Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If this is your first time visiting our blog, we’re happy to have you here. We are all about nature, adventure, and making the most out of the beautiful outdoors of South Carolina. If you enjoy all things hiking, paddling, kayaking, and spending time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Since the weather is getting warmer, we want to help you get out there and take advantage of all that the Lowcountry has to offer! We offer guided tours of the beautiful Lowcountry by kayak, paddleboard, ferry, boat, and private charter. We also have hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, and camping. Basically, anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. In our last post, we talked about some of our reptilian friends here in the Lowcountry: The American Alligator! Today, we’ll be turning our attention to Leave No Trace– A set of outdoor ethics designed to promote conservation. Here at Coastal Expeditions, we are all about conservation, and while we encourage folks to get out there and explore, we also want to encourage them to do it safely and responsibly. If you’re interested in learning more about Leave No Trace, stick around! Let’s get started.

It is no surprise that humans have had a massive impact on the environment. From fossil fuels to littering, we have seen the effects. In fact, 9 billion tons of litter end up in the ocean every year. Our impact on the environment was part of the reason why Leave No Trace was founded. By the 1960s, wildland recreation was exploding, and we began to see overcrowding and ecological damage. During the 1970s, national parks began limiting group sizes as well as where camping was and was not allowed. There were soon efforts to educate recreationists on how to minimize their impact on the environment– The very beginnings of Leave No Trace as we know it today. Leave No Trace was established by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics in the mid-1980s, in conjunction with work by the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management. The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is an organization that provides education, skills, research, and science to help people care for the outdoors. 

There are 7 principles of Leave No Trace, which provide a framework of practices for anyone exploring or visiting the outdoors. The principles have roots in backcountry settings but have since been adapted so that they can be applied anywhere. From local parks to national forests and even in your own backyard, the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace should be applied. Let’s take a closer look at the 7 principles!

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare: Planning your trip ensures the safety of groups and individuals. Poor planning can lead to the degradation of natural resources. To follow this principle, you should:
   – Know the regulations and special concerns of the area you are visiting. For example, is there currently a fire ban in effect?
   – Consider the weather and terrain of the area and prepare for extreme weather, hazards, and emergencies
   – Choose equipment and clothing for comfort, safety, and Leave No Trace qualities
   – Visit in small groups when possible, or split larger groups into smaller groups
   – Remove food from commercial packaging and into sealable bags to minimize waste
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: You should move through the outdoors without damaging the land or waterways. Durable surfaces include maintained trails and designated campsites, rock, gravel, sand, dry grasses, or snow. You should camp at least 200 feet away from lakes or streams. Here are some other general guidelines:
   – Concentrate use on existing trails and campsites
   – Keep campsites small and focus activity in areas where vegetation is absent
   – Remember that good campsites are found, not made
3. Dispose of Waste Properly: Always consider the impact that you will leave behind, which will affect other people, water, and wildlife.
   – “Pack it in, pack it out”: Anything you bring should leave with you– It is your responsibility to clean up before you leave
   – Plan meals to avoid messy and smelly garbage
   – Utilize toilet facilities whenever possible. If this is not possible, dig a cathole that is about 6 to 8 inches deep and at least 200 feet from the water. Choose an inconspicuous site that is untraveled by people. The cathole should be covered and disguised with natural materials when finished
   – To wash yourself or your dishes, carry water 200 feet away from lakes or streams
4. Leave What You Find: Allow others to have a sense of discovery by leaving objects of interest where you found them.
   – Examine and photograph objects of interest such as rocks, plants, or artifacts
   – Do not touch cultural or historic structures or artifacts
   – Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you found them
   – Leave areas as you found them: Do not dig trenches or build structures
   – Avoid damaging live trees and plants (Ex: Carving initials into trees, hammering nails into trees, picking flowers)
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts: Campfires are perhaps the first thing someone thinks of when hearing the word “camping”, but the natural appearance of many areas has been degraded due to the overuse of fires and increasing demand for firewood.
   – Consider using a lightweight stove for cooking and a lantern for light. Stoves operate in almost any weather condition, and they Leave No Trace!
   – If you must build a fire, do so in an area where firewood is abundant
   – Keep fires small
   – Use established fire rings, fire pans, or mound fires
   – Never leave a fire unattended
   – Burn all wood and coals to white ash, put out campfires completely, and scatter cool ashes
6. Respect Wildlife: Wildlife is exciting, beautiful, and fascinating, but it is best to learn about wildlife through quiet observation. Do not disturb wildlife for a “better look”.
   – Observe wildlife from a distance
   – Avoid quick movements and loud noises, as these are stressful to animals
   – Do not follow or approach animals
   – Do not feed animals: This damages their health and alters their natural behaviors
   – Allow animals free access to water sources by giving them space
   – Store your food securely and pick up scraps
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors: Remember, you are not the only person or group enjoying the outdoors. Everyone should enjoy their outdoor experience!
   – Respect other visitors
   – Yield to other users on the trail
   – Avoid loud voices and noises
   – Keep pets under control at all times
   – Camp away from trails and other visitors

By adhering to the 7 Principles of Leave No Trace, everyone– people and wildlife included– can have an enjoyable experience. These principles help us minimize our impact on the environment. They prevent trashed natural areas, polluted water, damaged trails, and harm to wildlife. At Coastal Expeditions, we are committed to conservation– Earth is home to beautiful creatures and plants, and it is our responsibility to protect it. 

As you can see, Leave No Trace is a great way to practice conservation whether it is on an excursion or in our own backyard. We hope you found this information helpful, and we encourage you to adhere to the 7 principles whenever you step outside! Here at Coastal Expeditions, we offer a variety of guided eco-tours and excursions that allow you to view wildlife in their natural habitat– From a safe distance! We hope that you found this article informative and helpful. As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! If you have any questions about our guided tours, reach out to us! At Coastal Expeditions, we are committed to introducing people to the wonders of the ecosystems of the Charleston area by providing guided tours and educational opportunities. If you’re looking to explore all that the Lowcountry has to offer, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! We also offer kid-friendly tours as well as kids programs, camps, and kayak lessons. Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!