Campfires have always been a part of Scouting. There is nothing like sitting around the campfire with the guys, laughing, telling stories, or just being mesmerized by the embers as they glow. And just because we practice leave no trace, does not mean that we need not have that experience. We do however need to be aware of the impact that the fire leaves and do all we can to minimize the impact.

Here are some ways we can do this:
First, where available use established fire rings. If rings are not available, pack in a fire pan or build a fire mound.
Second, keep the fires small. I know that Boy Scouts like to have fires that can be seen from the space station, but a small fire produces the same embers and glow and creates a more peaceful setting.
Third, burn only sticks that can be picked off the ground and broken by hand.
and finally, burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter the cold ashes.

Some wilderness area do not allow fires at all. Observe this rule. The rule is in place die to fire danger and to lessen the impact or reduce the damage that has been done.

Minimizing the impact of campfires is not only a principle of Leave no trace, but a great idea for helping preserve our wilderness and protecting it against uncontrolled burns. Burning the sticks that lay on the ground helps the Eco system as it cleans up some unneeded fuels on the ground and it does not take away from the scenic beauty of the wilderness.

Happy Scouting!

The fourth principle of the Leave No Trace outdoor ethic is “Leave what you find”.

For those of you that need another patch…but more importantly, learn and share the Leave no Trace information…

To continue our discussion on Leave No Trace we will talk about the second principle.
Camping and Traveling on Durable surfaces.

DURABLE SURFACE= refers to the ability of a surface or vegetation to withstand wear or remain in stable condition.

Some ways that we can tell what a durable surface looks like is simply by looking at it.
Durable surfaces when selecting a campsite is often confusing. Where to pitch your tent? Well look at dry grass areas and hard ground. Yes, I know it may not be the most comfortable, but you have a sleeping pad and remember our focus is less impact.
Select camp areas that have been established. Even when in the wilderness look for places that others have used. Try not to make new camp sites.
Spread out. This lessens the impact on the ground also.
Durable surfaces on the trail. Rule number 1. STAY ON THE TRAIL. Do not make new trails.
Do not short cut switch backs. This causes unsightly trails and also starts the process of erosion of the hill. Take the extra 20 steps and make the full turn.
Do not leave trail markings for those to follow. These become unsightly too. When traveling in small groups leave your meet points on the map. Discuss rest stops and link up points and plot them on your map. It is the only marker you need and leaves no trace.

If you are heading cross country, choose durable surfaces such as dry grass, rock, gravel, or snow. You impact will be small in these conditions. If you can’t then spread out. Try not to bunch up and “Herd” across an area. The solitude will help you enjoy the wilderness a lot more.

Finding durable surfaces to camp on and travel through is an important part of leave no trace. Often over looked, it sets the tone once you arrive in the wilderness. Going back to Planning ahead, plan for durable areas and trails. This will help you to help our Wilderness areas, parks, forest land, and yeah… even our urban areas.

Happy Scouting!

As the book says, “Proper planning and preparation helps back country travelers accomplish trip planning goals safely while minimizing damage to the land and having fun“.

And that my friends is what it is all about.

As you all know poor planning results in campers having a miserable time and often leads to damage to natural resources. It does not take much research to find stories of numerous campers that have gone into the wilderness ill prepared and without proper planning. They are the news all the time.

So here are some things to consider when planning a trip:

1. Identify and record the goals or expectations of the trip.

2. Identify the skills and ability levels of the participants.

3. Select destinations that match the goals, skills, and abilities of the participants.

4. Seek information about the area that your group plans to visit from land managers, maps, and literature.

5. Check the normal weather patterns for that area. Get projected forecasts for the area and adjust our plans accordingly.

6. Choose equipment and clothing for comfort, safety, and follow Leave No Trace principles.

7. Axes and saws are not needed for collecting and preparing wood for a leave no trace fire. Downed, dead wood is gathered from the ground and broken by hand.

8. Plan trip activities to match the goals, skills, and abilities of the group.

9. Evaluate your trip upon return; note changes to make next time.

That is a sampling of considerations, I am sure you can come up with a few more. Remember, our goal is lessen our footprint and leave the smallest impact possible. When making your list of considerations ask yourself if it passes the impact test. Consider your meal plans, fires, swimming, camp site set up, and garbage. They all have an impact on leave no trace.

Going prepared and properly planned will ensure successful camping experiences as well as leaving no trace.

Happy Scouting!

Most people that enjoy the out doors, that really appreciate what we have in the wilderness area practice some level of leave no trace. While others seemingly take for granite the wide open spaces and figure that someone else will clean up after them, or that their impact will not be that harmful.
The fact is that while we may not be at a danger level in our wilderness, the foot print we leave today may have a lasting impact on how we use it tomorrow. It is for that reason that we need to learn and practice a leave no trace philosophy while getting out there.

To get started it is a good idea just to ask a few questions.

Do we plan ahead for all circumstances and go prepared?

Do we always travel and camp on durable surfaces? Do we know what that means? Do we know what surfaces are not durable?

Do we know how to properly dispose of our human waste and wastewater?

Do we minimize site alterations and leave natural items and artifacts for others to discover?

Do we minimize our campfire impact?

Do we only observe wildlife, or do we disturb them with our actions?

Are we always considerate of other campers?

Do we understand and follow the Leave no trace principles?

I think an honest review of your answers will tell you that you may be close to actively participating in the leave no trace program, but may be falling short in certain areas. That’s ok, its a starting point and a place from which to build.

It is important that Scouts know and understand, not just the verbiage, but why we need the Leave no trace program. It is always a good idea to get them out into the wilderness. Have them sit quietly and look around. Then ask about Leave no trace. Right before their eyes they will see the “WHY” we need it.

I think about it in these terms as it relates to our Troop. We camp a lot. So over the 30 plus nights we camp over the course of a year, what is the impact that we can potentially leave? OK now.. what is the impact that we actually left last year? Can we answer those questions and feel good about our answer. I know that we fall short.

Here is an excerpt from a newsletter I had laying around.

“Okay, I’ll admit it. I have left a trace or two in my day. How about you? Ever throw an apple core thinking “it’s bio-degradable so its okay for the environment, right?” Ever pick some amazing wildflowers to adorn your home only to discover they are never quite as beautiful removed from their natural environment? I’m quite sure I would have thought twice if I was
more knowledgeable. The bottom line- I didn’t fully comprehend how the cumulative actions of many people can diminish our outdoor experience as well as the health of an ecosystem.
I am convinced that most people want to and would “do the right thing” if only doing the right thing was evident and reasonable. I believe that is why Leave No Trace has been and continues to be so well received among outdoor recreationists. The Leave No Trace message asks us to apply common sense and good judgement. Leave No Trace empowers us to care for the places we cherish by equipping us with the basic knowledge we need to make small but ultimately meaningful choices regarding our actions.”

Leave No Trace has become, since the mid 90′s the way we do things in the out doors. To me it is not an hardship, it is simply a way that we can ensure the wilderness we love now will be around for Scouts in the future.

We will be discussing Leave No Trace a lot this year, as I know we can do things much better. Leave No Trace sometimes is just a buzz phrase in Scouting, and many do not really take it for what it really is. You always hear leaders saying “Leave no trace..pick up that trash”. Well if the Scouts were taught better ways of reducing trash, the leaders would not need to remind them as much. We will get into that more later.

So to start.. here are the Principles of Leave No Trace.

Happy Scouting!