Aventure Écotourisme Québec, official international partner of Leave No Traces Center for Outdoor Ethics (LNT)

Following the will of its members to see the establishment of Leave No Trace in Quebec, Aventure Écotourisme Québec became an official international partner of Leave No Traces Center for Outdoor Ethics (LNT) in September 2004. That partnership allows AÉQ to give out certificates recognized by LNT, work on the translation of the documents and work on the adaptation of the contents to realities and specificities of our ecosystems and activities.

The program strives to educate visitors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations.

Since 2004, AÉQ organized the first trainings of 28 Masters Educators in Canadian ground in order to be able to organize French courses. Before this initiative, interested people had to go in the United States to be trained. The latest held in October, AÉQ was arranging and hosting the first Course recognized by Leave No Trace Canada, the first ever given in French. Since the international partnership, Trainer Courses (close 200 trained since September 2004!) and several workshops and conferences were offered through training schools, outfitters and various events reaching different audiences. With the international partnership, the Trainers trained in Quebec via AÉQ are recognized officially by LNT; a great step forwards!

The program

Leave No Trace is a nationwide (and international) program designed to assist visitors with their decisions when they travel and camp on America's public lands. The program strives to educate visitors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations.

Introduction

The national Leave No Trace (LNT) training program has grown to include over 1100 LNT Master Educators and hundreds of LNT Trainers. As the number of institutions, organizations and agencies interested in offering Leave No Trace training programs increases, the need to develop appropriate guidelines for those conducting Trainers courses has become apparent.

Leave No Trace trainer course

A LNT Trainer course is a modified version of a LNT Master course. The Trainer course is shorter, less comprehensive and less expensive to conduct than a Master course. Like Master courses, LNT Trainer courses emphasize skills and techniques essential to LNT minimum impact outdoor ethics and education. However, LNT Trainer courses do not teach basic travel, camping or other outdoor skills, nor do they provide outdoor instructor certification. Samples of Trainer course curriculums are available through LNT, Inc., The National Outdoor Leadership School, the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Leave No Trace website.

The Leave No Trace 7 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

You can contact Leave No Trace by email at info@leavenotrace.ca to obtain more information.

Check also the "Leave No Trace principles for ecotourists"**.
The principles of outdoor ethics for ecotourists concern all visitors who participate in ecotourism or outdoor activities that take place in vulnerable natural or cultural environments. Its goal is to provide visitors with the do's and don'ts of responsible practices.
** 100% recycled paper version available upon request.

Proud partners in the implementation of Leave No Trace in Québec:

To go further:

• Leave No Trace principles for ecotourists
• Leave No Trace Canada