Two of a Kind

This week we wrapped up our tour of the east coast with a few summer camp events. First we headed to Massachusetts to work with the Metropolis of Boston Camp. We spoke with campers about the importance of Leave No Trace and encouraged a little friendly competition with one of our favorite activities from the PEAK Pack, Step On It-the Feud. Campers put their Leave No Trace prowess to the test as we quizzed them on the topics of litter, wildlife, and durable surfaces!

Next, we drove south to meet up with campers at Black Bear Lake Day Camp in New Jersey. We presented seven 45-minute workshops and were able to cover a wide range of Leave No Trace topics. Our favorite part of the day was a discussion we had with campers about wildlife. During the activity (which you can find in 101 Ways to Teach Leave No Trace) campers had the chance to play the role of local wildlife (black bears, snakes, squirrels and deer), which led to a great conversation about the effect that human behavior can have on wildlife.

All combined, we spoke with over 200 campers! Not a bad way to end an incredible journey through New England.

Picture of the Week: Bring on the Flap-jacks!

We had the day off and decided to have a little fun...Vermont style!

Take the Traveling Trainer Survey today!

2009 marks the 10th anniversary of the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Program. For the past 10 years our teams have been living on the road out of a Subaru working with millions of outdoor enthusiasts and professionals throughout the country. Chances are that we have even worked with you once or twice. We recently developed a Traveling Trainer survey to ask you about how we can continue to strengthen our program and encourage you to continue your support of Leave No Trace.

If you had any interaction with the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers over the past 10 years we are asking you to take just 10 minutes to fill out this survey. Click here to begin the survey. Thank you for taking the time to help us improve and build for the future. We sincerely appreciate all that you do for Leave No Trace!

Celebrating 10 Years of Education in Motion.

Ever wonder who created the first down jacket in the USA?

We had the pleasure of working with one of Leave No Trace's newest corporate partners, Eddie Bauer.  Established in 1920, Eddie Bauer offers premium-quality clothing, accessories and gear for men and women that complement today's modern outdoor lifestyle.  During our visit to the Seattle Headquarters, we spoke to employees about Leave No Trace as an organization, as well as the programs we offer.  We introduced the employees to the 7 principles and taught them ways to incorporate the principles into their personal outdoor adventures, as well as the "Get Outside" initiative offered to them as employees of Eddie Bauer.  Did you know that Eddie Bauer was actually a person and he patented the first quilted goose down jacket in North America in 1940?  He was an avid outdoorsman who's spirit and legacy lives on at Eddie Bauer.  We are so happy to have Eddie Bauer join the Leave No Trace community and we look forward to working with them again in the future!

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy

4th of July on the Saco River

To celebrate the 4th of July we headed to Fryeberg, Maine to work with the Saco River Recreational Council. The Saco River is an incredibly popular recreational river-during the summer it's not uncommon to see over 3,000 people on the water durning a busy weekend. With so many users, it is not surprising that the Saco also sees it's fair share of impacts. Litter, illegal fires, and user conflicts are all major concerns on the Saco. To combat these impacts, the Saco River Recreational Council host several massive river clean-ups each year and is also working on educating users about Leave No Trace.

We had a great time despite thunderstorms and dangerous river levels. While the weather kept away many of the boaters that usually flock to this river over the summer, we did have a chance to meet with many individuals who are dedicated to preserving the Saco River for generations to come. We want to give a big thanks to Michelle and the rest of the staff at Swan Falls Campground for being such great hosts. Keep up the good work and we hope to see you again soon!

Picture of the week 7/3/09

The berry essence of Oregon- Team West meets with Oregon State Advocate, Georgia Bosse, at the local farmers market.

NAS Whidbey Island Trainer Course

Whidbey Island is a beautiful area in off the coast of Washington.  With dense forests, vast beaches, and plenty of recreational opportunities, the island was a perfect location for a trainer course.  The weather more than cooperated as we explored Leave No Trace both at the campground at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station and at Deception Pass State Park.  

All seven participants on the course were excited to learn ways to incorporate Leave No Trace into their lives, whether it be working with boy scouts, leading mountaineering trips, working with the Washington Trails Association, or teaching their family and friends.  Over the two days we all learned and laughed a lot!  Some of us had new experiences- SPAM and eggs or banana boats- but all of us enjoyed our first Swedish candle!  Thanks again to Dave Myers for all his hard work in setting up this weeks events- you are the best Big Bear!

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy