Leave No Trace Spotlights help land managers and partners make Leave No Trace a more visible, consistent, and actionable part of the recreation experience, from messaging and education to programming, staff training, and everyday operations.
This free program provides tailored education, programming, and resources that strengthen Leave No Trace implementation, protect natural and cultural resources, and offer a pathway toward Leave No Trace Gold Standard Designation.
Spotlights take place across the country at every type of natural area. Each location receives up to three days of Leave No Trace education and fun for the whole community!
So mark your calendars, spread the word, and get ready to roll up your sleeves for some conservation work. We will see you out there!
Leave No Trace has announced our full list of 2026 Spotlight locations. Click on the links below for more information about each Spotlight.
City of Issaquah Parks, WA – April 9-11
San Bernardino National Forest-Big Bear Discovery Center, CA – April 30-May 2
Stanislaus National Forest, CA – May 14-16
King Range National Conservation Area-Lost Coast, CA – May 21-23
City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks, CO – June 5-7
Blue Hills Reservation, MA, August 27-29
Bradbury Mountain State Park, ME – September 3-5
Lake Sidney Lanier, GA – September 11-13
Ice Age Trail-Lapham Peak, WI – September 25-27
Buffalo Bayou Park, TX – October 16-18
Black Canyon at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, NV/AZ – October 29-31
Joshua Tree National Park, CA (Postponed from 2025) – November 5-7
The Wheat Ridge Spotlight directly educated 213 members of the community with 48 volunteers planting wildflowers, 72 youth campers learning Leave No Trace, 45 community members participating in a trivia night, and 54 people reached in other outreach programs.
The Red Rock Canyon Spotlight had 33 volunteers work to repair fences and rehabilitate social trails. 24 staff and partners received Leave No Trace training. The coverage of the program by NPR reached over 4,000 community members. Red Rock Canyon NCA is now working toward Gold Standard Site designation.
Four local organizations came together in a joint effort for the Spotlight with 19 stakeholders trained in Leave No Trace, 45 community members participating in Leave No Trace Trivia Night, and 55 volunteers removing litter and handing out trash bags to boaters.
Spotlights offer a pathway toward Leave No Trace Gold Standard Designation through tailored education, training, programming, resources, and support. They help land managers integrate Leave No Trace throughout the recreation experience, from messaging and education to programming and staff training. By providing practical tools and programming, each Spotlight helps sites make Leave No Trace more visible, consistent, and actionable, strengthening implementation and building momentum toward Gold Standard status. Community engagement opportunities put Leave No Trace into action, inspire future Leave No Trace programming, and help create a lasting culture of responsible recreation.
Spotlight nominations can come from land managers who work within a park or protected area, or local organizations such as friends groups or nonprofit partners, so long as they have the backing and approval of the land manager and can meet all host responsibilities.
Before nominating a Spotlight, please read the Spotlight overview to understand the responsibilities and commitment required of the host site for a successful Spotlight activation. To nominate a site, you will also need to identify a co-host who will share these responsibilities.
If you are a concerned citizen looking to support your favorite park, we recommend reaching out directly to the site leadership or local group and making them aware of the opportunity to become a Leave No Trace Spotlight.
Spotlights entail up to 3 days of on-site programming, with one or two programs per day, based on site needs, goals, and capacity. The planning process includes Leave No Trace staff support in advance. Spotlights typically include staff/partner training workshops, community outreach and engagement activities, and assessing how Leave No Trace is currently integrated at a site to identify next steps toward Gold Standard designation. For more information, please review the Spotlight overview.
Yes! Although there is no fee to participate in the Spotlight program, the host organization/agency needs to understand the roles, responsibilities, and time commitment required for a successful Spotlight activation.
Spotlight hosts work closely with Leave No Trace staff to plan and promote the Spotlight. Hosts attend virtual planning meetings with Leave No Trace, select program types, secure venues, promote programs through multiple outlets, invite staff and partners, act as the onsite contact during programs, and handle onsite logistics for programs such as pop-up education and volunteer stewardship projects (incl tools/supplies waivers, instruction, etc).
Yes. While one person can take the lead on planning the Spotlight, a co-host is required to ensure there is a backup contact should something change during the planning process. Your co-host can be a member of the same agency or organization, a separate organization, or an active volunteer.
Prospective sites are reviewed by a panel and selections are based on a number of criteria including but not limited to:
A successful Spotlight includes meaningful engagement with staff, partners, and volunteers, while creating opportunities to reach new groups, build and strengthen partnerships, and sustain efforts beyond the Spotlight itself.
Strong participation requires effective promotion. Hosts play a key role in ensuring each program, whether a staff/partner training workshop or public outreach event, is widely publicized and well-attended. Using multiple channels, including email, newsletters, social media, website calendars, local media, and community networks, is essential.
While Leave No Trace provides support and promotional resources, the most successful Spotlights are those where the local host takes an active and lead role in spreading the word, building excitement, ensuring staff and partner engagement, and inspiring community involvement.
Leave No Trace staff will notify all sites of their acceptance status on a rolling basis starting in late 2026 and into 2027. Depending on the number of nominations, a second nomination period may be opened in the future for additional Spotlight sites.
2027 Spotlights will primarily take place between March and November. We will determine exact dates after selecting sites, based on host preferences, Leave No Trace staff availability, and other factors. We suggest holding a 3-day Spotlight activation from Thursday to Saturday to allow both weekday and weekend events.
No, Spotlights are their own unique program. Hot Spots address areas suffering from severe human-related impacts and fall under Leave No Trace consulting services, with a greater internal focus. In addition to a site-specific blend of educational, outreach, and training programs, they include multiple stakeholder meetings, intensive information gathering, and a comprehensive final report. Spotlights provide sites and hosts with practical tools and programming that make Leave No Trace a more visible, consistent, and actionable part of the recreation experience and build momentum toward Gold Standard designation.
By equipping land managers and local partners with practical tools, training, programming, and resources, Spotlights strengthen Leave No Trace implementation across the recreation experience and help advance sites toward Leave No Trace Gold Standard Designation. They empower sites to move beyond individual efforts toward a more consistent, lasting approach to responsible recreation and stewardship, turning a shared commitment to Leave No Trace into meaningful action.
