Organization · Stewardship & Education
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics teaches families how to care for wild places through seven practical principles and a growing catalog of workshops, online courses, and volunteer programs. The Boulder-based nonprofit has trained millions of outdoor visitors and offers entry points for every age, from a first trail walk to a weekend Master Educator course.
This page from Outside, the family adventure app, profiles the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, a Boulder, Colorado-based nonprofit that promotes responsible outdoor recreation. It covers the organization's seven core principles, its family-accessible programs including awareness courses and Master Educator trainings, membership and volunteer opportunities, and guidance on which families benefit most. The page is factual and editorially independent, written to help parents understand how to get involved with Leave No Trace as a family.
| Cost | Free online resources; paid courses and memberships vary |
|---|---|
| Season | Year-round |
| Location | National; headquartered in Boulder, Colorado |
| Best ages | All ages; skills courses best for ages 10 and up |
| Program format | Online courses, in-person workshops, volunteer events |
What Leave No Trace actually does
Founded in the early 1990s and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the outdoors through education rather than regulation. The organization works with land management agencies, outdoor educators, youth groups, and everyday recreationists to spread a shared set of practices that reduce human impact on natural places. Its reach is genuinely broad: programs run through the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Boy Scouts, and thousands of independent outdoor educators. The work is less about restriction and more about building habits that let wild places stay wild for the next family who comes along.
The seven principles, in plain terms
Leave No Trace organizes its guidance into seven principles that cover the full arc of an outdoor trip.
- **Plan ahead and prepare** so your group is self-sufficient and does not damage the land out of surprise or desperation. - **Travel and camp on durable surfaces** to protect soil and plants. - **Dispose of waste properly**, including human waste and gray water. - **Leave what you find**, from wildflowers to arrowheads. - **Minimize campfire impacts** by using existing rings and keeping fires small. - **Respect wildlife** by observing from a distance and never feeding animals. - **Be considerate of other visitors** by keeping noise down and yielding on trail.
These principles scale naturally from a city park walk to a two-week backcountry expedition, which is part of why they have held up for decades.
Programs families can actually join
Leave No Trace offers several on-ramps for families at different levels of experience and commitment.
**Awareness courses** are the most accessible starting point. These short online and in-person programs introduce the seven principles in a few hours and are appropriate for older children who can follow a group discussion.
**Skills and ethics courses** run one to two days and are typically offered by trained local educators affiliated with Leave No Trace. These are hands-on and held outdoors, making them a strong fit for families with kids roughly ten and older.
**Master Educator courses** are multi-day intensives for adults who want to teach Leave No Trace themselves, often parents who lead scout troops, school groups, or outdoor clubs.
The organization also offers **youth-focused curriculum** for educators and group leaders, and maintains a searchable directory on its website so families can find courses near them.
Membership and volunteering
Families can support Leave No Trace through individual and family memberships, which contribute directly to program development and land stewardship campaigns. Membership tiers vary, and the organization regularly offers member resources including updated educational materials.
Volunteer opportunities exist at the chapter level and through organized stewardship events in partnership with land agencies. Some regional programs coordinate trail education days where trained volunteers speak briefly with hikers at trailheads, a low-commitment way for families to participate in a single afternoon. Families with a teenager who needs community service hours will find this kind of event practical and straightforward to arrange.
Who this organization fits best
Leave No Trace is most immediately useful for families who are already spending time outside and want a reliable framework for doing it thoughtfully. It suits parents who want their kids to understand the reasoning behind trail rules, not just follow them. It is also a natural fit for families involved in scouts, outdoor clubs, or school environmental programs, where the seven principles align with existing curricula.
Families just starting to explore parks and trails can treat the free online materials as a practical checklist before a first camping trip. Families with deeper outdoor experience may find the skills courses and Master Educator track genuinely rewarding as a way to give back to the trails they already love.
On your next hike, pick one Leave No Trace principle and ask every family member to notice one moment when it mattered. Write down what each person saw.
Frequently asked questions
Is Leave No Trace good for young kids, or is it mainly for adults?
The seven principles are simple enough to introduce to children as young as four or five through conversation on the trail. Formal courses work best for older kids, roughly ten and up, but parents can apply the framework informally with any age. The organization also provides curriculum designed for youth group leaders.
How much does a Leave No Trace course cost?
Costs vary by program and provider. Online awareness courses are often low-cost or free. In-person skills courses typically run from around thirty to one hundred dollars per person depending on the educator and location. Master Educator courses are multi-day and priced accordingly. The Leave No Trace website lists authorized courses with current pricing.
Can my family volunteer for Leave No Trace without taking a formal course first?
Yes. Some regional and local events welcome family volunteers for trailhead outreach days and stewardship projects without requiring prior certification. Check the Leave No Trace website or contact your regional chapter to find events that fit your schedule and experience level.
What is the difference between a Leave No Trace awareness course and a skills course?
An awareness course is a shorter introduction, often a few hours, covering the seven principles at a conceptual level. A skills course is longer, typically one to two days, held outdoors, and focused on applying those principles in real situations. If your family is new to the principles, an awareness course is the right place to start.