Enjoying the weekend?

Hey everyone! The e-tour hopes you had a fun, festive Thanksgiving. We know we did. Here are a few shots from our holiday time that we've been spending in Moab, UT.

After a scenic trail ride Tara whipped up an incredible camp stove style Thanksgiving feast. To answer your question, yes we wore the turkey hats biking (over our helmets of course:)).

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Photo of the Week 11.22.11

Sometimes the images depicted on state flags need a bit of interpretation. Arizona? No explanation needed. Take a look.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

How do you like your Crust?

Thick, thin, stuffed, or Cryptobiotic?

Mark and Tara

YVCA of Southern Arizona

Yesterday and today the e-tour joined the Youth Volunteer Corps of America's Southern Arizona group. Through educational workshops and some down and dirty desert clean up we explored the importance of Leave No Trace in the sensitive desert environment.

Along with staffers from all parts of the country and some dedicated, caring local youth this organization serves its community through a variety of means. Whether helping repair low income housing units, painting murals where venomous graffiti once reigned, or pitching in to collect litter their projects benefit all involved. During our visit the staff broadened their knowledge and practice of getting the messages of the Seven Principles into the hands, hearts and habits of the youth they serve.

Tucson Mountain Park and it's saguaro nation standing at attention proved itself a perfect location for learning and understanding the importance of enjoying the outdoors responsibly.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Photo of the Week 11.15.11

Bighorn Sheep, near Willow Beach, AZ.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Tara and Mark

Nature's Bathtub...

...Minus the soap:) One of the e-tour's favorite ways to spend time between events is to search out some hot springs and soak for a while. Here are photos from our latest pursuit. We'll let you figure out where these were taken and allow you the thrill of discovery too.

As with any trip to a new venue, be sure to do thorough research and 'Know Before You Go'. Talk to the locals, make new friends and always leave the area better than you found it. We call it our "five minute service project". Being a steward to the places you visit is easy. Whether you go there only once, or have been a million times, you can always make a positive impact.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Kid's Kamp

When we met the children at KOA Kid's Kamp we knew we had some camping experts on our hands. Imagine the schooling you'd get spending your summers growing up immersed in the culture of camping. We taught the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace through an intense game of charades and showcased some artistic talents as the youth drew out their ideas about recreating responsibly.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Kamp Green Clean Up!

Yesterday we joined over 100 dedicated volunteers at KOA's Kamp Green Community Partnership Event. Participants helped to clean up a section of Bureau of Land Management property which many are hoping becomes Tule Springs Ice Age Park.

Rich in paleontological diversity, the area had become a victim of littering and illegal dumping. Check out the Tule Spring's website and show your support to protect the land and resources that lie beneath the surface.

Find an opportunity to join a service project on your next trip. It's a fun way to gain local knowledge and meet new people.

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Lasting Impacts:

Conditions in desert environments are extreme, especially when considering the scarcity of moisture. We mentioned in our last blog that litter items left out to their own devices last an incredibly long time, even 'natural' items such newspaper or fruit peels. We often teach students the ingredients for good decomposition. Sunlight, soil, moisture and air, it's in everything we eat and everything we wear. Knowing this and the sensitivity of such specialized ecosystems, all the better to Leave No Trace.

These photos are just a few of the impacts we've seen during our desert travels.

Leaving your mark is overrated.

Tara and Mark

Green Girls!

Tuesday we spent some quality time with Girl Scouts in La Quinta, CA. With placid Lake Cahuilla as a backdrop we discussed how long litter might last if it were left there to decompose. These young ladies were quick to realize that in their community, a desert ecosystem, items last significantly longer than in an environment where more moisture is present. Learning to 'Trash Your Trash' is paramount everywhere, but in dry places even items like newspaper and toilet paper can last years!

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara

Climber's Coffee

Over the weekend the e-tour spent a perfect sunny Saturday morning with campers and climbers at Hidden Valley Campground in Joshua Tree National Park. Caffeine fueled conversation concerning climber ethics was a perfect prelude to people's day out on the rock. This place certifies itself as a veritable climbing mecca, where both complimentary coffee and multiple routes are merely steps from your tent. On hand was Ranger Bernadette Regan, dishing out advice on where to find climbs away from the crowds or for specific skill levels. A cup of joe and advice from a pro, what better way to 'Know Before You Go'?!

Be intentional, not conventional.

Mark and Tara