Leave No Trace Backyard Session in Bend TONIGHT!

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!

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

Penobscot Mountain - Mount Desert Island, ME

Appalachian Trail Conservancy Conference

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!

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

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

Wild Rose Hot Springs, ID