Leave No Trace for the Boy Scouts of America A National Education Program Designed to Teach Stewardship, Land Ethics, and Outdoor Skills on Public Lands and Outdoor Skills on Public Lands Bureau of Land Management U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Park Service U.S. Forest Service National Outdoor Leadership School Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

Leave Nothing But Footprints Take Nothing But Memories Kill Nothing But Time "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise." 1949, A Sand County Almanac – Aldo Leopold

Why Leave No Trace? Wilderness recreation visitor days 7 million in million in million in 2000 National Park Service visits 33 million in million in million in 2000 Recreation projections 13.5 million backpackers in million day hikers in 2005 to 90 million in million car campers in 2005 to 70 million in 2050

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare 2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces 3. Dispose of Waste Properly 4. Leave What You Find 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts 6. Respect Wildlife 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors The Seven Principles of Leave No Trace for BSA – Scouts, Venturing

1. Plan Ahead 2. Stick to Trails 3. Manage Your Pet 4. Leave What You Find 5. Respect Other Visitors 6. Trash Your Trash The Six Principles of Leave No Trace for BSA – Cub Scouts

Before You Venture Into The Wild Plan Ahead and Prepare –Planning Powwow circle with the group Formal checklist and review Weekend LNT Awareness class (should be 2-4 Hrs to have sufficient time for interactive fun) –Preparation is mental and physical: Is the group ready for an LNT outing? Does everyone have the right gear? Are you ready to guide an LNT outing ?? (I didn’t say lead an outing since Scouting is youth-led and the outing should be led by your troop or group leadership under your guidance) –Is your group planning to complete LNT Awareness? Adults must understand LNT Awareness Requirements first Outing should only focus on LNT not be a merit badge campout

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare – Identify and record the goals (expectations) of your trip –Every trip into the outdoors MUST be planned –Every trip into the outdoors MUST have a specific purpose Identify the skill and ability of trip participants –Select destinations that match your goals, skills, and abilities –Plan trip activities to match your goals, skills, and abilities Gain knowledge of the area you plan to visit from land managers, maps, and literature –Terrain –Regulations/restrictions –Private land boundaries –Group size (does it meet regulations, trip purpose and Leave No Trace criteria?) Choose equipment and clothing for comfort, safety, and Leave No Trace qualities. –Weather –Visibility – can (or should) we wear Camouflage gear? If there is hunting nearby, do we need Blaze Orange – or should we stay out of that area? –Average hiking speed of group and anticipated food consumption (leftovers create waste which leaves a trace!) Evaluate your trip upon return note changes you will make next time. –Start a group LNT journal – and share your experiences

1. Discuss with your leader or parent/guardian the importance of the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines 2. On three separate outings, practice the frontcountry guidelines of Leave No Trace 3. Boys in a Tiger Cub den complete the activities for Achievement 5, Let's Go Outdoors Boys in a Wolf den complete Requirement 7, Your Living World Boys in a Bear den complete Requirement 12, Family Outdoor Adventures Boys in a Webelos den earn the Outdoorsman activity badge 4. Participate in a Leave No Trace-related service project 5. Promise to practice the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines by signing the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Pledge 6. Draw a poster to illustrate the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines and display it at a pack meeting 7. Discuss with your den's Cub Scouts or your pack's leaders the importance of the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines NOTES: 1, 3, 5, 6 and 7 can all be completed in a weekend LNT Awareness Class 2 and 4 should be documented in you group’s LNT Journal to help guide future outings Cub Scout LNT Awareness Award Requirements

1. Recite and explain the principles of Leave No Trace 2. On three separate camping/backpacking trips demonstrate and practice the principles of Leave No Trace 3. Earn the Camping and Environmental Science merit badges 4. Participate in a Leave No Trace-related service project 5. Give a 10-minute presentation on a Leave No Trace topic approved by your Scoutmaster 6. Draw a poster or build a model to demonstrate the differences in how to camp or travel in high-use and pristine areas NOTES: 1, 5, 6 are the only Boy Scout Requirements that can be completed on a LNT Awareness Class or on a weekend hike/camp trip (and 1 part of Req. 2) Summer camp is a great opportunity – they can finish 3 and 4 and do 5 if they are also completing Communications Merit Badge Boy Scouts LNT Awareness Award Requirements

1. Recite and explain in your own words the principles of Leave No Trace and discuss how an ethical guideline differs from a rule 2. On three separate camping/backpacking trips with your ship or crew, demonstrate and practice the Leave No Trace skills appropriate to the trip 3. Earn the Camping and Environmental Science merit badges (or do No.3 under the Scouter requirements) 4. Participate in a Leave No Trace-related service project that reduces or rehabilitates recreational impacts. Discuss with your ship or crew which recreational impacts were involved with the project 5. Give a 10-minute presentation on a Leave No Trace topic approved by your unit leader to a Scouting unit or other interested group. Teach a Leave No Trace-related skill to a Scouting unit or other interested group NOTES: 1, and 5 are the only Requirements that can be completed during a LNT Awareness Class, unless you do the alternate for Req. 3 This follows the concept that a Venture Crew is focused on group activities outdoors Venturing LNT Awareness Award Requirements

1. Recite and explain the principles of Leave No Trace 2. On three separate camping/backpacking trips demonstrate and practice the principles of Leave No Trace 3. Share with another Scout Leader/Advisor your understanding and knowledge of the Camping and Environmental Science merit badge pamphlets 4. Actively assist (training, advice, and general supervision) a Scout / Venturer in planning, organizing, and leading a service project related to Leave No Trace 5. Assist a minimum of three Scouts/Venturers in earning the Leave No Trace Awareness Award 6. Plan and conduct a Leave No Trace awareness session for Scouts, Venturers, Scouters, or an interested group outside of Scouting NOTE: LNT Awareness for Adult Leaders is a little more difficult than the youth requirements 1, 3, 5, and 6 can be completed by arranging and participating in an LNT Awareness Weekend Class The Awareness Class can also be a Friday Night session before a LNT Hike/Camp weekend Scouter and Advisor LNT Awareness Award Requirements

References Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics ( ) Leave No Trace Publications: Hang Tags Outdoor Skills & Ethics Series Pamphlets PEAK Pack PEAK began as a partnership program between the Center for Outdoor Ethics and REI in 2001 PEAK educates youth ages 6-12 about Leave No Trace through hands-on activities The PEAK program can be purchased or borrowed from the Center or is available through the “Packing with PEAK” grant Promoting Environmental Awareness in Kids

National Park Service – They have Environmental Interpreters available and can arrange Service Projects. Go to their website or contact local offices for restrictions in areas that you intend to visit as part of planning and preparation (let the youth assist in this) Bureau of Land Management – They’re the government and they’re here to help… – not as much youth content as other agencies U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – FWS does a lot of really cool things focused on Endangered Species, Fisheries, Hunting, Conservation, Duck Stamps, Coastal Waterways, etc. Definitely a Website worth visiting. Also listed are award programs for Scouts sponsored by FWS. Environmental Protection Agency – Very active in environmental protection activities nationally and at the local level Indiana Region 5 Web Site - U.S. Forest Service - Smokey the Bear says ”Only YOU can prevent forest fires” Today the Forest Service promotes a strong and convincing case for getting our youth back into the outdoors as caring stewards for the land.

LNT Indiana Community Website - This sites links to the LNT Blog, Traveling Trainer information and Trainer/Master Educator training dates in Indiana Doug Wagoner, Lanesville, IN State Advocate - Trainer courses Leave No Trace Trainer Course | Camptown Inc., Indianapolis, IN When: May 2nd & 3rd, 2009 Where: Indianapolis, IN/Morgan Monroe State Forest Cost: The fee is $90 and includes meals, transportation to the trailhead, team and personal equipment, all classroom materials, a LNT starter packet, and your first year LNT dues meals. Description: Become a Leave No Trace Trainer. In this two day hands on course you will learn the 7 principles of Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics. You will learn how to communicate the skills to others and practice the principles during your overnight backpacking trip. Instructor: Don Schafer, Master Educator & Executive Director of Camptown, Inc. Contact: Don Shafer Register: click on Register Online. Indiana Resources for LNT