The purpose of the Project Leave No Trace program is to reduce the amount of impact being caused in Wilderness areas by creating a network of Boy Scout, Girl Scout and other youth group experts who practice and teach minimum impact hiking and camping skills….to "Leave No Trace."
Project LNT was initiated in 1993 as Scouting Ahead and is supported by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), The Mountaineers, Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest, North Cascades National Park, the Washington Wilderness Coalition, Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, and local Boy and Girl Scout Councils. Since its inception, over 600 troop leaders and approximately 10,000 Scouts have participated in the Project LNT program.
Project LNT was developed by a core team of representatives from each of the partner organizations; it provides clear, easy to use training tools and was designed specifically to meet the needs of volunteer youth leaders. It is easily adapted to other geographic regions and groups. We continually receive requests for the program materials from land management agencies and Scout Councils around the nation as well as other countries. Project LNT is in the process of moving more information onto the web so it is even more accessible to youth groups interested in Leave No Trace.
The Project LNT program features three components:
- The Project LNT Workshop
Youth leaders are introduced to the Project LNT program, the principles of Leave No Trace, the need for minimum impact skills, and a wildland ethic. The goal of the workshop is to challenge leaders to make a commitment and train their youth groups to Leave No Trace. Each participant of the workshop is given a copy of the Project LNT Manual, entitled "Project LNT -- A Leader's Guide to Teaching and Learning LNT.
- Troop/Group Training
Once a leader learns the concepts and takes on the Leave No Trace challenge, he or she trains their group. The manual provides activities and techniques to teach the principles and skills of Leave No Trace.
- Leave No Trace Practical Test (Certification Event)
A Leave No Trace Certification Event is offered annually in April or May to recognize those groups and individuals that understand Leave No Trace skills and have adopted them as their own. This fun, rigorous outdoor event is the highlight of the Project LNT program. Youth, adult leaders and volunteers from partner organizations work and play together, establishing relationships that last well beyond this event. In order to "pass" the test, receive a patch, and become certified as Leave No Trace experts, the youth must demonstrate their grasp of the skills by meeting strict written and practical standards.
