Leave No Trace

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Leave No Trace

National Park Video
http://www.nps.gov/features/wilderness/leavenotrace/popup.html

Six Leave No Trace Guidelines for Cub Scouts

PLAN AHEAD

Watch for hazards and follow all the rules of the park or outdoor facility. Remember proper clothing, sunscreen, hats, first aid kits, and plenty of drinking water. Use the buddy system. Make sure you carry your family's name, phone number, and address.


STICK TO TRAILS
 
Stay on marked trails whenever possible. Short-cutting trails causes the soil to wear away or to be packed, which eventually kills trees and other vegetation. Trampled wildflowers and vegetation take years to recover. Stick to trails!


MANAGE YOUR PET
 
Managing your pet will keep people, dogs, livestock, and wildlife from feeling threatened. Make sure your pet is on a leash or controlled at all times. Do not let your pet approach or chase wildlife. When animals are chased or disturbed, they change eating patterns and use more energy that may result in poor health or death.

Take care of your pet's waste. Take a small shovel or scoop and a pick-up bag to pick up your pet's waste— wherever it's left. Place the waste bags in a trash can for disposal.


LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND
 
When visiting any outdoor area, try to leave it the same as you find it. The less impact we each make, the longer we will enjoy what we have. Even picking flowers denies others the opportunity to see them and reduces seeds, which means fewer plants next year.

Use established restrooms. Graffiti and vandalism have no place anywhere, and they spoil the experience for others. Leave your mark by doing an approved conservation project.


RESPECT OTHER VISITORS

Expect to meet other visitors. Be courteous and make room for others. Control your speed when biking or running. Pass with care and let others know before you pass. Avoid disturbing others by making noise or playing loud music.

Respect "No Trespassing" signs. If property boundaries are unclear, do not enter the area.


TRASH YOUR TRASH
 
Make sure all trash is put in a bag or trash receptacle. Trash is unsightly and ruins everyone's outdoor experience. Your trash can kill wildlife. Even materials, such as orange peels, apple cores and food scraps, take years to break down and may attract unwanted pests that could become a problem.

Tiger Cub, Cub Scout & Webelos Scout

1. Discuss with your leader or parent/guardian the importance of the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines.

2. On three separate outings, practice the frontcountry guidelines of Leave No Trace.

3. Boys in a Tiger Cub den complete the activities for Achievement 5, Let's Go Outdoors
      5    Let's Go Outdoors

  • 5F - Go outside and watch the weather.
  • 5D - With a crayon or colored pencil and a piece of paper, make a leaf rubbing.
  • 5G - Take a hike with your den

; boys in a Wolf den complete Requirement 7, Your Living World

7    YOUR LIVING WORLD

This achievement is also part of the Cub Scout World Conservation Award and Cub Scouting's Leave No Trace Award.
a.    Complete the Character Connection for Respect.

  • Know. Discuss these questions with your family: What things have people done to show a lack of respect to our world? Why is it important to respect our environment and natural resources? How can you show respect for your environment?
  • Commit. Discuss with your family how you feel when you see places in your neighborhood that have lots of litter. Name one thing you can do to help the environment.
  • Practice. Practice being respectful while doing the requirements for "Your Living World."

b.    Land, air and water can get dirty.  Discuss with your family ways this can happen.
c.    It takes a lot of energy to make glass, cans, and paper products.  You can help save energy by collecting these items for use again.  Find out how recycling is done where you live.  Find out what items you can recycle.
d.    With an adult, pick up litter in your neighborhood.  Wear gloves to protect your hands against germs and cuts from sharp objects.
e.    With an adult, find three stories that tell how people are protecting our world. Read and discuss them together.
f.    Besides recycling, there are other ways to save energy.  List three ways you can save energy, and do them.

; boys in a Bear den complete Requirement 12, Family Outdoor Adventures

12    FAMILY OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

Do three requirements.
a.    Go camping with your family.
b.    Go on a hike with your family.
c.    Have a picnic with your family.
d.    Attend an outdoor event with your family.
e.    Plan your outdoor family day

; boys in a Webelos den earn the Outdoorsman activity badge.
 

OUTDOORSMAN

Do Two of these:

1.    Present yourself to your Webelos den leader, properly dressed, as you would be for an overnight campout.   Show the camping gear you will use.   Show the right way to pack and carry it.
2.    With your family or Webelos den, help plan and take part in an evening outdoor activity that includes a campfire.
3.    With your parent or guardian, take part in a Webelos den overnight campout or a family campout.   Sleep in a tent that you have helped pitch.
4.    With your parent or guardian, camp overnight with a Boy Scout troop.   Sleep in a tent that you have helped pitch.

And Do Five of these:

5.    During a Webelos den meeting, discuss how to follow the Leave No Trace Frontcountry Guidelines during outdoor activities.
6.    Participate in an outdoor conservation project with your Webelos den or a Boy Scout troop.
7.    Discuss with your Webelos den leader the rules of outdoor fire safety.   Using these rules, show how to build a safe fire and put it out.
8.    With your accompanying adult on a campout or outdoor activity, assist in preparing, cooking, and cleanup for one of your den's meals.   Tell why it is important for each den member to share in meal preparation and cleanup, and explain the importance of eating together.
9.    Discuss with your Webelos den leader the things that you need to take on a hike.   Go on one 3-mile hike with your Webelos den or a Boy Scout troop.
10.    Demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope.
11.    Demonstrate setting up a tent or dining fly using two half hitches and a taut-line hitch.  Show how to tie a square knot and explain how it is used.
12.    Visit a nearby Boy Scout camp with your Webelos den.

Resources:

Outdoorsman Guide Planner

Outdoorsman Worksheets

Ideas:

Outdoorsman Ideas 1, Ideas 2, Ideas 3, PDF 1, PDF 2

Activity Pages:

Knots, Campfires, Campsites

General Resources:

more Webelos Ideas

4. Participate in a Leave No Trace-related service project.

5. Promise to practice the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines by signing the Cub
Scout Leave No Trace Pledge.

6. Draw a poster to illustrate the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines and display it at a pack meeting.