The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics in Boulder, Colorado, is partnering with Enchanted Rock State Natural Area to host community cleanup events and educational activities Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13-14, at the park.
The center’s Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers Team invite the public to attend and learn “Leave No Trace” principles and help protect the park.
Leave No Trace recently designated Enchanted Rock State Natural Area as one of the nation’s eight “hot spots” in the U.S. this year as part of the nonprofit organization’s campaign to address and help public lands facing the threat of irreversible environmental damage.
“Many outdoor areas across our nation, like Enchanted Rock, are negatively impacted by recreational use. We are literally loving the land to death,” said Nick Bierschbach, a traveling trainer. “In most cases, the land impact isn’t due to a malicious intent to harm nature and wildlife. Instead, it’s simply lack of an understanding or know-how of ‘Leave No Trace’.”
“Enchanted Rock is one of the most popular state parks in Texas and experiences visitor-created impacts in many areas,” said Scott Whitener, park interpretive ranger. “These impacts include littering, damage to vegetation and trees, trail erosion, walking in undesignated areas and vandalism. We are thrilled to partner with the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers to help educate our community, raise awareness for future enjoyment and preserve these beautiful landscapes.”
Traveling trainers provide public education throughout the country about how to reduce impacts in the outdoors, Bierschbach said.
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