Articles
Code of Conduct for Outdoor Enthusiasts
Chuck Fitzgerald C2005. All Rights Reserved.
My favorite outdoor related quote comes from John Muir, the
father of our national park system and founder of the Sierra
Club. He said, "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he
finds it attached to the rest of the world." This quote means
more to me today than it did twenty years ago and will undoubtedly mean more to me still as I spend an increasing amount
of time out of doors. Muir is telling us something of great
importance - we are attached to nature too. Therefore, how we
think and act while visiting wild places today will ultimately
determine the amount of enjoyment by outdoor enthusiasts for ever
more. So how should we think and act?
A code of conduct exists for outdoor enthusiasts. It is called
the Principles of Leave No Trace. This set of best practices was
designed specifically to ensure our outdoor recreational
activities are sustainable over long periods of time. Leave No
Trace is an organization dedicated to educating people on how to
minimize their impacts while enjoying the outdoors. Here are
their seven principles.
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
BackCountry Toys is a supporter of Leave No Trace and we
encourage all outdoor enthusiasts to do likewise. To learn how
to put these principles into action, you may find more
information on their website at www.lnt.org or on our website as
well.
Over the years, I have tugged on countless things in nature. I
have found out they are indeed attached to everything else -
including me. As outdoor enthusiasts we understand the
importance of our relationship with the backcountry and we are
keenly aware of how our attitudes and our actions determine the
long term viability of these wild places. Here is another of my
favorite quotes. This one is by Michel Montaigne. "Let us
permit Nature to take her own way; she better understands her own
affairs than we." Use this information and you'll Get It Right
The First Time. Get Outdoors!
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About the author: Chuck Fitzgerald is the owner of Arizona based
BackCountry Toys, an online specialty store with the "Best Gear
Out There" and dedicated to helping outdoor enthusiasts to "Get
It Right The First Time" with timely educational information.
Please visit http://www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear
and to receive the Fact & Tips e-newsletter, "FreshAir." (800)
316-9055.
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