Leave no Trace trainer class - Feb. 9

[ke4uzi]

Hello everyone, we are teaching a Leave no Trace trainers class and are inviting everyone to attend !
Classes are  February 9-10, 2008 at 8:00 am , at BSA camp Tukabatchee in Pine Level , Alabama (Prattville). Two day of class,one night of camping either car camping or backpacking, FOOD is provided.Open to all.
Contact and information:

State advocate: Skip Essman
334-324-0339 after 4:00 pm
e-mail lessman@bellsouth.net

Our future depends on us to learn and teach !!

[Lostsheep]

Just out of curiosity, are you going to this LNT training course? I have been teaching/assisting with this course for the last 3 years and personally think it's a great experince. If you'll be there, I'll look forward to meeting you there! It's definatly a good experience.

If you're going, mind me asking what you are expecting so that we can use the suggestions for the upcoming event? If you've already been, mind telling us what you did/didn't like?

I hope many others would feel inclined to go. More information can be found here at the LNT.org website. (scroll to the bottom).

[ke4uzi]

Hello and yes I'll be there teaching , 2nd year now along with my son teaching as well.
I am very involved in lnt,the program as a whole is sound out door practice.I like to think it's learned common sense.But also think there is a need for more than just the camping and backpacking aspect of it. There is a place in everyone's lives ,in some form all of the principles of Leave no Trace. Whether it's in the back country or at your place of work, your friendly shopping center or just that stretch of lonely road between home and your favorite fishing hole.
LNT for fishing , hunting, camping, backpacking, mountain biking, canoeing, high adventure, low adventure, rock climbing, Scouting, youth groups, churches, city parks, all things wild.
Leaving  your mark on the world is over rated leave it cleaner than you found it !
I want my grand kids to see the same world I see not a garbage dump.
Everyone is welcome to voice their opinions but before you do come out and hear our programs,listen to our stories,tell us yours and then make up your mind.
The program is always expanding and growing.
Tim R.

[Lostsheep]

Well, if you assisted with it last year, then I probably met you at some point. Unfortunatly, I'm having a hard time putting the name with the face. Could you elaborate a little on what you taught/helped with so that I can place you a little better?

Too help you out, 'Papa Smurf' is my father. Maybe you do/don't know him, but most folks in the council know him by that nickname and he works pretty closely with Henry L. in the events for camporees and the LNT training. He served as SM for T-307 for many years until he resigned the postition to move into the Council Camporee field. I assisted pretty closely with Henry in the 'backpacking' area of the training seminar and have been now for the last few years. Mostly the "Plan ahead & Prepare", "Leave what you find", and "minimize campfire impacts". I believe those will be some of the areas I help touch on again at this coming trip.

You are definitely correct about LNT being critical to outdoors as it is to everyday life. At the rate we're going, there's a strong possibility that wildernesse and solitude could dissapear like several things our previous generations loved so much.

I look forward to meeting you again at the campout.

[ke4uzi]

I was the first up so to speak just behind Beth with the intro to lnt. I did the intro to principles. My son was taking the class last year, this year my daughter will be.
see ya there!

[Lostsheep]

Sounds great. See ya there. I'm working on my equipment as we speak.

Make sure you look for me and I'll do the same. I'd really like to get a face with the name.

[Magic City Matt]

Setting this sticky until it is over.

10 Karma points to anyone participating in this event. 10 more for posting pictures of you at the Tukabatchee dining hall or pavilion . I miss that place. Haven't seen it since I was 14.

Matthew

[Lostsheep]

Matthew,
   Chances are, you remember the old dining hall and pavilion. Those have been removed and reconstructed at the now known "Camp Hobbs" since the new camp has been built. It's called the new camp, even though it's been up for 8 years now. Great place.

I'll take some more pictures for you Matthew, but it's definitely different. Here are some photos from last years LNT.

Welcome to Camp Tukabatchee


Cat Hole Preperation


Stove Demonstartion (Minimize Campfire Impacts)


I'm sure Ke4uzi and I will have some good shots to share with everyone. Ke4uzi, look for me and I'll do the same.

[ke4uzi]

Will do and maybe this year I will not forget my camera....

[Magic City Matt]

Any body going through this training session will also get a Leave No Trace Award in their profile like Lost Sheep, and ke4uzi. here.

Hope this event does well guys

[Magic City Matt]

So who went?

[Lostsheep]

For those that couldn't make, sorry you missed out. Do know that we will put this on again next year around the same time. It was a great trip. I believe ke4uzi will chime in shortly too. I have yet to get the photos onto the computer, but some of them were great. Apparently, I had met ke4uzi a few times prior and again this trip. His knowledge in the area is great and he can share lots of valuable information with anybody who asks.

Here's a brief bit about what happened:
    Lots of folks arrived Friday from far distances to avoid the early Sat morning drive. We had ladies from New Orleans, LA, Boy Scouts from Mobile, AL, college students from Georgia Southern University, trail guides from North Carolina, and local LNT Masters and Trainers from Montgomery, Troy, and Birmingham present at the event. The registration topped 30 people at some points. Friday night, those that arrived, set up camp around the new dining hall and socialized with everyone in attendance. After everyone had settled in, met with everyone, and filled their guts, myself and another scouter took about 6 people on a night hike around the new camp and old camp to give a little tour. Maybe covering 3-4 miles in a couple of hours. We took in the sites of the established campsites, the two-dollar bridge, the remains of the old camp, the new camp and it's highlights, and the general nature of the nightlife. Excellent.

    Saturday the course started and we proceeded to cover the Leave No Trace Guidelines and show a hands on approach at what it meant to practice the principles. We did demonstrations of properly building campfires, property disposing of campfire wastes, taking precautions in picking campsites, proper methods of traversing through trails, meadows, and pristine area, and we also covered poopology (proper techniques and method for discarding human wastes). The camp provided meals for everyone and kept a constant supply of snacks and drinks for each participant. The major requirement for the LNT Trainer course was for the participants to present a 7min presentation on the LNT priciples in general or one major point in particular. Most of these were very well done and provided an hour or so of laughter and learning. Another night hike of 6-7 went around the camp (different trail and direction) around 9pm, and most relegated to the tents for the evening.

    Sunday morning consisted of waking up, breaking camp and learning the difficulties of a twiggy fire. Since every trip usually consist of a fire, we emphasize how to propery build one without destroying the area, and how to remove your traces. As part of the event, the group must boil their water over a twiggy fire and prepare enough oatmeal for each person. This, as usual, provides to be a challenge getting enough heat to boil the water. Once breakfast was prepared, we hiked back to the dining hall for the conclusion of the weekend. A few more points, a few more skits, a few more questions and answers, and then graduation from the training course.

We could not have asked for better weather, a better group of people, or a better place to hold the event. For those that missed, maybe next year. If anyone has any question or would like to get more information, feel free to ask questions too.

[ke4uzi]

What a group of people we had at this training..By far the most involved group and most interested out of all of the.I have to second Lostsheep's sentiments.
If you were not there you missed a lot of great information and learning.
I'll try posting a few photo's.