Leave No Trace Principles

Founded on the Principles of Sustainable tourism and Leave No Trace, The Navigating Mom seeks to promote outdoor family travel while ensuring environmental conservation, respect for wildlife and nature, the prevention of harm to the destinations we visit, and encouragement for others to do the same! Not only do we want to see the world, we want to protect and save it too!

The Leave No Trace Principles are not designed to make more work for you in planning your travels, but instead are designed to be a lifestyle and belief system that you adapt to and engrave into your everyday actions, both at home and while traveling.

The Leave No Trace Principles are at the foundation of who we are and seek to be. These principles were developed by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. This guide will help you understand each of the principles and how you can instill the leave no trace principles for kids.

*Photo by Florida-Guidebook.com on Unsplash*

The 7 Leave No Trace Principles

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

Why Are the Leave No Trace Principles Important?

When an area is frequently visited, whether it be a secluded, outdoor area or popular city, the area becomes vulnerable to pollution, damage, and over tourism. Common problems include litter, introduction of invasive species, trail erosion, pollution of water and air, destruction of natural habitats, and overpopulation. These problems can lead to damage to the local environment and culture that may be irreversible.

Failing to follow the Leave No Trace Principles can lead to the destruction of the natural beauty of the Earth, cultural heritage of destinations around the world, and prevent the preservation of these areas for future generations to come. The natural environment that wildlife calls home and relies on for survival may be damaged, impacting their ability to continue to survive in the future,

You may be thinking, what can I really do to make an impact if so many people are doing the wrong thing? Will it really matter or make a difference? My question to you is, what if everyone held this thinking pattern? Nothing would get done.

Every step that you take contributes to saving and protecting the environment, and YES! It does make a difference. One person at a time, we can begin protecting and limit harm to the environment.

Principle 1: Plan Ahead and Prepare

Before heading out for a trip, plan ahead and be prepared. Research your destination and understand the regulations (and why they exist) for that destination. Understand the conservation principles that have been put into place and develop a plan for following them. Questions to consider include: Are fires allowed? Are there certain regulations about having a camp fire? Is a permit required? Is bear-proof food storage needed? What wildlife might I encounter and what do I need to do to be prepared?

By planning ahead, you will be prepared to respond to emergency situations such as unexpected weather and hazards, which will help to prevent you from having to make last minute decisions that may be harmful to the environment or yourself.

When planning your trip, take the following into consideration:

Choose destinations that are not experiencing over-tourism
Choose to visit during less popular times during the year to avoid overcrowding
Repackaging your food to minimize waste and avoid unwanted wildlife encounters
The guidelines and regulations of the destination you are visiting
Ensure you have the proper equipment and items needed to properly dispose of any trash and waste

Principle 2: Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

Overuse of both developed trails and undeveloped nature areas can lead to damage to the natural environment, including destruction of vegetation and communities of microorganisms, and erosion of soil. Sticking to the trails or established campsites can help reduce that damage to the environment.

Ideal surfaces to travel on and establish a campsite on include: already established trails and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses, and snow.

Some general rules of thumb for camping in popular areas, whether front country or back country, include:

Use established campsites and trails when available
Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and streams
Avoid vegetation when establishing campsites
Keep campsites small
Avoid going off a trail and try to walk in the center of the trail.

When camping in pristine, undeveloped areas, avoid areas that are overly used to prevent the development of new trails and/or campsites and disperse use to prevent the creation of new campsites/trails.

Principle 3: Dispose of Waste Properly

In line with a carry out policy, any waste that you bring in with you should be brought out. Doing so will protect the natural environment, wildlife, and protect the natural beauty of the destination. Everything that you bring in should be carried out, including leftover food and trash. Before leaving a campsite, ensure that you have picked up and cleaned any trash or spilled food.

In addition to carrying out your own trash, commit to picking up trash you find along the way and disposing of it!!

Human waste-While hiking, especially with long, extended hikes, nature may call! It is important to take the proper steps to dispose of solid human waste in the wild. The proper method of disposal includes digging a cat hole 6-8 inches deep at least 200 feet from water, camp, or trails. The hole should then be covered and disguised. An alternative is the use of a pack-out system for human waste or reusable washable toilet systems. Toilet paper may be buried in the cathole (natural toilet paper-avoid scented) or carried out. Wipes should always be carried out, even if marked as biodegradable.

Tips for choosing a good spot to dig a cathole:

Choose a spot with deep organic soil (dark and rich in color)
Choose a spot with maximum sunlight, which will help with decomposition.
Choose an elevated spot where water run off is not likely
Disperse waste over a wide area of staying in one location for a long period of time

Washing Dishes-To wash dishes, make sure you are 200 feet from a natural water source and use small amounts of biodegradable soap. After you’re done, scatter the dishwater 200 feet away from a water source.

Principle 4: Leave What You Find

Any items that you find in nature should be left in nature. Each item plays a unique role in the local ecosystem. Rocks, plants, and other natural objects should be left as you find them. Do not move or introduce any rocks, plants, or other natural objects into a new environment, as it can result in the introduction of new, harmful species to that environment. Avoid building any structures or digging any trenches.

Some things that should be avoided include:

Nailing things into trees
Carving into trees
Cutting boughs (main tree branches( for sleeping pads or any other reason
1-inch wide straps should be used when tying clotheslines or hammocks to trees
Picking flowers and other plants
Removal of cultural artifacts
Moving rocks
Build Carins
Introduce new and/or invasive species (clean boots, bike tires, and boats before entering a new area)

Principle 5: Minimize Campfire Impacts

While the use of a campfire might be unavoidable (and adds to the experience of camping), not properly starting or using a campfire can cause damage to the environment. When fires are used, some steps to prevent damage include using established fire rings, keeping fires small, use only sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand, and burn all wood and coal to ash, and scatter that ash once it has cooled. Keep the fire burning only while you are using it. Fires should be put out with water, not dirt. Avoid building fires near rock outcrops.

To help limit the damage of campfires, consider using a lightweight stove for cooking. Lanterns can be used for light in place of fires.

Some things to consider before building a fire include:

What is the fire danger for the destination?
What is the fire danger for the time of year?
Are there any fire restrictions for the area?
Is there sufficient wood in the area?
Can the fire be sufficiently put out after its use?

Another important consideration is where you purchase firewood from. Firewood is a major source of invasive species, and therefore it is important to purchase firewood from the same ecosystem in which it will be burned. A general rule of thumb is to purchase wood within 50 miles of the destination.

Principle 6: Respect Wildlife

Wildlife is an exciting aspect of any camping, hiking, or national park trip. But respecting that wildlife and its natural environment is critical. When you enter the area, you are entering their natural environment and home. It is important that your actions do not harm them or the environment they live in. \

Improper interactions with wildlife can lead to aggressive wildlife with harm to humans or the animal, negative impact on the eco-system, relocation of animals, or euthanization of animals due to inability to function within their ecosystem (such as rejection of a baby by its mother due to human scent).

Some general rules of thumb for wildlife interactions include:

Observe wildlife from a safe distance. Each destination will have guidelines for safe wildlife viewing.
Never feed wildlife
Keep control of any pets you have with you. Always check guidelines for bringing pets into an area.
Avoid wildlife during sensitive times, such as mating and nesting.

Principle 7: Be Considerate of Other Visitors

Being considerate of others trying to enjoy the great outdoors is the final Leave No Trace principle. Things like excessive noise, uncontrolled pets, and causing damage to the natural environment can impact the ability of others to enjoy being outdoors.

Important concepts include:

Respecting others you come into contact with
Protecting the quality of experience others have by being responsible and carrying out the other Leave No Trace principles.
Be courteous and yield to others on the trail.
Be mindful of noise levels, especially early in the morning and late at night.