NAI National Conference-Las Vegas

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

Happy Adventuring...Kate & Tracy

Getting Prepared for the Road!

These past couple weeks have been a training extravaganza! As the Traveling Trainers are departing to their respective east and west sides of the country, it has been an intense two weeks of preparation for life on the road. Most recently, we spent two days in the field in Lyons, CO working with Ben Lawhon, Education Director, and Dave Winter, Outreach Manager. This was a great opportunity for the teams to dive into the educational curriculum and collaborate with each other about the ins and outs of the Leave No Trace Trainer Course. This two-day course is a train-the-trainer model for individuals interested in teaching Leave No Trace to others. Here are a few pictures from our training- enjoy!

Dave Winter leads a lesson on Disposing of Waste Properly

Ben Lawhon explains the proper use of a Go Anywhere Bag

The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers are ready to hit the road!

See you out there and happy adventuring...Kate and Tracy

Welcome Jason and Agata

As we get ready to welcome in the new year, we also would like to welcome in the newest Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer team, Jason and Agata Ketterick!  We had the opportunity to meet them in MA for lunch and chat about life on the road.  Starting off as Team West, the two are eager to hit the road and begin their adventure.  We look forward to meeting up with them again in Boulder, CO at the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics as we prepare for the 2010 season.  We wish everyone a happy and healthy new year.  See you all in 2010!

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy

A glimpse into the 2009 Traveling Trainer tour

Have you ever wondered what the Traveling Trainers' atlas looks like at the end of a season?  Here are photos of the 2009 season:

Kate and Tracy's travels in 2009

JD and Emily's travels in 2009

Be on the lookout for the Traveling Trainers as they hit the road again in January 2010!

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy

Hats off to JD and Emily

As we close the door on the 2009 Traveling Trainer season, we want to take a moment to celebrate our fellow Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer team JD Tanner and Emily Ressler.  JD and Emily have spent the past 3 years criss-crossing the country providing quality education and outreach to millions of outdoor enthusiasts.  They are truly a dynamic duo that we were fortunate to have been able to share this Traveling Trainer experience with.  We know that their dogs, Arnie and Aspen, will be happy to have them home, but life in the world of Leave No Trace will not be the same without them.  They will be missed next year and we wish them the best in their future adventures!

Did you have a chance to meet JD and Emily on their travels?  We want to hear about it!  Post a comment or shoot us an email (kateandtracy@lnt.org)  and we will post your stories! 

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy

Geocaching 101…We Need Your Help!

In honor of the new Leave No Trace ethics reference card on Geocaching, we decided to pick up a travel bug on a recent hike on Boundary Peak in Nevada. He’s pretty cute and we’re having a tough time deciding where to bid farewell to our new traveling companion, so we thought we’d ask for a little help.

Here is a list of places we are going to be visiting in the next few weeks, first person to leave a comment with coordinates of a cache in the general area of one of these events decides the fate of our little friend!
• Outdoor Adventure Summit – Philmont, NM
• Subaru Ready for Adventure Event – Malibu Creek State Park, CA
• Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics – Boulder, CO

Ox Roast at 7 Ranges

The 32nd annual Ox Roast at Seven Ranges scout camp in Kensington, OH provided a great opportunity for the Buckeye Council scouts to gather for a big feast, earn and swap patches, and learn about Leave No Trace.  There were over 500 scouts and leaders swarming the grounds, excited to learn new skills.  We taught the boys about ways to minimize their impacts while camping with their troops and how to dispose of waste properly.  

We also encouraged folks to take the Bigfoot Challenge, as seen here in the photo.  A special thanks to Jack Smith for inviting team east to be a part of this boy scout tradition.  

Safe travels...Kate and Tracy

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

Time to take the Bigfoot Challenge!

In celebration of 10 years of Education in Motion, the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program has teamed up with Mr. Bigfoot himself to challenge the outdoor community to make a difference this summer!  By visiting www.lnt.org/bigfootchallenge or catching up with the Traveling Trainers at an event this summer, you have a chance to take the Leave No Trace Bigfoot challenge and try to leave no trace just like Bigfoot has been doing for years!  We have only one question for you...are you up for the challenge?

Bigfoot Sightings!

NEWSFLASH:  Bigfoot sightings have been reported across the country!  We have reports all the way from Illinois to Oregon.  Where will bigfoot be seen next?  Keep checking in to the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer blog to find out more!

Master Educator Course at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

I just wrapped up a Wilderness Education Association (WEA)-Leave No Trace Master Educator Course on Devil’s Kitchen Lake in Illinois. The course, which included both canoeing and backpacking, was ran through WEA affiliate, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Great scenery, great weather, and great company were all highlights of the course. I’m happy to announce that there are now 5 brand new Leave No Trace Master Educators in Southern Illinois. I would like to give a BIG THANKS to everyone who participated in the course, it was great to see the excitement and passion each of you have for Leave No Trace and the outdoors.
See you out there,
JD Tanner
Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer-Team East

Students from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale play "Leave No Trace Pictionary" during their Master Educator Course.

Seeking: Community Outreach Intern

POSITION: Community Outreach Intern
CLOSING DATE: May 15, 2009 or until position is filled
SEND INFO TO: Outreach Manager, Center for Outdoor Ethics
P.O. Box 997,
Boulder, CO 80306
Email: info@LNT.org
(NO CALLS PLEASE)

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is seeking a motivated and conservation- oriented individual for a full-time (20+ hours a week) summer internship (June through August) for a Community Marketing project in Boulder, Colorado. Leave No Trace is a critical conservation movement that promotes sustainable outdoor recreation for the benefit of people and the natural environment.

The Community Outreach Intern will work closely with both the Outreach Manager and the Community and Partnership Coordinator to oversee the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer10th Anniversary Challenge using YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and other social media tools, as well as completing administrative tasks as necessary. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program, launched in 1999, consists of two teams of highly skilled Leave No Trace educators that travel from state-to-state teaching and promoting Leave No Trace to outdoor retailers, youth serving organizations, land managers, hiking, biking and other user groups and individuals across the country.

In 2009, we’re celebrating their tremendous outreach efforts by encouraging outdoor enthusiasts to make a pledge to not only join a nationwide conservation movement, but to pledge to take Leaving No Trace ethics where it matters most - the places we play.

Qualified candidates should have some administrative and social media experience and have the ability to manage a variety of tasks. Knowledge of databases and Macintosh platform is helpful. Outdoor industry, conservation/education experience is a plus but not required. The Center for Outdoor Ethics is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from people of all races, ages, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

Application information can be found here.

Learn more about the award-winning Center for Outdoor Ethics: www.LNT.org