Event Description

This Master Educator course is five days in length and designed for people who are actively teaching others backcountry skills or providing recreation information to the public. This valuable training is recognized throughout the world by the outdoor industry and land management agencies. The profile of graduates is highly varied from USFS and NPS backcountry rangers to scout leaders, from outdoor retail executives to school teachers, from college outing club members to outfitters and guides. Successful graduates of the Master Educator course have the ability to train others in Leave No Trace skills and ethics, and can offer Leave No Trace Trainer courses (two-day) and Awareness Workshops (one-day or shorter).

This course will include canoeing and/or backpacking a couple of miles each day on unclassified moving water or over moderate terrain and will allow plenty of time to cover course materials, which we will do both during the day and into the evenings. Canoeing will be on Blue River (subject to sufficient water levels) which flows through one of the most scenic, interesting and diverse areas of Indiana. The hiking features natural bluffs overlooking creeks and rivers, mixed with the karst landscape of caves and sinkholes, and the diversity and density of native wildlife and vegetation. The trail can sometimes be rugged and steep. Participants should be in good physical condition and be able to hike with a full pack for 3-5 miles per day. Overnight camps will be in both impacted campsites and backcountry pristine sites.

The course fee is $525 per individual. This fee includes instruction, curriculum, a significant quantity of teaching materials and resources, a one year membership to Leave No Trace, course equipment, park entrance fees, camping fees, group equipment, and meals.

Partial scholarships may be available through Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. To learn more or apply on-line, visit http://lnt.org/training/mastereducator.php. You must first be registered in a course to apply for a scholarship.

A $200 deposit is required to hold a spot on the course. Full payment is due 30 days before the start of the course (September 20^th). Spots on the course not paid in full 30 days prior may be offered to others. Registrations within 30 days of the course start date require full payment at the time of registration. We accept checks by mail or a purchase order from your company or organization. If a purchase order is used, full payment is required within 30 days of registration. Purchase order registrations within 30 days of the course start date must be paid in full 7 days prior to the start of the course.

Comments

Core Components for Master Course Curriculum

Review of the role of Leave No Trace Master Educator.
Discussion and practice of the principles and ethics of Leave No Trace.
Discussion of the Leave No Trace Trainer concept and Training Guidelines
Overview of recreation ecology and types of resource and social impacts.
Discussion of LNT teaching skills and techniques, student learning styles, and development of lesson plans.
Development of an LNT action plan.
At least one student led teaching exercise by each participant.
Focus on interactive and hands-on field experiences.
Review of the mission and need for the Leave No Trace program.
A historical overview of the LNT program.
Discussion of the role, function, and administrative structure of the federal land management agencies’ Leave No Trace programs
Overview of the role, function, and administrative structure of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.