The document outlines the seven principles of Leave No Trace for minimizing impact when visiting outdoor areas: 1. Plan ahead and prepare for your trip, only go when permitted, know safety procedures, and prepare for changing conditions. 2. Travel on durable surfaces like trails and avoid sensitive areas. Camp in small, discreet sites over 200 feet from water. 3. Properly dispose of all waste by packing it out, including food waste. Use cat holes 6-8 inches deep over 200 feet from water when camping.

1. THE LEAVE NO TRACE
SEVEN PRINCIPLES
SHS PE and Health 4

2. 1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Before going to a place, check if your planned activity is
permitted. Make sure to know the rules, guidelines and
safety procedures they have set.
• Make sure you have the needed equipment for your
activity and the skills needed to undertake the activity
• Plan how to cope in case emergency arises.
• Check the weather forecast and be prepared for changing
weather conditions.
• Learn when areas are most crowded and try to avoid
those times
• To minimize environmental impact and for safety reasons,
keep group numbers small.
• Repack food to minimize waste.

3. 2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Walk , run, bike or camp on durable surfaces like
established tracks, rocks, gravel, and dry grasses.
• Avoid walking on soft surfaces like soft plants. You might
be trampling on a young tree or pasture and this will
cause vegetation damage.
• Use existing trails or campsites, no need to build a new
campsite that will alter the environment.
• To avoid erosion, walk in single file in the middle of the
trail.
• Avoid places where impacts are just beginning to show.
• When camping, keep the campsite small and discreet
• Camp at least 200 feet from lakes and rivers to protect the
waters.

4. 3. Dispose of Waste Properly
• “Pack it in, pack it out” means everything you brought
should be brought back with you including left – over food
or fruit peel. Nothing should be left.
• When camping, cat holes are dug 6 – 8 inches deep for
human waste and covered just the same with soil and
weeds or leaves on top.
• Dishes should be washed 200 feet away from lakes or
rivers and use biodegradable soap. Scatter strained dish
water

5. 4. Leave What You Find
• Examine archeological structures, old walls, and other
heritage artifacts but do not touch nor leave marks on
them.
• Leave nature as you found them. Do not take any plants,
rocks or marine animal with you.
• Avoid introducing non – native plants and animals.
• Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.

6. 5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Use lightweight stove for cooking; campfires can cause
lasting impacts.
• If fires are permitted, use fire rings or mound fires that are
already set up.
• Keep fires small and use only sticks from the ground that
can be broken by hand.
• No burning of plastics or other substances that emit toxic
fumes.
• Burn all wood to ash and make sure fires are completely
out. Scatter the cool ash.

7. 6. Respect Wildlife
• Observe wild animals from a distance and they should be
avoided during sensitive times such as mating, nesting or
raising the young.
• Do not feed wild animals or birds as it is not their natural
food. The food might damage their health or alter their
natural behaviours and even expose them to predators.
• Protect wildlife and protect your food as well by storing
and securing trash well.
• In case you decide to bring your pets along, make sure it
is allowed and you can control them.

8. 7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
• Respect people who live and work in the country side
• Respect other visitors and let them have a momentous
experience as well
• Allow the sound of nature to prevail, not your noise or the
radio
• Be courteous; yield to others on trail
• Camp away from trails and other visitors.