Leave No Trace is a national organization dedicated to training folks on how to protect the outdoors while enjoying it. They are partners with state agencies such as, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. 

Leave No Trace was officially organized in the early 1990s by the National Outdoor Leadership School and the U.S. Forestry Service. The concepts of what they teach have been around much longer.

Hunter Education Program instructors touch on the Leave No Trace principles during our courses. Unfortunately, we don’t have time to go into much detail as the classes are already 7 or more hours long and packed full of information for the students to absorb.

There are seven principles of Leave No Trace. The first is Plan Ahead and Prepare. We live in an information age. Folks are addicted to cell phones. Those resources are an advantage. Check websites for trail closures and notices before you go. Check the weather forecast (I don’t want to shock anyone, but sometimes they get it wrong, so carry extra gear like raincoats).

The most important thing of the first principle is to tell other people your plan and when you will be back. Give them a call or a text and let them know if the plan changes. Rescuers need to know where to look for you if something bad happens.

The second principle of Leave No Trace is Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces. Stay on trails. Don’t set up your tent on fragile flora.

The third principle is Dispose of Waste Properly. Bring your garbage out. Don’t be afraid to bring out trash left by the jerks that went before you if you can.

The fourth is Leave What You Find. Allow others to experience the beauty of the outdoors without picking a bunch of flowers or carving “John Loves Kim” into a tree.

The fifth principle of Leave No Trace is Minimize Campfire Impacts. Use wood that is small, dry and at a distance from your campsite (200 feet or more is recommended). Use existing fire pits and rings if available, instead of building new ones.

The sixth principle is Respect Wildlife. Don’t feed wild animals. View them quietly from a distance. Don’t harass wildlife.

The seventh and final principle of Leave No Trace is Be Considerate of Other Visitors. Keep your dog on a leash. Don’t block the trail while taking a break.

The seven principles of Leave No Trace are common sense, but we all know what Samuel Clemens (a.k.a., Mark Twain) said about that. Check out the website lnt.org for tons of additional information and fun interactive exercises to prepare for your next adventure.

Let’s all enjoy the outdoors!

John S. Van Etten is the current president of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Inc.