Exploring Lake Michigan

We had the opportunity to spend a few days exploring Lake Michigan and the quaint beach town of Saugatuck. This is a beautiful area of the state with pristine beaches and glorious sand dunes.  We hiked in the one of Michigan's 112 state parks at Saugatuck Dunes State Park.  As we approached the lake through the forested dunes, we were awestruck at the sheer magnitude of Lake Michigan and it's 6 quadrillion gallons of water.  After our hike, we headed back to Campit Campground to enjoy the evening by a campfire.  We met many great people here and they were interested in ways they could Leave No Trace.  We successfully put on our first impromptu awareness workshop and got everyone excited about our travels and our cause.  A special thanks goes out to Monica, Vicki, and Pam for a great week at Campit Resort.  Our very first experiences in Michigan have been enjoyable and we look forward to exploring the Upper Peninsula of Michigan next week.  Safe Travels...

~Tracy and Kate, e-tour 2008

Rain, Rain Go Away!

Two storm cells looming over Independence, MO proved to be too fierce for the Bass Pro Family Campout.  The event, which would have introduced beginner camping techniques to families, was unfortunately canceled due to the inclement weather.  Although we did not get camp under the stars, we were able to set up our booth inside the store next to the trout pond.  Outdoor enthusiasts were aplenty.  We encountered one woman who was a recycling fanatic.  She fills 12 recycling bins at her home alone each week!  We introduced her to ways she could protect the areas she enjoys recreating in by teaching her Leave No Trace skills and ethics.  She was pleasantly surprised to learn that she already practiced many of the techniques involved with Leave No Trace.  Despite the weather, we had a great time talking to the kids and families of Independence!  Safe Travels...

~Tracy and Kate, e-tour 2008

Missouri's Natural Springs

We spent the week in Southern Missouri in the Mark Twain National Forest.  It is a beautiful area of the country we had never visited before.  We met some fellow campers who invited us to a natural spring swimming hole deep in the forest.  The water was crystal clear!  We spent the afternoon wading in the water and introduced our new friends to Leave No Trace.  After leaving the forest, we traveled up to Ha Ha Tonka State Park. We encountered a lovely, elderly woman named Rose while hiking to Missouri's 12th largest natural spring.  She was 92 years old and excited to hear about our adventures.  She encouraged us to live life to the fullest because you never know what the future holds!  Thanks Rose.

Safe Travels...

~Tracy and Kate, e-tour 2008

Go Outdoors!

This past weekend marked our first official event!  We spent two days at the Bass Pro Shops Go Outdoors Event in Broken Arrow, OK.  The event included kayak and canoeing demos on Uncle Buck's pond, a fish fry, a rock climbing wall, and a Coleman gear giveaway.  We set up our booth outside the store by the rock climbing wall and provided activities for kids and families to come and enjoy.  The favorite activity of the weekend was the bear canister challenge.  Being in Oklahoma, we were encouraged to change the name from bear canister to "coon can" as there are many raccoons and not many bears living in Oklahoma.  The folks in Broken Arrow were happy to have us and were very interested in learning ways to Leave No Trace...Safe Travels!

~Tracy and Kate, e-tour 2008

Snow? May?

Here it is, May 13, 2008 and we are getting ready to start our summer adventure tomorrow!  We woke up this morning to snow everywhere!  What crazy weather we have here in Golden, CO.  We have had four great days of training up at the Leave No Trace office and are fully prepared to start our journey.  Our first stop on the tour will be in Broken Arrow, OK for the Bass Pro Shops Go Outdoors Event this weekend.  The Subaru is all packed up with our Coleman gear and we are ready to hit the road...Safe Travels!

~Tracy and Kate, e-tour 2008

e-tour 2008

The 2008 Leave No Trace e-tour is hitting the road next week! Stay tuned for more blogs by the e-tour themselves: Kate and Tracy!