Introduction
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. Leave No Trace is best understood as an educational and ethical program, not as a set of rules and regulations. Leave No Trace is a national and international program designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts with their decisions about how to reduce their impacts in the outdoors through the use of seven guiding principles. The program strives to educate all those who enjoy the outdoors about the nature of their recreational impacts as well as techniques to prevent and minimize such impacts. Leave No Trace courses function like a pyramid. Master Educator courses are at the top of the pyramid and train people to become comprehensive Leave No Trace educators, or Master Educators. Master Educators, in turn, teach the second level, the Trainer Course, to people who become Leave No Trace Trainers. Trainers (or Master Educators) are then able to conduct our third level of training called Awareness Workshops, which are designed for the general public and promote Leave No Trace. The Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base is committed to implementing Leave No Trace in all levels of the program.

Courses
The Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base currently offers the following Leave No Trace courses: Master Educator Courses
The Master Educator Course provides participants with a comprehensive overview of Leave No Trace skills and ethics through practical application in a field-based setting. The course is six days, the first day of which is spent in a classroom, introducing the course and schedule, providing in-depth information on the overall Leave No Trace program and the Center for Outdoor Ethics, reviewing gear and packing. The remaining days are spent in the field on a short backcountry trip learning and practicing the principles of Leave No Trace.
Each course is staffed with a minimum of two highly experienced outdoor professionals who are Master Educator Instructors. You will learn Leave No Trace techniques through skits, discussions and hands-on activities. To practice Leave No Trace teaching strategies in a supportive, educational environment, each participant will teach a short session geared toward minimum impact Leave No Trace concerns.
This course is designed for people who are actively teaching outdoor skills to others, which makes this perfect for scoutmasters and assistants, venture crew advisors and associates, pack leaders, unit trainers, district or council training committee chairs and members plus those who wish to be their council's outdoor ethics advocate.
The Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base will be conducting the first Master Educator course for mountaineering specific Leave No Trace August of 2009.

Upcoming Courses: August 23-28, 2009

Master Education Course Application Form

Trainers Course
The Trainer Course is a vital component of the nationwide Leave No Trace program. It is a shortened version of the Master course. Participants receive introductory training in Leave No Trace skills and ethics in a condensed two-day format. The Trainer Course assists the student participants in learning more about the seven principles of Leave No Trace and techniques for teaching these low impact skills.
Leave No Trace Trainer courses are two-day trainings put on in an outdoor setting by Master Educators. Trainer courses are designed to help you better understand and teach Leave No Trace skills and ethics. This course is perfect for scoutmasters and assistants, senior patrol leaders and assistants, junior assistant scoutmasters, troop instructors, Venture crew advisors and associates, Venture crew presidents and vice presidents, pack and den leaders, the Order of the Arrow and unit trainers.
The Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base is currently offering a fall and spring Trainers course annually.

Upcoming Courses: June 5-7, 2009

Awareness Workshops
An Awareness Workshop is any formal Leave No Trace presentation that is one-day or less in length. These presentations can include a wide variety of programs ranging from a 30-minute presentation to a day-long workshop. Experiential-based training, in an outdoor setting is encouraged.
Participants receive introductory training in the skills and ethics of Leave No Trace. Workshop topics include the underlying ethics and seven principles of Leave No Trace:

These workshops are designed for educators, children, college students, Girl Scouts, outdoor professionals, Boy Scouts, trail crews, hiking club members and others interested in Leave No Trace skills and ethics. These are perfect presentations for troop meetings, crew meetings, Order of the Arrow meetings and roundtables.

Camp Sheppard currently offers Awareness Workshops twenty-four weekends a year. The Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base has also made these workshops a cornerstone of all our treks. All trekkers will receive their Awareness training upon completion of these treks. For information on Leave No Trace course offerings, tuition or to schedule an Awareness Workshop in your area, please contact the Council's Outdoor Ethics Advocate or the Camp Sheppard High Adventure Base.