Transcript Leave No Trace

Educational Model and the Role and
Function of Educators
Presentation Objectives
 Review how education can lead to the adoption of low
impact behaviors.
 Describe the Leave No Trace educational training
model.
 Describe the role and function of the Leave No Trace
Education Review Committee.
 Describe some of the core Leave No Trace educational
programs.
Leave No Trace: Organizational Focus
Educate, Connect, Protect:
 We educate people about minimum impact skills and
responsible outdoor recreation.
 We connect people to their natural world so that they care
about its future health.
 We protect ecosystems by creating lifelong outdoor stewards.
A Classification of Visitor Actions
that Cause Impact
 Careless – picking wildflowers
 Unskilled – firewood gathering & campfire building
 Uninformed – feeding wildlife
 Unavoidable – trampling along a trail
 Illegal – theft of cultural artifacts
Which actions can education address?
McQuire’s Model of Persuasion
The educational process for altering behavior
Exposure
Attention
Comprehension
Yielding
Visitor is
exposed to an
educational
message
Visitor
processes
the message
Message is
understood
Visitor accepts
the message and
changes their
attitude
Avoidance/Reduction of
Impacts
Behavior
Retention
Resource or experiential
impacts are avoided or
reduced
Visitor behaves in
accordance with
changed attitude
Visitor retains
the message
and attitude
Leave No Trace: Core Values
 LNT is founded on outdoor ethics
whereby a sense of stewardship is
gained through understanding and
connecting with the natural world.
 Practicing the Leave No Trace
principles is the most relevant and
effective long-term solution to
maintaining the beauty, health of,
and access to natural lands.
 LNT is science-based and builds
ethical, pragmatic approaches to
resource protection.
Leave No Trace Research
Social science research
tells us about visitor
perceptions and
behaviors.
Recreation Ecology research tells
us about recreation impacts and
how they can be minimized by
managers and visitors.
Education Review Committee
 The Education Review
Committee (ERC) is a
standing committee of the
LNT Board of Directors.
 The ERC develops, reviews
and revises educational
materials, training programs
and curriculum.
 The ERC ensures that all
educational materials are
consistently and effectively
presented, and are based on
the best research and
outdoor experience.
ERC Membership
 ERC membership is comprised of representatives from
federal, state, and local land management agencies, the
Center, outdoor education organizations, and scientists.
 The ERC brings together
a mix of differing
perspectives, expertise
and experience to develop
and refine the best
available low impact and
educational practices.
Use, Alteration, & Development of
Leave No Trace Materials
 The ERC reviews new and existing educational
material for accuracy and consistency.
 The ERC provides a
peer-review process for
deviations or revisions
of previously approved
low impact practices or
messaging.
LNT Training
Model
Tiered
Training
Structure
Master Educator Course
An intensive 5-day field-oriented
course offered by one of the Center’s
approved course providers.
Trainer Course
A 2-day field course taught by Master Educators.
Awareness Workshop
A 30 min to full-day introductory workshop for the general public.
Current Status: Training Organizations
The following organizations have been
authorized to teach the Leave No Trace
Master Educator course:
 National Outdoor Leadership School
 Appalachian Mountain Club
 Landmark Learning
 Wilderness Educational Association
 USFS Ninemile Wildlands Training
Center
 Boy Scouts of America
 Adirondack Mountain Club
Frontcountry Program
 Frontcountry is defined as outdoor areas that are easily accessible
by vehicle and mostly visited by day users.
 The Center is working with partners across the U.S. to develop
frontcountry programs that help protect these resources and reach
the increasing number of individuals recreating in these areas.
Frontcountry Program Roots
 Approximately 85% of
outdoor visits occur near
urban centers: day hiking,
biking, picnicking,
skateboarding, fishing,
running, dog, walking, car
camping, etc.
 Land managers need the
ability to tailor specific
Leave No Trace information
to more effectively reach
frontcountry audiences.
Frontcountry
Impacts
 Pet waste & management
 Crowding & user group conflicts
 Trespassing, off-trail hiking
 Trash, graffiti, vandalism
Traveling Trainer Program
Subaru provides support and
vehicles for the Traveling Trainer
Program. Traveling Trainers are
teams of field educators who
provide Leave No Trace outreach
and education to diverse
audiences across the country.
Beginning in 1999, this partnership
has allowed the Center to reach
millions of individuals each year.
PEAK: Promoting Environmental
Awareness in Kids
 The program is presented as a
“pack” of six activities.
Additional activities, a Teen
program and materials in
Spanish are also available.
 The PEAK program can be
PEAK began as a partnership
program between the Center
for Outdoor Ethics and REI in
2001.
purchased or borrowed from
the Center or is available
through the “Packing with
PEAK” grant.
 PEAK educates youth ages 612 about Leave No Trace
through hands-on activities.
Leave No Trace e-tour
 The e-tour is a partnership
program between the Center
and Coleman Outdoor Products.
 The e-tour brings hands-on
demonstrations, interactive
activities and LNT education to
retail stores, camps and youthserving organizations.
 The e-tour inspires youth to
get outside while promoting
Leave No Trace practices. The
program focuses heavily on
frontcountry recreation.
State Advocate
Program

More than 45 states have Leave
No Trace State Advocates.

These volunteers coordinate and
conduct training, outreach and
education for the public.

Advocates receive training,
materials and financial
support from the Center.

Tens of thousands are
reached annually through
the State Advocate program.
BSA Council Outdoor Ethics Advocates
 Serves as the local council’s point person for
facilitating Leave No Trace training and ethics for
youth and adults.
 Coordinates with council committees (Training,
Camping, Conservation, Program).
 Responsibilities: Training (developing instructor
corp, organizing courses), Recruiting
(youth/adults for courses), Program Promotion
(lead promotional efforts), Reporting (to Council
and National).
International Programs
The Center has international branch organizations in Canada, Ireland
and Australia and dozens of partner organizations, agencies and
educational institutions around the world. Center staff offer courses
and other training options to the international community.
Leave No Trace
Success Stories
 Leave No Trace reaches an
estimated 10 million outdoor
visitors each year.
 More than 400 organizations
have partnered with the Center
to support Leave No Trace
education and outreach.
 Many educational materials are translated into Spanish to provide
tools for educators working with the rapidly growing Spanish
speaking population visiting public lands.
 Connect Grants for Culturally-Diverse Communities have enabled
the Center to provide educational resources and scholarship funds
to organizations working with multicultural populations.