LESSON:

SEVEN PRINCIPLES
“Leave No Trace”
PRINCIPLE 1: PLAN AHEAD AND PREPARE
 Before going to place, check if your planned activity is permitted. Make
sure to know the rules, guidelines and safety procedures they have set.
Some places require certain permits or clearances.
 Make sure you have the needed equipment for your activity and the skills
needed to undertake the activity.
 Plan how to cope in case emergency arise
 Check the weather forecast and be prepared for changing weather
conditions.
 Learn when areas are most crowded and try to avoid those times
 To minimize environmental impact and for safety reasons, keep group
numbers small
 Repack food to minimize waste
 When trekking, maps and compass must be used to avoid markings or
leaving of marks on rocks and the like.
PRINCIPLE 2: TRAVEL AND CAMP ON DURABLE
SURFACES
Walk, run, bike, or camp on durable surfaces like established tracks,
rocks, gravel and dry grasses
Avoid walking on soft surfaces like soft plants, you might be
trampling on a young tree or pasture, and this will cause vegetation
damage.
Use existing trails or campsites, no need to build a new campsite that
will alter the environment
To avoid erosion, walk in single file in the middle of the trail.
Avoid places where impacts are just beginning to show
When camping, keep the campsite small and discreet
Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and rivers to protect the waters.
PRINCIPLE 3: DISPOSE OF WASTE
PROPERLY
Pack it in, pack it out means everything you bought should be
brought back with you including left – over food or fruit peel.
Nothing should be left
When camping, cat holes are dug (6 – 8 inches deep) for human
waste and covered just the same with soil and weeds or leaves on
top.
Dishes should be washed 200 feet away from the lakes or rivers
and use biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dishwater
PRINCIPLE 4: LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND
Examine archeological structures, old walls and other heritage
artifacts but do not touch nor leave marks on them
Leave nature as you found them. Do not take any plant, rock,
plants or marine animal with you
Avoid introducing non – native plants and animals
Do not build structures, furniture or dig trenches.
PRINCIPLE 5: MINIMIZE CAMPFIRE
IMPACTS
Use lightweight stove for cooking campfires can cause lasting
impacts.
If fires are permitted use free rings or mound fires that are already
set – up
Keep fires small and use only sticks from the ground that can be
broken by hand
No burning of plastics or other substances that emit toxic fumes.
Burn all wood to ash and make sure fires are completely out.
Scatter the cool ash.
PRINCIPLE 6: RESPECT WILDLIFE
Observe wild animals from a distance and they should be avoided
during sensitive times such as mating, nesting or raising the young.
Do not feed wild animals or birds as it not their natural food. The
food might damage their health or alter their natural behaviors and
even expose them to predators
Protect wildlife and protect your food as well by storing and
securing the trash well.
In case you decide to bring your pets along, make sure it is
allowed and you can control them, otherwise do not bring them
with you.
PRINCIPLE 7: BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER
VISITORS
Respect people who live and work in the countryside
Respect other visitors and let them have a momentous experience as
well
Allow the sound of nature to prevail, not your noise or your radio
Be courteous, yield to others on a trail
Camp away form trails and other visitors.