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Learn.Network.Together.
Leave No Trace e-News May 2008
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BECOME A MEMBER
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It's Easy & Quick to RENEW
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The other day I was talking with a sales rep from a wireless company inquiring about cell phone plans. When I told the sales rep that I worked for Leave No Trace he said, "Oh yeah, I know Leave No Trace! I picked up one of those plastic cards somewhere." [Referring to our Reference Cards.] I was pretty amazed at his response, as I often have to go into a long explanation on outdoor ethics to explain Leave No Trace.
As the Outreach Manager here at Leave No Trace, I often get asked the question, "What can I do to get involved?" This is one success story that highlights the hard work that all of you are doing to promote Leave No Trace! That Leave No Trace reference card came full circle. Most likely one of you purchased that tag, distributed it at a workshop, a trailhead or at a local retail store and this sales rep picked it up as he was preparing for his next camping trip.
This month we introduced a new resource on our website to help you get even more involved. Check it out, pass it on and get active in your community because you never know where that plastic reference card is going to end up!
Dave Winter
Outreach Manager
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eNews You Can Use
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Dear Education Department:
On a our Trainer Course last weekend we had a discussion about yielding
right-of-way on hiking trails. We were in agreement about all users yielding
to horse and stock but couldn't figure out what to do when approaching
people with dogs (on leashes). Any guidance?
Sincerely,
Considerate Hiker
*****
 Dear Considerate Hiker,
Thanks for your support of Leave No Trace! You pose an interesting question for which we have a couple of answers:
- If the hiker with the dog is going uphill, the downhill hiker(s) should step aside (onto a durable surface if possible) and allow the uphill hiker to pass.
- If you're traveling on a flat trail, the considerate thing to do would be for the dog walker to step aside and let the other hiker(s) pass.
There is no "rule" for this situation. However, we do encourage folks to communicate on the trail in order to minimize user conflict. Hopefully this answers your question. If you need more information or would like to discuss the situation further, please let us know!
Happy Trails,
The Education Department
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Frequently Asked Question of the Month
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Where can I find Leave No Trace teaching resources? Can I receive Leave No Trace materials for free?
A variety of excellent teaching resources and research information can be found on the Leave No Trace website. Many of these resources are free and include: - Sample Trainer Course Agendas, Outlines and Training Guidelines,
- Links to current research in the field,
- Sample Activities/Lesson Plans,
- Printable Brochures with the Seven Principles,
- Certificates for Awareness Workshops.
Every year, the Center for Outdoor Ethics receives thousands of requests for free materials. Due to a limited budget, the Center has established several grant programs to help support community-based educational programs with materials, and, in some instances, tuition for Master Courses. Visit the "Grants and Scholarships" page to find out more information and the respective deadlines for your program of interest. |
Community Highlight
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Leave No Trace earns Four Star Charity rank from Charity Navigator.
 Did you know that America ranks first in the world in giving as a percentage of GDP, at 1.7% (No. 2 is Britain, at 0.73%)? Charitable giving is nothing new in the United States, however; in 2006, donations totaled nearly $300 billion.
As a non-profit organization, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics relies on the generous donations of individuals and organizations that contribute to the sustainability and growth of the Center's programming through memberships and partnerships. Online resources such as Charity Navigator have recently stepped into the equation to give Americans a valuable rating system to gauge the ability and efficacy of non-profits across the country to manage and grow its finances. Through organizational profiles of groups like Leave No Trace, Charity Navigator is a valuable tool to evaluate and assess the credibility of charities, ensuring your generous donations are sound investments.
This year the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics achieved the coveted Four Star Charity rating for sound fiscal management by Charity Navigator. The Center has always taken pride in its reputation for utilizing $0.81 for every dollar donated to the organization for its educational programming. In earning Charity Navigator's highest Four Star Charity rating, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics demonstrates its exceptional financial health, outperforming most of its peers in efforts to manage and grow its finances in the most fiscally-responsible way possible. The next time you're looking to give with confidence, think Leave No Trace.
*Sources: Giving USA Foundation, Charities Aid Foundation. |
Partnership Highlight
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Rare Partnership helps Leave No Trace meet people where they are.
 Ten years ago, Leave No Trace's Dana Watts approached Subaru of America with a wild idea - two people driving around the country providing mobile education. What could be better conceived, more grassroots, or more effective?
The idea worked like a dream and almost a decade later, a unique, longstanding partnership with Subaru has changed the face of Leave No Trace education.
Subaru's vision and dedication to spreading the Leave No Trace ethos has been remarkable. The dedicated team at Subaru have helped the Center build a program that now equips three teams of traveling educators educators. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers crisscross the United States conducting hundreds of hands-on, free workshops for virtually any outdoor group imaginable.
Volunteerism has also been an important part of Subaru's contribution. Most recently, Rick Crosson, Vice-President of Market Development at Subaru, is volunteering his time as the Chair of the Center's Board of Directors and has been heavily involved in strategic, financial and international aspects of the organization's work. To read Rick's April blog entry, visit our Community Blog and scroll to his April 8, 2008 offering.
If you are interested in learning more about the Leave No Trace partnership program, please visit our Partners Page, or call 303.442.8222 x.105.
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Road Wisdom |
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It's Time to Give a Hoot, and Don't Pollute!
From: Alexis Ollar & Topher Marlatt
Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers
 Chances are if you're reading this, you help make up the minority of humans that dispose of their waste properly. As Traveling Trainers, we have witnessed and heard that trash seems to be one of the inevitable common denominators we find at all of our parks and wild lands. To those who make the effort to pack out what you pack in we commend you, and remind you of the difference you make in keeping our lands beautiful.
For the rest of us we challenge you to look at things differently.
The question, "Are we loving our lands to death?" is one we should reexamine. It seems safe to say that everyone who journeys to our state and federal lands does so with the intention of enjoying that resource for its beauty and majesty. What many of us don't realize is the definite and lasting impact we can have on our journey.
Every year our public lands see more than 300 million visitors, not to mention all the usage private lands or unregistered visitors contribute each year. Now consider that the average American produces 4.5 pounds of trash a day. Take that and multiply by the number of visits each year: it comes to roughly 1.35 billion pounds of trash. We are not saying this much trash makes its way to our lands every year, but rather that it illustrates the potential waste issues our lands face every day.
To give perspective to this scenario, let us examine the most recent International Coastal Cleanup effort. The cleanup netted 6 million pounds of trash on 33,000 miles of coastline worldwide. Along US coastlines alone, over 390 pounds of trash per mile were recovered. One third of all the waste recovered was smoking related.
To combat this growing problem we offer several suggestions. As Traveling Trainers we whole-heartedly believe that education and stewardship are the keys to change, so on your next journey consider the following.
- Take the extra time to deal with your trash properly.
- Start at the grocery store and consider buying in bulk, as this will eliminate excessive packaging. Doing this & repackaging your food, you can avoid possible micro-trash: small pieces of trash like the corner of a candy wrapper.
- If you smoke, be prepared to deal with your butts.
- If your visiting a location for several days consider going without soap, toothpaste, or other hygiene products... don't worry you can live without it.
- After washing your dishes filter food particle so animals don't become habituated to human food.
- Dispose of human waste properly: either dig a cathole, or pack out your waste whenever possible or mandated.
- Bring an extra trash bag, to pick up after others, while also setting an example for those also out recreating. If they ask what you're doing use this as an opportunity to educate them rather then scold them.
"Together we can be the change we wish to see in the world." M. Ghandi
Happy Trails,
Topher Marlatt & Alexis Ollar
Team East
Picture: Courtesy of Alexis and Topher.
Read More from the Road on the Traveling Trainer Blog.
Stay tuned for next month: the first Road Wisdom
from JD Tanner & Emily Ressler!
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Store Promotion
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 PEAK and Teen Activity Packs on Sale!The PEAK Pack includes six fun and engaging field-tested Activities, which are designed to teach kids ages six to twelve about Leave No Trace. Each activity or "module" can be delivered in 30-60 minutes depending on group size, available time, etc. Regularly $49.95, now on sale through May 31st for $39.95. The Teen Activity Pack is a supplement to the PEAK program and consists of four educational activities designed for older youth audiences. Regularly $24.95, now  on sale through May 31st for $19.95. The 2007 additions to the PEAK pack include two new modules: "Minimum Impact Match" and "A Leave No Trace Crime Scene." Regularly $6.95, now on sale through May 31st for $5.55. These are all available in English or Spanish, and can be found in the online store! Photos: Top, PEAK Pack. Bottom, Teen Pack.
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ATTENTION MEMBERS & PARTNERS!
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Moved? Moving?
Changing things up?
Please keep your email and mailing addresses current!
Learn.Network.Together.
is one step we are making toward a more consistent online communication for our community, in an effort to conserve our resources and our planet! Please help us in this endeavor by e-mailing info@LNT.org to update your records.
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