Participants will learn Leave No Trace skills and ethics as well as techniques for educating others about these low impact practices. Graduates of a Trainer Course are prepared to offer Leave No Trace Awareness Workshops to their community.
Landmark’s Leave No Trace Level 1 Instructor courses are run in a Hybrid format: The course begins with a half-day virtual meeting, followed by a week of online asynchronous study on our CANVAS platform. Each student will prepare a 10-15 minute lesson on a Leave No Trace topic assigned to them during the virtual meeting. The course concludes with a full day of in-person teaching, where students present their lessons to the group.
Course Outline
Packing List
Come with a small daypack complete with:
- Full rain gear, layers for cold weather
- Hat for the sun or for the cold
- Sunscreen
- Snacks, water bottle, lunch
- Teaching props and teaching outline
General Information
16 hours / 2 days
No experience required.
Backcountry guides, canoe trip leaders, private expedition groups, college/university outdoor education programs, hiking club trip leaders, park and forest rangers, and wilderness therapeutic programs.
NC Educators can gain continuing education hours for completing this course.
Certificate of course completion
Course Expectations
Teaching Topics: The Teaching Topic is the cornerstone of the Level 1 Instructor course experience. It provides the opportunity to prepare a lesson plan, deliver it, and receive immediate feedback from peers and instructors. Each Level 1 Instructor candidate is expected to teach one of the seven principles of Leave No Trace to the class, incorporating into their topic the content and style necessary to teach a group they may encounter as a Level 1 Instructor after this course. For example, if the candidate will be working with school groups, they should address our class as school-aged students and prepare activities or discussion to fit that particular audience. Or, if the candidate will be working in general education at trailheads or on the trail, they should address our class as recreationists they might encounter. In preparing your topic, imagine that we (your classmates) know nothing about Leave No Trace. Each candidate will be evaluated through peer review and by course instructors for depth of content, appropriateness for the chosen audience, and instructional style. Sign up for your topic with your registration material, and get online to research: lnt.org
There is no written or practical examination in order to gain this certification. Successful course completion is dependent on 100% attendance and full participation.