Leave No Trace
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==Respect wildlife== | ==Respect wildlife== | ||
| + | *Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them. | ||
| + | *Never feed animals! Feeding animals can alter their feeding behaviors, making them prone to loss of food and predators. Animals can become dependent on humans for food. | ||
| + | *Store rations and food securely. | ||
| + | *Control pets at all times. If possible, leave them at home. | ||
| + | *Avoid wildlife during sensitive times. | ||
| + | **Mating season | ||
| + | **Nesting | ||
| + | **Raising young | ||
| + | **Winter | ||
| + | |||
==Be considerate of other visitors== | ==Be considerate of other visitors== | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 12:31, December 22, 2007
| Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. |
Contents |
- For the Leave No Trace award, see Leave No Trace (Award).
Overview
Leave No Trace is an outdoor code of ethics. The principles of Leave No Trace are as follows:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impact
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Plan ahead and prepare
Some things you will want to plan and prepare for before you leave on a trip are as follows:
- Check the weather forecast
- Make sure you know the rules and regulations of the area
- Know the anticipated food consumption
- Make a meal plan
- Make a duty roster
- Identify your trip's goal
- Make sure you have brought the essential outdoor tools
- Know the ability level of your unit's members
Travel and camp on durable surfaces
Prepare corrcetly for different types of terrain.
- Rock, gravel
- Very durable
- Can tolerate repeated trampling
- Snow
- The effect of trampling is temporary, making it a good surface
- Make sure you have dressed correctly
- Vegetation
- Vegetation varies in sturdiness
- Select areas with sparse vegetation
- Desert puddles/mud holes
- Do not walk through these. Water is a precious resource in the desert.
Dispose of waste properly
- Do not bury trash!
- Strain dishwater and broadcast the strained water over a wide area at least 200 feet from the nearest water source.
Leave what you find
- Preserve the past! Give others the save opportunity you had to find things.
- Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them.
- AVOID INTRODUCING NON-NATIVE SPECIES.
- Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
Minimize campfire impact
- Campfires can leave a lasting impact on the environment.
- Use a lightweight stove for cooking
- Use a candle lantern for light.
- Where fires are permitted, use established fire areas.
- Keep fires small, use only sticks that can be broken by hand.
- Burn all wood to ash, put out campfires completely, then scatter cooled ashes.
- BURN ONLY WOOD!!!
Respect wildlife
- Observe wildlife from a distance. Do not follow or approach them.
- Never feed animals! Feeding animals can alter their feeding behaviors, making them prone to loss of food and predators. Animals can become dependent on humans for food.
- Store rations and food securely.
- Control pets at all times. If possible, leave them at home.
- Avoid wildlife during sensitive times.
- Mating season
- Nesting
- Raising young
- Winter
