Mission, Objectives & History of the Leave No Trace program A National Education Program Designed to Teach Stewardship, Land Ethics, and Outdoor Skills.

Mission, Objectives & HistoryMission, Objectives & History

of the of the Leave No Trace Leave No Trace programprogram

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

Describe the non-profit Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

Describe the mission of the Leave No Trace educational program.

Review the history of the national Leave No Trace educational program.

Leave No TraceLeave 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

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

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

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

Leave No TraceLeave No Trace Mission Statement Mission Statement

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an educational,

nonprofit organization dedicated to the responsible enjoyment and

active stewardship of the outdoors by all people, worldwide.

Leave No TraceLeave No Trace Core Values Core Values

Education is the best means to protect natural lands from recreational impacts while helping maintain access for recreation and enjoyment;

LNT is founded on outdoor ethics whereby a sense of stewardship is gained through understanding and connecting with the natural world;

Practicing the Leave No Trace principles is the most relevant and effective long-term solution to maintaining the beauty, health of, and access to natural lands;

LNT is science-based and builds ethical, pragmatic approaches to resource protection for varying types of outdoor recreation and enjoyment.

Prevent avoidable resource and social impacts

Minimize unavoidable impacts

Preserve the quality of resources and recreation experiences

The LNT Challenge

Regulation… Regulation… or Education ?or Education ?

Regulations antagonize the public … education wins their support

Most impacts are not due to malicious acts … education improves knowledge of consequences and low impact practices

Enforcement of regulations is difficult

Educational Programs: Conception and Educational Programs: Conception and

Early Development Early Development

Federal agencies developed educational brochures beginning in the 1970’s

Slogan-based, little national leadership or inter-agency coordination

Various names: Wilderness Manners, Wilderness Ethics, Minimum Impact Camping, and No-Trace Camping

Take Only Pictures . . .Take Only Pictures . . . Leave Only FootprintsLeave Only Footprints

The “No-Trace” Program The “No-Trace” Program

Developed by U.S. Forest Service (USFS) wilderness managers in the early 1980’s

Humanistic approach for wilderness ethics and low impact hiking and camping practices

Program success led to cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service and in the late 1980’s

Creation of the “Creation of the “Leave No TraceLeave No Trace” ” ProgramProgram

Leave No Trace (LNT) selected as

the name for an expanded national

program in 1990.

USFS formed a partnership with

the National Outdoor Leadership

School (NOLS) to develop LNT

educational materials and courses.

Partnership formed with the four

major land management agencies

and NOLS in 1994.

Creation of Creation of Leave No TraceLeave No Trace, Inc., Inc.

Outdoor Recreation Summit in 1993 recommended creation of the non-profit LNT, Inc.

LNT, Inc. was created in 1994 to guide the national program’s development, establish partnerships, distribute educational materials, and conduct fundraising.

NOLS continued to develop educational materials and conduct training courses.

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.

> 1 million budget; staff: 9 permanent staff & 8 seasonal in 2008.

Funding is primarily derived from corporate manufacturing and retail partners.

Current Status: Training OrganizationsCurrent Status: Training Organizations

The following organizations have been authorized to teach the Leave No Trace Master Educator course:

National Outdoor Leadership School

Appalachian Mountain Club

Landmark Learning

Wilderness Educational Association

USFS Ninemile Wildlands Training Center

Boy Scouts of America

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]