Leave No Trace

I attending a short training session last  night given by Jim Jenkins on Leave No Trace principles. These have been adopted and endorsed by BSA as the way to value our wilderness and preserve it for generations to come.

This concept is so important to BSA that they have designated the Leave No Trace trainer as an official youth leadership position for qualifying for the Eagle rank.

The seven main principles, or features, of LNT are:

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Fire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

I will not go into detail here on each of these. You can check them out at the Leave No Trace website, or Jim’s excellent blog at Hair of The Bear.

The are important issues that are not only relevant to camping and wilderness but to our everyday lives. As we try to live providently we need to remember who we are and where we are and be good stewards of our earthly home.