Accreditation Process

Timeline for Earning Accreditation

Three months, six months, a year plus — the timeline to earn the Leave No Trace Youth Program Accreditation will vary by program. Factors like a dedicated staff member heading up the process, the depth of Leave No Trace programming already in place and the operating season length with youth participants will play a role in your program’s timeline to submit your completed accreditation application. Since input from seasonal staff and youth participants is required, a program should expect to work on some of the requirements during its main programming season.

Once submitted, the Accreditation Review Team at the Leave No Trace will review the materials and make its recommendation for accreditation. A program may be asked to submit supplemental materials for specific standards if the review team determines the original materials to be below the current accreditation criteria standards. A detailed explanation of the accreditation review process is included in the programs digital download package. The Leave No Trace education team is on hand to help you make a plan to track your efforts to become accredited in a time frame that is most desirable and realistic for your program.

Additional resources like the Accreditation Program Manual, Standards Guide, Supplemental Documents and Annual Reporting Tools provide a clear roadmap for earning and maintaining accreditation.

If you have more questions about the the accreditation process, please reach out to Erin Collier, Education & Program Manager at [email protected].