Walkers Scheme Incorporates Leave No Trace Plans for the Future Exhibiting at the 'Farming Festival' - ISSUE 5: AUTUMN 09
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ISSUE 5: AUTUMN 09
Oyster Catcher caught in fishing line
Walkers Scheme Incorporates
Leave No Trace
Plans for the Future
Exhibiting at the
‘Farming Festival’
Page 1 | Leave No Trace Newsletter Page 2 | Leave No Trace Newsletter
Welcome
to Leave No Trace Ireland’s Plans for the Future...
fifth Newsletter…
To help secure the necessary funding to allow the continuation of Leave No Trace across Ireland,
Leave No Trace Ireland has recently completed a 3 year Strategic Plan which covers the period
Within the last 6 months Leave No Trace Ireland has:
January 2010 to December 2012. The Plan sets out the key areas of work which Leave No Trace
• Completed the wording for the Caving Skills and Ethics Booklet. Ireland will concentrate its activities on during the next 3 years.
• Secured 2 new partners.
• Agreed with Ordnance Survey Ireland to include information on Leave No Trace Work will focus on 4 Key Areas: A selection of the plan’s key c. Education & Training
on all its maps (but particularly those maps associated with walking routes). performance indicators include: • Re-establish Education Sub Committee
• Held a Board of Directors’ meeting in July 2009. a. Network Support • 30% increase in registered users of
• Produced its first e-newsletter. To gain the support of a wide range of a. Network Support the Forum
individuals and organisations for the • 9 new organisations recruited as • Train an extra 50+ people as Leave No
• Attended 2 major events in Ireland - Cool Earth in Dun Laoghaire and the
Leave No Trace programme and in turn Network members Trace Trainers
National Ploughing Championships in Athy.
assist them in promoting the message • Deliver 15+ Awareness Sessions per year
• Established 2 sub committees - Organisation & Resources Sub Committee & Education Sub Committee.
of Leave No Trace to as wide and diverse b. Marketing & Promotion • Deliver 1 Master Educator Course in
an audience as possible. • Effective distribution of the information 2010 and 2012
booklet to 5,000 people • Establish a Leave No Trace training
b. Marketing and Promotion • All member organisations present the centre in Southern Ireland
To promote the message of Leave No Leave No Trace Ireland logo on their own • Secure funding for the appointment of
Walkers Scheme Trace across Ireland through a variety of
mediums ensuring that as wide an
audience as possible is reached.
organisation’s homepage of their website
• Develop and upload educational
material to ‘Youtube.com’
an Education Officer
• Publish a training manual setting out
‘101 ways to teach Leave No Trace’
Incorporates Leave No Trace c. Education and Training
• 2 e-zines produced and distributed
annually with 100% increase
specific to the Irish environment
• Publish a Teachers’ Handbook
To deliver, using a wide range of in registered e-zine subscribers • Publish outdoor skills and ethics books
appropriate resources, an extensive • Examine the use of social marketing and for 3 activity specific activities
Fáilte Ireland has introduced the Walkers The accommodation providers, pubs, cafes, “The guiding principle behind the Walkers
educational and training programme produce a report with key • Publish a Master Educators’ Handbook
Welcome initiative which aims to raise the restaurants and walking guides within the Welcome Iniative - that all participating
standard of service walkers can expect from iniative promote and practise the message tourism operators and the local walking catering for all levels of those interested recommendations for Leave No • Create a DVD to show in awareness
their walking holiday in Ireland. Responding of Leave No Trace to their customers. In community make it a priority to deliver an in the Leave No Trace message and to Trace Ireland sessions
to the needs of walkers a series of Walkers order for businesses to meet this charter outstanding walking experience to all give support to those trained to spread • Attend 2 large events to promote Leave • Officially incorporate Leave No Trace into
Welcome charters have been developed. Failte Ireland will be offering a number of walkers in the area, presents a great the message. No Trace each year the training programme of a minimum
Leave No Trace Awareness Sessions so that opportunity to develop the area, increase • ‘Piggy back’ on a minimum of 5 events of 3 youth organisations
These charters are a commitment from the those involved can pass on and promote visitor numbers and grow revenue for all” d. Finances and Resources each year to promote Leave No Trace
local community and tourism providers to the message of Leave No Trace properly. stated Ciara Scully, Development Officer, The 3 year Strategic Plan is now available to
To secure the necessary funding to • Secure £300,000 PR per year
offer the best walking experience possible Fáilte Ireland.
sustain the future of Leave No Trace. • Produce and distribute 2 newsletters per download from the homepage of the
in the area by providing the following: “We are delighted to be a part of this
year to 800 stakeholders website - www.leavenotraceireland.org.
• Guaranteed regular maintenance and initiative; it really is a fantastic way to For more information please visit
upkeep of local walks promote the message of Leave No Trace www.failteireland.ie.
• A local walking officer offering within the walking community”
assistance and advice enthused Beverley Pierson, Project Officer,
• Walks information, including map Leave No Trace Ireland.
boards and signage
• Local Walkers Welcome approved Approx 150 local businesses and tourism
accommodation providers in 5 Walkers Welcome areas have
• Local amenities committed to providing already signed up to these charters and
walker friendly service in shops, pubs visitors to these areas are encouraged to
and cafes (for example; the provision of look for the Walkers Welcome Logo to be
packed lunches, spaces for mucky assured of a warm welcome with ample
walking boots etc). information and services to help them
enjoy their walking experience.
www.leavenotraceireland.org www.leavenotraceireland.org
Page 3 | Leave No Trace Newsletter Page 4 | Leave No Trace Newsletter
Training
Trainer Course Report
visited a coastal and woodland area. The
Awareness Session Reports
Report 1
Course Facilitator/s:
Damian Martin, Martin Harken, John
McMahon (Instructors at Ardclinis Outdoor
Adventure Centre)
Venue: Watertop Open Farm, Ballycastle,
Co.Antrim
Report 2
Course Facilitator/s:
Damian Martin, Martin Harken, John
McMahon (Instructors at Ardclinis Outdoor
Adventure Centre)
Venue: Fair Head, Co.Antrim
Date: August 2009
The camping experience lasted 24 hours and
offered the group more than ample time to
cover all aspects of Leave No Trace.
The weather on the overnight camp was
generally very good and they had a camp
fire using drift wood from the shoreline.
Date: 21st July 2009 Course Participants: Members of Moyle
woodland area was particularly relevant to Course Participants: Carryduff Cubs Coastal Challenge
the course as participants met a group of Number of Participants: 35 Number of Participants: 36 Next morning the group spent time
over 60 people making their way up the focusing on a number of the Leave No Trace
Trassey track in the Mourne Mountains and principles most relevant to their current
This session was run from Watertop Open During the summer, 3 instructors from
came across a ‘weekend drinking spot’ with location - Minimise the Impact of Fire,
discarded sleeping bags, tents, bottles and Farm in the Antrim hills. Even though the Ardclinis Outdoor Adventure Centre ran 3
weather on that particular weekend was awareness sessions with participants on the Dispose of Waste Properly, Travel and Camp
other rubbish.
miserable the young people interacted and Moyle Coastal Challenge, part of the summer on Durable Ground and Be Considerate of
Having decided to remove this rubbish and enjoyed the short awareness session on Leave splash programme. Each participant took Others. “Once again I used the games from
having recovered from their initial outrage, No Trace. To begin, the Leave No Trace DVD part in an 8 week course including life the website…the awareness sessions went
the group had some really constructive was played to the group before taking them saving, first aid, outdoor activity and an very well and we had lots of opinions and
discussion about how to deal with this out to play games designed to highlight overnight camp. The purpose of the camp debates from everyone. I believe the
problem and realised that moral indignation, some of the principles of Leave No Trace. They was to give everyone a positive camping participants were having a positive
although justified, does not lend itself to experience. Make sure you are in an area
concentrated on the following principles experience and use the opportunity to
problem solving. If anyone has the answer to where nature can be clearly seen and
this dilemma - answers on a postcard please! because the instructor felt that these were the introduce the principles of Leave No Trace.
most relevant in relation to the area that they appreciated in order to get full benefit from
The course finished on Sunday evening with were in - Dispose of Waste Properly, Travel and the games on the awareness sessions”
a feeling that the participants were going to Camp on Durable Ground and Respect Farm added Damian Martin.
prove widely influential to lots and lots of Animals and Wildlife.
younger people, who perhaps were being
introduced to the outdoors for the first time. The lead instructor on the session, Damian
Course Facilitator/s:
Stephen Millar (Leave No Trace Ireland relating to points, that would be discussed Martin commented “The use of the games
Stephen added “As a very wise man once
Master Educator & Full Time Instructor at (stemming from the 7 principles). on the website to teach Leave No Trace in
said, if you get them young then they are
Tollymore Mountain Centre) converts for life”. Ireland is a fantastic tool to get messages
Venue: Tollymore Mountain Centre, Most of the participants work with younger across to all ages and increase the number
Newcastle, Co.Down people within their organisation, therefore Leave No Trace Ireland would like to of people questioning their own impact on
Date: 1st & 2nd August 2009 it was very beneficial to them to look at fun welcome 8 new Trainers: David Batt, Sharon wild areas”.
Course Participants: Scouting Ireland ways of introducing the message of Leave Chapman, Andrew Slowey, James Usher,
Number of Participants: 8 No Trace and the many games that can be Rachael Deegan, Stephen Gulsenan, Mealla These games (specific to the Irish
delivered to illustrate it. Barry and Allegra Lalor. environment) can be accessed through the
This course was held over 2 days with the
following link on the website:
participants meeting at Tollymore Being a Trainer course, emphasis was put
http://www.leavenotraceireland.org/
Mountain Centre on Saturday morning. on understanding how different people learn
WaysToTeach.aspx
They were given a teaching subject prior to
“It was great to see from an instructor’s perspective so many people who were passionate Education Sub Committee
about delivering this as part of their work with young people and that Scouting Ireland has Leave No Trace has re-established a small
really decided to make Leave No Trace a major part its ethos. As it really is at the front line of WITHIN LEAVE NO TRACE IRELAND:
Education Sub Committee who will liaise
working with young people who use the outdoors regularly, I can only see Leave No Trace
having an increasingly positive role” - Stephen Millar, Course Facilitator. with the Board and be responsible for • There are now a total of 22 Master Educators.
directing and prioritising the Education
the course with the main emphasis being programme of Leave No Trace and co- • To date there has been 26 Trainer Courses delivered.
differently and therefore how teachers
on delivering a presentation on one of the should practise different methods of ordinating the development of the Trainers
7 principles to their group of peers, delivery within the visual and Kinaesthetic • There are currently 182 people qualified as Trainers of Leave No Trace across Ireland.
and Master Educators. The Education Sub
considering the use of the outdoors and learning framework. Another point Committee consists of members all with • There have been approximately 135 ‘Awareness Sessions’ delivered to date.
the environment to help discuss and discussed was the fact that teachers often
deliver in the same way they were taught education backgrounds including a Leave
illustrate teaching points. Some
which has been traditionally very audio No Trace Master Educator and a Details of all Training Courses and Awareness Sessions can be found on the ‘training’ section on
participants had teaching topics that were
focused, efforts should move away from representative from Scouting Ireland. www.leavenotraceireland.org
not one of the 7 principles but were topics
just presenting information to delivery in a
fun and interactive manner.
On the first day of the course the group
www.leavenotraceireland.org www.leavenotraceireland.org
Page 5 | Leave No Trace Newsletter Page 6 | Leave No Trace Newsletter
Exhibiting at the Leave No Trace Ireland have also been liaising with other events across Ireland to ensure a Leave No Trace presence:
• The Leave No Trace Ireland leaflets were added a link on their website and also • The organisers of Monaghan Walking
‘Farming Festival’ This year’s National Ploughing recreational activity was gates being
distributed at the Dublin Horse Show in
August with over 60,000 people passing
through the show.
• The Beast of Ballyhoura took place in
August where the Leave No Trace leaflets
distributed Leave No Trace leaflets.
• ACARA trekkers run various outdoor
events all over the world. They have agreed
to include information on Leave No Trace
on their website and to send out the
Week included information on Leave No
Trace in their walking week brochure
and also distributed Leave No Trace leaflets.
• CAAN attended the following 3 events
and distributed Leave No Trace leaflets at
were distributed. Leave No Trace leaflet to all their trekkers. all 3 events – The Belfast Maritime
Championships were held in Athy, left open. • Gael Force West took place in August • The organisers of Donegal walking week Festival / Tall Ships, Waterways Ireland
Co.Kildare from 22nd to 24th September. with approx 1500 competitors. in May hosted Awareness Sessions on River Fest and the Dublin Docklands
This is a huge show having in excess of The majority of people responded well to The organisers included information on Leave No Trace throughout the week Festival.
100,000 people attending and for this the message and believed that it needed Leave No Trace in their monthly newsletter, for participants.
reason the message of Leave No Trace to be embraced by all using the outdoors
was presented at a basic level, creating
good brand awareness throughout the
farming community. This would be hard
to achieve in any other way as it is such a
for recreation. Beverley Pierson, Leave No
Trace Ireland Project Officer commented
“This show is a great way to embrace a
community that would otherwise be
Thousands Hit the Trails
targeted show.
Leave No Trace Ireland was very thankful
unreachable. It also allows for a wider
engagement with other groups such as
scouts, school groups and families”.
for National Trails Day
Across the country, 125 trail based events were held all over Ireland on Sunday 4th
to be placed on the Department of October for National Trails Day - a celebration of Ireland’s wonderful variety of trails
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs To attract children, one of the Master
and a chance for everyone to enjoy some of the most beautiful countryside, forests,
stand, based within their rural recreation Educators Una Donoghue tried
section. Éamon Ó Cuív TD, something a little different! Una brought
mountains and lakes.
(Minister for Community, Rural and some fake poo along with her to display
Activities ranged from family cycling, people taking part. A number of sporting
Gaeltacht Affairs) officially launched the on the stand. It certainly worked well in
mountain biking, scavenger hunts, Leave No personalities also came out for the day
new fund raising campaign on behalf of getting people’s attention – the first
Trace events, orienteering, mountain hikes, including former Olympian John Tracey who
Muintir na Tíre within the Department’s reaction was to think ‘what on earth is
canoeing and horse riding. More than attended a walk from Ticknock, Co. Dublin
stand and therefore attracted a lot of that’ which led Una nicely on to discuss
10,000 people, compared to 6,000 in 2008, and Olive Loughnane, World
visitors particularly farmers which was a the message of Leave No Trace and why it
came out to enjoy some of Ireland’s most Championship silver medalist who helped
good way to engage with them. The is important to dispose of waste properly
beautiful scenery on the wonderful network out at the woodland walk in Coillte Farran
farmers were all appreciative of Leave No when using the outdoors.
of established trails. Woods, Co. Cork. The day was widely
Trace, the most recurrent problem with
covered by the national and local media
Three Leave No Trace events were held on and the feedback from those who attended
Taking part in the Festival of World Cultures the day with approximately a total of 100 was hugely positive.
Leave No Trace Ireland manned a stand at Cool Earth in late August, an event held as part of the Festival For more information please visit www.nationaltrailsday.ie
of World Cultures in Dun Laoghaire.
Wicklow’s ‘Young Observers’
Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council's were happy with the numbers of people that I hope we can be there again. The message is
Environment & Culture Department were they had the opportunity to engage with over getting through, the interest as always is alive
proud to present the 3rd annual Cool Earth the 2 days. There was, as always, a huge amount and I am looking forward to next year already”.
Exhibition, a 2 day environmental exhibition of interest, a willingness to discuss the issues
that illustrated simple ways to reduce your
carbon footprint!
and have a go at the true / false questionnaire.
value the message!
Angela Sweeney, a Leave No Trace Trainer and Session as part of the Young Observers Desmond and Helen Lawless took each of
Along with guest speakers and musical Area Community Officer for Dún Laoghaire Awards 2009. The students were doing a 3 day the smaller groups in turn to look at one of
interludes, Cool Earth featured information Rathdown County Council manned the Leave residential workshop based at Baltinglass the Leave No Trace principles in detail.
stands by organisations and businesses No Trace Ireland stand for the duration of the Outdoor Education Centre built around the
working to combat climate change through event and commented,“This is the 3rd year of theme of ‘Discovering Wicklow’s Landscape’. Many of the students have some
global thinking and local action, all hoping to Cool Earth and the 2nd year that Leave No The workshop was organised by the Wicklow involvement in outdoor recreation and
illustrate the simple ways to reduce your Trace Ireland have exhibited and it seemed to Uplands Council with input from the Irish all displayed a good understanding of
carbon footprint! me that the message of Leave No Trace is Uplands Forum and funding from the how activities can impact on other people
getting through, I didn’t have to explain as Heritage Council and the Department of and the natural environment.
Many people visited the Leave No Trace Ireland frequently as before what Leave No Trace was, Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs.
stand and left with the information booklet and most people seem to be familiar with the The response from the group was really
hopefully with an understanding of what Leave principles and the logo which I thought Over the 3 days the group considered how positive, proving again that Leave No Trace
No Trace is all about. The weather, as always was was interesting. the Irish landscape is changing and how the is an effective way to package and promote
unpredictable and the increase in footfall past Thirty two transition year students from 7 landscape is shared with others. On the final a responsible use message. The biggest hit
the stand was indicative of a turn for the worst different schools across Wicklow recently morning of the workshop the group was was undoubtedly Aodhnait’s chocolate and
outside but all in all Leave No Trace Ireland participated in a Leave No Trace Awareness split into 3 and Aodhnait Carroll, Jill banana special cooked over a mound fire!
www.leavenotraceireland.org www.leavenotraceireland.org
Teaching Leave No Trace in Ireland
Made Easier!
Leave No Trace Ireland has made it easier for games that were being used to teach the
those who teach Leave No Trace in Ireland by programme in Ireland were sometimes very
making games specific to the Irish specific to the American environment. Now
environment available on its website. the programme can be taught in a way that
The section ‘Ways to teach Leave No Trace’ makes it relate to the Irish environment,
consists of a range of games specifically hopefully creating a better understanding.
tailored to each principle to ensure a complete
understanding of the whole programme.
As the programme originated in America, the
To access the teaching games please visit - www.leavenotraceireland.org/WaysToTeach.aspx.
New Ezine!
Leave No Trace Ireland launched its new hand to answer questions and how to
ezine in August 2009. The ezine allows register onto the online forum.
visitors to keep up to date on any current
developments within the programme. For To subscribe to the ezine, please visit
example, the Dublin Mountains Partnership www.leavenotraceireland.org and enter
volunteer ranger programme, Leave No your email address into the
Trace in the Irish Mountain Log, events ‘E-Newsletter’ box.
where Leave No Trace experts will be on
New DVD to come!
One of Leave No Trace Ireland’s Board of Directors Shay Walsh has been working on creating a new DVD for Leave No Trace Ireland. The DVD
will be specific to the Irish environment and will be a useful aid for Leave No Trace training. The DVD is still at the production stage and the
script is almost finished, it is hoped to become available early next year. Work has also begun to recruit volunteers for the voice overs and to
act as actors for the walk-through parts. The DVD will be produced by Chris Avison on behalf of Mountain Meitheal for Leave No Trace Ireland.
Contact Details
Leave No Trace Ireland, c/o CAAN, The Stableyard, Barnett Demesne, Malone Road, Belfast, BT9 5PB
T. +44 (0) 28 9030 3930 F. +44 (0) 28 9062 6248 E. beverley@leavenotraceireland.org www.leavenotraceireland.org
At present Leave No Trace Ireland is funded and supported by the organisations listed below. Leave No Trace relies heavily on the
support it receives from its partnerships with other organisations. This ensures the project is kept sustainable and continues to carry
out its important activities including its training and spreading the message. Without this help, Leave No Trace would struggle to exist
in Ireland. If you would like more information on how to become a partner of Leave No Trace Ireland and the range of benefits that
different levels of partnership bring, please visit the support section on www.leavenotraceireland.org
Main Financial Partners of Leave No Trace Ireland
Other Financial Partners of Leave No Trace Ireland
An Taisce • Ballynahinch Castle Hotel • CAAN • Catholic Guides of Ireland • Dublin Mountains Partnership • Irish Girl Guides • Irish Uplands
Forum • Limavady Borough Council • Metamorphic Media • Mountaineering Ireland • Mountain Meitheal • Mourne Cycle Tours and Tory Bush
Cottages • Scouting Ireland • Sport Northern Ireland • Wicklows Upland Council
Design by www.thinkstudio.co.uk
www.leavenotraceireland.org
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