Steward San Juans’ Natural “Hot Spots”!

Special “Leave No Trace” Training June 17 & 18 on San Juan and Lopez Islands

— from Dona Wuthnow, Director, County Parks and Recreation —

On October 7, 2014, San Juan County became the first County in the U.S. designated as a voluntary “Leave No Trace” Area as the County Council adopted the Guiding Principles and Ethic to support Stewardship on the San Juan Islands. Be a part of this Legacy!

Leave No Trace, Inc. Selected Washington’s San Juan Islands as one of its eight endangered ‘Hot Spots’ in the Nation in 2014. Last fall, the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers held workshops on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Islands training over 75 islanders and reaching out to many others at a week of events across the islands. The trainers are returning this month for two days of events designed for youth and adults interested in learning about Leave No Trace Guiding Principles and Ethics to help raise awareness about stewardship of our County’s natural areas. “Many outdoor areas across our nation, like the San Juan Islands, are negatively impacted by recreational use. We are literally loving the land to death,” according to Danielle Rowland, Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer. “In most cases, the land impact isn’t due to a malicious intent to harm nature and wildlife. Instead, it’s simply lack of an understanding or know-how of ‘Leave No Trace’.”

The workshops will feature the Subaru/LNT Traveling Trainers team, with ideas for incorporating Leave No Trace principles into daily living and recreating, business advertising, touring, guiding, camping, teaching, staff development and for volunteers on public lands.

Individuals, volunteers, students and business owners and their staffs with a connection or interest in the islands’ waters and public lands are encouraged to attend these free workshops. Learn about Leave No Trace principles to help protect and preserve the San Juan Islands for years to come. All sessions have limited space.

San Juan Island-Wednesday June 17 Events:

• 9 am – 11:30 am — ‘Youth Ambassadors’ at San Juan County Land Bank Office & grounds, San Juan Island, 328 Caines St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 RSVP: with Sarah Hanson: San Juan Island Conservation Corps: sarah@madrona.org.
• 12:30 pm – 3 pm — ‘Island Ambassadors’ at San Juan County Land Bank Office & grounds, San Juan Island, 328 Caines St, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 RSVP: with San Juan County Parks Department: parks@sanjuanco.com , 378.8420.

Lopez Island-Thursday June 18 Events:

• 9– 11:30 am — ‘Youth Ambassadors’ at Odlin Park, Picnic Shelter, Lopez Island RSVP: with Amanda Wedow: Lopez Island Conservation Corps: 468.2951, lopezconservationcorps@gmail.com .
• 12:30 pm – 3 pm — ‘Island Ambassadors’ at Fishermans Bay Spit Preserve, SJCLB, Lopez Island. RSVP: with Tim Clark: San Juan County Land Bank: 468.2010, tclark@rockisland.com

“The San Juan Islands are a popular destination for visitors around the world. The area sees more than 800,000 visits a year and experiences visitor-created impacts in many areas. These impacts include littering, damage to vegetation and trees, trail erosion, walking in undesignated areas and wildlife feeding,” said Nick Teague, Bureau of Land Management. “We are thrilled to partner with the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainers to help educate our community, raise awareness for future enjoyment, and preserve these beautiful landscapes.”

The San Juan County Council adoption of LNT principles and ethics was a result of the local Terrestrial Managers Working Group reaching out to the National Leave No Trace Center in Boulder, CO for help with trainings to instill Leave No Trace principles in locals and visitors. The Terrestrial Managers’ Working Group is a partnership of Agencies, NGOs, & individuals involved in land management, education and preservation in San Juan County such as:  San Juan Islands National Monument, National Park Service, US Fish & Wildlife, WA State Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, San Juan Preservation Trust, WA State Parks, San Juan County Parks and The Land Bank, San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, Kwiaht, San Juan County Marine Resources Committee, and others.

“Leave No Trace” is a nationwide program devoted to responsible use of public lands, through education and cooperation with businesses, schools, and all the people that work, teach, guide, and harvest on public lands, however, the principles are applicable to lands everywhere. Through a countywide effort the Leave No Trace principles and skills will help preserve and protect the Islands landscapes for islanders and visitors alike for decades to come.