LNT TRAINERS CABIN COURSE SNP's Pinnacle Research Station BEAR September 19&20, 2015

 

CourtneyTrustee and I taught 7 new LNT Trainers

The LNT Trainers course teaches and trains students on the knowledge and skills needed to train others about Leave No Trace (LNT)

Below is a link to a recent article about the historic CCC building now used as the Pinnacles Research Station where the class was held.  While volunteer activity of all types is hosted at this building it is primarily used as a base station for scientist doing research in the park.   We enjoyed being able to share this facility with two scientists who are currently doing research in the park.   One scientist was doing research on the park on Wood Rats and the other does research in the park on Native Pollinators and gave a presentation on her field at Big Meadows on Saturday night.

  

http://www.dailyprogress.com/madisonnews/news/funds-being-raised-to-restore-snp-s-pinnacle-research-station/article_d816a154-aca6-11e4-bdb4-5b6af18b5500.html

Here is a little teaser about an SNP Facebook  pollinator posting if you like SNP check out its Facebook Postings

Shenandoah National Park

September 17 at 3:22pm ·

Pollination is a vital stage in the life cycle of all flowering plants.
When pollen is moved within a flower or carried from one flower to another of the same species it leads to fertilization. This transfer of pollen is necessary for healthy and productive native and agricultural ecosystems.
• About 75% of all flowering plant species need the help of animals to move their heavy pollen grains from plant to plant for fertilization.
...

• Most pollinators (about 200,000 species) are beneficial insects such as flies, beetles, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths, and bees.
Shenandoah National Park is a wonderful place to observe pollinators!

See More

During Class We had a black bear visit us.

If you are interested in North America Bears the following organizations website is an excellent resource.

http://www.bear.org/website/

June 13&14, 2015 LNT Trainers Course

Guy W. and I train 6 new LNT Trainers

Getting ready for our two days of backpacking and LNT classes.

Each student presents a lesson on one of the LNT principals and each student provides a constructive critiques of another students lesson.    Helpful hints and suggestions are provided by all.

While the class does cover learning the LNT subject matter it is mostly about teaching and training methods that can be used to teach the LNT subject matter.

The end of a great class.

SNP 2014 LNT Master Educator Course

Pinnacles Research Station Sat. & Sun

Experiential  Learning What 200 Feet Is

Discussing The Route And Practicing Map Reading Skills

40 Acres

When asked about what the worst LNT transgression I had incurred was, I mentioned the fact that I had once started a 40 acre brush fire.    That got me a course handle of 40 Acres.    I liked the handle.  It produced a strong sense of acceptance, goodwill, and fellowship.  When it was used I found it made me laugh.   Somehow it provided a profound sense of comfort in the fellowship of sharing the humility of my own human imperfection.  

In addition, 40 Acres reminded me of the name of a song that has always resonated with me. 

THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT BY HEM:

 

Leaving An Appalachian Trail Viewpoint

Outdoor Educators

East/West OB/NOLS

One Of Our Hosts

He had just gotten back from his Big Bend NP rock climbing certification.

Luck Was With Us And We Were Challenged By Record Rains

 SNP LNT ME TRAINING 2014

 "Life Under The Tarp"

VOTED MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF GEAR

Gnarly Bear Bag Moves

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cp7_u0kcQRo

Once again....not too many miles from Walton's Mountain

"good-nights"

where heard echoing in the Appalachian mountains. 

Ours were tent-to-tent.

SNP Hazel-Country Hiker's Wayside With A View

The Wayside's View/Entertainment

Owl Puppet Used In Student Class Designed For Children Of All Ages

Instructor And Student Pondering Imponderables

How many raindrops in a torrent?  Do we really need gravity?

Socrates would approve.

Mound Fire Activity

Graduation

BE ON THE LOOK OUT GROUP SHOT

Can you spot the Master Educator?  (trick question)

WORLD HERE THEY COME...

LNT TRAINERS COURSE

SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK

SATURDAY SUNDAY APRIL 5&6, 2014

LNT (LEAVE NO TRACE)

LNT Fifty Shades Of Gray

 

 

 

LNT

Shades Of Grey

Safety Versus Preservation

Leave No Trace is not a system of rules but rather ethical guidelines.  What initially seems an egregious breaking of "rules" is not always so.

Scout Leaders Destroy Ancient Rock Formation In State Park

Ancient rock formation's destruction could draw charges against Utah men

By Erin McClam, Staff Writer, NBC News

Authorities in Utah are considering criminal charges against a group of men who gleefully shoved a boulder off its perch in a state park — and disturbed a rock formation that park officials say is 170 million years old.

The men, identified by The Salt Lake Tribune as Boy Scout leaders, recorded the antics, and cheered and high-fived after they toppled the rock. As one of the men was jostling the boulder loose, the cameraman sang a 1990 dance-party hit: “Wiggle it — just a little bit.”
The Tribute posted the video to YouTube:

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/18/21023331-ancient-rock-formations-destruction-could-draw-charges-against-utah-men?lite


Upon reading further down in the article it turns out that their underlying motive was that they thought it looked like it was about to fall over any moment and it presented a safety hazard.

Is mountain top mining appropriate?    Was hacking away a large portion of Six Grandfathers to create Mt Rushmore appropriate?    Was destruction of The Buddhas of Bamiwam appropriate?   Is any graffiti on rock appropriate?   How about pioneers names carved into the rock at Chimney rock is that appropriate.    What about Anastasi Petroglyphs should they be removed?

Mount Rushmore

The re-imagining of Mount Rushmore goes beyond disputes about, for instance, who should be considered the "real" founding fathers -- Mount Rushmore is located in the Black Hills, land that is sacred to a number of tribes. It's also land that, according to the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868 was forever ceded control of to Native Americans only to be unilaterally abrogated by the US Government.

Is purposely causing  avalanches or trundeling  OK?

Trundeling
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlxf5wnWxMo


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeVxxodxHUE


Unexploded shells used to trigger avalanches liter the landscape?

Park's bombs litter slopes

Yellowstone can’t say how many unexploded shells lie above Sylvan Pass, or how to find them.

http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=9959


 Should an image of Crazy Horse be carved out of a mountain?



I will not pretend to know the answers but in my opinion this is why LNT is considered a frame work of ethical guidelines and not a set of rules or laws.