THE SUBARU/LEAVE NO TRACE TRAVELING TRAINER PROGRAM

Currently in its 12th year, the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, 2 teams of professional outdoor educators, have reached over 10 million people in 48 states with Leave No Trace education and training.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Campsite of the Year

On Tuesday, we asked our readers to vote for the most inviting campsite out of four choices, Long Key State Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Lake Wenatchee State Park, and Monument Valley. We received 42 votes and the campsite of the year was Lake Wenatchee State Park with 23 votes. Monument Valley trailed behind in second place with 9 votes and Long Key State Park and Joshua Tree tied for third place with 5 votes each.


We stayed at Lake Wenatchee State Park in March of this year and it was a remarkable spot. The campground was still in winter mode, which basically means that you have a limited number of spots to choose from but there was still a heated bathhouse available (after a year on the road we have really learned to appreciate a nice, clean campground bathroom with hot water). There was only one other group at the campground, and as you can see from the photo the reflection of the snow covered peaks in the lake was simply breathtaking.



All the best,

Agata and Jason

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

New Leave No Trace Polo Shirts Are Here!

Leave No Trace Polo Shirts have Arrived!!

Campsite of the Year Survey

It's survey time! This year, we've traveled through 36 states and camped almost 100 nights. We've stayed at many different campsites and we'd like you to pick your favorite. Take a close look at the following four pictures, follow the link at the bottom of the blog, and choose the campsite that is the most inviting to you.


Long Key State Park, FL


Joshua Tree National Park, CA


Lake Wenatchee State Park, WA


Monument Valley, AZ

Tell us what you think. Take the survey here.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Monday, December 6, 2010

The North Face Endurance Challenge-San Francisco, CA

Ultramarathon Man Dean Karnzes prepares kids for the half mile Karno Kids Run.

The fifth and final stop of The North Face Endurance Challenge took place at the beautiful Marin Headlands in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area just north of San Francisco. On Saturday, runners braved the elements as they tackled the Gore-tex 50 mile race, 50k race, or the full marathon. The athletes exhibited unbelievable endurance and strength as they, one by one, triumphantly crossed the finish line. An addition to the race line-up was the Karno Kids Run. Led by ultra-marathon runner and North Face athlete Dean Karnazes, who is best known for epic journey completing 50 marathons in 50 days, the Karno Kids Race challenged children to a 1/2 mile run around the festival grounds. The children had a blast running and receiving their medals as they crossed the finish line.
Sunday was dedicated to the half marathon, 10k, and 5k races. With approximately 2,000 athletes on the course over the weekend, The North Face encourages all participants to practice Leave No Trace during the race, and to pack it in, pack it out.
Whether you are an ultra-marathon runner or a once in a while jogger, The North Face Endurance Challenge embraces all athletes in their quest to "run farther than you ever have". Check out The North Face website for dates of the 2011 series!
Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Westfield State University


Earlier this week, we visited Professor Kevin Tatsugawa at Westfield State University in western Massachusetts. We met with four different classes, Wilderness Leadership Techniques, two sections of Wilderness Experiences, and Outdoor Experiences. After introducing the Leave No Trace program and the seven principles to the students, we talked about how the program is intended to develop an ethic of stewardship for the outdoors. In the photo above we have a discussion about "why we do the things we do" and how that applies to our enjoyment of outdoor recreation.

Thanks to Kevin Tatsugawa for hosting our very last event in 2010!

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

New Canyoneering Reference Tags Are Here!


Leave No Trace's newest educational piece is out and available in our online store. Designed specifically for those Canyoneering, the 3 x 5 reference card is filled with activity specific information, adressing the most relevant concerns for these environments. Order your copy today!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Leave No Trace in the Washington DC Metro Area

Last Thursday, we had the pleasure to meet up with Virginia State Advocate, Laurie Harmon, as the state advocate Laurie coordinates all things Leave No Trace in Virginia. Laurie teaches at George Mason University and she set up an awareness workshop with two clubs on campus, the Environmental Action Group and RockOn! Mason Outdoor Club. The students were eager to learn more about Leave No Trace and how they could incorporate the program into their clubs.


On Friday we had the opportunity to visit with 4th, 5th, and 6th graders from the Flint Hill School in Oakton, Virginia. The six sessions we facilitated throughout the day focused on the PEAK principles and making connections between outdoor recreation and the responsibility we all have to be stewards of public land. The first photo illustrates a perfect example of the principle Trash Your Trash at the school's recycling/composting/trash center that we visited after a nice picnic lunch on campus. The second photo shows two students explaining how they thought Leave No Trace could be considered as they geared up for future outdoor recreation adventures. The students and staff we interacted with throughout the day were a pleasure to work with and we hope to visit again in the future. Thanks to Jessie McKinney for hosting our visit.


All the best,

Jason and Agata

Monday, November 22, 2010

Work Hard, Play Hard

As Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, we live by the motto work hard, play hard. This week we put that idea to the test. After spending multiple working at the NAI National Conference in Las Vegas, we escaped the bright lights and big city as we traveled west to Death Valley National Park.

Long before we started working for Leave No Trace, we made it our personal mission to get to all of the 58 National Parks in this country. Death Valley marked park #44! This park is chock full of extraordinary features- from craters to castles, sand dunes to towering mountains, and the lowest point in The United States(282 ft below sea level!).

With the full moon as our guide, we took to the sand dunes for a night hike and it was surreal! We did not see another person as we walked around the majestic dunes, stopping to smell the creosote that grows abundantly in this vast landscape. This park is truly amazing, especially if you can get here in the fall or winter, when the weather is perfect!

We have two remaining National Parks to explore in the continental United States. Hopefully we will get to visit Voyaguers and Isle Royal in 2011. Until then…

Happy Adventuring- Kate & Tracy

Friday, November 19, 2010

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Virginia Beach Friends School

The Virginia Beach Friends School is a school filled with 160 students from 3 years old to seniors in high school. The school integrates the Quaker values of equality, integrity, simplicity, peace, and environmental stewardship, so the Leave No Trace program fit right into the school's educational philosophy. We met with students from Kindergarten to 12th grade and everyone in between and shared the 7 principles of the Leave No Trace program through a variety of activities such as How Long Does it Last and Minimum Impact Match.

Above we have grades K-5 demonstrating "the rule of thumb" to determine a safe distance to enjoy viewing wildlife and thinking about the principle Respect Wildlife. In the photo below we had a unanimous moment of excitement when we asked the students at the Virginia Beach Friends School "who likes to play outside?"



Thanks to Jacquie Whitt and Ed Hollinger for making our visit possible.


All the best,

Jason and Agata

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

NAI National Conference-Las Vegas

Las Vegas, the city of lights, loud music, and lots of people, is one area of the country you would not expect Leave No Trace to be. Yet this week, over 1000 outdoor enthusiasts from around the country are swarming "Sin City" for the National Association of Interpretation Conference. We are happy to be here to take part in this national conference to educate interpreters and outdoor educators about the Leave No Trace program. We have already spoken to hundreds of participants about our Traveling Trainer program and how to get FREE training at their sites, our youth program PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids), as well as ways to incorporate Leave No Trace into their existing programs, and it is only the second day of the conference! We are looking forward to the rest of the week here, especially our adventure to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, located just outside of the city!
Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Monday, November 15, 2010

West Central Florida & Gulf Ridge Councils Centennial Camporee


On Saturday, we had the opportunity to participate in the West Central Florida and Gulf Ridge Councils Centennial Camporee. The Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturers and Sea Scouts put on the largest scouting event ever in West Central Florida to celebrate the 100th year of scouting. About 300 people came by our booth to learn more about taking care of the outdoors and they had a chance to figure out how long common trash items last in the outdoor. We also had the opportunity to facilitate two awareness workshops and teach 75 scouts and leaders more about minimizing their impact on the outdoors.

Thanks to Jeanette McCullough for inviting us!

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Winter Skills and Demo Day

Over the weekend, we were invited to present two awareness workshops at the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE) conference in Keystone, CO. In our first workshop, we addressed techniques and strategies on how to run a successful Leave No Trace awareness workshop. Round two was focused on the general skills and ethics of Leave No Trace, highlighting winter and alpine environments. The participants represented a variety of schools and universities from across the country including the University of Connecticut (Go Huskies!), Southeast Illinois University, and Pacific University in Oregon. We are confident that the workshop attendees will enthusiastically bring Leave No Trace education back to their communities. It's all about sharing the ethic!
Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Friday, November 12, 2010

Picture of the Week 11/12/10


Sunrise at Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas National Park.



Wednesday, November 10, 2010

300th Unique Event!

Last week we spent time in Ridgway, CO for a series of youth workshops within the public school system. Each of our events were filled with lively, energetic students that were motivated to learn about Leave No Trace. We worked with two 3rd grade classes at the elementary school. After school, we worked with students from the Voyager Youth Program. To top the day off, we hit the gym and presented to the Ridgway/Ouray climbing team. A special thanks to Amber Bray for setting up the events!
The above picture shows the 3rd grade class practicing the "leap frog" move before a game of Leave No Trace Draw. Pictured below is the two classes posing with Bigfoot and their Leave No Trace ethics reference card for kids.
In recent days, it has come to our attention that we have hit a milestone, so to speak. As we reflected on our time spent on the road, as we often do on lengthy drives, we never cease to be amazed at the shear amount of people we have met at our presentations over the last two years. That got us thinking, how many times have we had the privilege of presenting Leave No Trace to the masses? To our delight and surprise, it turned out that our time spent in Ridgway yielded our 300th unique event...and we aren't done yet!
Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Trainer Course in Little Big Econ State Forest

"Tell me, and I will forget. Show me, and I will remember. Let me do, and I will understand."

-Confucius


This past weekend we were in Seminole County, Florida for a two day Trainer Course with Boy Scouts from around the Sunshine State. The 16 hour course focused on instructing the fundamentals required to teach others the skills and ethics of Leave No Trace. Throughout the course we revisited the words of Confucius as the Scouts enjoyed experiential learning opportunities and personally connected with the idea "Let me do, and I will understand." The participants were introduced to various methods to minimize our impacts on the outdoors, and each led a lesson covering a different principle or topic for the whole group.


The course was unique in that the participants were representative of both adult and teen members of their Boy Scout troops from around Florida. Each participant developed an action plan to teach Leave No Trace to other members of their troops or councils.

In the first photo, Agata leads a lesson on disposing of waste properly by demonstrating how to dig a cathole. The second photo shows the crew preparing for departure into the Geneva Wilderness Area with a sense of humor and excitement for the trip ahead.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Friday, November 5, 2010

Picture of the Week 11/5/10

Lady Bug Hatch in the HD Mountains (Piedra Wildlife Corridor)
Outside Bayfield, CO

Thursday, November 4, 2010

3 Days + 3 Cities in North Carolina = 88 People Trained in PEAK


We started the week off by meeting with 41 before and after school specialists from Durham Public Schools and training them in the PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) program. PEAK is the result of a unique partnership between REI and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics to educate children about the outdoors and responsible use of public lands. The Durham Public School system was the first school system in the area to host this type of training and the staff at REI, who made this training possible, are excited to get more school systems involved. The first photo, shows the teachers wrapping up the Minimum Impact Match activity from the PEAK pack.


On Tuesday, we visited the Raleigh REI store to teach their staff and members from the community about the PEAK program. We once again demonstrated how to run Minimum Impact Match and the second photo shows that even seasoned REI staff can have difficulty figuring out what piece of gear they are.


On Wednesday, we presented the PEAK program at the REI in Charlotte. The third photo shows the participants trying out the Rule of Thumb, which is a tool we use to determine the safe distance to observe wildlife.

Thanks to Paul Harwood, Dale Tiska, and Vanessa Gorr for putting these events together.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Rock the X in Durango, CO

X Rock is a popular climbing area in Durango, CO. With over 70 routes to climb in an easily accessible area, the impacts on the land are evident. Josh Kling, owner of Kling Mountain Guides, organized the first annual Rock the X cleanup on Saturday October 30th. The cleanup crews were split into three groups. One group took to the rock and placed new anchors to encourage climbers to try new routes. Another group, led by Trails 2000, created a new trail to access some of the more remote climbs in the area. They also restructured an existing trail leading up to the X, making it a more user friendly trail with better drainage. The remaining crew spent hours cleaning up trash in the parking lots and in the climbing area. With more than 30 volunteers at the X, everyone did their part to leave the area better than we found it! Thanks to Josh Kling for inviting the Traveling Trainers to take part in this community event. Keep an eye out for the next Rock the X clean up!
Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Iron Eagle Challenge at Georgia Southern University

On Friday, we traveled to Statesboro, Georgia to be a part of the 6th annual Iron Eagle Challenge. This adventure race is held on the campus of Georgia Southern University and requires teams of two to off-road/urban cycle, run/walk, canoe, and conquer many mystery challenges along the way. We were in charge of creating and running Mystery Event #2, so naturally we came up with a version of the Cathole Olympics. We asked the participants to work together to transport a mini Cliff Bar about 50 feet without using their hands. They then had a choice of three cups that represented different depths of catholes, 2-3", 4-6", and 6-8". They had to choose the appropriate depth of cathole and deposit their Cliff Bar into the cup. Check out the slideshow for a few moments from the day!

A special thanks to Jenn Velie for organizing a great event and incorporating Leave No Trace into the race. Thanks also to Doyle and America (a.k.a. Snookie) for helping run an awesome mystery challenge.

All the best,

Agata and Jason


Monday, November 1, 2010

Traveling Trainers Join Osprey Packs and Freedom to Roam

On Friday we had the opportunity to join Osprey Packs on a staff outing in the HD Mountains of Southwestern Colorado led by Freedom to Roam. Freedom to Roam is a Denver based non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness and commitment about the need for wildlife corridor conservation while setting a new and innovative industry standards for wildlife friendly practices on the ground and in the water. We spent the gorgeous fall day exploring the Piedra Wildlife Corridor, looking for animal tracks and scat. Below is a picture of a black bear track found on our hike.



Julia Kintsch, the Conservation Science Manager for Freedom to Roam, came down from Denver to educate the group about current efforts in wildlife corridor conservation. She was joined by Ryan Demmy Bidwell, Executive Director from Colorado Wild, a non-profit organization that works to protect, preserve, and restore the native plants and animals of the Southern Rocky Mountains, with particular attention given to habitat protection of Colorado's forested, roadless, public lands and other ecologically important areas. The picture below shows Julia and Ryan pointing out the impact of mining in the Piedra Wildlife Corridor. Humans impact wildlife in numerous ways. Oil mining and highways pose significant threats to the migration patterns of wildlife in Colorado. Freedom to Roam and Colorado Wild raise awareness of the issues in an effort to respect wildlife. A special thank you to Sam Mix and Gareth Martins of Osprey Packs for inviting us to partake in this fun and educational day. We look forward to working with Freedom to Roam in the future!
Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Friday, October 29, 2010

Picture of the Week 10/29/10

Hiking at Max Patch in the Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina.

Thursday, October 28, 2010

A Fall Visit to Western North Carolina


We spent an exciting week in western North Carolina hiking in the rain, teaching at Montreat College and REI, and visiting friends. We started the week off exploring the Smoky Mountains and enjoying the wonderful fall colors. On Tuesday, we drove up to Montreat College, a small Christian college nestled in the mountains. In our first session, we introduced Dr. Andrew Bobilya's Survey of Outdoor Education class to Leave No Trace. The class was so enthusiastic that almost all of the students chose to stay for the optional second session, which was a more advanced discussion focusing on outdoor ethics and how to teach Leave No Trace to a variety of audiences.


On Wednesday evening, after another day of exploring the mountains in the rain, we held a PEAK training workshop at Asheville's REI. The participants were excited to learn how they could incorporate the PEAK program into their various organizations. The picture above is a window into the REI presentation with Master Educator Jay Schoon attempting to figure out what he is during Minimum Impact Match.

We also had the pleasure of catching up with North Carolina's state advocates Amy and Dusty Allison and the youngest junior state advocate Bridger Allison. While at the Allisons we had a mini-reunion from a frozen Floridian Master Educator course with Justion Doroshenko and Jay Schoon.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Any Leave No Trace Themed Costumes Out There?



October is rapidly coming to a close and we all know what that means. It's time to get those costumes out of the closet! What creative ensemble will you come up this year?

With so many Bigfoot sightings lately, it makes us wonder, will any of you be showing your Leave No Trace spirit this Halloween? Please share with us any spook-tacular Leave No Trace costumes you will be sporting this weekend. Boo knows, there may be a ghostly prize awarded to the best garb!

Happy Halloween Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

ScoutFest Southern Style in Atlanta, Georgia


On Saturday October 23rd we were invited to talk with Boy Scouts of all ages from the Atlanta area council at Scoutfest 2010. The crowds visiting the Leave No Trace booth were excited to learn more about outdoor ethics and take home a few of our free educational materials. Above we have a crew of Cub Scouts talking about the PEAK program principles and how they will be enjoying the outdoors responsibly on their next adventure. We also connected with leaders who were interested in learning more about how to request a free visit with the Subaru Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers.

Looking down the road we are visiting a few friends in the Great Smoky Mountains from Montreat College and the REI store in Asheville, NC.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Monday, October 25, 2010

Outreach in New Mexico

Last week we traveled to Farmington, NM to spend time with students at San Juan College and to visit past traveling trainers JD & Emily. San Juan College has a fantastic outdoor program, which takes full advantage of the plethora of recreational opportunities in the area. We provided a two hour training for students of the Wilderness Pursuits class, as well as staff of the Outdoor Recreation Rental Center and others from the local community. Thanks to JD for setting up this event!

On Saturday, we worked with girl scouts in Aztec, NM. Over 30 girl scouts and their parents came to learn about ways to incorporate Leave No Trace into their outings. The girls had a blast playing a few of our PEAK activities, like What Principle Am I?, How Long Does It Last?, and Leave No Trace Draw. After the program, we went outside to get a group photo, and to our surprise Bigfoot came around the corner! All of the girls were so excited to see Bigfoot and get their picture taken with him. Thanks to Emily for helping to set up this visit!
We had a great time catching up with JD and Emily and look forward to seeing them again soon!
Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Friday, October 22, 2010

Picture of the Week 10/22/10

An Eagle Scout project that we came across while hiking in Lost Watchman State Park outside of Phoenix, AZ

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Tracking Bigfoot in the Ivy League


The fall tour for Team East has taken many enjoyable and interesting turns over the past few months. Besides facilitating Leave No Trace Awareness Workshops and offering educational outreach throughout the east, we have been assigned to some very curious duties as well. We were recently brought in to investigate another Bigfoot sighting near the campus of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

Pictured above is the preschool student, the ever observant Sebastian Halpern, who called in the alleged sighting on his way to campus. We receive so many dubious claims of "Bigfoot in my community" that we felt compelled to check this out personally. It seems the young man was on to something based on the evidence we have on film.

If you are interested in seeing the elusive Bigfoot check out the Bigfoot Challenge at the Leave No Trace website yourself.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Splendid National Parks


For the past decade, we have been on a mission to get to all 58 of the magnificent National Parks that our country has to offer.  Our time working with Leave No Trace has helped us travel through parks 31-43 on our list!  The latest two we were able to check off were Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks in California.  

Located in the southern Sierra Nevada mountains, both of these parks are inspiring in their own ways.  In Kings Canyon, you cannot help but ponder how a river could have carved such an immense canyon.  The short drive to Sequoia leads you into grove upon grove of towering giants.  Did you know that of the 75 or so sequoia groves in the world, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks protect 29 of them! 

Within the limits of Sequoia NP stands the General Sherman Tree.  Pound for pound, this is the largest living organism in the whole world!  Being in the presence of this colossal tree creates a feeling of indescribable emotion.  There are so many beautiful places to play in the United States.  Team West would like to remind you to have fun, be responsible, and Leave No Trace while you are out there enjoying the outdoors.

Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Outreach with Venturing Crew 502


On Saturday, we had the opportunity and pleasure to work with Venturing Crew 502 at ScoutFest 100 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. While we did general outreach, Rachel, Scott, Kaitlin, Katrina, and Mary excelled at facilitating "Camp Oh-No" with over 300 young scouts and their families. Venturing is a program of the Boy Scouts of America and the program's purpose is to provide positive experiences to help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Crew 502 did an excellent job teaching younger scouts about the importance of Leave No Trace and developing a sense of stewardship of the outdoors.


On Monday evening, we set up in the middle of Blue Ridge Mountain Sports and held an awareness workshop for 19 local outdoor enthusiasts interested in learning more about Leave No Trace.


A special thanks to Donna and Jim Shannon for hosting us!

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Monday, October 18, 2010

Outreach in Arizona

Usually in our blogs we highlight events of the week and recap the trainings and outreach we have provided. Today, we would like to highlight events we have coming up this week in the Phoenix area. This evening, we will be providing two PEAK (Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids) training at REI. The first will be at 4:00 pm at REI Tempe. We will then travel to Paradise Valley for another PEAK training at 7:00 pm. If you live in the Phoenix area and work with youth, come check out the training and learn about PEAK!
Tomorrow, we will be visiting the Phoenix Rock Gym in Tempe, AZ. We will be there from 7-9 pm to provide outreach to the many climbers visiting the gym. There will be competitive climbing going on- it should be rocking! Thanks to Climb PHX for inviting us to the gym!
Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Friday, October 15, 2010

Picture of the Week 10/15/10


Enjoying the fall colors from the Sunset Ridge Trail on Mt. Mansfield in Vermont.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The North Face Speaker Series-Burlington, VT

On Wednesday evening this week we had the chance to catch up with with world class climber and professional photographer Jimmy Chin in Burlington, Vermont. Jimmy was presenting as a part of the Never Stop Exploring Speaker Series sponsored by our friends at The North Face.
Jimmy was very low key about his personal achievements and focused his presentation around the people who he has pursued his passions alongside and the incredible places he has the opportunity to visit around the world.

In a rare moment of free time Jimmy was able to pose for the picture above with Team East of the Subaru Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers. The crowds passing by throughout the evening were very interested in the educational materials provided, but even more so with the instant classic "Don't topple the lip balm tower" activity at the booth!

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Road Wisdom: The Word on Gear.



Life as Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers necessitates gear that is comfortable, dependable, and of high-quality. During our two seasons on the road, spanning 20 months with over 400 nights spent camping, we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge our gratitude to the very partners that aid in our comfort and help us to provide stellar outreach across the country. From each of our outfitting partners, we have selected one piece of gear that has withstood the test of time and travel.

➢ The fall season is upon us and with summer-time Chaco tan lines all but a fading memory, the timing could not have been better to test out the Chaco Ped Shed. These super comfortable shoes are waterproof, making them perfect for spending time outdoors in rain or snow this season!

➢ When space is of the essence, Coleman Origami Dishware is the perfect solution. These dishes are ideal for any camping trip, whether it is a weekend at your local state park, or a week in the backcountry! They are light-weight, virtually unbreakable, and have a non-stick, easy to clean surface.

➢ Each morning we awake in the great outdoors and greet the day. Our morning would not be complete with out a good cup of bean to get the day rolling. This year we received the MSR Reactor Stove System- the fastest and most fuel-efficient stove system in the world. With an unrivaled boil time, it has the ability to boil a liter of water in just three minutes. Whether it is just the two of us, or on a Leave No Trace Trainer Course with 12 participants, everyone is sure to have boiled water in a hurry!

➢ By night fall, we slip on our Smartwool Base Layers and prepare for the cool fall evenings at camp. Just last week we woke up to our first morning of frost and were able to stay comfortable and cozy in our base layers. Smartwool also rewards new members of Leave No Trace at Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer events, by donating a pair of socks to anyone who joins the individual membership program.

➢ After the stars come out and it is time to retire for the evening, we add an extra layer of warmth to our sleeping bags with the Therm-A-Rest Ventra Down Comforter. These lightweight blankets are perfect as part of a sleep system, or on their own around camp. This makes our camping experience truly luxurious!

➢ The success of the Traveling Trainer Program is due in large part to the title sponsor of the program. Subaru of America has been an integral part of “Education in Motion” for the past twelve years. With their support, the traveling trainers are able to reach millions of outdoors enthusiasts with the Leave No Trace information annually.

These companies have invested in Leave No Trace in tremendous ways, making it possible to provide quality and effective training nation wide. We deeply appreciate all of their contributions and would like to encourage you to support these companies that care about the preservation and conservation of lands shared by the public! Thank you for all you do for Leave No Trace!

Happy Adventuring…Kate and Tracy, Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Outreach in Maine


This past weekend we spent a few chilly days enjoying the sunshine and mesmerizing colors of autumn in Maine. In the photo below, Agata shares some of the free educational materials available at an outreach event at the flagship L.L. Bean store in Freeport, Maine with two very motivated outdoor recreation enthusiasts. The couple in the photo had recently climbed Mount Rainier and were interested in how they could enjoy the outdoors more responsibly and support Leave No Trace.


All the best,

Agata and Jason

Monday, October 11, 2010

Bigfoot Sighting-Tahoe Mountain Sports

Bigfoot is at it again! Lately, it would appear that the illusive Bigfoot has been coming out of the woods to join in on getting the communities in the Sierra Nevadas to rally around outdoor activities and more importantly to Leave No Trace while enjoying the outdoors. His latest conquest was to visit Tahoe Mountain Sports on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. Tahoe Mountain Sports spent the weekend sponsoring the 4th annual Lake Tahoe Disc Golf Tournament. Stay tuned for more information on how Bigfoot and Tahoe Mountain Sports will work together in the up coming weeks...
Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Friday, October 8, 2010

Picture of the Week 10/8/10

Jerry Johnson Hot Springs, ID