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EDUCATION POSTS HAND PICKED FOR YOU
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16 NEW HOT SPOTS ANNOUNCED
LEAVE NO TRACE THRIVES IN ARKANSAS
HONE YOUR LEAVE NO TRACE SKILLS FOR WINTER
EDUCATION IN MOTION Find out when the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers will be in your neck of the woods.
NOVEMBER 2015 | www.LNT.org
NOVEMBER 2015
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Snowy skills for the seasoN aheAD Learn how to leave less of a trace this winter.
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Leave no trace excels in arkansas How the Arkansas River Trail became a model for Leave No Trace ethics.
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the fantastic 4 Updates for outdoor advocates.
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traveling trainer tech tips Dealing with dishwater, opting for unscented, and more helpful hacks!
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2016 hot spots unveiled Where will you see Leave No Trace next year?
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Top education Blog posts Picked just for you by our teams. Cover photo taken during the 2015 Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Hot Spot week in Washington. Mount St. Helens is a 110,000 acre area that is home to 21 different types of recreation. During this Hot Spot Week 19 volunteers collected 5,000 pounds of trash in the span of 16 hours!
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Leave No Trace Pro Shop New hashtag t-shirts on sale this season!
Bruce Davidson and Kathryn Herndon of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy orient the Subaru/ Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers during the September 2015 McAfee Knob Hot Spot Week in Virginia.
lessen your winter impact Winter is a magical time to experience the outdoors. Many find that winter offers solitude, scenic beauty, and a chance to hone outdoor skills. However, with winter use on the rise, users and land managers are beginning to witness more winter recreation-related impacts such as user conflicts, inappropriate human waste disposal, vegetation damage and significant impacts on wildlife. As a growing number of skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, and telemarkers venture out in the snow for day or overnight trips, the need to practice Leave No Trace winter techniques is now greater than ever. Fortunately, for recreationists, many of the usual concerns about the impacts of three-season backcountry use are of little concern in winter. Although growing, the visitor numbers are lower than those of other seasons, and soil and vegetation are often covered under a thick layer of snow which greatly helps to minimize impacts.
Below are 4 tips to minimize your impact when exploring beautiful winter opportunities.
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Dress in layers. In winter, more so than any other season,
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Stay on deep snow whenever possible. Snow deeper
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Use the area’s natural topography. When recreating
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Winter is an especially vulnerable time for wildlife.
dressing appropriately could mean the difference between comfort and despair. Dressing in layers allows you to take off clothing as your body heat increases. If you cross the threshold into sweating, when you stop moving or the sun goes down, that wet clothing will not be good. than 6 inches adequately protects underlying vegetation from trampling. Thus, nearly any surface covered by enough snow is considered “durable”.
in snow covered areas, it’s often challenging to find exposed, soft ground to site and dig a cat-hole. For this reason, packing out solid waste is always the best recommendation. However, this isn’t always possible. In this case, it’s appropriate to dig a snow cat-hole, but be aware that come spring, when the snow melts, that waste will end up resting directly on the surface of the ground. With a topographical map, we can ensure our snow cat-holes aren’t dug in drainages, near water sources, trails, or other areas of concern. P.S. Snow makes a great natural toilet paper alternative.
It is important more so now than any other time to respect an animal’s space, properly secure your food and trash, and observe area closures.
By following the Leave No Trace winter use principles and the simple tips outlined above, outdoor enthusiasts can help to ensure protection of resources and the quality of winter experiences.
the shining star of arkansas Powered by: Extraordinary people, leave no trace thrives along the arkansas river trail
Barbara Emmerson, Frank Santiago, and about a dozen and a half Leave No Trace trainers meet on the first Wednesday of every month at the Whole Hog Cafe in Little Rock, Arkansas. Over brisket and pulled pork, the group strategizes about how to best share Leave No Trace skills and ethics with large groups of kids. They pour over plans and schedules for Leave No Trace training sessions in their region. Skip Clemmons and others from the group talk about how to fund the work, and Rob Stephens coordinates Leave No Trace-related action with the local land management groups. And they seem to be having a good amount of fun making it all happen. This think tank of local volunteers could be the changing face of Leave No Trace. The gritty group of volunteers that work to spread the Leave No Trace gospel along the Arkansas River Trail and surrounding area, as well as the rare public/private partnerships that have formed to protect it, comprise a unique, inspirational story demonstrating Leave No Trace at its best. Arkansas and Leave No Trace In the early 1980’s, the longtime director of the Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department, Julius Breckling, had a vision to link a chain of
parks together along the river. Now, over 30 years later, the Arkansas River Trail, a “trail of parks” along the river is completed. The cooperation and diverse group of stewards and government groups along the trail is an exceptional story of Leave No Trace gone right. And Leave No Trace volunteers appear to be the tipping point. The Arkansas River Trail is located in Pulaski County in central Arkansas, and runs through both Little Rock and North Little Rock. The original trail was a 16-mile loop, and with the recently completed Two Rivers Park Bridge, the trail now extends 88 miles. The Trail parallels the river, stretching from the Clinton Presidential Library west through the Bill Clark Wetlands, connecting 38 parks, six museums and 5,000+ acres of federal, state and local parklands before ending at Pinnacle Mountain State Park. It is designed to accommodate a variety of recreational use — biking, hiking, running, dog walking, angling, birding, and more. The trail offers breathtaking scenery and opportunities to observe blue herons, quail, mallards, scissortail flycatchers, hawks and deer in their natural habitats. The Arkansas River Trail project came about because the region’s residents desired more recreational opportunities, demonstrated by a sharp increase in visitation to existing recreational amenities found in central Arkansas. As a result, significant impacts, both resource and social, associated with increased visitation and recreation occurred. The majority of the region’s population lives in or near urban and suburban areas, and most residents in these areas recreate close to home – in areas considered frontcountry. Recreation-related impacts (e.g. user conflict, undesignated off-trail travel, litter, spread of invasive species, vandalism, pet waste, etc.) needed to be effectively managed in order to provide quality recreational opportunities now and in the future.
Leave No Trace Executive Director Dana Watts presents Arkansas volunteers, Barbara Emmerson and Frank Santiago with Innovation Awards for their Leave No Trace work with youth during an opening Hot Spot reception in early October.
While agencies, land managers and municipalities in central Arkansas had done much to improve recreational opportunities, they recognized a critical need for Leave No Trace education along the Arkansas River Trail. In 2011, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics was brought into the fold. The Center supported multiple groups, from municipal and state land agencies to the established Leave No Trace group of volunteer trainers, in instituting formal, effective Leave No Trace programming along the Arkansas River Trail. After evaluation and consultation, the Center helped these groups, with significant leadership from Leave No Trace State Advocate and volunteer Rob Stephens and a network of others, to put together a comprehensive program that spanned the trail. This year The Center named Pinnacle Mountain State Park, along the trail, as one of its 12 Leave No Trace Hot Spots this year. In early October, the Center spent a week training volunteers, working with youth programs, rallying the Arkansas River Trail community, and celebrating the work and accomplishments to further Leave No Trace education along the awardwinning trail. The Little Rock story was so compelling that the Leave No Trace Board of Directors also descended on Little Rock during Hot Spot week to celebrate the extraordinary work of Leave No Trace volunteers in the Arkansas community. The Board had an opportunity for handson participation with this premiere Hot Spot, to meet with advocates like Emmerson, Clemmons and Santiago, and assist with their work with young kids from the area. The spirit and energy of these volunteers and their active collaboration with diverse groups along the Arkansas River Trail represents Leave No Trace at its best. It is a functioning model at its finest, and it could embody the future of Leave No Trace working successfully in communities that span the country.
Shawn Turner, Leave No Trace Board Member, works with kids as part of the Pinnacle Mountain Hot Spot. Turner and other Leave No Trace representatives were on hand to support local volunteers with Leave No Trace programs for elementary school children from the Little Rock region.
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the fAntAstic Updates you need to know right now
environmental leaders gather
The Center was one of more than 80 national organizations that gathered in Washington DC in September to advance the work of the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC), positioning 21CSC as a solution to key conservation issues facing our country. The Center has partnered with 21CSC to better integrate resource conservation service efforts into the Hot Spot Program, both engaging young adults and providing vital services for the Center’s land management partners.
leave no trace is everywhere Through an extensive inventory of 810 key federal and state land management agencies, the Center is working to definitively determine where Leave No Trace education is actively in play. Highlights of areas using Leave No Trace: BLM 10 of 10 Regions; National Parks—51 of 58 Parks; USDA Forest Service—116 of 128 National Forests and 8 of 10 Regions; US State Park Systems (by state)—38 of 50.
2015 hot spots = completed All 12 of the 2015 Hot Spots have been completed: Saguaro National Park, AZ; Travis County Parks, TX; Point Reyes National Seashore, CA; Tillamook State Forest, OR; Mount Bierstadt, CO; Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness Area, MI; Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, NC; Mount St Helens, WA; McAfee Knob, Appalachian Trail, VA; Ventana Wilderness, CA; Pinnacle Mountain State Park, AR; and Bayou Teche Paddle Trail, LA.
Trash it in california During the Yosemite Facelift, the Leave No Trace team joined 1,467 volunteers to pack out 14,762 pounds of trash. Additionally, the team helped pack out 150 pounds of trash from Ventana Wilderness during the Leave No Trace Hot Spot week there. The team also provided Leave No Trace programs about how to help mitigate future trash impacts in both locations.
leave no trace
TECH TIPS Did you know that in 2015 alone the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers have visited 118 parks, spent 134 nights sleeping under the stars, and have cooked 252 meals on a camp stove? These outdoor experts know just about every Leave No Trace trick in the book; here are Leave No Trace tech tips perfect for your next adventure.
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To decrease the likelihood of wildlife being attracted to frontcountry campsites, be sure to dispose of your dirty dishwater properly. Use the restroom facilities that are available, dump your dishwater in the pit toilet or flush it down the toilet. Check the rules and regulations of the campground and make sure there are no large food particles.
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Baby wipes aren’t just for babies…dry out a handful of wipes and pack them in your hygiene kit for backpacking trips. After a long sweaty day of hiking, wet the wipes and wah-lah! a soapy wash cloth to clean your face, pits, and feet…in that order. Be sure to choose an unscented brand and always pack away all smellables when in bear country.
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Gourmet coffee is very do-able in the backcountry; by using pour-over coffee you will brew a delicious beverage to start your day. The pour-over paper filters come in convenient sizes for camping and backpacking as well as make proper disposal of coffee grounds a breeze. Keep your caffeine cleanup easy with pourover coffee.
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No need to forgo feeling clean while you are camping. Stay fresh and keep wildlife wild by using unscented lotions, deoderants, body washes, shampoos, etc. Remember to opt for the unscented!
2016 Hot Spot Announcement! Now in its sixth year, the Leave No Trace Hot Spot program and events are designed to raise awareness about natural areas around the country facing the threat of irreversible environmental damage. With more than 11 billion visits to public lands each year in the U.S., many outdoor areas across our nation are negatively impacted by recreational use. We are literally loving our land to death. The reason is usually not malicious or intended to harm nature and wildlife; it’s simply lack of knowledge or skills. The end result, however, is usually the same: litter, invasive species, habituated wildlife, dog waste, trail and campsite erosion, water sources polluted with human waste, filthy campfire rings, and more. Leave No Trace calls these areas Hot Spots, or areas that are damaged but can recover again with a motivated community and specific Leave No Trace training. The training includes special events for local officials, land managers, volunteers and the general public conducted by expert Subaru/ Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers. Identifying and working with Hot Spots and their communities helps us move rapidly towards recovering and protecting the places we cherish for generations to come.
Kern river
Lake Tahoe Region
Kernville, CA
Lake Tahoe, CA
Southern appalachian trail
San juan national forest
Neels Gap, GA
Durango, CO
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Devil’s bath tub, george washington & jefferson national forests
March 14th - 21st
March 21st - 28th
Las Vegas, NV
March 28th - April 4th Patapsco valley state park
Ellicott City, MD April 11th - 18th
Breaks Interstate Park
Breaks, VA
April 18th - 25th
June 6th - 13th
July 11th - 18th
Norton, VA
August 8th - 15th delano park
Decatur, Alabama September 19th - 26th
Fayette County Nature Area
Atlanta, Georgia October 17th - 24th
Photo taken at 2015 Linville Gorge Hot Spot in Marion, NC. Subaru/ Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, Steph Whatton & Andy Mossey and volunteers from Wild South removed invasive species at the summit of Table Rock Mountain.
Photo taken at Cub Scout Adventure Day in Oskaloosa, Kansas. Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer, Pat Beezley teaches cub scouts the ‘Rule of Thumb’ on how to keep a safe distance from wildlife.
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education Posts In addition to being excellent educators, Leave No Trace’s Traveling Teams also create the best backcountry blog posts! This month, the Teams picked their favorite educational blog posts to share with fellow outdoor advocates.
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A Fed Bear is a Dead Bear Team West, Jenna and Sam wanted to brush up on some knowledge before heading into bear country during the 2015 Yosemite Facelift. Check out the flipbook that they put together to learn how to be respectful of wildlife in their natural environment.
Buy it Where You Burn it Before you enjoy your next campfire with friends and family, Pat and TJ want you to make wise choices about where you get your wood from and where you are burning it. Take a look at their blog post to learn why it is important to burn it where you buy it.
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Dinner to Dish Duty, Digging the Dirty Doing your dishes at camp can involve quite a bit of thought and planning. Check out Steph and Andy’s blog post to learn about a 3 step process that will make your next camp dish duty a breeze!
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Respecting the Dunes East Central Team, Katelyn and Blake hash out some helpful hints on how to maintain a fragile ecosystem in a popular recreation area. Check out their video to see more!
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
with Leave No Trace Community Partners
The Adirondack Mountain Club has been protecting wild lands and waters, completing trail construction and maintenance, and educating others since 1922. The ADK encourages others to be involved in their mission through educational programs, workshops, and stewardship.
Q: Our Leave No Trace partnership will... A: provide a sense of fulfillment for being part of a larger effort.
Q: Perfect Day: A: Mountain biking; breakfast; visit the farmers’ market; paddle to, climb, and eat lunch on Long Pong Mountain; go for a swim; get Donnelly’s Ice Cream; dinner outside with friends; falling asleep while stargazing.
Q: How do you get from point A to point B? A: The best case would be a combination of hike, bike, paddle, and ski.
Q: Most forgotten Leave No Trace principle: A: Leave what you find
Leave No Trace Community Partners – businesses, organizations, colleges, universities, non-profits, agencies and others whether directly involved in the outdoors or not, that hold conservation, education and community as core values. Community Partners around the country can play a significant role in the conservation of our shared natural resources, and are vital in sharing and delivering Leave No Trace education, outreach, and training.
Green River Preserve is a unique co-ed summer camp located on a large wildlife preserve in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. Young campers at Green River Preserve take time to unplug from technology and gain an appreciation for themselves, the envrionment, as well as their peers. Q: Why Leave No Trace? A: Leave No Traces aligns perfectly with the mission and goals of our summer camp and expeditions program.
Q: Proudest accomplishment as an organization: A: 2014 invitation to the White House Champions of Change: Engaging the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders - we went! Q: Our Leave No Trace partnership will... A: provide outdoor ethics and a moral compass for our campers. Q: Favorite memory outside: A: Every memory outside! Being outside is the heart and soul of our camp and our family.
PRO SHOP SALE The NEW #LeaveNoTrace shirt is on sale through December! The concept of Leave No Trace has been around for 50 years - keep it simple with one of our newest designs! Made with cotton and polyester, this comfy shirt is sure to be the one that you reach for. Pick up a new shirt before the sale is over!
#LEAVENOTRACE SHIRT regularly $22.00, now $16.50 Click the picture to find them online!
Education near YOU The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers are conducting the following events across the country this season. Find out more about how you can get involved by checking out the event calendar. Arizona:
Mississippi:
Arkansas:
North Carolina:
- Pima Canyon Trailhead, Phoenix, Nov. 23
- KIPP Delta College Prep. School, Helena, Nov. 16 & 18
California:
- Clif Bar, Emeryville Dec. 3 - The North Face Endurance Challenge, San Francisco, Dec. 5
Louisiana:
- Episcopal School of Acadiana, Broussard, Nov. 30 - Great Harvest Bread Homeschool Students, Lafayette, Dec. 1
- BSA Yacona Area Council, Randolph, Nov. 14
- The North Face, Charlotte, Nov. 8
South Carolina:
- Kings Mountain National Military Park, Blacksburg, Nov. 22 - Stall High School, North Charleston, Nov. 30 - James Island Middle School, Charleston, Dec. 2 - Sullivan’s Island Elementary School, Sullivan’s Island, Dec. 3
Texas:
- Fall Seeds, San Antonio, Nov. 12 - Farm Day at Mission San Juan, San Antonio, Nov. 14 - Owl Prowl, San Antonio, Nov. 14 - Mitchell Lake Audobon Center, San Antonio, Nov. 15 - Baylor University Merit Badge College, Waco, Nov. 21 - Junction High School, Junction, Dec. 1-2 - Junction Elementary School, Junction, Dec. 3-4 - Christmas at the Ranch, Junction, Dec. 5 - South Llano River State Park, Junction, Dec. 6
Virginia:
- Randolph Elementary School, Crozier, Dec. 7