Hello everyone! KTMB staff member and Program Manager (and GREENevada partner), Jaime Souza, here. I recently stepped off the trail in the Grand Canyon National Park, as a newly appointed Leave No Trace Master Educator. I received a scholarship from the Leave No Trace Center for Ethics for a five-day course with the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), backpacking in the vast and beautiful Grand Canyon. It was an incredible experience and advent
ure seeing the Grand Cany0n for the first time, and backpacking around the Horseshoe Mesa off of the Grandview Trail.
What is Leave No Trace?
At the heart of Leave No Trace (LNT) are seven principles for reducing the damage caused by outdoor activities, particularly non-motorized recreation. LNT ethics can be applied anywhere – in remote wilderness, city parks, even in our own backyards – and in all recreational pursuits. LNT principles extend respect and courtesy to other visitors in parks, on trails and in open space areas, as well as to the flora and fauna.
Leave No Trace Center for Ethics Mission
The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics teaches people how to enjoy the outdoors responsibly.
Seven Principles of Leave No Trace for the Front Country
Leave No Trace is often thought of as wilderness ethics, but studies have shown that the majority of outdoor use occurs in open space areas (we have many of these areas in and around the Truckee Meadows), in urban and state parks and in established and accessible campgrounds. In an effort to address the explosive use of America’s “frontcountry” or day-use areas, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics has expanded its educational focus to include principles which are applicable to the local natural places we enjoy on a daily basis and for quick escapes on the weekends.
- Know Before You Go
- Stick to Trails and Camp Overnight Right
- Trash Your Trash and Pick Up Poop
- Leave It As You Find It
- Be Careful With Fire
- Keep Wildlife Wild
- Share Our Trails and Manage Your Pet
Leaving No Trace will help to Keep the Truckee Meadows Beautiful
KTMB will begin to integrate LNT into its programs and outreach. Be sure to look for updates and announcements on KTMB’s social media accounts and the KTMB website on specialized LNT programs, offerings and presentations. My LNT Master Educator Course allows me to offer LNT Awareness Workshops and LNT Trainer Courses for a variety of groups and individuals.
