By any measure, 2025 was a banner year for Leave No Trace — here are some of the numbers associated with the work we did last year to protect and preserve nature:
- We introduced new online courses and made them available in multiple languages, covering topics including sustainable fishing, responsible overlanding, and sharing public lands. More than 19,000 individuals completed courses in 2025.
- No Trace expanded scientific resources and improved understanding of low-impact best practices, derived from research projects carried out by scientists who conducted research and collected data in seven (7) U.S. national parks and more than a dozen other natural areas.
- We delivered in-person education events, including 18 Spotlight visits and 17 Gold Standard Site evaluations, bringing the Leave No Trace message to communities across the U.S. and facilitating more than 2,700 volunteer hours.
- We expanded our on-the-ground presence by onboarding 18 new State Advocates, growing the network to 39 trained lead volunteers across 34 states and Puerto Rico. Together, they delivered more than 150 education events, reaching over 26,000 people and embedding Leave No Trace practices in communities nationwide.
- Our headcounts for Level 1 and Level 2 instructor programs increased by more than 25 percent, ensuring that our frontline Leave No Trace educators stay at the top of their game.
- In Arizona’s Oak Creek Canyon, an intensive Leave No Trace education campaign (watch a 90-second video) significantly improved water quality, measurably reducing pollutants by more than 50% over a two-year period.
- In April, over 550 people from 11 colleges and universities across the United States, and 7 universities in Nigeria participated in our Earth Month University Challenge, removing over 2,200 gallons of trash from their campuses and communities.
- The Cleaner California Coast campaign in Northern California’s Marin, Mendocino, and Sonoma Counties has supported more than 500 community-based events, resulting in the removal of 55,000 pounds of trash.
