Picture of the Week 6.4.11

Sunrise over the Chesapeake Bay. Better than coffee:)

Virginia Heights

Compton Overlook

Last week after a short hike in Shenandoah National Park, the e-tour had an amazing evening and delicious bbq dinner with our Virginia State Advocate Laurie Harmon and her husband Randy. The following morning we had the opportunity to introduce the Leave No Trace principles to her Outdoor Education and Leadership class at George Mason University in Manassas, VA. During the lesson, we also had time to play a few activities with her students such as "The Ethics Game" from the TEEN Activity Pack and "Minimum Impact Match" from the PEAK Activity Pack that these aspiring outdoor educators can add to their bag of tricks for future use.

Susan, Dan and Laurie

After the class, Laurie introduced us to Susan and Dan at The EDGE: Mason Center for Team and Organizational Learning who recently received a Leave No Trace Connect Grant. The EDGE has a mission to challenge the members of the global community to better understand themselves, those around them, and their world by using innovative approaches that educate, inspire and empower. We enjoyed a full tour of their facility and wished we had more time in our schedule to enliven our sense of adventure in their daring treetop playgrounds.

The Tower

Connect Grants are primarily focused on providing support and training to people and organizations that work with culturally diverse communities. To learn more and apply click here.

We hope you have the opportunity to get out and challenge yourself this week. Have fun!

Mark and Tara

2011 e-tour team

Urban Strawberry

Life is tough as an urban strawberry. Choose The Right Path, and be sure not to jam up someone else's day!

Mark and Tara

2011 e-tour team

A visit to the Eastern Shore...

...would not be complete without a stop at the Adkins Arboretum, in Ridgely, Maryland. On the advice of some close friends we spent a few hours roaming the gentle paths among acres of native plant species. This fellow nonprofit organization demonstrates the beauty and importance of being careful to 'leave what you find' when traveling to new locales. The spread of invasive species can easily disrupt terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems. For those looking for more information on invasive species in your area, try the National Invasive Species Information Center (NISIC). Here a few shots from our time at the arboretum:

Smelling the flowers...

...a perusing pollinator...

...and reflections in the river.

Mark & Tara

2011 etour Team

Explore Your Parks: Mason Neck State Park, VA

This past Saturday the e-tour team joined their outfitting sponsor The North Face at the first Explore Your Parks event of the season at Mason Neck State Park in Lorton, Virginia. All of the youth at the event enjoyed a hike along the shoreline and had a chance to try out the 'rule of thumb' as they respected the abundant wildlife in the park. In no time, we saw eagles, blue herons, salamanders, and even a marsh turtle along the Bayview Trail.

Don't miss your chance to attend an Explore Your Parks event this summer! See you there.

Soak up the sun.

Picture of the Week 5/22/11

In Washington, D.C. this week, the e-tour was reminded to preserve the past and Leave What You Find.

Ready, set, FLEDGE!

What a beautiful country we live in! Watching fields of greenery, bursting Spring colors, bounding deer, curious raccoons, and stoic raptors is giving us plenty of time to contemplate what an amazing opportunity you have granted us. Yes, YOU! We are able to bring the important messages of responsible recreation and stewardship to youth around the country because of your generous donations and membership to Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. Not a member? Want to sponsor us for a day? You can arrange to give a gift from our sponsorship page.  To those of you who have given already, we cannot thank you enough, and are excited to share our experiences teaching and living Leave No Trace.  We want to hear from all of you, so please share your thoughts and check back often. Everyday is sure to be an adventure.

Mark and Tara
2011 e-tour team