Boy Scouts of America OUTDOOR ETHICS Leave No Trace Camping

Presentation Objectives Knowledge of Leave No Trace and its seven principles. Understanding the importance of Leave No Trace in outdoor activities. Where to locate additional Leave No Trace resources and opportunities for further Leave No Trace training.

Exponential Increases in Outdoor Recreational Visits to Public Lands Wilderness Act of 1964 Exponential Increases in Outdoor Recreational Visits to Public Lands

Outdoor Recreational Visitations Wilderness Recreation Visitation Days 1975 7 Million 1985 15 Million 2000 20 Million National Park Visitations 1950 33 Million 1970 172 Million 2000 287 Million Combined Visitations to Public Lands 2000 Over 900 Million

Elephant in the woods? BSA Estimated Use: 30,000,000 DAYS! BSA should be part of the solution. Are we?

Common perceptions by Federal land management agencies about BSA units on federal land: Kids out of control Too much noise Group sizes too big Camping skills badly out of date Inappropriate play damages the backcountry Don't keep appointments to do service work Completely soak up popular campsites or shelters Unskilled campers using areas that call for expert skills Using inappropriate areas (hi-use, fragile) to train new campers and on and on and on...

IMPACTS IMPACTS IMPACTS IMPACTS IMPACTS

Vegetation Impacts Vegetation loss Spread of non-native species Tree damage

Soil Impacts Soil compaction Soil erosion Loss of organic litter

Wildlife Impacts Disturbance of wildlife Altered behavior Reduced health & reproduction

Water Resource Impacts Turbidity, sedimentation Food scraps, soap, & fecal wastes Animal access points blocked

Social Impacts Crowding Conflicts Noise

Cultural Resource Impacts Theft of artifacts Damage to historic structures Damage to cultural features

Loving our public lands to death! Increased Visitation = Increased Impacts

Regulate Usage? Regulations antagonize the public Enforcement of regulations is difficult and expensive Most impacts are not due to malicious acts

Preservation Ethic

Education Not Legislation U.S. Forest Service National Park Service Education Not Legislation Boy Scouts of America Bureau of Land Management U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

What Is Leave No Trace? (and why BSA chose it) The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics says: Leave No Trace is an national and international program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts when they hike, camp, picnic, snowshoe, run, bike, hunt, paddle, ride horses, fish, ski or climb. The program strives to educate all those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations. Program is organized around the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace. Like Scouting, Leave No Trace aims at character development.

Leave No Trace Video

Principles of Leave No Trace Plan Ahead and Prepare Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces Dispose of Waste Properly Leave What you Find Minimize Campfire Impacts Respect Wildlife Be Considerate of Other Visitors.

Plan Ahead and Prepare

Plan Ahead and Prepare Campers who plan ahead: Can avoid unexpected situations Minimize their impact by complying with area regulations such as observing limitations on group size.

Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces

Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces Rock Gravel Sand Compacted soil, Dry grasses Snow

Travel & Camp on Durable Surface Concentrate Activity In high-use areas Where vegetation is already absent Use existing trails Use designated or existing campsites Keep campsites small

Travel & Camp on Durable Surface cont’d Spread Out In more remote, less-traveled areas When hiking, different paths to avoid creating new trails Disperse tents & cooking activites Move camp daily Always use durable surfaces

Dispose of Waste Properly Sanitation Proper disposal prevent spread of disease and exposure to others.

Dispose of Waste Properly (Pack It In, Pack It Out) Wastewater Strain food particles from dishwater Dispose of dishwater at least 200 feet from water source. Human Waste Catholes 6 to 8 inches deep 200 feet from water, trails, & campsites.

Leave What you Find Allow others a sense of discovery, and preserve the past. Leave rocks, plants, animals, archaeological artifacts, and other objects.

Leave What you Find Minimize Site Alterations Do not dig tent trenches or build lean-tos, tables or chairs. Never hammer nails into trees or use hatchets or saws Replace surface rocks or twigs that you clear from campsite

Minimize Campfire Impacts Chose not to have fire if Wood is scarce High elevation Desert setting Lightweight camp stoves make low-impact camping

Minimize Campfire Impacts If you build a fire: Use existing campfire ring Keep fire small Burn all wood to ash

Respect Wildlife Quick movements and loud noises are stressful to animals.

Respect Wildlife Observe wildlife from afar Give animals a wide berth, especially during breeding, nesting, & birthing season. Store food securely Keep garbage and food scraps away from animals

Be Considerate of Other Visitors. Travel & camp in small groups Keep noise down (leave electronics home) Select campsites away from other groups Travel & camp quietly Colors of clothing & gear blend in Respect private property Leave gates as found (open or closed)

Scouting and Leave No Trace Scouting and Leave No Trace have a long partnership Literature: Boy Scout Handbook, Fieldbook Awards: Cub Scout & Boy Scout Leave No Trace Award Venturing Ranger Award

Scouting Is Moving to the Next Level of Outdoor Ethics Emphasis: Boy Scouts New chapter 7 in Handbook New advancement requirements: Second Class: Know principles First Class: Demonstrate principles New Troop position of responsibility: Leave No Trace Trainer (note: patch is concept draft only) Cub Scouts & Venturing Revised Awareness Awards

What This Partnership Means for the Local Council Leaders will want to learn about Leave No Trace to facilitate youth advancement Youth will want to learn Leave No Trace principles and skills to advance. Youth will want to qualify for Leave No Trace Instructor and Trainer positions

How Leave No Trace Training Is Delivered Leave No Trace Trainers deliver the Leave No Trace Principles and skills to units and individuals. Leave No Trace Master Educators train Leave No Trace Trainers. The Challenge: Training a Trainer requires a minimum 16 hour course Training a Master Educator requires a five day, five night course

BSA Leave No Trace Training Continuum Awareness Workshop In-Unit Training by Youth or Adults Leave No Trace 101 Leave No Trace Trainer Course Leave No Trace Master Educator Course

BSA Leave No Trace Training Continuum Awareness Workshops Goal: Awareness about Leave No Trace Instructor: May be taught by anyone with knowledge, trained individuals preferred Course: Can be any length of time period, with content varying on time and desired coverage Great for Roundtables, Camporees and tailored presentations to units getting ready to go out to field

BSA Leave No Trace Training Continuum In-Unit Training by Youth and Adults Goal: Unit program specific training Instructor: Cub Scouts—unit adult, Boy Scout or Venturer having at least BSA LNT 101, if possible Boy Scouts/Varsity Scouts—youth Instructor (if BSA LNT 101) or Trainer (if LNT Trainer Course) Venturing—typically a youth Trainer (if LNT Trainer Course) Course: Varies by unit needs

BSA Leave No Trace Training Continuum Goal: General introduction to Leave No Trace Instructor: Leave No Trace Trainer Syllabus: BSA Leave No Trace 101 Course Guide, minimum of 3 hours Earn: BSA Leave No Trace Awareness Card Recommended training course for Troop Leave No Trace Instructors, Venturers, and adults responsible for Leave No Trace Awareness Awards and advancement

BSA Leave No Trace Training Continuum BSA Leave No Trace Trainer Goal: Strong knowledge of Leave No Trace principles, ethic and skills; ability to teach others Instructor: Master Educator Syllabus: BSA Leave No Trace Trainer Course Manual, minimum 16 hours course. Earn: Leave No Trace Trainer status Required training for Troop Leave No Trace Trainer position of responsibility or others seeking Trainer status. BSA will accept Trainers taught by other Leave No Trace recognized Master Educators.

BSA Leave No Trace Training Continuum BSA Leave No Trace Master Educator Goal: Comprehensive knowledge of Leave No Trace principles, skills and ethic and ability to teach and motivate others Instructor: Instructors appointed by National Council Syllabus: Leave No Trace Master Educator Handbook and BSA Supplement, minimum of five days/nights. Earn: Master Educator status, membership with Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics BSA will accept Master Educators trained by other providers recognized by Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (NOLS, AMC, WEA, Nine-Mile, etc.)

Additional Resources Official: Semi-Official Frank Reigelman, Director of Outdoor Programs Eric Hiser, Chair, BSA Leave No Trace Task Force www.outdooretnics-bsa.org (BSA Leave No Trace task force website) www.scouting.org Boy Scout Handbook, Fieldbook and Teaching Leave No Trace, No. 21-117 www.lnt.org – website of Leave No Trace Center Semi-Official BSALNTME Yahoo group (contact Eric Hiser)