A Modern Outdoor Ethic
A Quote That Stuck with Me
I remember a quote I read when I was a boy that has stayed with me my whole life. Robert Baden-Powell once said, “Try and leave this world a little better than you found it.” He was referring to being a good human, but in this day and age of increased recreational use of the outdoors, the phrase has taken on a broader meaning.
A New Outdoor Ethic Emerges
“Leave it better than you found it” has become a new standard—an evolution of the “Leave No Trace” ethic. For those of us who care, simply leaving no trace isn’t enough. We must do more to offset the impact of those who don’t. In fact, it’s now a personal responsibility to act beyond minimal impact.
The Pandemic Changed Everything
When the coronavirus arrived, it changed almost every aspect of our lives. People started working from home, and travel restrictions canceled vacation plans. Cruise ships, flights, hotels, resorts, even movie theaters and restaurants saw dramatic drops in use or were shut down entirely.
As a result, a new form of vacation emerged: escaping to the outdoors. People who had never hiked or camped before flooded into nature, eager to find something beyond four walls and cabin fever. Nature became a refuge for many.
The Outdoor Surge and Its Consequences
Hiking and camping saw a massive surge. Lawrence Lujan, a U.S. Forest Service public affairs specialist, noted, “The visitation that we typically saw on the weekend, we were seeing during the week. And the visitation that we typically saw during a holiday weekend, like the Fourth of July, we were seeing on weekends.” Clearly, what was once a weekend pastime became a daily escape.
Inevitably, the increased use came with problems. There was the usual wear and tear, but also new issues from people unfamiliar with outdoor ethics—or those who simply didn’t care. For example, off-trail hiking in fragile terrain, off-road driving, trampling vegetation, illegal campfires, graffiti, and trash left behind all became common sights.
Not All Bad News
But it’s not all bad news. With increased visitation comes increased appreciation. People who experience a place and fall in love with it are more likely to want to protect it. Volunteerism has gone up as well. However, it’s not enough. We can’t rely on others to do the work. Everyone who enjoys public lands needs to take responsibility for caring for them.
What Can We Do?
So how do we leave these places better? Sometimes it’s as simple as carrying a trash bag to pick up what others left behind. Volunteering with or donating to organizations that build and maintain trails and campgrounds is also vital.
Personally, I support Trailkeepers of Oregon. They do incredible work and need help now more than ever. Even more important: teach your children and lead by example. Show friends and family what it means to respect and care for our shared wild spaces.
A Shared Responsibility to Leave It Better Than You Found It
Ultimately, it comes down to stewardship. These lands belong to all of us, which means it’s up to each of us to care for them. Not just by leaving no trace, but by leaving it better than we found it.
The 7 Leave No Trace Principles:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
Read my personal code of ethics.
