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  Master
Educators Bob Wagner from the LNT Director for BCHA,
Melinda Towe & Susan Shedd from BCH of North Georgia and Jack White
& Ron Cook from BCH of Middle & South Georgia taught their 1st
"Train the Trainers" Course held here in the North Georgia
mountains.
Georgia's Newest LNT Trainers Lakota Towe,
Tina Maddox, Kathy White, Carolyn Touryniere, Derrell Jones, Misty
Callihan and Martha Fillingham
successfully completed the 2 day "Train the Trainers" course held in
the Chattahoochee National Forest near Winding Stair Gap. The
students and Master Educators spent the night in a primitive camp,
in their tents. The course consisted of hands on
demonstrations, activities and presentations of the 7 principles of
Leave No Trace. The students learned ways to teach the
importance of minimizing impact on our forests and wildlands and how
to raise forest user's awareness of how their actions and behavior
affects the experience of others. We enjoy many different
forms of recreation. It is not possible for us to have the
forests or trails all to ourselves and the number of people is
steadily increasing who use our state and national parks, forests
and all wildlands in this country. It
is important that we learn
and teach others how to share the land and minimize their impact so
our forests will remain beautiful for future generations to enjoy.
Each of the students gave a short
presentation on one of the 7 principles.
Bob Wagner gave
a demonstration on how to tie up food in bear country, the proper
use of bear spray and explained ways to prevent the spread of
noxious/invasive weeds. Jack White and Bob Wagner gave a
demonstration on the correct way to construct a "high line" for your
horses and ways to minimize your impact when traveling and camping
with horses.
When the class was over on Sunday afternoon, we all dismantled our
tents and rehabed the area where they were and tried to leave them
so that the next visitors to the area would never know were had been
there. We had a great, educational and informative weekend
preparing these students to become trainers.
Trainers will
hold Awareness Workshops to help the public become aware of the LNT
principles and their importance in minimizing impact and making
recreational experiences more positive for all outdoor enthusiasts.
Melinda Towe and Susan Shedd plan to have future "Train the
Trainers" classes and continue to prepare trainers across North
Georgia to help get the word out and promote Leave No Trace.
Please contact us to
sign up for future classes!
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