Leave No Trace, or LNT, as many people call it, is a group of seven rules that you should follow when in the wilderness. These rules not only have the capability to make your trip more eco-friendly, but can help preserve the area for future generations. By following LNT you can make less of an impact on nature while also still experiencing everything it has to offer.
Rule One: Plan and Prepare When you plan ahead for a trip you can maximize the amount of fun you have while minimizing your harm to the ecosystem. For instance, you and your family plan to go on a three day hiking trip, but you plan to bring your dog with you. When you get to the trail you see a no dogs sign, what will you do? By planning out and preparing for your trip you cam make sure everything goes smoothly.
Rule Two: Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces This one is pretty simple. Durable surfaces are capable of continual use without damage. Non durable surfaces are much easier to damage and cannot withstand much pressure. This rule states that you should be smart about where you walk and camp. For example, you should not set up camp in the middle of a patch of wildflowers because they will be harmed and others will not see their beauty.
Rule Three: Dispose of Waste Properly This rule includes common sense, don’t leave trash around in the wild. It is not good for the environment. Another aspect of this is to not poop where you should not. I like to follow the 2-4-6-8 rule, 200 feet from any form of water, 400 foot from the trail, dig a hole six inches deep, and eight inches wide to defecate in. The hole you dig is called a cathole.
Rule Four: Leave What you Find Many people like to take souvenirs back home, but you should not do that in the wild. If you take a flower home, countless other visitors will not get to see it. It could also harm the ecosystem of where you took it from. Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures.
Rule Five: Minimize Campfire Impact Campfires are amazing to have on camping trips, but must be dealt with cautiously. The best way to minimize your risk of a out of control campfire is to clear a ten foot circle around it so no brush can be harmed. Another precaution you can use is to not make a huge fire, this will allow for more control and still has the same function as a big campfire. Finally, the most important thing you could do to minimize risk is to use a designated fire ring.
Rule Six: Respect Wildlife Respecting wildlife is important. Imagine some strange person coming into your house and taking a selfie with you, but you don’t know what a selfie is and you are a two thousand pound buffalo. This rule is not only for the animals safety, but your own too. Looking at animals from a safe distance is a much better option. A safe distance that is recommended by Yellowstone national Park is one hundred yards away from the animal.
Rule Seven: Be Considerate to Other Visitors This rule is important, because it is more about the people you’ll be with rather than where you are. Other visitors are tying to have a good time too, so to keep their and your experience amazing the best thing you can do is be friendly. This rule also combines with the “Leave What You Find” rule, if you take something beautiful other visitors will not be able to see it. Its respect for both nature and your fellow visitors. For example, you should listen to your music with headphones and keep your pets on a leash.
Editors Note: This blog post was written by a youth member of Boy Scouts of America as part of Scouts BSA Communication Merit badge requirement 7(b).
