ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT 2022
Accomplishments, Financials + Partnerships
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Foreshadowing the Future
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2022 Results
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Stewardship Has No Boundaries
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Leave No Trace Brings It Home with Daily Life Program
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Leave No Trace Research Promises Exciting New Change
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Leave No Trace Has a Home
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Community Partners
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Financial Summary
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Individual Giving
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Special Thanks to Our Corporate Partners
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Special Thanks to Our Tourism Partners
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Back Cover Page
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FORESHADOWING
the future
I consider 2022 to be the year that our communities and our world reengaged. Our educators cautiously resumed work in the field, on-theground research took shape again, and we began to get to work with our hands-on, community-by-community work. This is, as we know, an area where Leave No Trace shines bright. In this year of transition, we completed 11 major restoration and education projects in iconic areas of the country, bringing our total number of Hot Spots to 116 by the end of 2022. We rallied over 4,000 people to participate in our annual Leave No Trash cleanup. Through a unique partnership with the U.S. Forest Service’s Urban Connections, we completed 22 programs in major metropolitan areas focused on youth in the outdoors, and an additional 300 site-specific educational programs in 32 states. Another positive byproduct of the pandemic blur was our organization’s quick build of virtual training and education. We made significant strides in this area and were able to reach deeper into communities that we hadn’t accessed before with Leave No Trace education. Now, we are poised to greatly expand training with a new initiative called Training for All. You will see more training opportunities for the general public with enhanced accessibility take shape this year. Moreover, we have even more relevant developments in our research realm. While our work with the scientific community never abated, we are better positioned today to actively plan for the future. We’re doing just that as a visiting Penn State researcher officially joined our team for 2023 to lead a scientific agenda that tackles substantive Leave No Trace-related issues..
From securing the purchase of our permanent Colorado headquarters last summer to significantly growing our engagement with state and regional tourism agencies, the Leave No Trace organization is healthy and growing. And our extraordinary donor and partner community— you—made it all possible. Your engagement and advocacy means that Leave No Trace can do more good work than its ever been able to before. We’re training more people, supporting more programs in your communities and protecting more land. Enjoy this Annual Impact Report for 2022, and thank you for all that you do.
Dana Watts Executive Director
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Leave No Trace Wrapped
2022 Results
2022 was a defining year for Leave No Trace. The organization made great strides in its work to advance science, support training for all, and engage people and communities through stewardship. Here are some of the Leave No Trace organization’s significant achievements in the last year.
Leave No Trace’s partnership with American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association and the
29 member Indigenous-led advisory group has produced a first-of-its-kind tool for Native Nations and Native Communities to use for shaping their unique outdoor stories.
11 major restoration/education events
55 youth programs around the country
were conducted this year as part of our Hot Spot program.
are involved with Leave No Trace’s Youth Accreditation program.
The restoration programs impacted over 494K acres of land across the U.S. Since the program’s inception, 116 Hot Spots have been completed in 37 states and with an array of events that serve diverse communities. Internationally, Leave No Trace Ireland conducted its first Hot Spot this year.
The program’s purpose is to ensure that Leave No Trace is part of the permanent education and strategies of these organizations into the future.
Leave No Trace on-the-ground stewardship reached broad-based and diverse communities in 32 states last year, offering over
300 educational programs on the ground conducted by Leave No Trace staff.
Through our unique partnership with the U.S. Forest Service on the Urban Connections initiative, Leave No Trace conducted
22 programs focused on youth in the outdoors for underserved communities in cities like Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and Minneapolis. The program offers a distinctive and unique opportunity to connect young people with Leave No Trace.
Stewardship is alive internationally, as we brought on Leave No Trace Japan as our newest Leave No Trace organization. The move further promotes Leave No Trace’s mission to make Leave No Trace education and awareness accessible to all.
To date, Leave No Trace has
engaged with 94 countries, has over 16K Leave No Trace educators at work from 56 countries,
Leave No Trace in Daily Life was introduced to provide even more doorways for people to easily connect with and engage with Leave No Trace education. Over 1,600 people took Daily Life quizzes in English and Spanish alone, and thousands engaged with the campaign pledging to make small everyday actionable changes that have a big impact on our environment.
and the program is translated into dozens of languages.
To date, 14 Leave No Trace Gold Standard Sites around the nation have been established. 6
The designation is the highest level of recognition and recognizes these parks and protected areas as exemplary models of onsite Leave No Trace education and awareness.
Leave No Trace research with Penn State University focused on improving outdoor recreation trends of new users,
27 state, regional and city tourism organizations in the United States now partner with Leave No Trace to provide unique Leave No Trace education to millions of visitors. These partnerships have the distinction of having the ability to reach people with critical Leave No Trace education before they reach their destinations.
Leave No Trace volunteer State Advocates and other key
volunteers in 30 states dedicated 1,029 hours
increasing equity in outdoor settings and outdoor education, and exploring the link between Leave No Trace identity and environmentally responsible behavior.
providing training and on-theground programs for 26K people.
It was a big year for Leave No Trace in the news as the organization and our work appeared in
1,539 newspapers, magazines and other publications yielding 7.6B impressions.
#LeaveNoTrash
4,178 people across the globe participated in 2022’s Leave No Trash Campaign
The organization’s social media further expanded the organization’s impact with nearly
400K followers and a reach of 5.5B.
The number of people receiving high-level, multi-day training grew and we now have more than
resulting in 3,834 pounds of trash removed from the outdoors.
75K Trainers and Master Educators
The annual Earth Month campaign mobilizes people to take simple actions to Leave No Trace.
delivering Leave No Trace education around the world.
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Stewardship Has No Boundaries
Why is Leave No Trace Present in so Many Countries? Leave No Trace ethics are a universally effective environmental education. Susy Alkaitis, Leave No Trace’s Deputy Director leads the organization’s international work. As she puts it, “at Leave No Trace,
Leave No Trace in the International Community The power of stewardship—the act of caring for something—is a cornerstone of Leave No Trace. The organization believes that engaging and training communities in Leave No Trace education is the best way to make people protectors of their environments. While Leave No Trace primarily focuses education and training within the U.S., there is also a thriving community of Leave No Trace advocates, programs, educators and even organizations abroad.
What Countries are Involved? In 2022 Leave No Trace was happy to welcome Japan as the newest Leave No Trace international organization. Japan joins Canada, Ireland and New Zealand as international Leave No Trace organizations. Beyond the Leave No Trace organizations, we have engaged with 94 countries and have over 16 thousand international Master Educators and Trainers at work in 56 countries. Not only that, there are currently 51 organizations from the international community that are part of the Leave No Trace portfolio and our Seven Principles as well as other key educational pieces have been translated into dozens of languages.
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“What is most clear is that the international community is hungry for Leave No Trace’s concise, effective education.” we hear from the international community every day. People want training or to start Leave No Trace programs. They want Leave No Trace in their schools and parks. They want to share and translate it. After years of supporting international requests for Leave No Trace, we understand that the program is ultimately adaptable. Issues like recommendations about the disposal of trash and litter in countries like Japan, Montenegro, Nepal and Hong Kong are all different from the ways we manage trash on public lands in the United States. What is most clear is that the international community is hungry for Leave No Trace’s concise, effective education.”
What are the Advantages of Working Internationally? Our vision is to create a global network of stewards and educators committed to and incorporating Leave No Trace. By contributing to these international communities committed to the ideals of Leave No Trace, there is a larger and more formative presence of people, worldwide, advocating for a more sustainable future for the outdoors, and ultimately, the planet. More importantly, we believe the Leave No Trace program is more powerful and also deeply enriched with the inclusion of perspectives from around the world. 9
Leave No Trace Brings it Home with Daily Life Program In 2022 Leave No Trace introduced an important new component to its education called Leave No Trace in Daily Life. Leave No Trace in Daily Life built a way for people to engage with our education, as it prompted people to bring everyday environmental and sustainable practices to the forefront of their lives. As Executive Director Dana Watts frames it, “Leave No Trace is about so much more than responsible recreation outdoors. We believe that the Daily Life component offers an alternative doorway of entry into the big world of Leave No Trace.” Leave No Trace will always remain true to its mission to use the power of science, education and stewardship to protect the outdoors and the planet, yet we understand that the pathways to engage, empower and train people in Leave No Trace are not linear. Leave No Trace in Daily Life brings that same education, science and stewardship closer to home.
What is Leave No Trace in Daily Life? So what is Leave No Trace in Daily Life? Daily Life is a set of everyday, actionable steps you can take in your community, home and local parks that contribute to a greater environmental impact. From finding creative ways to repurpose cans, biking to work, shopping at your local farmers market, swapping out your light bulbs for LED lights or organizing a local park cleanup, there’s so many ways you can participate in your daily life.
Why Develop Leave No Trace in Daily Life? The Daily Life principles are scientifically supported recommendations and bring the foundational principles of Leave No Trace to all who care about the outdoors, not just those who participate in them. Watts asserts, “This new component of Leave No Trace brings Leave No Trace closer to home and creates yet another bridge to connect to the greater environmental movement.” In other words, you don’t need to understand proper food storage in bear country to be a Leave No Tracer.
The Future of Leave No Trace in Daily Life Leave No Trace is built on the founding principles that great science and guidance can help people live more sustainable lives. Daily Life’s concepts and actions will be integrated into Leave No Trace education to promote sustainability everywhere from the backcountry to your own front door. We are all responsible for protecting our environment, Daily Life offers resources for everyone no matter if they are outdoor enthusiasts or not, to help proserve and protect our natural world.
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Questions for Dr. Derrick Taff Why focus your research on Leave No Trace? The correlation between education and behavior leaves me fascinated and intrigued by the potential Leave No Trace has for creating a more sustainable future. The more we research the better we are able to understand and improve the effectiveness of Leave No Trace. The related research has consistently documented that Leave No Trace educational efforts have promoted sustainable behaviors. For example, research has demonstrated that Leave No Trace education has led to a reduction in recreationists traveling off of designated trails and even led to more nature connection for youth.
Since your research started, where have you seen the greatest impact? From a research standpoint, scientists often rely upon self-reported behaviors. But our behaviors don’t always mimic what we share with others (e.g., I recycle every time; I never speed). I’m proud that Leave No Trace research has really moved the needle on understanding the role of Leave No Trace education on actual behavior change. Not only has our research evaluated self-reported aspects related to human behavior, such as attitudes, beliefs, norms, etc., but we have also measured efficacy through actual behavioral observations. This is really important methodologically, as we actually know how Leave No Trace works, rather than simply relying on self-reported behaviors.
What’s next on the agenda for Leave No Trace research? In the immediate future, we are working on research related to human distance when it comes to wildlife viewing that will help inform efforts related to the Respect Wildlife Principle. We are also working with the National Park Service Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division to develop guidelines for reducing human-caused lighting impacts in outdoor settings, based on partnered research efforts. Finally, this summer we will be examining the role of Leave No Trace trail messaging to reduce off-trail travel in Grand Canyon National Park.
Leave No Trace Research Evolves with its Scientific Priorities In its work to move along a robust research agenda in the coming years, the Leave No Trace organization made the decision in 2022 to bring on Penn State Researcher, Dr. Derrick Taff for residency as a visiting scientist at Leave No Trace. Taff, a long-time scientific partner for Leave No Trace focuses his research on visitor behavior, attitude and beliefs. His work supports a deeper understanding of how to change people’s beliefs and effectively encourage environmentally responsible behavior in the outdoors. 12
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Community Partners Thank you to all of the Leave No Trace Community Partners! Community Partners are instrumental in educating individuals reaching roughly 11 million people each year. By amplifying the organization’s message, Community Partners are helping bring Leave No Trace to everyone from those enjoying their backyards, to the backcountry. For a full list of Community Partners, check the link below. Interested in becoming a Community Partner? Learn more below. Leave No Trace Community Partners Join as a Community Partner
Leave No Trace Has a Home With the leading support of these generous donors as well as others, the Leave No Trace organization was able to realize the acquisition of the Leave No Trace permanent Colorado-based headquarters in 2022. Special thank you to Tom Harrington and Beth Harrington for their foundational support to make it possible as well as these donors who contributed $1,000 or more for the acquisition.
Kurt Achtenhagen & Sara Goodrich
Beth Harrington
Susan & Mike Alkaitis
Tom Harrington
Chris Baumgartner
Frank Hintz
Kyle Byerly
Jeff Neitzel
Skip Clemmons
Dan Slack
Robert Crawford
Rob and Phoebe Stephens
Richard & Rebecca Crosson
Meredyth Sterns
Michelle Cutter
Erica Rogers and Kevin Surace
Gudrun and Tom Enger
Jeff Trujilio
Steven Fraim
Dana Watts
Renee & Nicholas Grimm
Anna Zawisza
Scott Gwozdz 14
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2022 Financial Overview Leave No Trace had a successful year financially, with significant achievements and milestones. One notable success was the completion of a capital campaign that enabled the organization to purchase its building last summer. This move has provided Leave No Trace with added stability, security and expense savings in the long term. Another achievement was receiving the single largest unrestricted contribution in our history, in recognition of the organization’s excellent Spotlight program.
Leave No Trace 2022 Summary Financial Information Sources of Support and Revenue ($3,173,000)
$3,173,000
Finally, Leave No Trace expanded its fundraising and program services revenue, resulting in a ~12% increase in total program spending compared to the prior year. These additions will help the organization continue to serve its mission and make a positive impact on the environment.
Overall, Leave No Trace had a remarkable year that sets a strong foundation for the future. The organization’s commitment to its mission and its continued growth and expansion bodes well for the years to come.
63%
Partnerships & Grants
16%
Individual Giving
12%
Program Services
5%
In Kind Donations
3%
Merchandise Sales
1%
Interest & Other
Total Assets at 12/31/22 ($2,798,000)
$2,603,000
The accompanying summary financial information is derived from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethic’s audited financial statements. The complete audited financial statements and annual tax return are available for download on our website.
44%
Land
30%
Cash & Equivalents
14%
Building, Furniture & Equipment
7%
Accounts & Grants Receivable
4%
Inventory
1%
Prepayments & Other Assets
Use of Funds ($2,603,000) Kurt Achtenhagen Director of Finance and Operations
$2,798,000
77%
Program Services
12%
Fundraising
10%
General and Administrative
Based on annual audited financial statements.
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Individual Giving
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Frank Hintz
John Murry
Meredyth Stern
A big thank you to everyone who donated to Leave No Trace in 2022. These contributions directly impact the research, conservation and educational efforts the organization strives for.
Klari Hixenbaugh
Jeff Neitzel
Barbara Straka
Andy and Genny Horning
Chad Nelson
Rick and Barb Swanson
Richard Jindrich
Peter Newman
Julia Tandy
2022 Major Donors
Joyce Jones D. N.
Samuel Obstfeld
The Daeschler Family Fund
Chuck Jordal
Michael Padar
The Harvey, Dan, Kyle & Hunter
Kurt Achtenhagen
Gary Candy
Stephen Emmett-Mattox
Walter Kivett
Chelsea Peeples
Weinstein Foundation
Susan Alkaitis
Greg Carpenter
Chris Enlow
Julie Klein
Ryan Penny
Charles Thomas
David Allen
Erin Carroll
Matthew & Yildiz Ferri
Ronald Koblitz
Norm Petersen
Mike Thomas
AmazonSmile
Gavin Carter
Teri Fick
Robert Kuhl
Amy Peterson
Lori Tonder
Scott Anderson
Chevron
Rich and Nancy Ficken
David Largent
James Pierret
Jeff Trujillo
Doug Angevine
Paula Church
Paul Fleeman
Mitchell and Cecilia Lasky-Barajas
Kerry Quon
David Upin
Nicholas Batta
Ethan Clapham
Lawrence Floyd
Ben Lawhon
Don Rastede
Gerald Vukman
Jeannie Batto
Skip Clemmons
Steven Fraim
Gary Lehr
Thomas Roberts
John Wagner
Chris Baumgartner
Stevi Colby
Mary Franey
Tristan Linck
Steve Robertson
Reed Waite
James Beatty
Robert Crawford
Hugh & Marlene Frisbie
Micah Loeb
Erica Rogers
Kelli Walker
Barbara Benson
Sara Crawley
James Fuller
Hannah Lovejoy
Talia Salem
Allen Wat
Ed Benson
Richard & Rebecca Crosson
Byron Georgiou
Judy Lund
Frank Santiago
Dana Watts
Betsy Bertiaux
Rich Crowe
Craig & Teresa Gleason
Craig Mackey
Shelley Sarrin
Mary Weiler
James Bishop
Michelle Cutter
Beth Glosten
Jason Madlung
Catherine Scheder
Huang Weiru
Lauren Blyth
Bill Cyphers
Nancy Goodrich
Teresa Martinez
Paul Schimke
Liz Williams
Anthony Bonilla
Jeffery Davis
Renee & Nicholas Grimm
Erika Meyers
Daniel Segersin
Robert C Wuerdeman
Danny Bottoms
Stephen Deatherage
Jennelle Haggmark
Rhonda Mickelson
John & Lucy Shelton
Martha Yates
Aran Brosnan
Jay Dement
John Hamilton
Gabrielle Miles
Dan Slack
Lynn Yonge
Alita Burmeister
Chris Desforges
Mark Hammer
Lynn Miller
Mark Smith
Anna Zawisza
Andrea Burns
Kevin Dickson
Beth Harrington
Marc Miller
Judie & Lucas Snipes
Will Butcher
Nathan Dopp
Thomas J. Harrington
Christine Minard
Andreas Stabno
Kyle Byerly
Thomas Doyle
Timothy Havens
Danuta Montorfano
Randolph Stadler
Ryan Callaghan
Chris Dunphy
Scot Hawthorne
Mark Moody
Robert Stephens
Become a Member 19
Special Thank to Our Corporate Partners
Gold Level Adventure Instead Academy
Niantic Labs
Klean Kanteen
Thank you to our corporate partners below! With their help, the organization is able to continue to educate and raise awareness of Leave No Trace ethics and principles across the country and the world. Interested in aligning your business with Leave No Trace? Learn more below:
L.L Bean
Eagle Nest Outfitters
The North Face
BearVault
Tec Laboratories
Become a Corporate Partner
Patron Partner
Silver Level Camjigi
Primus
Landmark Project
Mountain House
Forsake
Sunday Afternoon
Crystal Mountain Resort
RightOnTrek
Mast General Store
Osprey Packs
FREE CROXX
Wholesome Spirits
Eureka!
Sawyer
Bronze Level
Platinum Partner
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American Backcountry
Escapees RV Club
Kind Coffee
Overland Cruisers
Sekr
Vacation Races
Avid4 Adventure
Falcon Guides
Kobayashi Consumer Products
Planet Bluegrass
TentLab
Voss Signs
Big Agnes
GOES
La Sportiva
Ramble
Tom Bihn
Wild Tribute
Cheley Colorado Camps
GSI Outdoors
Leki USA
Restop
Trango
Yeti
Crazy Creek Products, Inc.
Hilleberg The Tentmaker
Marquette Mountain Resort
Sea to Summit
Transrockies
Zero Gram
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Special Thanks to our Tourism Partners Thank you to all of the Leave No Trace Tourism partners who help promote sustainable practices and education to visitors across the country. Leave No Trace works with Destination Marketing Organizations that operate on a state and regional level and help bring Leave No Trace education to all visitors of the outdoors. Interested in becoming a partner? Explore the benefits and unique opportunities below: Become a Partner
American Indian Alaska Native Tourism
County of Sonoma, California
Association
Visit Central Oregon
PA Wilds Center for Entrepreneurship
Destination Door County
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Visit Cook County
Poconos Mountains Visitors Bureau
Discover Siskiyou
Arizona Office of Tourism
Visit Keewenaw
Sedona Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau
Glacier County Tourism
Boulder Convention & Visitors Bureau
Visit Laguna Beach
Sonoma County Tourism
Lovin’ Lake County
Bradenton Area Convention & Visitors Bureau
Visit Montana
Sonoma County Regional Parks
Marin Convention & Visitors Bureau
Cadillac Area Visitors Bureau
Visit Missouri
Travel Marquette
Martin County Office of Tourism and Marketing
Colorado Office of Tourism
Visit New Hampshire
USDA Huron-Manistee National Forest
North Alabama
County of Marin, California
Visit North Carolina
Utah Office of Tourism
Oak Creek Watershed Council
County of Mendocino, California
Visit Reno Tahoe
Visit Bend 22
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Thank you from Leave No Trace! www.lnt.org