Learn.Network.Together
Leave No Trace e-News                                      July 2007
In This Issue
e-tour Is On the Move!
Highlight on Active Volunteers
Road Wisdom
New Education Programs Coordinator Joins Leave No Trace
Final Thoughts
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Welcome to the July edition of Learn.Network.Together. Summertime is a primary season for vital Leave No Trace educational initiatives. This month's e-newsletter highlights some of the fantastic people working hard this summer to build the Leave No Trace community.

Two new sections of the newsletter have also arrived: Highlight on Active Volunteers and Road Wisdom.  These sections are designed to amp up the voice of Leave No Trace, by allowing a forum for notes and stories from active volunteers like you!  In the spirit of continued learning and increased stewardship, I hope you will continue to explore and to share.
 Sarah


Sincerely,
 

 Sara Close
Leave No Trace
e-tour Is On the Move!
etourInagural Summer of Program Brings Leave No Trace Education to Families and Youth.

With two weeks of traveling and eight different days of teaching already under their belts, Kelly and Heather, the dynamic duo of traveling educators behind the e-tour, have come a long way since that that geology camping trip in college. Kelly and Heather are bringing hands-on Leave No Trace demonstrations and education to your neighborhood this summer, so check out their calendar to see when they'll be near you.
Meet Kelly Bacon:
Kelly's first backpacking trip was on her father's shoulders at age 2; from then on, the outdoors were her passion. As a recreation major in college, Kelly's projects focused on Leave No Trace ethics, including instructing a trainer course for fellow students, and hosting a Traveling Trainer team during an Earth Day festival.  During this time, she realized that being a traveling trainer was on her list of things to do in her life.  Through her travels in Central America and Antartica, Kelly has learned that she is a girl of freedom, and one to never pass up an amazing opportunity.

Meet Heather McFadin:
Heather's first camping trip was at two weeks of age in Big Sur. Raised on the Central Coast of California, she developed an appreciation of the natural beauty of the outdoors early on. Heather learned early on how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly in grade school, and carried this passion through her college years. Now a recent graduate with honors and a BA in Studio Art, the natural world is a constant source of inspiration. Caring for the environment is another important aspect of Heather's life; this and a friendship with Kelly led to her involvement with the e-tour this summer.
Highlight on Active Volunteers
Kids Cleanup Leave No Trace Volunteers Take on the Potomac River Watershed

On April 28th, nearly 25 volunteers rallied for the 19th Annual Potomac River Watershed Cleanup on the banks meandering through Waterloo Farm in King George, Virginia. This clean up accomplishes steps towards a larger, regional goal: to make the Potomac watershed "Trash-Free by 2013" by removing trash from waterways, public lands, and communities.   

Led by the hard work and dedication of Leave No Trace member Stuart Ashton and his wife Mindy, local Scouts from Girl Scout Troop 372 and Cub Scout Pack 1404 participated in the event. Mary Ashton, an experienced outdoors person and Leave No Trace Trainer, also turned their clean-up site in to an interactive outdoor classroom. The scouts learned about the seven principles of Leave No Trace, and participated in a hike through the forest to the river to demonstrate each principle along the way.

By day's end, the crew netted a total of 450 pounds of trash and 11 tires from a ¾-mile stretch along the banks of the Potomac River.  The trash included seven 55-gallon bags of plastic, one 55-gallon bag of aluminum, one 55-gallon bag of glass and 10 broken crab traps. The scouts and their families sorted the trash, and the Ashtons appropriately removed the trash to recycling and trash facilities.

In addition to performing this community service, the scouts successfully earned credits toward many badges and achievements while at Waterloo Farm, including their Leave No Trace badge.


Next Month's Highlight could be you!
Learn.Network.Together. is highlighting active volunteers each month in an effort to shed a little light on the amazing stewardship that is happening in the outdoors, everyday.  E-mail [email protected] to share your story with the entire Leave No Trace community!
Road Wisdom
north and ella"June has been filled with different festivals focusing primarily on whitewater: rafting, kayaking, crazy river dogs, and just enjoyment of the river.  One of our favorite festivals was the Dolores River Festival in Dolores, Colorado.  We worked with Osprey Packs in order to reach the Dolores community with Leave No Trace information.  Osprey donated a Talon Pack, which we gave away at the end of the day to one of our new members. 

It was wonderful to spend a day at such a community oriented event, chatting with kids and adults alike about the reasons they want to take care of the land they love.  We encourage all of our members, Trainers, and Master Educators to get involved with their local communities: take kids out exploring, do a lesson in a classroom or camp, or set up a Leave No Trace booth at a local festival. Have a wonderful summer and enjoy the long days and adventures!"
 
-North Moench and Ella Goodbrod
Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers Team West

Read more from the Road, or better yet, Go See Team West in Person!

Check in next month for updates and video footage
from Leave No Trace's Senior Traveling Trainer Team!


New Education Programs Coordinator at Leave No Trace
Sarah Welcome, Sarah!

Sarah Folzenlogen recently began work with Leave No Trace as the Education Programs Coordinator. She is a native of Colorado but has lived in various parts of the country, from New England to Southern California. Sarah began working in the field of Environmental Education about six years ago as an intern in the Smoky Mountains. She loves being outdoors, especially running, hiking and skiing. She also loves to travel and has especially enjoyed her time spent abroad in Ecuador. Sarah recently finished her Masters in Education at the University of Denver and is excited to remain in Colorado and work with the great staff at the Center.

Sarah's work at The Center will involve the PEAK Program, Tools for Teaching Fund, and various other educational programs and initiatives.  The entire staff is excited to have her expertise, passion and energy added to our community!
Final Thoughts...
LEAVE NO CHILD INSIDE: 
A "TIPPING POINT" FOR LEAVE NO TRACE?

    We were recently having dinner in a restaurant near Montana's Glacier National Park when we overheard an animated conversation at a table near us. Three generations of a family sat and listened intently to a mother in her 40's describe the "wild and colorful" Subaru that she spotted outside in the parking lot.

    "It said 'Subaru Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers' on the side of it!" she exclaimed to the others. "What do you think that means?" she genuinely inquired. 

    It took every ounce of patience and restraint to sit and eavesdrop on what resulted in a 15-minute dinner chat as members from three generations of this family took their respective guesses. A grandfather guessed that Subaru was embarking on some bold political initiative.  The husband of the woman who ignited the inquiry was certain that it was one of the professional athletes that Subaru supports. 

    After rounds of conversation among several others at the table, the timid 13-year old daughter quietly suggests, " Ohh...I think Mr. Williams taught us about that last year.  Well, I think it has to do with nature...you know? Leave the outdoors better than you found it." To our surprise, a couple of family members chuckled at her and continued their wild and incorrect assumptions.

    As cliché as it sometimes sounds, young people ARE society's up and coming critical thinkers and decision makers. In our work on the road, it is always invigorating and insightful to work with youth-serving groups such as City Wild (a Denver-based non-profit that uses the outdoors as a lab for leadership skills with inner-city teens), the Casper, WY Council of Boy Scouts of America, or the students and parents of Renaissance Academy (a magnet charter school in Colorado Springs.)
 
    Along with training youth, we have also been hitting the books. The recent publication of Richard Louv's groundbreaking work Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder has created a surge of interest over 21st century kids' disconnection with nature. Buzz and hype currently surround many of the factors that are symptoms of this "disorder". We are hearing more about rising obesity rates in children, excessive TV watching, and video game obsession.  Currently, there are educators of all stripes seeking educational programs that tap into the much-needed "antidotes" of health, sustainability, nature, physical activity, and stewardship. It is the "tipping point" that we continue to embrace as an organization.

    Although adults are sometimes resistant to changing their hardened habits, youth populations who receive and internalize our message from an early age are growing up with the seven principles as the standard context for all of their adventures into the natural world.  We find that children are often educating and reminding the adults in their lives what it truly means to Leave No Trace. Let us continue to make the words "Leave No Trace" rich conversational material for families at a diner near you.

- Contributed by Dusty and Amy Allison