ANN: Leave No Trace Master Educator Courses

[John-in-KC]

I got a note yesterday from my Wood Badge Scoutmaster. He, in turn, had received a note from Mr Charlie Thorpe. Mr Thorpe is on the Venturing Outdoor Committee at the National Council, and the Lead Instructor for Master Educators of Leave No Trace within BSA.

 

Below is the note, verbatim (except a munged email addy for Mr Thorpe):

 

Hello All -

 

For the first time, BSA is now able to train our own Leave No Trace

Master Educators!

 

"LNT Trainers" are the Scouters who help bring the important Leave No

Trace message to the outdoor programs of our units (Packs, Troops,

Teams, Crews, and Ships), Districts, and camps. We have a national

goal of having a LNT Trainer available to hold Leave No Trace

workshops and awareness sessions in every District and on every camp

staff. A recent national camp standard requires that a LNT Trainer

be part of every summer camp staff.

 

"LNT Master Educators" (Masters) are the Scouters who conduct the 16-

hour courses which train our very important LNT Trainers. We have a

national goal of having enough BSA LNT Masters available to train the

thousands of LNT Trainers needed in BSA - it is highly likely this

will require our having at least one active LNT Master in every

Council. We now have over sixty BSA LNT Masters and many are active,

but we still have a long way to go before we have one active LNT

Master in all 300+ Councils!

 

We started development of our cadre of Master Educator Instructors

last fall and some have co-instructed on NOLS and AMC LNT Masters

courses. We taught our first BSA LNT Masters course to senior

Philmont staff this May. Our first national open-enrollment courses

are now in place for this fall at two of our national high-adventure

bases (the third is in the works!).

 

Northern Tier High Adventure Base - September 5-10, 2006

Paddling LNT Masters course (Boundary Waters Canoe Area)

Frontcountry LNT Masters course (Superior National Forest)

 

Philmont Training Center - September 17-22, 2006

Backpacking LNT ME course (Philmont backcountry)

 

All in all, I am pleased that we are able to offer such a wide

variety of BSA LNT Masters courses this first year. All will teach

the same basic Leave No Trace principles and deep respect for our

recreation lands. All formats will make a BIG point to cover as wide

a range of recreational ecosystems and types of front/backcountry

recreation as time permits (our BSA units go everywhere and do

everything!). Each format offers its own unique opportunity to

tailor the experience slightly to match your personal outdoor

interests and your main LNT training challenges in your home Council.

 

The frontcountry format LNT Masters course will go into additional

detail on LNT issues very common to Scouting (family camping, large-

group camping, car/tailgate camping, summer camp, Camporees, Day

Camps, Camporees, etc.). This format has the added benefit of

allowing participation by many who would choose not to do a

backcountry trek for medical or physical reasons.

 

For registration information contact Northern Tier or the Philmont

Training Center.

 

For any other information please feel free to contact me by phone

(256.881.5426 d&e) or email charliethorpe AT att DOT net .

 

It's hard to beat the incredibly beautiful locations of these two

high-adventure bases and the early fall is an outstanding time to

visit both. The fantastic Voyageur country at Northern Tier and the

exquisite high-desert backcountry at Philmont are the perfect places

for this high-end LNT training. Get ready to start training the

important BSA LNT Trainers in your home Council and join us at one of

these LNT Masters courses!

 

Trace No Leaves,

 

- Charlie Thorpe

BSA Master Educator Lead Instructor

BSA Leave No Trace Task Force

National Outdoor Venturing Committee

[Eamonn]

I have been playing with the idea of taking the Master Class.

So this is great news.

I don't think there is any way I could even consider it this year, but maybe in 07 or 08.

I'm taking the Trainer course this Fall in Virginia.

Eamonn.

[scoutldr]

Where and when in Virginia, Eamonn?

[Eamonn]

Hi scoutldr,

Saturday/Sunday, October 14-15 Shenandoah National Park

(Cabin Course This course takes place in and around the Pinnacles Research Station Cabin. There is no Monday component and no backpacking required. All students will stay overnight in the cabin facilities.)

http://www.patc.net/volunteer/trailpatrol/Forms/LNTFlyer.pdf

 

http://www.patc.net/volunteer/trailpatrol/Forms/LNTRegForm.pdf

Eamonn.