Leave No Trace - Normandale Community College
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Leave No Trace
Transcript of Leave No Trace - Normandale Community College
Leave No Trace
Leave No Trace, Inc. www.lnt.org
The Leave No Trace educational program was organized in 1991 in
conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service, National Outdoor Leadership
School (NOLS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In 1994, the
non-profit organization Leave No Trace, Inc., developed a partnership with
the U.S. Fish & Wildlife, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and the
Bureau of Land Management, as well as educators, outdoor retailers,
manufacturers, and individuals who share a commitment to protect and
maintain wild and natural areas for everyone to enjoy.
The 7 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 Impact
Respect Wildlife
Be Considerate of Others
Benefits of Applying LNT
Better planning leads to safer trips and
lighter packs
Prevents avoidable impacts, minimizes
unavoidable impacts
Protects the quality of natural
environments and recreation experiences
Avoids or minimizes the need for restrictive
management regulations or use limitations
Plan Ahead & Prepare
• Know regulations and
special conditions for
the area you plan to
visit
Bigelow Preserve, Fire Warden’s Trail
Appalachian Trail, Maine
Plan Ahead & Prepare
• Trail signage offers
valuable information –
Read & Be Advised !
Mt Whitney Trailhead – Permit Regulations
Inyo National Forest, California
Plan Ahead & Prepare
• Educate yourself
about local wildlife
and necessary
precautions required
Deer ticks www.wildmedcenter.com
Plan Ahead & Prepare
Prepare for extreme weather,
hazards and emergencies
Plan Ahead & Prepare
• Organize individual
and group gear –
use your checklist!
Bahia de Los Angeles
Baja, California
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
• “Popular” or “Front Country Areas” include
heavily traveled trails and campsites, usually
including State and County Parks
• “Pristine” or “Back Country Areas” include
remote wilderness areas, often without
designated trails or campsites
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Follow established trails
Half Dome, Cable Climb
Yosemite NP, California
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Avoid walking around
muddy, swampy
areas of the trail,
which causes erosion
and the trail to
become wider
Fire Warden’s Trail, Bigelow Preserve, Maine
Eagle River Trail, Eagle River, Alaska
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Follow trail blazes
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Appalachian Trail, Bigelow Preserve, Maine
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Follow switchbacks
to avoid erosion and
disrupting animal
habitats
Whitney Zone, Sequoia National Park
Cinque Terre Trail, Italy
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Exposed root systems are particularly sensitive to
foot travel and erosion – avoid direct contact!
Left: Giant Sequoia Tree, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite NP, California
Right: Acadia NP, Maine
Travel & Camp on Durable Surfaces
Recognize areas of re-vegetation by avoiding impact
Left: Inside Kileau Crater Center: Lake Maria Right: Avery Col, Bigelow Preserve
Volcanoes NP, Hawaii State Park, MN Previous site of lean-to shelter
Appalachian Trail, Maine
Dispose of Waste Properly
Pack out all leftover food and trash
Dispose of Waste Properly
If you don’t bring
drinking water with
you, use appropriate
water purification
methods.
If it’s “potable”, it’s safe!
Wildcat Campground
Point Reyes Nat’l Seashore
Leave What You Find
“Load your cameras,
not your packs”
Preserve the past –
observe cultural and
historical structures
from a distance
Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park
Big Island, Hawaii
Leave What You Find
Learn about the area
you’re visiting to
increase your
appreciation
Naturalist-led hike
Baja of Mexico
Leave What You Find
Leave rocks, plants &
other natural objects
as you find them
Azaleas, Acadia National Park
Yucca, Maui, Hawaii
Leave What You Find
Appreciate landmarks
from a distance…
… defacing signs
is illegal.
Respect Wildlife
Observe wildlife from a
distance – do not
approach or follow.
Educate yourself about
species in the area.
Coast Trail
Point Reyes Nat’l Seashore
Respect Wildlife
Respect animals
during nesting and
mating seasons.
Use binoculars to
observe wildlife from
a distance.
Sea Turtle
Pu’uhonua O Honaunau
Big Island, Hawaii
Respect Wildlife
Before bringing your pet from home,
check with Park/Federal regulations.
If you choose to bring your pet, learn to
control him/her with commands or a leash.
And by all means, have a poop plan for
your pooch!
Be Considerate of Others
Hikers walking
downhill, horses and
stock animals have
the right-of-way ---
stop at the right side
of the trail and allow
them to pass
Inyo National Forest
Be Considerate of Others
Keep your group size
small… 4-6 maximum
After the summit,
Mt Whitney, California
Be Considerate of Others
Show respect for private landowners, trail crew,
and support native people in the areas you travel
Left: NP Trail Crew at work Right: Honauanu
Half Dome Trail Big Island, Hawaii
Yosemite NP, California
Be Considerate of Others
Children should carry
their own basics…
water bottle, snack,
jacket & wear
bright clothes
Madeline Island, Lake Superior, Wisconsin
NCC Hiking Trail
Thank you for participating in this
Service Learning project!
Please protect the trail and natural
vegetation of the area by educating others
about the Leave No Trace principles.
