The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program

Partner Support at Outdoor Retailer

2012-01-25T10:17:00.000-08:00

Salt Lake City, UT. Last week Team East and Team West teamed up in Salt Lake City to take part in the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market at the Salt Palace Convention Center. This bi-annual show gathers the top companies and organizations in the outdoor industry to showcase the latest gear, trends, and innovations for the outdoor enthusiast. Every year the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics hosts the Great Gear Giveaway, sponsored by Backpacker Magazine and Subaru of America, which is inevitably a highlight of the week! This year did not disappoint as 18 lucky people walked away with a sweet prize package of the hottest gear on the market. Thank you to all of those companies that donated to the Great Gear Giveaway, and a special thank you to Backpacker Magazine and Subaru for sponsoring the event!

In addition to the Great Gear Giveaway, a few other partners of Leave No Trace stepped it up to host a fundraiser happy hour during the show. On Friday night, Big Agnes hosted a happy hour, which not only raised money for the Center but also sent one lucky winner home with a brand new Wolf Mountain Tent!

On Saturday, we joined Osprey Packs for another happy hour fundraising party. Osprey Packs has been a long standing partner of Leave No Trace. It is because of partners, like Osprey, that help make Leave No Trace a successful organization. Pictured below are former Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers JD Tanner and Emily Ressler. They bought their raffle tickets to support Leave No Trace and walked away with the grand prize!

THANK YOU to Osprey Packs and Big Agnes for their support at the Outdoor Retailer Winter Market!

Respect the Resource...Kate and Tracy

How Do You Practice Leave No Trace in Your Everyday Life?

2012-01-13T11:28:00.000-08:00

Cascade Locks, OR. Andy, a Leave No Trace Trainer and enthusiast, shares how he practices Leave No Trace in his everyday life. Leave No Trace can be applied not only to any non-motorized recreational experience, but can also be beneficial in the context of everyday life, even when you are not outdoors! Andy has adopted the Leave No Trace lifestyle, have you?
Enjoy the long weekend!
Respect the Resource...Kate and Tracy

Bigfoot Sighting at International Sportsmans Expo

2012-01-10T10:30:00.000-08:00

Denver, CO. The International Sportsmans Expo held at the Colorado Convention Center this past weekend brought in thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to check out the latest in fishing and hunting gear, guide and outfitter services, and had a chance to learn about responsible recreation in the Outdoor Ethics Center. Over 2,700 people stayed on the trail to talk to representatives from Leave No Trace, Stay The Trail, Tread Lightly, and The Wildlife Experience. With all this excitement, it was no surprise that Bigfoot came to Denver to share in the thrill. Enjoy a few photos from this weekend!
Respect The Resource...Kate and Tracy

International Sportsmans Expo

2012-01-03T08:46:00.000-08:00

Denver, CO. The International Sportsmans Expo will take over the Colorado Convention Center this weekend beginning on Thursday at 12pm and concluding Sunday at 5pm. With over 900 companies and organizations, there will be plenty of outdoor goods and services to check out. Here is a list of what you can expect to see at the show:

Fishing & hunting outfitters & guides
Fishing tackle & gear
Hunting products & gear
Fly-fishing retailers
Travel, vacations, lodges & resorts
Boats, kayaks & marine accessories
RVs, campers
Outdoor gear
Apparel & optics
ATVs, motorcycles & personal watercraft
Mountain-home furnishings
Outdoor clubs, groups & organizations
Trucks, trailers & aftermarket accessories

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics will be teaming up with Tread Lightly!, Stay the Trail Colorado, and The Wildlife Experience to educate visitors about responsible use of lands shared by the public and ways to minimize potential impacts on the land when out hunting, fishing, boating, or camping. Come check out the Outdoor Ethics Center for interactive activities, educational materials, and chat with knowledgable and friendly staff from all four of these organizations! Hope to see you there!
Respect Nature, Respect Others...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 12/23/11

2011-12-23T12:53:00.000-08:00

Chopping wood for the winter

Happy Trails To You!

2011-12-21T09:28:00.000-08:00

Professional Development Day 2011

As we bid farewell to the year 2011, we are reflecting on the many successes of the Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program. For the past two seasons, we have had the pleasure of working with two fantastic colleagues. As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. We wish only the best to our associates who are moving on to their next great adventure. Thank you Jason and Agata Ketterick for all of your hard work. We look forward to seeing where the trail takes you and never stop making teeny tiny shadow puppets in your tent!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 12/16/11

2011-12-16T10:10:00.000-08:00

Hale Reservation in Westwood, MA

Bigfoot's Shopping Spree

2011-12-15T13:42:00.000-08:00

Checking out the tubes for fun on the hill!

Freeport, ME. While we were at LL Bean last week, we noticed some strange activity throughout the store.

Bigfoot loves the warm Bean flannels!

Every where we looked, crowds of people we watching as Bigfoot came to take care of some of his holiday shopping. LL Bean is one of the top stores where Bigfoot can find all kinds of outdoor products. And because they support Leave No Trace, Bigfoot gets even more excited!
Where else will Bigfoot shop this year? Check out the list of companies and organizations that support Leave No Trace through partnership here. Keep these companies in mind as you do your holiday shopping this year!

Why not just a little more fur?

Taking a rest after a long day of shopping

Explore Responsibly...Kate, Tracy, and Bigfoot

Backyard Session in Maine

2011-12-07T09:47:00.001-08:00

Freeport, ME. Team East traveled to LL Bean's Flagship store to take part in a Leave No Trace Backyard Session. Hosted by the Maine Steering Committee, this session brought together 45 key volunteers from across the state of Maine. The energy in the room was exhilarating as the group discussed ways to increase training opportunities and awareness of Leave No Trace within their communities. In the photo to the left, Marcia and Gabe Williamson, former Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers and current Maine State Advocates, lead a brainstorming sessions on ways to strengthen and promote Leave No Trace in the state of Maine.

Attending the meeting were representatives from local schools and universities, such as Colby College and the University of Maine, Council leaders from the Boy Scouts of America and US Girl Scouts, staff and volunteers from Maine Island Trails Association and other local conservation groups, the Nature Conservancy and Saco River Recreation Council, local summer camps, and the Maine Bureau of Land Management, just to name a few. It was amazing to see such a diverse group of outdoor enthusiasts and educators come together and share ideas.

As a special thank you to everyone for volunteering their time to participate in the Backyard Session, partners of Leave No Trace donated some fun gear to raffle off at the end of the workshop. Included were materials from the Leave No Trace store, Outdoor Research T-shirts, RestStop Portable Toilets Systems, and one lucky winner walked away with a Keen Shoe gift card!

A special thank you to Charlie Jacobi, Marcia and Gabe Williamson, and the rest of the steering committee for hosting such a rewarding Backyard Session. Also, thank you to LL Bean, a long-time supporter of Leave No Trace, for providing a space for the session!

Explore Responsibly...Kate & Tracy

Picture of the Week 12/2/11

2011-12-02T09:49:00.000-08:00

Heading to San Francisco, CA for our last event - The North Face Endurance Challenge!

Team West At The North Face Endurance Challenge

2011-12-01T08:46:00.000-08:00

San Francisco, California -

This coming weekend brings the last event for Team West in the 2011 Traveling Trainer season at The North Face Endurance Challenge. The North Face has long been a strong advocate for promoting responsible outdoor recreation and has generously supported Leave No Trace over the years. Team West will be on site all weekend to provide information and educational materials to all the participants, friends, and family who have come out to support their favorite racers.

One of the many celebrities on the guest list this weekend will be our mascot (see photo above) Bigfoot, and the rumor is he will be out and about for the Karno Kids Race! Stop by and learn more about enjoying the outdoors with Leave No Trace in mind.

See you at the race,

Jason and Agata

Are You A "MAINE-iac" About Leave No Trace?

2011-11-30T12:08:00.000-08:00

Freeport, ME. This weekend marks the final Leave No Trace Backyard Session of the 2011 season. Backyard Sessions provide a platform for Leave No Trace Master Educators, Trainers, volunteers, and supporters to find ways communities can incorporate Leave No Trace into all of the ways they live and play. Throughout the 2011 season, more than a dozen sessions were held across the country. We are excited to close out the season at L.L. Bean to work closely with the Maine State Advocates, Marcia and Gabe Williamson, Charlie Jacobi and others from the Maine Steering Committee, and many key volunteers that work hard to promote the Leave No Trace program in New England.

This weekend is also the Winter Sports Weekend at L.L. Bean. This is a great opportunity to do some holiday shopping, test out some winter gear, take a clinic about winter camping or ice fishing, and learn about Leave No Trace! The Winter Sports Weekend begins Friday and will have free activities all weekend long. Come check it out!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 11/25/11

2011-11-25T10:20:00.000-08:00

Marbled Orb Weaver Spider - Araneus marmoreus

We spotted this spider during a hike in North Carolina.

Way Back Wednesday: Walking on the Wild Side

2011-11-23T10:47:00.000-08:00

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we would like to give thanks to all of the former Traveling Trainer teams that paved the way, or hiked the trail so to speak, for their efforts in making the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program the success that it is today. Here is a blog written in 2008 by former Traveling Trainer Amy Allison. This blog reminds us about the importance of respecting wildlife and doing all we can to keep wildlife wild!

Click here to check out Amy's blog: Walking on the Wild Side

Gobble, Gobble...Kate and Tracy

San Gabriel River Hot Spot Training

2011-11-22T13:30:00.000-08:00

Glendora, CA -

Earlier this week, Team West facilitated Leave No Trace educational trainings for the staff and volunteers who patrol and educate the general public on the San Gabriel River and in the mountains of the Angeles National Forest of southern California.

The San Gabriel river is located one hour east of Los Angeles, California and is enjoyed by tens of thousands of visitors (see photo above) over the busiest weekends of the year. The primary partner awarded the Hot Spot grant is the West Fork San Gabriel River Conservancy who will be working closely with the Center for Outdoor Ethics to educate the public about enjoying this area responsibly so it can be preserved for future generations of outdoor recreation enthusiasts.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Green Lakes State Park

2011-11-21T08:36:00.000-08:00

Fayetteville, NY. On Friday, an extended training lent itself to a hike that explored a plethora of teachable moments. Green Lakes State Park has a trail system, a disc golf course, an eighteen hole golf course, a playground, and an abundance of picnic tables. All of these factors combined amounts to a front country area that is heavily impacted during times of high use. Along our hike, we were able to talk about picking up microtrash, cleaning up after our pets, invasive species, and traveling on durable surfaces, particularly staying in the middle of a trail even when it's muddy.

Two of the most distinguishing features of the park, are Green Lake and Round Lake. Both Round and Green Lakes are meromictic lakes, which means that there is no fall and spring mixing of surface and bottom waters. Such lakes have a high potential for evidence of ancient plant and animal life. Round Lake has been registered as a National Historic Landmark. When you come upon these lakes, there is no question about how Green Lake received it's name! If you are ever in the Central New York, be sure to make time to recreate in this gorgeous state park.

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 11/18/11

2011-11-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

An Oasis in the Desert

Borrego Palm Canyon in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Outdoor Adventures in San Diego

2011-11-17T10:37:00.003-08:00

San Diego, CA - We spent this week in San Diego working with Outdoor Outreach and the Great Escapes program at Point Loma Nazarene University. Both programs take students on amazing outdoor adventures in the San Diego area and beyond.

Outdoor Outreach is a non-profit organization that serves at-risk and underprivileged youth through a variety of outdoor programs. Our first visit of the week was to KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy, where we introduced sixteen 7th and 8th grade boys to the basics of Leave No Trace. We followed this up with workshops with each of the Adventure Clubs that Outdoor Outreach has formed and facilitated in three San Diego High Schools: Crawford, Lincoln, and El Cajon Valley. Students participating in Adventure Club meet weekly after school to plan their trips and to participate in enrichment activities such as first-aid training, yoga, and Leave No Trace. The students also take part in environmental stewardship projects, such as beach clean-ups, and participate in monthly outdoor trips, which include rock climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding, and overnight trips to Joshua Tree National Park. We introduced the Adventure Club members to the basics of Leave No Trace through a variety of interactive activities.

We completed our time in San Diego with a workshop for the leaders of the Great Escapes outdoor program at Point Loma Nazarene University. Nine leaders joined us to learn more about effectively communicating Leave No Trace. We introduced these motivated college students to the Authority of the Resource Technique and gave the students an opportunity to practice the technique through a series of skits.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Authority of the Resource Technique In Action

2011-11-16T08:22:00.000-08:00

Pickens County, SC. While hiking at Table Rock State Park in South Carolina, we came across this signage at the trailhead. This sign does a great job of not only citing the expectations the rangers have for pet owners in the park, but it also explains the "whys" behind the regulations. By educating visitors about why certain rules and regulations are in place allows the visitors to make more sound and responsible decisions while enjoying the parks resources. This is an effective use of the Authority of the Resource Technique, a concept developed by a man named Dr. George N Wallace. To learn more about this technique you can take a Leave No Trace Trainer Course or read the article by clicking here.
Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Girl Scouts of Oregon and Southwest Washington

2011-11-15T18:02:00.000-08:00

Medford, OR - On Saturday, 35 Girl Scouts, leaders, and parents chose to spend part of their day learning more about Leave No Trace. We explored the 7 principles of Leave No Trace through several activities including What Principle Am I? & Minimum Impact Match. Both of these activities can be found in the Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids (PEAK) pack, which is a great resource for scout leaders wanting to educate their troops about Leave No Trace in a fun and interactive way.

The scouts also put their artistic skills to use and made awesome posters illustrating the seven principles of Leave No Trace.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Montreat College Embraces Leave No Trace

2011-11-14T15:55:00.000-08:00

Outdoor Living Skills Class

Montreat, NC. Traveling Trainers have had the pleasure of providing awareness workshops at Montreat College for a few consecutive years. This year was no exception as we spent four days on their mountainous campus which is complete with its own challenging trail system. We had the opportunity to work with students from both the Outdoor Living Skills and Survey of Outdoor Education classes. Each class was filled with enthusiastic participants that were eager to learn about and discuss not only the 7 Leave No Trace principles, but also the ethics that accompany the program. A special thank you to Andrew Bobilya and Ken Kalisch for providing future outdoor educators with a strong foundation of outdoor ethics.

Additionally, we also got to facilitate our 27th trainer course during the visit! Five students from the outdoor education program dedicated their weekend to a backpacking Leave No Trace adventure. We hiked along the Lookout Trail towards Buck Gap Shelter, where we would spend the night under the stars discussing ways to incorporate the Leave No Trace skills and ethics into all of their future outings.

Below, enjoy a slideshow from the course:

Thank you Bubbling Brook, Rapids, Mountain, Tree, and Changing Seasons for a memorable course!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 11/11/11

2011-11-14T15:13:00.000-08:00

Pinnacle Trail, Table Rock State Park, SC

Team West Goes Back To School

2011-11-10T15:10:00.000-08:00

Cave Junction, Oregon -

This week Team west has been traveling through southern Oregon and visiting with students to talk more about enjoying the outdoors responsibly. One of the many topics discussed has been the elusive nature of Bigfoot and how kids can learn more about the seven program principles while they participate in the Bigfoot Challenge online.

Above we see a few first graders excitedly offering their own ideas about taking care of nature and remembering to play safely and respectfully while enjoying their favorite outdoor activities!

All the best,

Jason and Agata

If It's FREE, It's for ME!

2011-11-09T08:24:00.000-08:00

Kate and Tracy visit their 40th National Park

USA. The time has come on this upcoming Veterans Day weekend for the Free Entrance Days in the National Parks. That's right-FREE! November 10-12 marks the last set of FEE-FREE days at National Parks in 2011.

Kate's family visits the Grand Canyon

Grab your family, grab your friends, and find a National Park in your neck of the woods. Hike, paddle, camp, or bike your way through this Veterans Day weekend!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

BAM! at AEE

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Kate points out the Leave No Trace logo at the International AEE Conference

Jacksonville, FL. The 39th Annual International Association for Experiential Education Conference took place this past weekend in Jacksonville, FL. This conference brings together over 600 outdoor professionals to collaborate, network, learn, and teach about empowering individuals through experiential learning opportunities. The theme of the conference was crossing, building, and being bridges. Ultimately experiential education is a bridge between the content of learning (math, science, social science, humanities, history, etc) and activities to make the learning real, relevant, and part of the student's experience. Taken further, it is a bridge between these activities and a learner's opportunity to learn about themselves-their power and connection to a larger community. And beyond, it is about taking these activities and helping the individual see their role in making the world a more just and compassionate place.

We had the opportunity to present a 90 minute workshop on ways to incorporate Leave No Trace into educational programs. The workshop provided a platform for discussing the importance of using hands-on, interactive lessons when teaching Leave No Trace and how critical it is to explain the how's and why's behind the skills and practices of Leave No Trace. By utilizing these strategies, students can develop their own outdoor ethic and make sound decisions in the out of doors that will preserve and protect the quality of the resource.

Next stop...Montreat College!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 11/4/11

2011-11-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

South Sisters Wilderness, Oregon -

Team West enjoying the last few weeks of life on the road.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Educating Youth at Crooked River State Park

2011-11-02T15:40:00.001-07:00

What gear should you bring on a day hike at Crooked River State Park to help you Leave No Trace?

Crooked River State Park, GA. After spending a few glorious days backpacking along Cumberland Island National Seashore, Team East moved inland a few miles to Crooked River State Park for an evening of car camping, a nice hot shower (which was needed after hiking and playing in the sand for days), and a little time to regroup before our evening awareness workshop.

With so many bugs also enjoying the park that night, we decided to host the workshop inside the group shelter and spare everyone a few itchy bites. More than 40 excited boy and girl scouts, along with their parents, came to the park to learn more about ways they can leave no trace when they are out with their scout troops. The group learned a lot as we explored the seven principles of Leave No Trace through various activities including What Principle Am I? and How Long Does It Last? from the PEAK Pack. The PEAK Program, Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids, is an ideal resource for scout leaders to use while educating their troops about Leave No Trace. It allows the children to explore the ideas of leave no trace in a fun and interactive way. Another great resource is the book 101 Ways to Teach Leave No Trace. Check them out in the store!

5th Graders in Central Oregon Get Creative on Halloween Day

2011-11-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

Leave What You Find by Megan

Redmond, OR - On Halloween Day, thinking about things other than candy and costumes is quite the task, especially if you're ten, but the 5th graders of Tom McCall Elementary School were excited to learn about Leave No Trace.

Be Careful With Fire by Aaliah

We decided to draw on the students' creative sides and have them illustrate what they learned about the 7 Leave No Trace Principles. Each student chose a principle to focus on and we've shared three of the drawings here.

Respect Wildlife by Garrett

We also visited three classes of high school students at Redmond Proficiency Academy, a unique charter school that serves ninth through twelfth grade students who desire a more interest-based or self-designed course of study, or who seek an accelerated course of study, or desire a non-seat time based schedule to meet their personal needs.

Trick or Treat,

Agata and Jason

Picture of the Week 10/28/11: Caption Contest!

2011-10-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

Caption Contest: How would you title this photo?

Leave No Trace in the San Juan Islands

2011-10-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Lopez Island - San Juan Islands, WA

Sometimes it's not how many students are in a classroom that matters, but instead what they do with the information they have learned that counts most. Last weekend Team West was fortunate enough to share outdoor ethics educational programs with members of the Lopez Island community who directly work with the general public across a variety of environments.

In attendance were representatives from the Bureau of Land Management (Spokane District), San Juan County Land Bank, Lopez Island Conservation Corp, Washington State Parks (Spencer Spit State Park), and Whispers of Nature.

The photo above catches up with our crew on the beach talking through a few of the teachable moments that Leave No Trace speaks to with respect, science, and a little common sense.

Many thanks to our friends Nick and Susie Teague for hosting Leave No Trace and introducing us to so many fellow educators and outdoor enthusiasts!

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Stick 'Em Up!

2011-10-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Bigfoot Warns: Take My Challenge!

With bubble gun in hand, Bigfoot "threatens" all outdoor enthusiasts to spend two minutes taking The Bigfoot Challenge. The end of October is right around the corner, so time is running out to win quality product from KEEN Here are this month's challenges:

On Halloween pick up 1 stray candy wrapper for every year of your age, challenge your friends to do the same.
Download a free PEAK activity from the Leave No Trace website and volunteer to teach a 15-25 minute segment to kids at a local school or youth group. Downloadable PEAK activities can be found at the bottom left of the webpage:
Take back 15 minutes of your day and just go outside! Grab a friend and take the 15 minute Keen Recess Pledge! After recess, try to leave your “playground” in better condition than you found it.
Score a $150 gift card toward Keen gear by becoming a Leave No Trace member at the Wanderer level ($171.60

If one of these simple tasks is jumping out at you as easily achievable, then take the challenge and become a steward of the land. Yes, it is that easy!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Le Petite Roche

2011-10-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

Little Rock, AR. It was a whirlwind tour through Central Arkansas. We had many successful events in both Little Rock and North Little Rock, working with the Parks and Recreation Departments, local boy scout troops, and volunteers of the Arkansas River Trail. We were fortunate to meet the mayor of North Little Rock, Patrick Henry Hays, who attended our Backyard Session, held at the Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, and our awareness workshop at Burns Park in North Little Rock.
We woke before dawn to speak on Daybreak, the early morning news in Little Rock. Click here to see our video clip of that interview.
To end the weekend, we traveled to Damascus, AR to be guest presenters at the Quapaw Area Council Leave No Trace Trainer Course held at the state of the art Donald W. Reynolds Training Center on the Blass Scout Reservation. We want to thank all of the Leave No Trace Master Educators of the Quapaw Council for their hard work in training and educating the scouts and leaders of Central Arkansas in Leave No Trace. You guys rock!
With so many events in the area, it was no surprise that Bigfoot joined in on the fun. Check out some of the photos above.
One final thank you to Rob Stephens for being a stellar event host! We look forward to returning to Central Arkansas for future events.
Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture(s) of the Week 10/21/11

2011-10-21T15:16:00.001-07:00

Seattle, Washington -
EarthCorps Trainer Course in Warren G. Magnuson Park on the shores of Lake Washington.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Calling All Arkansas Leave No Tracers!

2011-10-19T07:03:00.000-07:00

Rollin and Strollin on the Arkansas River Trail

Little Rock Arkansas. The Traveling Trainers will be providing four chock-full days of outreach in Central Arkansas. Prominent Boy Scouts of America Council Advocate and Leave No Trace Master Educator, Rob Stephens, has worked diligently on the logistics for each of the upcoming events. We will be providing awareness workshops, facilitating a Leave No Trace Backyard Session, setting up a booth for trailhead outreach (at both Pinnacle Mountain State Park and The Big Dam Bridge) , running in A Race For the Cure 5K, and even making an appearance on the local news on Friday morning! For more information on times and dates, click here for the specifics of Team East's schedule. If you live in the area, we'd love to see you at one of our events!
Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

The North Face Speaker Series Features Ingrid Backstrom

2011-10-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

Seattle, Washington - Last week Team West was in the Pacific Northwest with local legend Ingrid Backstrom and Leave No Trace partner The North Face. Ingrid spoke in Olympia and Seattle on consecutive evenings about her inspirations and adventures as one of the top all mountain skiers in the world.

In the photo above a few members of the team from The North Face, Alpine Experience, and Leave No Trace get together before the speaker series kicks off in Olympia, Washington!

What makes events like The North Face Speaker Series unique is the opportunity for outdoor recreation enthusiasts of all ages to access and enjoy the "stoke" alongside the athletes who are members of The North Face team! Ingrid's accomplishments and accolades are only eclipsed by her humility and indefatigably positive attitude throughout all her adventures.

Stay tuned to the upcoming calendar with The North Face Speaker Series in your area to connect with an event that will make your year and get you stoked to get into the mountains!

All the best,

Jason and Agata

The North Face Cares

2011-10-17T10:41:00.000-07:00

Pine Mountain, GA. This weekend over 1200 runners challenged their strength and endurance at The North Face Endurance Challenge outside of Atlanta, GA. The FD Roosevelt State Park trail system provided a technical course for the athletes that competed in either the 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, Marathon, 50k, or the 50 mile race. Once again, these athletes showed an unbelievable amount of determination and physical toughness as each person crossed the finish line.

Kids of all ages took part in the Karno Kids Race

There were many children in attendance that took part in the Karno Kids Race, including one of Leave No Trace's biggest kid at heart- Bigfoot! A local middle school brought 53 students to the 5k portion of the Endurance Challenge as part of the Fit Club at their school. We even watched as an eight year old boy completed his first 5k race on Sunday. Way to go!

The North Face takes many steps to minimize the impact placed on the event locations. In addition to encouraging all of the athletes to practice Leave No Trace during the race by packing out all trash, including goo packets, and staying on the established trail, they give each athlete a reusable water bottle and have staff scouring the grounds for microtrash. They even used clothes pins to hang up the trail markers along the route, instead of nailing them into the trees! We appreciate all of the proactive efforts The North Face takes to protect and enjoy the outdoors.

Trail Marker along the 50 mile race route

Be on the look out for Team West, Jason and Agata, at the final stop of the 2011 Endurance Challenge Series in San Francisco on December 3-4.

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 10/14/11

2011-10-14T07:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes one picture of the week just isn't enough...

Leaf Peeping In West Virginia

Up Close and Personal With the Beautiful Fall Colors

Happy Fall Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Ingrid Backstrom Speaks Tonight in Seattle

2011-10-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

Seattle, WA - Ingrid Backstrom, extreme skier and The North Face athlete, will be speaking tonight at the REI Flagship store at 7 PM as part of The North Face Speaker Series, which showcases the world's top outdoor athletes.

Ingrid has starred in ski films like the acclaimed 2007 film Steep, and was the sole female on Powder Magazine's list of Future Big Mountain Heroes. Her quest to ski has taken her around the globe, and she's tried adventure sports from climbing to BASE jumping. Tonight she will present "Whimsical Dreams: The Skiing Life."

General admission is free, so come out tonight to see Ingrid's presentation and to visit with Team West.

Where: REI Seattle Flagship, 222 Yale Ave N., Seattle, WA 98109

When: October 13, 2011, 7 PM

More information: here

All the best,

Agata and Jason

World Famous Mountains Conference

2011-10-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

Portland, OR - This week in Portland, resource and recreation managers of mountains from all over the world are getting together to share ideas at the third annual World Famous Mountains Conference.

The World Famous Mountains Association is a non profit organization made up of policy makers, government officials and representatives of organizations that manage the world's most famous mountains. The Association was formed in China in 2009 and now represents 25 mountains from Australia, Austria, Brazil, China, Germany, Japan, the Philippines, Romania, South Africa, South Korea, Tanzania, and the United States of America.

This year's conference is being held in the United States for the first time thanks to the generous support of the US Forest Service. The conference, which was held in China the first two years, is focused on natural resource protection, sustainable tourism, environmental education, and the conservation of our world's cultural legacies.

Team West was thrilled to have the opportunity to give a short presentation on Leave No Trace to the international audience present at the conference. It was also a pleasure to listen to Monday's keynote speaker, Stacy Allison, the first American woman to summit Mt. Everest. Stacy's dynamic presentation focused on the importance of partnerships when managing the world's most famous mountains.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

2011-10-10T14:43:00.000-07:00

Rock Climber on the Endless Wall

Lansing, WV. Team East spent last weekend in the New River Gorge in West Virginia to provide outreach at the Canyon Rim Visitors Center. The New River Gorge is a fantastic area to rock climb, white water raft, hike, camp, and sightsee at the many historical mining towns. Although the weather was unforgiving, this did not stop people from floating the river all weekend. We had the chance to speak to many visitors as they stopped in the Canyon Rim Visitor's Center to get local information and to gaze at the New River Bridge, which is the longest arch bridge in the western hemisphere. We were fortunate enough to enjoy a personal tour with Park Ranger Jodi French-Burr, who is also the Northeast Region Outdoor Ethics Coordinator, through the Nuttallburg Area. This is a newly restored mining town that will soon be open to the public. A special thank you to Jodi for taking the time to share the magic of this beautiful gorge!
Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Nutallburg Mining Complex

Spokane High School Students Learn How to Teach Leave No Trace

2011-10-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

Spokane, WA - Today, we visited RiverCity Leadership Academy (RLA), a project-based high school that uses a hands-0n, interdisciplinary approach to learning. The students at RLA will be working with the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center and the Bureau of Land Management on various projects, including teaching community members about Leave No Trace at the Fishtrap Recreation Area, managed by the BLM.

Today's visit provided the RLA students with an introduction to the seven principles of Leave No Trace and equipped them with lesson ideas and teaching methods they will be able to use when working with the West Valley Outdoor Learning Center and the BLM.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Western Kentucky Trainer Course

2011-10-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Cadiz, KY. Autumn has fallen upon us here in the Southeast. The leaves are beginning to change, the temperatures are dropping, and the fall harvest is abundant. Last week, we had the pleasure of instructing our second Leave No Trace Trainer Course with Kentucky State Parks. We had five engaging individuals that were eager to learn about the Leave No Trace program and put their new found knowledge to the test as we spent one evening camping at Lake Barkley State Resort Park. Four of the new Leave No Trace Trainers were Kentucky State Park employees and we even had one gentleman drive six hours from Missouri to take the course! He is a volunteer with his son's boy scout troop and was excited to challenge the boys to some of the activities he learned during the course.

We would like to extend a special thanks to Lisa Deavers for working out logistics for the course. In addition to being the Western Regional Recreation Coordinator for Kentucky State Parks, Lisa also finds time to be the Leave No Trace State Advocate for the entire state of Kentucky! We look forward to our next adventure with the Kentucky State Park System.

Happy Adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 9/30/11

2011-09-30T18:25:00.000-07:00

Rock Bridge, Red River Gorge, KY. Where's Waldo, Where's Tracy?

Leave No Trace in Practice on the Appalachian Trail

2011-09-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, we met Buckeye Flash, who was planning on hiking the Appalachian Trail. He completed his journey earlier this month and we asked him to explain how he used Leave No Trace while on the trail:

On March 22, 2011, I began my attempt to thru-hike the 2,181-mile Appalachian Trail (AT). I started at Springer Mountain, Georgia (southern terminus) and hoped to reach Mt. Katahdin (northern terminus) in Baxter State Park in Maine before it closed in mid-October. To say that I was inexperienced would be a huge understatement. My previous hiking was basically limited to a dozen or so day-hikes of two to three hours per hike. As a hiker I had never spent one night camping. I came away with a new respect for the physical environment of the mountains and back country as a whole. A sense of stewardship by hikers is essential to the future of the trail.

Before the trek began I was introduced to Jason and Agata Ketterick, Traveling Trainers for Leave No Trace (LNT). They asked me to explain how my AT experience related to the principles of outdoor ethics which LNT promotes. So here is my story.

1. Plan ahead and prepare:
Before the hike I read as much as I could on the places where I would be hiking, such as, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), Shenandoah National Park and Baxter State Park in Maine. An example of an important regulation in the GSMNP is that a hiker must stay in a shelter, if space is available. If there isn't space available in the shelter, tenting nearby is permitted. This type of information was helpful in knowing the dos and don'ts in those areas. Starting my hike in March meant having warmer clothing and a 30-degree sleeping bag at the start and subsequently replacing it with lighter weight clothing and a 45-degree sleeping bag later on.

2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces:
The AT has approximately 260 shelters between Georgia and Maine. A shelter may sleep 4 to 20 people. A source of water and a privy are available at almost every shelter. In addition at most shelters there are campsites. Most of the time I camped near the shelter. A few times the need arose to camp where there were no shelters nor campsites. On those occasions it was important to camp at least 200 feet from the source of water, such as a pond or stream. Walking in the middle of the AT is easy when the trail is dry. The difficult part is to stay in the middle of the trail when there is standing water or mud "blocking" the trail. Yet it may necessary in order not to damage the vegetation in pristine areas. I hiked alone for much of my trek. In the latter part of my journey I hiked with other people and during that time we always walked single file making it easier to stay on the trail.

3. Dispose of waste properly: A basic principle of LNT outdoor ethics is to pack out what you pack in. No one enjoys seeing trash on the trail, at a shelter or campsite. Most thru-hikers follow this principle religiously. Unfortunately there are the rare times when the principle is not followed and litter dots the ground. Several times I picked up a candy or snack wrapper which may have fallen out of a hiker's pack or pocket. One major advantage of staying at or camping near a shelter is the presence of a privy. It saves the need to dig a cat hole to dispose of human waste. I did very little cooking during my hike so I did not need to wash dishes often. When I did cook, I merely boiled water and poured it into a plastic pouch containing dehydrated food. After eating the food, the pouch was packed out as trash saving the need to wash dishes. The few times that I did need to wash a cup or bowl, I was careful to be 200 feet or more away from a water source and use only a drop or two of biodegradable soap.

4. Leave what you find: I carried everything I needed on my back. I had no desire to take anything I saw or found on the trail as an artifact or souvenir.

5. Minimize campfire impacts: At most shelters and campsites there are established fire rings. Thru-hikers who cook carry a small stove. So on the AT fires are not typically used for cooking. They do provide a place to socialize in the evening. In some areas, especially in the northeast US, there are signs which state that no fires are permitted. In some cases shelters have had to be rebuilt due to fires.

6. Respect wildlife: The point that one should observe wildlife from a distance is common sense. Bears, moose and snakes are generally not aggressive, if they are not followed or approached. I saw bear, moose, snakes and other animals on the AT. At no times were any aggressive. Storing food and trash securely is important. In many areas bear cables or bear boxes protect wildlife and hiker food. Most hikers who bring their dog on the trail have a well behaved pet. I did not observe any pet that was out of control. Dogs are not permitted though in the Smokies or Baxter State Park.

7. Be considerate of other visitors
I was impressed by how courteous most AT hikers were in yielding to others on the trail. Stepping to the side when encountering hikers was widely followed.
-Buckeye Flash

Buckeye Flash is the trail name of Bob Grau, a retired educator from Cleveland, Ohio. He finished his thru-hike at Mt. Katahdin in Maine on September 7, 2011. He hiked the last 350 miles on a broken ankle. Check out the blog he wrote while hiking the Appalachian Trail.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Team West in the Sawtooth National Forest

2011-09-27T05:00:00.000-07:00

Ketchum, Idaho -

Over the past week Team West has been enjoying world class outdoor recreation and educational outreach in the Sun Valley area. Teaming up with old friends at Mountain Niceness Productions, and meeting up with new ones like local outfitter Backwoods Mountain Sports we had the opportunity to get out into some of the most beautiful country we have seen in 2011!

The community in Sun Valley embraced the seven principles of Leave No Trace where ever we had the chance to connect and share the programs we offer on the road as Traveling Trainers. The ethic of stewardship for public land in places like the Sawtooth National Forest is apparent in the responsible actions and attitudes amongst all user groups we encountered.

Keep an eye out for Leave No Trace in Boise later this week as team West visits REI and offers a PEAK workshop on Wednesday evening.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Red River Gorge-eous!

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Stanton, KY. This past weekend marked the second consecutive year the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program attended the Living Archeology Weekend at the scenic Red River Gorge in the Daniel Boone National Forest. Known for its abundant natural stone arches, unusual rock formations, and spectacular sandstone cliffs, the Red River Gorge has been designated a geological area by the Forest Service.

Sky Bridge

In 2010, the Red River Gorge was named as the very first Leave No Trace Hot Spot. A Leave No Trace Hot Spot is an are that is impacted by litter, dog waste, invasive species, habituated wildlife, trail and campsite erosion, contamination of water sources, names carved in trees, cigarette butts along a trail, damaged cultural and historic sites, toilet paper “flowers” around campsites and pets chasing wildlife. Once a site is nominated and selected, The Center seeks to minimize these common impacts through outreach, education, training, signage, educational materials, consulting and local collaboration. One year later, both the Center and Forest Rangers that we spoke to are pleased with the progress of the program.

Leave No Trace Signage at the Gladie Visitor Center

This year, Team East returned to the gorge for a weekend of education and outreach. On Friday, we were stationed at the Gladie Visitor Center. We met with more than 800 fifth graders, teachers, and their chaperones to stress the importance of the Leave No Trace Principle Leave What You Find. Throughout the course of the day, there were many "lightbulb" moments for the students. They understood that if past generations had removed cultural items from the natural world, today we would have a lesser understanding of our cultural history. Looking to the future, the students were also empathetic to the idea that if were on a hike today and removed arrowheads, artifacts, and other historical items from the natural world, then future generations will not be able to study the historical significance of these cultural areas either. Lightbulbs were, indeed, turning on left and right for these young stewards of the land!

Above, students work on the activity "Sentence Frenzy" to understand the importance of preserving and protecting the cultural resource in their own back yards. Our next stop is Lake Barkley State Resort Park for a trainer course with the Kentucky State Parks. Team East signing off from the Bluegrass State!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 9/23/2011

2011-09-23T09:20:00.000-07:00

The sunrise, hazy from wildfires, over the Salmon River in Idaho.

Smartwool & Soda Creek in Steamboat Springs

2011-09-22T08:20:00.001-07:00

Steamboat Springs, CO - Earlier this week we visited Smartwool, one of the official outfitters of the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program. Fifteen Smartwool employees joined us for an opportunity to learn more about Leave No Trace and a barbeque. The conversation focused on how to share the 7 program principles with audiences in any setting where promoting responsible outdoor recreation is possible.

We also had the chance to visit all of the 5th graders at Soda Creek Elementary School and introduce these young outdoor recreationists to the concepts of the Leave No Trace program. The students were very excited to talk about making safe and responsible decisions in the outdoors as well as taking the BigFoot Challenge on the Leave No Trace website!

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Gorge Hoppin' in the Southeast!

2011-09-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

Gauley River

Southeast USA. In our opinion, rivers are one of natures most spectacular gifts. The peaceful sound of the constant flow of water is soothing and can undoubtedly bring about a zen feeling when relaxing along a rivers' bank. Many songs have been written about rivers. One of our favorites is actually called River by Yonder Mountain String Band. The song was inspired by the Yuba River near Nevada City, CA. Gorges are another magnificent gift from the natural world which are most often created by rivers over long periods of time. A favorite gorge that comes to mind is the Columbia River Gorge that creates a border between Oregon and Washington State. This part of the country is a gigantic playground for outdoor enthusiasts that enjoy waterfall peeping. In the upcoming weeks, Team East has the privilege of visiting and providing Leave No Trace outreach at both the Red River Gorge in Kentucky and the New River Gorge in West Virginia. Do you have a favorite river or gorge to play in?

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Pulling Down at the Pocatello Pump

2011-09-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Pocatello, Idaho -

Last weekend Team West was in southeast Idaho for the 30th annual climbing competition put on by the Idaho State University Outdoor Program. The competition started out in 1981 with 3 routes and a handful of climbers, and has grown into a premiere event in the region that boasts well over 100 routes and hundreds of climbers of all ages and ability levels!

The two day event provided many opportunities to connect with various members of the outdoor recreation community and talk about responsible outdoor recreation and the 7 program principles of Leave No Trace. Over the weekend we also had the pleasure of providing outreach at the Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group fundraiser at the town park on Saturday evening!

Many thanks to Peter Joyce and all the staff and volunteers that made this weekend happen!

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Gauleyfest!

2011-09-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Team East joined thousands of whitewater enthusiasts at the Gauleyfest in Summersville, WV, presented by Subaru and American Whitewater. Paddlers from all over the country came out to take on the rapids of the Gauley River, which boasts some of the best white water in the country. With blue skies and white water, the paddlers were pumped to get on the river and enjoy the wet and wild adventure.
Team East set up an educational booth in the marketplace, where all of the paddlers enjoyed live music, screaming deals on outdoor gear, and had some fun learning about proper disposal of human waste while on the river. Yep, that's right, we challenged all of the paddlers to leave no trace by playing Wag-go Baggo. The goal was to toss three Go Anywhere Bags, formerly known as WAG bags, into a portable toilet. If they made it in the bowl, they took home their very own Go Anywhere Bag to use on their next paddling adventure!
The excitement was so high that Bigfoot came out to join in on the fun and encourage everyone to practice Leave No Trace. He tested out a few Dagger Kayaks, hung out with his friends at Subaru, and even signed up to win a pair of Chaco Sandals. Although he did not win a pair of Chacos (he wasn't even sure if they had one in his size), he was so excited to see that Chaco donated a pair of shoes as a membership promotion to anyone who joined Leave No Trace as an individual member at the event! Thanks Chaco!
If you are a paddler and love the rush of whitewater, be sure to check out Gauleyfest next year.

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 9/16/11

2011-09-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

United We Stand!

Leave No Trace in Salmon, ID

2011-09-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Salmon, ID -

Last weekend Team West was on the Salmon river in Idaho for a few events with our friends at the Student Conservation Association and organizational partner the Bureau of Land Management. The events were focused on teaching the seven principles of Leave No Trace and community outreach with the general public at the farmer's market in downtown Salmon, ID.

Above a photo of the volunteers who came out to work the booth at the weekly farmer's market. The volunteers brought a fresh perspective to teaching Leave No Trace and were greatly appreciated by Team West for their time and energy!

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Whitewater Weekend!

2011-09-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

Summersville, WV.

This weekend Team East will travel to Summersville, WV for the American Whitewater Gauley Fest. This fundraising event will support American Whitewater's river conservation and access works throughout the nation. The festival began in 1983 to celebrate the derailment of a hydro-electric project that would have disrupted the flow of the Gauley River. It has grown to become the largest paddling festival in the world! Presented by Subaru, this festival is sure to be full of excitement, awareness, and whitewater rapids! The festival includes on-site camping, a marketplace, and live music. Hope to see you there!

Explore and Paddle Responsibly...Kate & Tracy

Glacier National Park Challenge!

2011-09-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

Who can name all of the following animals and wildflowers?

Good luck,

Agata and Jason

L.L. Bean Fall Sports Weekend

2011-09-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

Freeport, ME.

Kate Bullock sips on a fresh cup of bean while posing with the iconic L.L. Bean boot in Freeport, ME.

The L.L. Bean flagship store has been a staple along Main St. in Freeport, ME for nearly a century. In an effort to preserve environmental integrity, L.L. Bean has been a long standing supporter of the Leave No Trace program. This weekend, Team East traveled to the L.L. Bean campus to provide outreach to tourists and locals alike during the annual Fall Sports Weekend. The event highlighted fall sports including sea kayaking, hunting, fishing, rock climbing, and hiking through experiential workshops and informative seminars. We would like to thank all the hospitable staff at L.L. Bean for making this weekend extremely successful.

All fueled up, Kate talks Leave No Trace campfires at the booth.

What outdoor activities are you looking forward to this fall?

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 9/9/11

2011-09-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hole in the Wall backcountry campsite, Glacier National Park -

Many thanks to program partner Cascade Designs for the comfortable accommodations on our most recent Leave No Trace adventure!

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Talking PEAK with the Montana Wild Program

2011-09-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Spring Meadow Lake State Park, Helena, Montana -

Earlier this week Team West was back in the field for for a PEAK workshop with the Montana Wild after school program. During the afternoon session we had the chance to enjoy a few activities with the group that highlighted the seven program principles of Leave No Trace and talked about how to enjoy the outdoors safely and responsibly!

Above two of the participants are comparing their ideas and experiences during the activity
"Minimum Impact Match". The participants were very knowledgeable and had lots of great stories to share and questions to ask during the over the afternoon session.

Many thanks to Laurie Evarts for inviting Leave No Trace to Helena, Montana.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Bear Awareness in Glacier National Park

2011-09-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Glacier National Park, MT - Last week, Team West had the opportunity to venture into the backcountry of Glacier National Park for a 5-day trip. Backcountry trips usually take an incredible amount of preparation and in Glacier one of the additional things we had to plan for was the presence of Grizzly bears. After a summer full of tales of different encounters with bears, Ursus Arctos was in the forefront of our minds. The Glacier National Park website and the Backcountry Office in the park are amazing resources for learning more about backpacking in bear country. The first line of advice is always, "Don't Surprise Bears!" The suggestion is to clap and sing and basically make a lot of raucous while you're hiking. This sounds pretty easy when you read the suggestion at your computer, but after a whole day of hiking, especially if you're gaining elevation, shouting and singing definitely becomes a chore. We recommend working on your musical repertoire before you head out!

We began our trek at the Bowman Lake trailhead and literally five minutes into the hike, what do we spot but a black bear on the shore of the lake! We had been making plenty of noise, the bear heard us and jumped into the lake, but the reality of a bear encounter was reinforced by this encounter. We were even more cautious and recalled the other bear safety tips courtesy of the National Park Service. We made plenty of noise and were especially careful (and loud) near streams, in heavy vegetation, around blind corners, and when there was a rise in the trail.

The Glacier backcountry camps are set-up with bears in mind. They come equipped with man-made food poles and have a food-preparation area that is at least 100 yards away from the closest campsite. When we first arrived at camp we hung up our food and other bear attractants (cookware, toiletries, and garbage), and set up our tent in the designated tent area.

As we continued our hike, we continued to be vigilant and kept on singing. To learn more about hiking in bear country, check out this page from Glacier National Park.

While you enjoy bear country don't forget about other wildlife! At one camp we ran into a whitetail deer that enjoyed all the salty snacks campers had left for it, like their shorts, towels, socks, and boots.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Principle Blog Series: Part 7 of 7-Be Considerate of Other Visitors

2011-09-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Be Considerate of Other Visitors is the 7^th of 7 Leave No Trace Principles. It is important to regard fellow visitors and respect the quality of their experience. An easy way to do this is by following the yield triangle on a multi-use trail. The above picture illustrates this concept. Bikers yield to hikers, while both hikers and bikers yield to horses. By practicing use of the yield triangle, user conflicts could be minimized in recreational areas. Nature is a finite resource, not infinite. Be considerate so that everyone can enjoy! Here are some more pointers on ways to 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 nature's sounds prevail. Avoid loud voices and noises

To learn more about Be Considerate of Other Visitors, CLICK HERE.

Explore Responsibly…Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 9/2/11

2011-09-02T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hiking at Blue Hills, MA. Kate takes a moment to point out the fragile mushrooms growing along side the trail to a Mommy and Me Hiking Club.

Principle Blog Series: Part 6 of 7-Respect Wildlife

2011-08-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Respect Wildlife is the 6^th of 7 Leave No Trace Principles. Humans can unknowingly cause distress to animals by exhibiting the following behaviors: cutting trail switch backs, getting too close, leaving behind food and trash, and being too loud (except in bear/mountain lion country). When entering the natural world, we are in essence entering the home of wild animals. Some ideas on ways we can respect wildlife are:

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.

To learn more about Respect Wildlife, CLICK HERE.

Explore Responsibly…Kate and Tracy

Principle Blog Series: Part 5 of 7-Minimize Campfire Impacts

2011-08-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Minimize Campfire Impacts is the 5^th of 7 Leave No Trace Principles. If you close your eyes and think about some of your earliest camping experiences, there is a good chance that a campfire is included in your reflection. It is important to note that Leave No Trace is not against campfires, but please be aware of responsible practices.

Some other points to consider about Minimizing Campfire Impacts are:

Campfires can cause lasting impacts to the backcountry. Use a lightweight stove for cooking and enjoy a candle lantern for light.
Where fires are permitted, use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires.
Keep fires small. Only 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.

For more information about Minimize Campfire Impacts, CLICK HERE.

Explore Responsibly…Kate and Tracy

Boston Backyard Session

2011-08-25T10:57:00.000-07:00

On August 15th, Team East and Boston REI hosted a Leave No Trace Backyard Session. Despite monsoonal-like rain, 25 people came out for an evening of networking, training, and socializing. Representatives from many local organization came to the event including the Student Conservation Association (SCA), MA Audubon Society, American Camp Association of New England, Youth Enrichment Services (YES), the US Forest Service, and Outdoor Explorations. With such a diverse group of people gathered, the conversations were plentiful and enthusiastic in regards to ways these organizations can connect with each other on ways to bring Leave No Trace into their community. To make the evening more exciting, KEEN Shoes donated one free pair of shoes to a lucky participant. Congratulations to Nunu Stevenson of SCA! We hope you enjoy many outdoor adventures in your new Keen Shoes.
A special thank you to Dane Tullock, REI Outreach Specialist, for all of his efforts in making this Leave No Trace Backyard Session a successful event. To find out more about hosting or attending a Leave No Trace Backyard Session in your community, click here!
Explore Responsibly...Kate & Tracy

Principle Blog Series: Part 4 of 7-Leave What You Find

2011-08-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Leave What You Find is the 4^th of 7 Leave No Trace Priciples. The principle Leave What You Find definitely has more of an ethical backbone to it than the other principles; therefore it is harder to interpret. Leave No Trace is, in part, about leaving the gift of discovery for the next person. As excited as I am to find that cool rock, pinecone, arrowhead, or antler shed, I always wonder, "Wouldn’t someone else like to find that, too?" Alternatives to taking home items found in the outdoors include taking a picture, creating a nature journal and draw a picture, journal about your experience, or bring a friend by to enjoy the object together. During one of our workshops, we had an energetic high schooler that suggested creating an interpretive dance to help you remember. Cheers kiddo, whatever strengthens your connection to nature is all right by us!

Some other points to consider about Leave What You Find:

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

Remember to encourage exploration of the natural world, especially with kids. Motivate kids to explore using all their senses while in the out of doors and not feel as though they are in a museum!

To Learn More about Leave What You Find, CLICK HERE.

Explore Responsibly…Kate and Tracy

Principle Blog Series: Part 3 of 7 Dispose of Waste Properly

2011-08-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

Dispose of Waste Properly is the 3rd of 7 Leave No Trace Principles. Pack it in, pack it out is a common phrase in the outdoor world that easily conveys the gist of this principle. Our kid-friendly version of this principle gets the point across in a different light: Trash Your Trash!

Did you know that in the average environments, a fruit peel takes approximately two years to biodegrade! Another impact associated with leaving peels behind is the wildlife impact. Animals that get a taste for human food run the risk of becoming habituated and losing their fear of humans or displaying aggressive behaviors toward humans. Problem animals, especially bears, sometimes need to be removed from an area or worse euthanized. Disposing of waste properly involves more than packing out your food waste.

Consider these points when disposing 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 cathole when finished.
Pack out toilet paper and hygiene products.
To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from streams or lakes and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater.

For more information about Dispose of Waste Properly, CLICK HERE.

Expore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 8/19/11

2011-08-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

One of the many views on our hike in Rocky Mountain National Park.

PEAK at Jackson Lake State Park

2011-08-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Jackson Lake State Park, CO -- Located about 70 miles northeast of Denver, Jackson Lake State Park has been dubbed "an oasis in the plains." When we arrived in the early evening last Saturday we were not surprised to find that nearly all 260 campsites at the park were occupied. Nineteen campers came out to the amphitheater in the Cove Campground to learn more about Leave No Trace. We used "What Principle Am I?" to introduce the campers to the seven principles of the program and wrapped up with "How Long Does it Last" to focus on the principle Trash Your Trash. Everyone was very excited to also learn about the Bigfoot Challenge and the opportunity to not only learn more about Leave No Trace but have the chance to win some amazing prizes.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Principle Blog Series: Part 2 of 7-Travel and Camp On Durable Surfaces

2011-08-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces is the second of 7 Leave No Trace principles. A durable surface is defined as one that is resistant and resilient to people traveling or camping upon it. Examples of durable surfaces are: rock, gravel, snow, sand, dry grass, and established trails/campsites. On the flip side, non-durable surfaces are more fragile and take longer to recover. Some examples are: wild flowers, meadows, steep slopes prone to slides (safety first!), cryptobiotic soil, and poison ivy/oak.

Consider these points when selecting terrain to hike and camp on:

Protect riparian areas by camping at least 200 feet from lakes and streams.
Good campsites are found, not made. Altering a site is not necessary.

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 activity 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.

Pop Quiz: Is MUD a durable or non-durable surface?

For more information on Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces, CLICK HERE.

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Higher Learning at Vedauwoo

2011-08-16T05:00:00.000-07:00

Medicine Bow National Forest, WY - Last week, the University of Wyoming Outdoor Program held two days of training for their staff at Vedauwoo, an incredible area of rocky outcrops that was once a popular hideout for outlaws and now attracts adventurous rock climbers and other outdoor recreationists. The Outdoor Program invited Team West to be a part of the training and provide an opportunity for the student leaders to learn more about how to teach Leave No Trace.

The Outdoor Program provides a wide range of outdoor activities and programs for a variety of skill levels to the UW community. Participants have the opportunity to develop lifetime recreational skills, learn about safety and proper technique, gain an appreciation and concern for our natural environment, meet new people, and have a great time.

Many of the student leaders are Leave No Trace trainers and master educators, so we focused our discussion on the Authority of the Resource Technique, which provides a method for informing outdoor recreationists about minimum impact skills and techniques and focuses on influencing long-term behavioral change. The Outdoor Program leaders have a fantastic opportunity in the coming year to teach over 800 participants about Leave No Trace.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Principle Blog Series: Part 1 of 7-Plan Ahead and Prepare

2011-08-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

Plan Ahead and Prepare is a criticial planning component of the 7 principles of Leave No Trace. If proper time and care is dedicated to trip planning, you will find it easy to follow through with the remaining six Leave No Trace principles. A wise education director once taught us: If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.

Consider these points when planning for a trip:

Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you'll visit.
Prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies.
Schedule your trip to avoid times of high use.
Visit in small groups when possible. Consider splitting larger groups into smaller groups.
Repackage food to minimize waste.
Use a map and compass to eliminate the use of marking paint, rock cairns or flagging.

For more information about the principle Plan Ahead and Prepare, CLICK HERE.

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Summer Outdoor Retailer

2011-08-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

Salt Lake City, UT - This past weekend, we attended the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, a bi-annual event where the outdoor industry come together to showcase new products, network, and connect with non-profit organizations. In collaboration with Backpacker Magazine and Subaru of America we were able to facilitate the Great Gear Giveaway, where participants answer a couple of Leave No Trace-related questions and are entered to win one of six prize packages each day.

We also had a surprise visit from Bigfoot! He helped us announce the six winners each day and promoted his pint glasses.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Rockygrass 2011 Campsite Challenge winners!

2011-08-09T11:52:00.000-07:00

Lyons, Colorado

The results of the 2011 "How Green Is Your Grass?" campsite challenge are now available! After a great deal of careful consideration and healthy debate the winning campsite is
Camp Zero Hero.

Congratulations to Sam and Katie Meunier of Fort Collins, Colorado for another successful campaign to promote responsible enjoyment of the outdoors! Camp Zero Hero offered free recycling and composting services (pictured above) for the campground, where they stayed while enjoying the festive environment at Planet Bluegrass in Lyons, Colorado.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

24 Hours of Cycling for CASA

2011-08-08T04:25:00.000-07:00

Lafayette, IN.

This weekend Team East traveled to Lafayette, IN to Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) for a 24 hour cycling challenge. Over 200 riders came out to test their endurance, enjoy some camaraderie, and raise money for CASA for children. CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, raises money for abused and neglected children in their community. Through generous donations from riders and their families and friends, this event raised over $37,000!

While on site, we were able to educate the riders in their down time about the principles of Leave No Trace. We also signed up new Leave No Trace members during the race. Each new member received a free pair of Smartwool Socks and were entered to win a pair of Chaco Shoes!

Leave No Trace "Lounge"

It was very inspiring to watch these riders all night long, peddling away into the wee hours of the morning, through thick heat and humidity, all in honor of children who need love and support. Most of the riders are from the Lafayette area, although some traveled from VA, PA, and KY to attend the ride. Also in attendance was Executive Vice President of SIA, Tom Easterday, who logged many miles for CASA.

We enjoyed our time at SIA, especially the tour of their facility. The SIA plant is a zero waste facility and has been driving force here in the Lafayette community since 1987!
Explore Responsibly...Kate &Tracy

Picture of the Week 8/5/11

2011-08-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

Salt Lake City, UT- Great Gear Giveaway Winners!

Trying To Beat The Heat!

2011-08-03T15:29:00.000-07:00

With record breaking temperatures sizzling outdoor enthusiasts all around the country, Team East takes a moment to cool off in the St. Vrain River in Lyons, CO. How are you staying cool during this heat wave? Let us know how you are trying to beat the heat!

Explore Responsibly...Kate & Tracy

How Green is Your Grass?

2011-08-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Lyons, CO - Team East and Team West joined forces this weekend to promote the 5th annual How Green is Your Grass? Campsite Challenge at the RockyGrass Festival.

RockyGrass is an annual bluegrass festival held at the Planet Bluegrass Ranch along the St. Vrain River in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Thousands of festivarians from across the country flock to Lyons to hear the pickin' and to participate in the campsite challenge.

The How Green is Your Grass? Campsite Challenge was created to extend the spirit of the sustainable festival into the campgrounds. Participants were asked to describe how sustainable, clean, and creative their campsite was and to draw a picture to illustrate how these three criteria are incorporated into their campsite. Each day, two finalists were selected and awarded goodies from Planet Bluegrass, New Belgium, and the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges from Planet Bluegrass and awarded a grand prize of festival and camping passes to next year's festival and a Grub Hub Camp Kitchen.

We had a record number of campsites participate in the challenge this year with 54 entries. The six finalists are: Camp Flippy, Rummy Grass, Camp ZeroHero, Campana Contenta, Santa Fe to Lyons Bluegrass Dash, and Camp Rothacker.

Check back on Thursday for the winner!

All the best,

Agata, Jason, Kate and Tracy

Explore Your Parks-Denver, CO

2011-08-01T08:14:00.000-07:00

Barr Lake State Park, CO

Today we spent the morning at Barr Lake State Park to celebrate the Explore Your Parks event. The North Face started this exciting event last year, which encourages communities to come out and explore local parks in their area for FREE! Today's event included kayaking, biking, educational activities, and a special guest appearance from Bigfoot!

Team West spoke to hundreds of kids and families about the importance of Trashing Your Trash while enjoying time outdoors through the interactive game- How Long Does It Last?

We even had a surprise visit by the fabulous Outreach Department of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics- Dave Winter and Betsy Workman!

Thank you to The North Face for starting this event, one that allows families to get outside and explore their natural, local world! We look forward to the next Explore Your Parks event. To find an event near you- click here!

Explore Responsibly...Kate & Tracy

Hickory Ridge Dedication

2011-07-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Knoxville, IA - Last weekend, we were invited to join the celebrations for the official dedication of the Hickory Ridge site on Lake Red Rock. With the help of over 130 donors that included individuals, businesses, organizations and foundations, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation purchased and restored 47 acres of oak-hickory woodland on Lake Red Rock. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers redesignated 155 acres of public land adjacent to the site, creating an area that is over 200 acres specifically set aside for primitive camping and public enjoyment.

As part of the festivities, we taught four awareness workshops to over 50 individuals, including kids, paddlers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation staff and board members, and Lake Red Rock Association staff and board members, and other individuals involved in making Hickory Ridge a reality.

Thanks to Jamie Gyolai for inviting us to be a part of this ground-breaking event and incorporating the Leave No Trace program into the Hickory Ridge site.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Trainer Course on Lake Red Rock

2011-07-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Knoxville, IA - Nine individuals from Iowa and Nebraska braved record high temperatures and a heat index of 129°F to learn, teach, and practice Leave No Trace on the largest lake in Iowa, Lake Red Rock.

The nine participants on the course represented several different organizations including the Story and Warren County Conservation Departments, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Boy and Girl Scouts of America, and the Hawkeye Cadet Council. All nine participants showed a high level of energy and interest in Leave No Trace and gave fantastic presentations. In the picture above, one of the participants teaches the rest of the group "Respect Wildlife" by creating a web of life.

The entire course was held at a brand new primitive campground on Lake Red Rock. The Hickory Ridge site was purchased by the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation with the help of over 130 donors and will be managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The objectives of the project included "rewilding" the site and keeping it relatively primitive so Hickory Ridge will only be accessible by hiking-in or by paddling in by boat.

Thanks to Jamie Gyolai for setting up such a great course and getting together such a great group of people.

All the best,

Agata and Jason

Picture of the Week 7/22/11

2011-07-22T05:41:00.001-07:00

Paddlers on Lake Superior.
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, MI.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

ReChaco Rocks!

2011-07-21T05:00:00.000-07:00

Grand Rapids, Michigan- Earlier this month Team East caught up with one of our longtime program partners, Chaco, to learn more about the ReChaco program.
Check out the link above to see how you can keep your favorite Chaco footwear going strong with this innovative process!
Many thanks to all our friends at Chaco for supporting Leave No Trace and our educational programs focused on responsible outdoor recreation.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Partner Highlight: Detroit Lake State Park

2011-07-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

Detroit, OR. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is partnered with over 500 organizations. Partnerships with corporations, universities, retailers, nonprofit organizations, guide services, international agencies, youth programs, and many other groups are vital to spreading Leave No Trace skills and ethics. These partnerships are essential to the success of the Leave No Trace program.

One of the benefits of partnering with Leave No Trace is on site visits and training opportunities from the Traveling Trainer program. Pictured above, Team West provides outreach at Detroit Lake State Park campground, located in the breathtaking Cascade Mountains, on a busy Sunday morning. If you would like more information on the benefits of partnering with the Center, CLICK HERE.
Explore Responsibly...Kate & Tracy

Detroit Lake State Park

PIcture of the Week 7/15/11

2011-07-15T09:43:00.000-07:00

Climbing at Smith Rock, OR

Leave No Trace Backyard Session in Bend TONIGHT!

2011-07-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

This evening, Team West will be joining Steve Kominsky at the REI in Bend, OR for a Leave No Trace Backyard Session. Backyard Sessions are designed to bring together and activate local Leave No Trace communities; to find ways communities can incorporate Leave No Trace into all of the ways they live and play. Tonight's event will be fun and social, including free pizza and snacks. The focus of the evening will highlight Steve Kominsky's journey as he attempts to climb the 10 tallest mountains in Oregon in 6 days. Steve will share photos, stories, and inspire others to get out there and climb! If you are interested in attending, come to REI in Bend at 6:30 pm. We hope to see you there!
For more information on upcoming Backyard Sessions, click here.
Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

10-in-6 Challenge Starts Sunday!

2011-07-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

Check out this video about Steve Kominsky and his 10-in-6 Challenge. He will be attempting to summit the 10 tallest mountains in Oregon in 6 days, all the while raising awareness about Leave No Trace!
We will be following his journey. Stay tuned for updates about this adventurous feat!
Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 7/8/11

2011-07-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

Penobscot Mountain - Mount Desert Island, ME

Appalachian Trail Conservancy Conference

2011-07-07T05:32:00.001-07:00

Emory, Virginia -

Over the Fourth of July weekend Team East was invited to instruct daily sessions covering various aspects of Leave No Trace at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy 38th Biennial Conference. The title of this years' conference was "Virginia's Journeys 2011" and took place on the Emory & Henry College campus in southwestern Virginia.

The conference brought together almost one thousand attendees for a week to enjoy workshops, hikes, exhibits, entertainment, and fellowship for hikers and trail community leaders. Over the four days, we introduced Leave No Trace through Awareness Workshops that focused on the seven principles of the program, PEAK curriculum, and how to educate the general public about using the Authority of the Resource Technique. The attendees in each session provided perspective and experience to the discussions and were very enjoyable to connect with around the issues and ethics of responsible outdoor recreation.

Many thanks to Ned Kuhns for the opportunity to bring Leave No Trace to this event.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Evening Leave No Trace Family Hike TONIGHT!

2011-07-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

Tahoe City, CA. Team West will be traveling to Lake Tahoe today to hit the trails for an Evening Leave No Trace Family Hike. Tonight, beginning at 4pm, we meet at the Tahoe City North Trailhead and climb for about 2.25 miles up towards our destination vista of the Truckee River Canyon with views of the Twin Peaks Ridgeline and Squaw Valley. Alongside fun, hands on LNT activities with the Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, we will also have give-away prizes and drawings for prizes from Tahoe Mountain Sports, the LNT Center for Ethics and the TRTA. Remember to bring a dinner in your day pack as we will be having dinner at our vista. It should be a fun and educational experience for all. There are still a few spots left on the hike. To register, visit the Tahoe Rim Trail Association website.
Explore Responsibly...Kate & Tracy

Red, White, Blue, And GREEN! Campsite Challenge

2011-07-04T20:16:00.000-07:00

Quincy, CA. This past weekend marked the 21^st anniversary of the High Sierra Music Festival (HSMF) in Quincy, California. More than 8,000 attendees flock to the fairgrounds early each July in eager anticipation of dancing their way through four mind bending days of action and non-stop music on three stages.

Three years ago, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics joined the HSMF in an effort to raise sustainability awareness while at the festival by practicing Leave No Trace. The Red, White, Blue, and Green Campsite Challenge encourages festival goers to swing by the booth and tell us how they are being sustainable, clean, and creative with their campsites while at the festival. Based on these merits, Leave No Trace staff, High Sierra festival staff, and a few select guest judges choose the winning campsite each day. Thank-you to High Sierra for donating daily prizes including a HSMF goody pack. On Sunday, the individual daily winners were reassessed by the judges and the grand prize winner, “Camp Committed To Excellence,” walked off with all the Coleman gear they will need to have a successful festival experience next year.

Each year there are increasingly more and more participants in the challenge. If you did not get a chance to participate this year, keep Leave No Trace in mind as you prepare for any music festival this summer, as well as, all your other outdoor adventures. A special thank-you to past Traveling Trainer team Alexis Ollar and Topher Marlatt for bringing Leave No Trace into the line-up and encouraging all campers to green up the scene!

We had the opportunity to meet Joe Baughman the president and proprietor of Grub Hub Camp Kitchens. Grub Hub is the most portable and organized all terrain camp kitchens and field stations. As Grub Hub is a new partner with the Leave No Trace, we wanted to thank Joe for his support and welcome Grub Hub to the Leave No Trace community!

Explore Responsibly…Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 7/1/11

2011-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Wild Rose Hot Springs, ID

Great American Backyard Campout

2011-06-30T05:00:00.000-07:00

Medfield, Massachusetts -

Last weekend we had the opportunity to connect with families who were enjoying new outdoor activities together at the Great American Backyard Campout. The event was held at the Rocky Woods reservation and organized by The Trustees of Reservations and our organizational partner REI. Balmy summer temperatures and intermittent rain showers did not discourage the families from learning more about responsible outdoor recreation and the basics of activities such as hiking, fishing, and camping.

During our Awareness Workshop with the group, we enjoyed educational activities from the PEAK program such as "What Principle Am I?," "Minimum Impact Match," and "Watch Your Step" with the families. In the top photo a family is exploring what "durable surfaces" are and how to identify them when selecting a site to pitch a tent or go hiking. Each activity was focused on applying the seven Leave No Trace principles to all the outdoor recreation skills the families would be learning in sessions with the REI Outdoor School over the weekend.

Many thanks to all who worked and attended this event for allowing us to bring Leave No Trace to the weekend activities!

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Red, White, Blue, and GREEN!

2011-06-29T11:17:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Team West will be heading to High Sierra Music Festival to provide education and outreach to thousands of festival goers. With all of these people coming out to enjoy music and to camp out under the Sierra Stars, it is so important to practice Leave No Trace. We will be running the Red, White, Blue, and Green Campsite Challenge, where festivarians will be encourage to keep their sites clean, sustainable, and creative!
How many of you are camping this 4th of July weekend? Check out these greening tips that can be applied to your next camping/festival adventure!
Have a wonderful and adventurous weekend.
Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

500 Year Flood In Bismarck!

2011-06-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

Bismarck, ND. This week, we spent two full days educating local boy and girl scouts and leaders on the importance practicing leave no trace on their outings. Along with leave no trace, the brownies, juniors, and cadets of Camp Okancusa are learning many other skills including campfire building, meal planning and preparation, and first aid. There was a great energy at camp despite having to move indoors because of the relentless rains. Luckily, by the end of this week, the storm will pass and the sun will be shining as the culminating campout approaches.

During two evening presentations with other local scouts and leaders, we played “What Principle Am I?”, “How Long Does It Last”, and “Minimum Impact Match” to reinforce the strong leave no trace foundation that already existed within the group.

Our time in Bismarck was made extremely comfortable due to the hospitality of Mary Kay and her husband Dave. Also, a special thank-you to Kathy, Doreen, Janelle, and Patty for making our events well attended and successful!

We are now en route to Boise Idaho for the Boise Rec Fest happening this weekend. Come check it out!

Explore Responsibly…Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 6/24/11

2011-06-24T05:59:00.000-07:00

Sunset on Bar Harbor, Maine.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Team East Visits Acadia National Park

2011-06-23T05:25:00.000-07:00

Bar Harbor, Maine-

Earlier this week Team East enjoyed the abundance of sunshine and spectacular views offered from atop the coastal mountains of Maine on Mount Desert Island. During the visit we had the opportunity to connect with staff from Acadia National Park and Baxter State Park to facilitate a two-day trainer course to instruct the basics of how to practice and teach Leave No Trace. The photo above captures the crew as they have a little fun up high on Schoodic Mountain. The group was a pleasure to work with and offered many insightful questions and observations about educating the collective millions (literally) of people that will visit their parks in 2011.

In the photo above, a moment of hands on learning takes the shape of a mound fire as a participant teaches the group about the principle Minimize Campfire Impacts. We also had the chance to interact with the general public and offer educational materials and information about Leave No Trace at the Visitors Center in Acadia National Park.
Looking ahead in June we will be traveling south to Massachusetts for the Great American Backyard Campout with our partner REI.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

Coleman Bug Spray: You'll Be Buggin if You Leave Home Without It!

2011-06-20T10:03:00.000-07:00

Rock Harbor, MI. Mosquitoes. Tis the season for hatching and harassing. If these little buggers are already on your last nerve, the solution is within reach. We recently enjoyed the opportunity to backpack at Isle Royal National Park located on Lake Superior (our 46th and final National Park in the continental U.S.!). The mosquitoes are out in full force on the island. In the spirit of Plan Ahead and Prepare, we were ready for them. A few squirts of this product effectively put a forcefield around us for ten glorious hours! If you are hitting the trails anywhere that those pesky buggers are on the prowl, be sure to grab your Coleman Bug Spray and throw it in your pack. Thank-you to Coleman Outdoor Products for supporting the Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program!

Explore Responsibly...Kate and Tracy

Picture of the Week 6/17/11

2011-06-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Sunset over the boundary waters in Northern Minnesota.

Massachusetts International Academy

2011-06-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

Marlborough, Massachusetts-

Earlier this week we had the chance to introduce Leave No Trace to twelve international students at the Massachusetts International Academy just outside of Boston, MA. The 18-21 year old students in our morning session are preparing for university life in New England through a variety of modern and diverse preparatory academic programs.
The students were challenged throughout our PEAK activities to develop an understanding of ethics focused on enjoying the outdoors responsibly. Each student had the chance to teach us all about considering the 7 principles of our educational program during an entertaining round of Minimum Impact Match.
Thanks to Becky Lawrence for the opportunity to meet and learn with the students and staff on campus. Looking down the road Team East is heading up to Maine for a week of training and outreach in Acadia National Park.

All the best,

Jason and Agata

A Wilderness Quest in Minnesota

2011-06-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

International Falls, MN. Kids all across the country are beaming with delight as the final bell of the school year rings in two months of walking barefoot, warm summer days, and exploring the natural world. Summer camp season is upon us. Camps Kooch-i-ching and Ogichi Daa Kwe on the boundary waters of International Falls, MN welcomed us for an unprecedented eight day stay. While we were on the island and mainland where the camps operate, we had the opportunity to train all of the trip leaders and assistant staff -the men of Camp Kooch-i-ching and the women of Ogichi.

We provided a Trainer Course for the trip leaders that will be bringing young campers on multi week canoe and backpacking trips in the upcoming weeks.

All of the assistant leaders at camp spent two hours learning how to relay the principles of Leave No Trace to their campers in a fun and interactive manner.

Finally, across the harbor at Ogichi, we provided the girls camp with tools and techniques to seamlessly incorporate Leave No Trace into their everyday routines throughout the summer.

The majestic boundry waters were a close companion to us during our stay. We certainly made time to explore the many coves, islands, and tributaries that make up the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The sun seems to linger a bit longer on the HORIZON in this north woods territory. The wildlife is abundant in this region. We respectfully observed TURTLES, numerous deer, and a snake slithering across the top of the water in between two islands!

A special thanks to J.R. VerKamp and his staff for all their hospitality and we wish Camp Kooch the best as you continue "to inspire the growth of young men through fun, challenging, wilderness adventures that promote self discovery, teamwork, and service to others" for the next 87 years!

Finally, we would like to applaud all the hard work of Kathy Dix and her crew as they “encourage young women to continue to become educated, and inspire others, through thoughtful actions that promote responsible stewardship of the natural environment.” Keep it up ladies!

Explore Responsibly…Kate and Tracy