Leave No Trace Selected Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest as One of Its Eight Endangered ‘Hot Spots’ in the Nation and are Hosting Events to Help Raise Awareness about Natural Areas Around the Country Facing the Threat of Irreversible Environmental Damage.

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and its Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers Team are partnering with the Hoosier National Forest to host a community clean-up event and educational activities September 25-28, 2014.

All members of the Indiana community are encouraged to attend and learn about Leave No Trace principles to help protect and preserve the Hoosier National Forest for years to come.

Leave No Trace recently designated Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest 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 that are facing the threat of irreversible environmental damage. The weekend-long event, conducted by the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers, helps communities raise awareness and take action using Leave No Trace principles.

“Many outdoor areas across our nation, like the Hoosier National Forest, are negatively impacted by recreational use. We are literally loving the land to death,” according to Pat Beezley, Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer. “In most cases, the land impact isn’t due to a malicious intent to harm nature and wildlife. Instead, it’s simply a lack of an understanding or know-how of ‘Leave No Trace’.”

“Hoosier National Forest is the only national forest in Indiana and experiences visitor-created impacts in many areas. These impacts include littering, damage to vegetation and trees, trail erosion, overuse of favorite areas  and vandalism,” said Stacy Duke District Recreation Manager of the Brownstown Ranger District of the Hoosier National Forest.  Duke is also the Wilderness Manager for the only congressionally designated wilderness in Indiana, the Charles C. Deam Wilderness.  “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.”

The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers travel throughout the country providing public education about how to reduce impacts in the outdoors. The following is a list of events happening at Hoosier National Forest that are free and open to the public:

• Thursday September 25: Meet the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers – 4pm-6pm. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers will have a booth set up at the courthouse lawn in Bloomington. They will have free educational hangtags and fun educational activities for all ages.
• Thursday September 25: Evening Program – 6pm-7:30pm. Join the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers for a fun and interactive educational program to learn how to minimize your impact when in the outdoors at J.L. Waters Adventure Outfitter.
• Friday September 26: Meet the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers – 3pm-5pm. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers will have a booth set up at the Cutright Boat Launch next to Monroe Lake, off of Hwy 446. They will have free educational hangtags and fun educational activities for all ages.
• Saturday September 27: Wonders of Wilderness Celebration – 2pm-6pm. Join the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers at the Blackwell Horse Camp to celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act. The Traveling Trainers will have a booth set up at with free educational hangtags and fun educational activities for all ages.  Other booths and activities will also be provided at Blackwell Horse Camp, the Brooks Cabin and the Hickory Ridge Lookout Tower in celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act. At 7pm a presentation will be provided at the Hardin Ridge Recreation Area, with a booth provided by Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers.
• Sunday September 28: Community Clean-Up – 9am-3pm. Join the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers for a trash and camp site clean up of the Charles C. Deam Wilderness Area. Arrive at Pleasure Craft Marina (just beyond the cut right boat ramp off of Hwy 446) at 9 am to travel by pontoon boat across the lake to the Deam Wilderness. Volunteers will need to bring a sack lunch, drinks and wear appropriate attire, including sturdy footwear.  Registration will be capped at 20 participants. To register call the Hoosier National Forest at (812) 275-5987.

“Hot Spots sites, like the Hoosier National Forest, are damaged but can recover and become healthy again after we spend a few days with the community focusing on specific Leave No Trace applications,” said Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Theresa Beezley. “By identifying and working with the community, Leave No Trace helps areas like Hoosier National Forest heal, and ultimately, aids in protecting and preserving the places we cherish for future generations.”

Contact

Kate Lessman, Kathleen Lessman Communications, kathleen.lessman@gmail.com, 970-333-3395
Dave Winter, Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, dave@lnt.org 303-442-8222 x106

Logo courtesy Leave No Trace