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History of the Leave No Trace Program

Explore the origins of Leave No Trace, the role of key organizations, and the shift from regulation to education. Learn about the program's formation, mission, and current partnerships promoting responsible outdoor ethics.

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History of the Leave No Trace Program

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  1. History 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: 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)

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