Overview

This lesson is planned based on teaching in the classroom prior to an outdoor excursion with a grade 7 class in mind. The principles of Leave No Trace were developed by the non-profit organization called Leave No Trace Canada. Their mission, as stated on their website, is to “To promote and inspire responsible outdoor recreation through science-based education and partnerships throughout Canada.”

Introduction

Let students know that we will be learning about the 7 principles of Leave No Trace. These are principles we will be following in order to respect the environment and minimize our impact during our outdoor excursion. Ask students the following questions:

  • “Has anyone heard of these principles before?”
  • “What sort of things have you done before with the intention of respecting the environment when in nature?
  • “Have you ever gone camping or hiking and seen evidence of other people?”

These principles are to be used in order to preserve the environment we are using for outdoor experiences such as camping and hiking. When we go camping as a class, these are things we need to remember while we are there.

Helpful Hand Signals to Learn the Leave No Trace Seven Principles from Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital

Depending on the place you are, some of these are more relevant than others. For example, our camping trip will be at a designated campground. It has toilets and campfire rings, so we won’t need to dig catholes and our fires will be safely made in the designated fire rings.

The ones we need to remember while at the campground are to travel on durable surfaces, so sticking to the trails and not bushwacking the areas where vegetation is growing, and leaving what we find, so we won’t be taking items from nature home with us when we leave.

Although we will use the fire rings, we still need to get firewood in the proper manner. The policy for BC parks is to purchase wood from the park operator. This is to prevent disease from spreading if firewood is brought from a different area and to prevent people from removing all the dead wood and sticks from the campground. This is the policy we will be following during our camping trip.

Activity

Have students work with a partner to memorize the 7 principles of Leave No Trace and the hand signals. Student can practice with each other and ensure they remember all 7.