History & Mission of the Leave No Trace Program

1. History & Mission of the Leave No Trace Program

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

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

4. Leave Only Footprints Take Only Pictures . . .

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

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

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

8. Creation of Leave No Trace, Inc. • Outdoor Recreation Summit in 1993 recommended creation of the non-profit LNT, Inc. • LNT, Inc. was created in 1994 to guide the national program’s development, establish partnerships, distribute educational materials, and conduct fundraising. • Renamed the “Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics” in 2003.

9. National Park Service Bureau of Land Management U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service U.S. Forest Service Leave No TraceCenter for Outdoor Ethics • A non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through education, research, and partnerships. • Partners with federal agencies, manufacturers, retailers and others to promote minimum impact messages.

10. Current Status • 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. • > 1 million budget; staff: 9 permanent staff & 3 teams of traveling educators in 2010. • Funding is primarily derived from corporate manufacturing and retail partners, sales , and memberships.

11. Evolving Focus The Leave No Trace program began with a focus on Wilderness and the federal agencies, but has evolved to encompass backcountry, frontcountry, and urban settings. Frontcountry Backcountry Wilderness

12. Current Status: Training Organizations The following organizations have been authorized to teach the Leave No Trace Master Educator course: • National Outdoor Leadership School • Appalachian Mountain Club • Landmark Learning • Wilderness Educational Association • USFS Ninemile Wildlands Training Center • Boy Scouts of America

13. Current Status: Partners • Leave No Trace partners with a variety of organizations to accomplish its mission: • State Agencies • Local Agencies • Corporations • Non-Profits • Outfitters and Guides • Universities • LNT members (>43,000)

14. The End