces is a waste product from an animal's digestive tract expelled through the anus or cloaca during defecation.-Etymology:...
. - Human waste: There are areas where all waste must be packed out. These tend to be at high elevation where cold temperatures prevent decay. Alternately, in some location, a portable urine diversionUrine diversion-Urine diversion:Urine diversion refers to the separation of urine from feces at the point source, i.e at the toilet or outhouse. A toilet fixture used to help facilitate the separation is called a urine diversion toilet or UDT. The bowel has two separate compartments which may or may not be...
toilet can be used so only nearly pathogen free urine is left behind.
- Waste water: Avoiding soap
- Leave What You Find: Leaving rocksRock (geology)In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
, plantPlantPlants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
s, archaeological artifactsArtifact (archaeology)An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
and other objects as found will allow others a sense of discovery. Similarly, Leave No Trace directs people to minimize site alterations, such as digging tent trenches, hammering nails into trees, permanently clearing an area of rocks or twigs. - Minimize Use and Impact of Fire: Leave No Trace encourages people to use lightweight camp stovesPortable stoveA portable stove is a cooking stove specially designed to be portable and lightweight, as for camping or picnicking, or for use in remote locations where an easily transportable means of cooking or heating is needed...
, instead of fires, because the naturalness of many areas has been degraded by overuse of fires and the increasing demand for firewoodFirewoodFirewood is any wood-like material that is gathered and used for fuel. Generally, firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form....
. If a campfire is constructed, Leave No Trace suggests using an existing fire ringFire ringA fire ring is a device used to contain campfires and prevent them from spreading and turning into wildfires.A fire ring is designed to contain a fire that is built directly upon the ground, such as a campfire. Fire rings have no bottom, and are simply circles made of forged metal, stones,...
in a well-placed campsite or to use a fire panFire panA fire pan is a pan for holding or conveying fire which is often used as method for building a Leave No Trace fire.- Background :Fire pans were initially used by river guides to minimize the impact of their fires but they are becoming increasingly popular with backpackers, campers and other outdoor...
or mound fire. True Leave No Trace fires show no evidence of having ever been constructed. - Respect Wildlife: If enough people approach or interfere with wildlifeWildlifeWildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
, it can be disruptive to animal populations. - Be Considerate of Other Visitors: Following hiking etiquetteEtiquetteEtiquette is a code of behavior that delineates expectations for social behavior according to contemporary conventional norms within a society, social class, or group...
and maintaining quiet allows visitors to go through the wilderness with minimal impact on other users.
Organization
The Leave No Trace program is managed by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics,formerly Leave No Trace, Inc., which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and active stewardship by all people worldwide. This mission is accomplished through education, research, volunteerism and partnerships. Leave No Trace tries to build awareness, appreciation and respect for our wildlands. Since its founding in 1994, the Center has provided training in every state in the U.S. and over 25 countries. There are more than 25,000 active volunteers and members who help provide training and outreach that impacts more than 22 million people annually in the U.S. alone.
United States
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has partnerships with the National Park ServiceNational Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Boy Scouts of America and the US Army Corps of Engineers. The "Leave No Trace" method is encouraged strongly and used by youth serving organizations, college and university outing programs, outfitter and guide services, outdoor clubs, non-profit organizations and state and local governments. An example of how this partnership works is that wilderness areas managed by the U.S. Forest Service actively promote adherence to Leave No Trace principles. The Center has also developed partnerships with other parks, municipalities, and agencies that wish to incorporate the Leave No Trace program in information provided to the public. In 2010, the Boy Scouts of America incorporated Leave No Trace into its advancement and leadership programs.
Internationally
The Center for Outdoor Ethics currently has three international branches - Leave No Trace Ireland, Leave No Trace Australia and Leave No Trace/Sans Trace Canada. Additionally, the Center has partnerships or is working in over 50 other countries around the world. The Leave No Trace program is widely viewed as a successful model that can be replicated in other countries in order to minimize recreation-related impacts.Training
A Leave No Trace Master Educator Course is typically five days in length and designed for people who are actively teaching others outdoor skills or providing recreation information to the public. The Master Educator Course provides participants with a comprehensive overview of Leave No Trace skills and ethics through practical application in a field-based setting. The first day is spent in a classroom, introducing the course and schedule, providing in-depth information on the overall Leave No Trace program and the Center for Outdoor Ethics, reviewing gear and packing. The remaining days are spent in the field on a short backcountry trip learning and practicing the principles of Leave No Trace.Each course is staffed with a minimum of two highly experienced outdoor professionals who are Master Educator Instructors. Participants learn Leave No Trace techniques through skits, discussions and hands-on activities. To practice Leave No Trace teaching strategies in a supportive, educational environment, each participant teaches a short session geared toward minimum impact Leave No Trace concerns.
Currently, there are over 4000+ Leave No Trace Master Educators worldwide representing dozens of countries and all 50 states. This valuable training is recognized throughout the world by the outdoor industry, land management agencies and the outdoor recreation community. Successful graduates of the Master Educator Course have the ability to train others in Leave No Trace skills, as well as facilitate Leave No Trace Trainer courses and Awareness Workshops.
Leave No Trace Trainer Course s are two-day trainings facilitated in an outdoor setting by Master Educators. Trainer Courses are designed for educators, guides, agency employees, and other outdoor professionals. There are currently over 17,000+ Leave No Trace Trainers worldwide. Successful graduates of the Trainer Course gain the skills to teach Leave No Trace techniques and ethics to their clients, friends and family. Participants learn the concepts of Leave No Trace and prepare to teach Leave No Trace curriculum in a variety of settings-schools, camps, parks, wilderness and frontcountry areas. Workshop topics include the underlying ethics and seven principles of Leave No Trace.
Leave No Trace Awareness Workshops are any type of formal Leave No Trace training that are one day or less in length. These presentations may be 30-minute chats about the Leave No Trace principles or full-day workshops.
State Advocate Program
The Leave No Trace State Advocate Program assists interested Leave No Trace educators and volunteers with their local effort to promote and teach minimum impact outdoor ethics. These active State Advocate volunteers are a key part of the Leave No Trace program because they coordinate outreach, education and training in their respective states. The State Advocates support volunteers with Leave No Trace training, increase on-the-ground awareness and attend events to further the Leave No Trace program and mission. The State Advocates have been instrumental in building communities of volunteers and educators, state-by-state.Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program
In order to put Leave No Trace education in motion, the Center established the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers provide hands-on educational workshops and training. Each presentation is unique, from an hour-long workshop to a two-day Leave No Trace Trainer Course. They work with a wide range of audiences such as, youth serving organizations, college students, outdoor guides, land management employees and outdoor companies. With one team traveling the West coast, one team traveling the East, and the Senior Team traveling the entire lower 48 states, the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers are able to bring that training directly to your park. The teams visit outdoor retail stores, National and State Parks, elementary/middle/high schools, colleges and universities, and festivals like National Public Lands Day. Ideally, training takes place outdoors where participants are able to learn about Leave No Trace hands-on. The teams are able to provide several types of outreach and custom tailor their presentations to the unique needs of each audience. With the demand for courses specific to particular audiences, the Center has developed Leave No Trace courses specific to rock-climbing, mountain biking, sea kayaking, as well as for many other types of user groups.PEAK - Promoting Environmental Awareness In Kids
The PEAK Program began as a partnership program between the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and REI in 2003. The program’s curriculum centers on providing youth, age 6-12, with information about Leave No Trace through hands-on activities, referred to as “modules”. The program is presented in a “PEAK Pack,” which includes a large packet of ready-to-go activities, supporting materials and an instructional DVD. Activities can be delivered in any sequence and are designed to be 30–60 minutes lessons each. Initially, the PEAK program included four modules. Over the past five years, the program has grown to include six standard modules, a Start Card with teaching tips, an instructional DVD, additional modules (two new modules are added per year to both PEAK and Teen), a Teen Pack and both Spanish PEAK and Teen packs.Connect Grant
Connect Grants provide direct support and training grants for organizations and people that serve culturally diverse communities. Grant awards range between $500 and $2500 and can be used for Leave No Trace educational materials and/or to cover the tuition of a Master Educator Course.Master Educator Scholarships
Eligibility: Applicants should be registered for a Master Educator Course within same calendar year as their scholarship deadline. Master Educator Scholarships are designed to provide partial course tuition to individuals enrolled in an approved Master Educator Course. Scholarships cover up to half of course tuition and do not include travel costs or other related expenses.Packing with PEAK Grant
The “Packing with PEAK Fund” was created to help make the Packing with PEAK program available to youth-serving organizations across the country. The Center requests that applicants be individual members or partners of Leave No Trace. Membership begins at $20/year.Tools for Teaching
The Center requests that applicants be individual members or partners of Leave No Trace. Membership begins at $20/yr. The maximum value of educational materials awarded is $500 per applicant/organization per year.See also
- Balanced EcologyBalanced EcologyBalanced Ecology, Inc. is a 501, non-profit organization dedicated to the use of science and education to increase public knowledge of wildlife and habitat conservation and promote sustainable coexistence between people and nature...
- Clean climbingClean climbingClean climbing is a rock climbing term that describes techniques and equipment which climbers use in order to avoid damage to the rock. These techniques date at least in part from the 1920s and earlier in England, but the term itself may have emerged in about 1970 during the widespread and rapid...
- Trail ethicsTrail ethicsTrail ethics deals with ethics as it applies to the use of trails. It is similar to both environmental ethics and human rights in that it deals with the shared interaction of humans and nature. There are multiple agencies and groups that support and encourage ethical behavior on...
- Traditional climbingTraditional climbingTraditional climbing, or trad climbing, is a style of rock climbing in which a climber or group of climbers places all gear required to protect against falls , and removes it when a passage is complete...
, a "leave no trace" style of rock climbing - Leave the gate as you found itLeave the gate as you found itLeave the gate as you found it is an important rule of courtesy in rural areas throughout the world. If a gate is found open, it should be left open, and if it is closed, it should be left closed. It applies to visitors travelling onto or across farms, ranches and stations.In low-rainfall areas,...
- The Country CodeThe Country CodeThe Country Code, The Countryside Code and The Scottish Outdoor Access Code are sets of rules for visitors to rural, and especially agricultural, regions of the United Kingdom...