Those of us who cherish our spectacular desert wilderness understand the importance of “Leave No Trace”—leaving the land the same or better than you found it. There’s an upcoming event that delves deep into the reasoning and social complexities behind that philosophy. Reporter Heather Clisby has details…
The Desert Institute, the educational arm of Joshua Tree National Park, is hosting a virtual Desert Live Program “Why Leave No Trace” on Thursday, August 13 at 4 p.m.
As locals, we are tasked with protecting our desert wilderness not only from our own usage but from our heavy tourism traffic.
The program will explore the why and who of the practice and how we can do better. A panel of experts will lead a live discussion on outdoor ethics and the seven Leave No Trace principles. Panelists include:
Sirena Rana Dufault, who runs Trails Inspire, which promotes diversity, equity and inclusion for outdoor spaces.
Dani Reyes-Acosta, a brand strategist, backcountry athlete, freelance writer and owner of Nomad Creativa consulting firm.
Sophia Schwartz, a professional free-ski athlete and ski mountaineer based Jackson, WY.
Rounding out the panelists is Gabaccia, a storyteller with a passion for responsible outdoor recreation and tourism.
To access the program on August 13 at 4 p.m., go to joshuatree.org/live and click on “tune in.”
