Leave No Trace Workshops at Mount St. Helens

Practicing Leave No Trace ethics when hiking and backpacking is essential for preserving the wild spaces we love to recreate in. Knowing LNT basics will help you keep a clean camp, choose a site for your tent, and ensure that other hikers will enjoy the great outdoors without the distractions of human influence.

With so much to learn about LNT, the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is hosting the award-winning Subaru/Leave No Trace team to inspire stewardship and promote Leave No Trace ethics. Their Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers will be offering a series of free workshops for outdoor-enthusiasts that will teach the principles of LNT ethics.

These workshops are open to anyone, and will include teachings on reducing environmental impacts while recreating in the outdoors, as well as sharing ideas for promoting Leave No Trace ethics in your community. Here are a few things that will be covered in the workshops:

• Learning skills to minimize your impact in outdoor environments
• Best methods for cooking, cleaning, and camping overnight in the outdoors
• Environmental stewardship
• Quick tips for sharing LNT basics with others
• Getting involved with the national education program

Mount St. Helens from below Bear Pass. Photo by Mark Heller.

The following workshops will be available September 1-5:

Free workshop for campers and outdoor enthusiasts

When: September 1, 6-8pm
Where: Gifford Pinchot National Forest Headquarters - 10600 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver, WA

Free workshop for Leave No Trace advocates

When: September 3, 12:30-4:30pm
Where: Mount St. Helens National Monument Headquarters - 42218 NE Yale Bridge Rd. Amboy, WA

Free workshop for hunters and anglers

When: September 3, 7-8pm
Where: Woodland Community Center - 782 Park St. Woodland, WA

Community Leave No Trace volunteer work party

When: September 5, 9am-3pm
Where: Cougar Snow Park - from Cougar, WA drive 9 miles east on Lewis River Road to Forest Road 83. Take Forest Road 83 to the Forest Road 8100 junction.
What to bring: Wear sturdy shoes and long pants. Bring sunscreen, work gloves, and a hat. 
This work party will focus on cleaning up dispersed camp sites at Mount St. Helens removing debris, picking up trash, removing fire-rings and rehabilitating areas damaged by overuse.

Get more info on these workshops or learn more about the Traveling Trainers and Leave No Trace.