History Mission of the Leave No Trace Program

History & Mission of the Leave No Trace Program

Presentation Objectives Ø Review the history of low impact educational programs. Ø Describe the origin of Leave No Trace and the role of the U. S. Forest Service and the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). Ø Describe why education is better than regulation. Ø Describe the creation, role, and mission of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

Educational Programs: Conception and Early Development Ø Low impact educational efforts originated in backcountry and federally-designated Wilderness areas in the 1960’s. Ø In the 1970’s, the federal agencies began to develop educational brochures. The program was sloganbased. Ø Early names: Wilderness Manners, Wilderness Ethics, Minimum-Impact Camping, and No-Trace Camping.

Take Only Pictures. . . Leave Only Footprints

The “No-Trace” Program Ø Developed by U. S. Forest Service wilderness managers in the early 1980’s. Ø Humanistic approach for wilderness ethics and low impact hiking and camping practices. Ø Program success led to cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service and in the late 1980’s.

Regulation. . . or Education ? Ø Regulations antagonize the public … education wins their support. Ø Most impacts are not due to malicious acts. Education improves knowledge of consequences and low impact practices. Ø Enforcement of regulations is difficult.

Creation of the “Leave No Trace” Program Ø Leave No Trace selected as the name for an expanded national program in 1990. Ø USFS formed a partnership with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) to develop Leave No Trace educational materials and courses. Ø NOLS taught the first Master Educator course in the Wind River Range in 1991.

Creation of Leave No Trace, Inc. Ø Outdoor Recreation Summit in 1993 recommended creation of an independent Leave No Trace organization. Ø Leave No Trace, Inc. was incorporated in 1994 to guide the national program’s development, establish partnerships, distribute educational materials, and conduct fundraising.

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics Ø Renamed the “Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics” in 2003. Ø Non-profit organization whose mission is: Protect the outdoors by teaching and inspiring people to enjoy it responsibly. The Center accomplishes this mission by delivering cutting-edge education and research to millions of people every year.

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics Ø The Center engages with a diverse range of partners from the federal land management agencies and outdoor industry corporations to nonprofit environmental and outdoor organizations and youth-serving groups. Bureau of U. S. Fish & U. S. Forest National Park Service Land Management Wildlife Service Army Corps of Engineers

Current Status Ø The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is located in Boulder, CO, and guided by a Board of Directors with corporate, non-profit and government representatives. Ø > 2 million budget; staff: 11 permanent staff & 4 teams of traveling educators in 2019. Ø Funding is primarily derived from corporate manufacturing and retail partners, sales , and memberships.

The End

Revisions Ø Original - Jeff Marion May 2012 Ø Updated logos, graphics, info about Center, Provider list. Mark Hammer Nov 2020. Ø Deleted a couple slides which were in and fit better in other presentations. MH Jan 2021