Instructor Courses

Level 1 Instructor

Participants taking the two-day Level 1 Instructor Course learn Leave No Trace skills, ethics, and techniques for educating others about these low-impact practices. In-person Level 1 Instructor Courses typically occur over two consecutive days and involve spending more than half of the course outdoors. 

Virtual options are also available for Level 1 Instructor Courses. Level 1 Instructor Course graduates are prepared to offer Leave No Trace Skills Courses and Workshops to their community.

Level 2 Instructor

The five-day Level 2 Instructor Course is our most comprehensive education course. Participants are provided with in-depth training on Leave No Trace skills and ethics through practical application during a field-based course. Participants learn Leave No Trace techniques through various methods—including discussions, scenarios, demonstrations, and hands-on activities—throughout all five days of the field-based course. 

The Level 2 Instructor Course is also designed to prepare participants to be the best possible teachers of Leave No Trace regardless of setting. Level 2 Instructor Course graduates are certified to instruct Level 1 Instructor Courses and are prepared to teach Leave No Trace Skills Courses and Workshops.

“Leave No Trace offers a way for the general public to become the conscientious public and in doing so influences the character of both the land and people.”

Instructor Training Resources

Being a Leave No Trace Instructor requires planning and preparation. Here are some resources to help guide you through the process.

Looking to Learn More Yourself?​

Individuals who want to learn the skills of Leave No Trace are encouraged to check out our recreational courses. These courses center on building your personal outdoor ethic and aligning it with all the Leave No Trace practices that protect ecosystems.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Leave No Trace training structure, and some guidelines, are changing in

order to meet organizational strategic goals. These changes work to make training more appealing and accessible to a wider range of audiences.

No additional training is required to be moved from the Trainer to Level 1 Instructor or Master Educator to Level 2 Instructor fields.

Yes, Level 1 and Level 2 Instructors (formerly Trainers and Master Educators) are now certified in the new training structure.

Recertification is required to maintain your certification status as a Level 1 or Level 2 Instructor.

On July 18, 2023, all Trainers and Master Educators will be moved into the new Level 1 or Level 2 certification fields. On July 18, 2025, an online recertification course will be available to all instructors to recertify.

Yes, a $50 administrative fee will be charged upon completing the online course to complete your recertification.

Both Level 1 and Level 2 Instructors can teach a Leave No Trace Skills Course.

No additional training is required to run a Leave No Trace Skills Course. The training received during a Leave No Trace Level 1 or Level 2 course will prepare instructors to teach this course. Note: Instructors must be current in their certification and membership with the organization to provide participants with a Certificate of Completion.

Yes, formal training is not required to teach a Leave No Trace Workshop. Note: Only certified Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 Instructors can provide a Certificate of Completion to workshop participants.

Level 1 or Level 2 Instructors cannot provide Certificates of Completion or Certifications to participants if their organizational membership has expired.

No, Leave No Trace Skills Courses and Workshops are not certification courses. However, participants receive a Certificate of Completion once completing a course.