Leaving No Trace in Utah

Utah is a beautiful state that offers a variety of recreational opportunities.  Whether you enjoy hiking, mountain biking, river running, or winter sports, you can find fun in the outdoors from most major cities.  We travelled across the state offering workshops and outreach in many different locations.  We started down in southwestern Utah at the St. George Sportsman's Warehouse.  We hosted a workshop for a group of boy scouts and their leaders.  The group started the workshop by playing a round of Minimum Impact Match.  The group really enjoyed the interactive lesson on ways to plan ahead and prepare for a trip outdoors.  This was a great opportunity for the scouts to ask a lot of questions, as they were preparing for a weekend backpacking trip to the mountains.  After St. George, we drove north to Provo and Midvale for two more workshops later that week.  Our final stop was at Cabela's in Lehi.  Although we did not have a formal workshop, we were able to reach hundreds of people at our booth.  The customers enjoyed Leave No Trace trivia and the game How Prepared Are You?  Planning Ahead and Preparing for a trip outdoors is the best way to ensure fun and safety, as well as minimizing avoidable impacts on your trip.  Before your next outdoor adventure, be sure to take the time to plan for your trip and expect the unexpected.  

Safe Travels...

~Tracy and Kate, e-tour 2008

Relay Madness at Black Bear Lake

We spent the day at Black Bear Lake Day Camp in Clarksburg, NJ.  This is an exciting way for kids to spend the lazy days of summer.  Activities include swimming, fishing, arts and crafts, sports, laser tag, and of course, camping and outdoor skills.  We had the opportunity to work with 8 groups of campers ranging in age from 6-12. The Leave No Trace Relay Race was a huge hit.  The campers really enjoyed the hands-on approach to learning the principles of Leave No Trace.  When we asked each group what they learned during the activity, the most common response was "the rule of thumb".  Respecting wildlife is an important part of experiencing the outdoors, after all, we are visiting their home.  Using the 'rule of thumb' is simple- start by extending your arm directly in front of you and give the animal a thumbs up.  Then close one eye and try to cover the animal with your thumb.  If you can completely cover the animal, then you are a safe distance away from the animal.  By using the rule of thumb, you will ensure safety for both you and the wildlife.  Remember to never feed, follow, or chase wildlife!

Safe Travels...

~Tracy and Kate, e-tour 2008

Dick's Outdoor Adventure Tour-Danvers, MA

Dick's Outdoor Adventure Tour in Danvers, MA marked the final days for the e-tour team in New England.  The weather was perfect for any outdoor adventure all weekend long.  We were thrilled to have Dan LeRose, the National Account Manager for Coleman Outdoor Products, join us at the event.  Dan provided a wealth of knowledge on all things Coleman and demonstrated the high-speed grilling capabilities of the Coleman Road Trip grill.  He is a master on the grill!  

The people of Danvers were excited to learn about Leave No Trace skills and ethics.  We had the opportunity to chat with a lot of folks, including boy and girl scouts and an Eagle Scout who was a master when it came to "Bear Canister Trivia".  The kids loved the Leave No Trace Scavenger hunt, as the adults enjoyed a fun game of "How Long Does It Last".  We had lengthy discussions on the importance of disposing of waste properly and recycling.  Do your part to keep our lands beautiful by learning and following the seven principles of Leave No Trace.  

Good Bye New England!  Safe Travels...

~Tracy and Kate, e-tour 2008

Dick's Outdoor Adventure Tour-Springfield, MA

We had a great 4th of July weekend at the Dick's Outdoor Adventure Tour in Springfield, MA.  People were excited to be picking up their gear to kick off a summer of fun!  We encountered many outdoor enthusiasts, especially one family that hung out with us at our booth and played a variety of Leave No Trace games and activities.  The family had never heard of Leave No Trace but they immediately understood why Leave No Trace is important and how it can be easily applied to their outdoor adventures.  The family enjoyed to event so much that they came back on Sunday to do it all again.  Come check us out next weekend in Danvers, MA for our final meeting with the Dick's Outdoor Adventure Tour.

Safe Travels...

~Tracy and Kate, e-tour 2008

Dick's Outdoor Adventure Tour-Michigan

The Leave No Trace e-tour joined forces with Dick's Outdoor Adventure Tour again this weekend in Grandville, MI.  If you have never experienced a Dick's Sporting Goods Outdoor Adventure Tour, this is truly an event for the family!  Whether you enjoy paddling, peddling, camping, or fishing, this event has what you need to be planned and prepared ahead for your next outdoor adventure.  We set up our booth inside the Ultimate Campsite and provided an exciting scavenger hunt for the kids around the footprint.  We also played an activity we call "pick it up".  This activity involves placing empty water bottles around the event tagged with a message to return the bottle to the Leave No Trace booth if found.  It was a great way to introduce people to the principle of Dispose of Waste Properly.  The activity even encouraged a few kids to pick up other trash they found in the footprint of the event.  With over 2.5 million plastic bottles used every hour in the US, it is important to Trash Your Trash, or even better, recycle it!  We will meet up in the tour again in Erie, PA.  Until then...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

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