Outward Bound Encourages All Summer Outdoor Adventurers to Leave No Trace
Simple tips to help minimize impact of travelers and campers in America's beautiful wilderness
GOLDEN, Colo., April 15th, 2003 – Outward Bound, a national nonprofit adventure organization, encourages everyone who ventures into the wilderness this summer to embrace and practice Leave No Trace principles. These environmentally conscious techniques were created to help inspire responsible outdoor recreation and are a standard teaching within all of Outward Bound’s 750 diverse wilderness courses.
The Leave No Trace principles are simple and prevent irreversible impact. With over 277,299,880 recreational visits made to our national parks in the last year, (National Park Service Visitation report) it is critical to the preservation of these wilderness areas that the nation’s everyday outdoor adventurers incorporate the principles into their activities.
The Leave No Trace principles include: • Plan Ahead and Prepare • Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces • Dispose of Waste Properly • Leave What You Find • Minimize Campfire Impacts • Respect Wildlife • Be Considerate of Other Visitors.
"At Outward Bound we feel all outdoor adventurers have a responsibility to take care of the environment," said Michelle Barnes, VP of Wilderness Programs for Outward Bound USA. "Teaching Leave No Trace principles are a priority for us at Outward Bound because we want to ensure that our student's understand how their decisions and actions directly impact the land and the ecosystems in which we live."
Throughout their 40 year history, Outward Bound USA has taught hundred of thousands of people from all walks of life to travel in the wilderness with minimal impact, to build awareness, appreciation and respect for the nation’s wilderness areas and to ensure that these areas remain preserved for many years to come.
“My hope is not only that our alumni continue to practice Leave No Trace principles, but that they go beyond that and teach other outdoor enthusiasts,” said David Kallenbach, Outward Bound Program Director. “Every person we can teach or encourage to incorporate Leave No Trace into their lives, the larger overall positive environmental impact it will make.”
About Outward Bound USA Outward Bound USA is the Nation's leading, nonprofit adventure-education organization serving and supporting four wilderness schools, two urban centers and a primary and secondary school-reform program. Outward Bound programs emphasize personal growth through experience and challenge in the wilderness, boardrooms and classrooms in the United States and around the world. Students develop self-reliance, responsibility, teamwork, confidence, compassion, environmental and community stewardship in all of the Outward Bound programs and courses. Today, celebrating over 40 years of experiential education with more than 500,000 alumni, Outward Bound USA programs serve more than 60,000 young people and adults each year. To learn about Outward Bound USA, visit www.outwardbound.org or call toll-free 866-467-7640.
For more information about the Leave No Trace organization: www.lnt.org or (800) 332-4100
Media Resources: • Michelle Barnes, Vice President of Outward Bound Wilderness Programs • Outward Bound instructors and alumni • Outward Bound course photography
