Executive Director Dana Watts was recently featured on Colorado Public Radio’s Colorado Matters. She spoke with host Ryan Warner about her 30-year career leading the organization and what’s next for the Leave No Trace movement.
The conversation covers a lot, from Leave No Trace’s beginnings at a wilderness research conference in Fort Collins to the challenges of working with land management agencies that have recently been hamstrung by staff reductions and reduced funding. The conversation also touched on nitty-gritty issues such as the right way to deal with human waste in the backcountry. But if one line from the discussion can summarize what was covered, it’s this:
“The ethics part really comes down to what you do when no one’s watching. Our job is to empower people with skills and information to make the best decisions they can when they’re outdoors.” — Dana Watts
That’s what Leave No Trace is all about. The 7 Principles aren’t just rules for the wilderness. They matter just as much in your backyard, your local park, or anywhere you spend time outside. Whether you’re planning for a hike, packing out your trash, or leaving a wildflower for someone else to enjoy, anyone can practice Leave No Trace, anywhere, starting today.
Give the full interview a listen and read the transcript on CPR’s site: For three decades, Boulder’s ‘Leave No Trace’ has championed outdoor ethics
Photo courtesy of Ryan Warner, via Threads (@oddryhepburn)
