What Does "Leave No Trace" Mean?
Friday March 6, 2009
The first thing I do when I arrive at a campsite is to police the area. I always take plastic garbage bags along just for this purpose. The last thing I do before leaving is to police the campsite again. I always leave a clean campsite for the next camper. No campsite should be littered when you first arrive. If the site is really trashed, don't accept it and go back to check in and get another site.
Comments
As an avid outdoorsman and scout leader, my experiences have shown that most people don’t practice ‘Leave no Trace’. Shame on them!
It’s part of my families regular packing and unpacking routine. One idea I always stress to my kids is to leave our camping area better than when we found it.
That’s the first thing they tell you in the cub scouts. But few people follow it. Hunter Cashdollar
Take nothing, but a picture. Leave nothing, but a footprint…. Words to live by.
“Wohelo”
Taz
I always leave my campsite cleaner than I found it. I pick up other peoples ciggy butts and small trash. I dont like when people leave a mess. Keep it clean!
Changing Rules
We scorch our lands; and pollute our waters,
What of our kin; sons and daughters,
Just to meet our demands,
We have scarred; our sacred lands
Sun rises; over the valley,
As I sit and keep the tally,
One bird flying; over yonder,
Two squirrels, singing song,
No sights or sounds; of any others,
Where could they; all have gone
Cityscapes; in the distance,
For we meet; no resistance,
Build it here; bury there,
Never considering; deer or bear
Often I think; what of thee,
As I perch; beneath this tree,
Had Mother Nature; changed the rules
And they forced us; to be the fools
Pushing us away; more each day,
Till we starve; or expire,
Turning away; from our home,
Always forcing; us to roam
As the sun sets; to the west,
Forget not; we are guests,
Mind your manners; do no harm,
Take Mother Nature; in your arms
For now we too; are on the run,
The damage is great; and cant be undone,
Keep her clean; within your space,
Enjoy her bounty; but leave no trace.
I was surprised to see the results of the survey. 90% of your readers practice “leave no trace” every time they camp. Outstanding! Where can we get more campers like that?
If we bring it in, we take it out. I will also pick up trash/ cig butts that others left behind. I try to leave it cleaner than I found it. This also goes for when we go fishing for an afternoon. I bring a garbage bag and take away old fishing line and or trash others leave. I expect the same in return.
I personally don’t do it. I have my children take a bag and go around and clean up. If it’s not found in nature, it goes in the bag. I hope when they grow up, they’ll teach it to their children.
Those who dont practice cleaning up and say its not their problem are the ones we clean up behind,they probably live this way at home and throw trash out the windows of their cars! I also go around my area and the sides of the roadways and at the camp restrooms, as well inside too!This helps the Park Attendants as well they dont like cleaning up after you either, also take your soap from the Showers! Shame On you who dont clean up after yourselves!
I have always picked up my campsite but I feel the campsite owners should check sites before we enter, same as in a hotel. I am not talking free camping I mean paid for sites.
PS: Leave No Trace also means the fire ring is not a trash can. Unless you dump garbage and trash at home on your stove???
I find it hard to believe that 91% of the people “leave no trace.” They certainly don’t camp where we do. We pick up trash every time we hike other than used toilet paper. Invariably we will finish our hike with a bag of trash.
The problem is the 10% who think it is ok for someone to clean up after them. They were not taught to respect anything or anyone. Parents should take charge teaching them how to receive respect by giving respect.
we usually have to clean campsites when we get there unless we were the last to use it. I always have plastic bags and latex gloves with us. We don’t leave anything behind unless its a little firewood for the next guy..
amen to that Ray Anderson!! that is my husbands part of cleaning. the fire pit! amazes me what people try to burn or just pile in there…
When out camping, I always remember I’m home. We take our puppies with us as well. Before letting them out, we make sure their surroundings are clean & we never walk them without plastic bags.
As a volunteer at the White River State Park, They have one word they teach the children at their park programs, the R word ( Respect) all campers should adopt the R word and show some respect for the beauty that we have in our park facilities.
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