Backcountry Leave No Trace Instructor Course

$1,055 | Tuition

Dates:
August 30 - September 2

Location:
Gardiner, Montana

Meals Included?:
No

Instructors:
Sam Archibald, M.E.M.

Age:
18+

Program Type:
Field Seminars

Seminar Type:
Backpacking

Practice and perfect the art of teaching outdoor ethics in one of the world's greatest outdoor classrooms! Yellowstone, like many beautiful public lands throughout the country, has experienced record visitation in recent years. Leave No Trace (LNT) skills are a critical tool, both for you as a general visitor and for outdoor professionals working toward a culture of responsible recreation to preserve these places for generations to come. This three-day Level I Trainer course is designed to familiarize you with state-of-the-art minimum impact techniques and prepare you to lead certified LNT skills courses and awareness workshops. You will apply the seven LNT principles on a two-night backpacking trip into remote areas of Yellowstone and spend your days focused on field-based discussions, hands-on demonstrations, and interactive activities designed to teach LNT to larger groups. You will also explore the dual mandate of the National Park Service and how it relates to wildland ethics more broadly. This course is designed for outdoor educators and guides, but it would be applicable to anyone who spends significant time in wild spaces. Prior backpacking experience is recommended but not required.

About the Instructor

Sam Archibald is a Lead Field Educator for Yellowstone Forever. Sam first started with outdoor education as a US Peace Corps volunteer, working with an Ecuadorian nonprofit organization to develop outdoor leadership programs for youth. After earning his master’s degree in Environmental Management through Western Colorado University (Gunnison, CO), Sam joined the National Park Service, working as a Crew Leader for the Yellowstone Youth Conservation Corps. What was supposed to be a single season in YNP turned into many as Sam fell in love the vivacity of this ecosystem. Sam first joined Yellowstone Forever's team as a winter seasonal educator and has been a permanent instructor since 2022. Sam is grateful for every day he gets to spend out in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and looks forward to the continual discoveries offered by this wild and wonderful landscape.

Download Program Information:

Backcountry Leave No Trace Instructor Course Itinerary

More Information:

Lodging | Age Restriction Details

SUMMER ACTIVITY LEVEL SCALE

Be prepared to hike up to 1 mile per day, comfortably, through relatively flat terrain on maintained trails.
Be prepared to hike up to 3 miles per day, comfortably, with elevation gains up to 600 feet. Some off-trail hiking possible.
Be prepared to hike up to 5 miles per day, comfortably, with occasional elevation gains up to 1000 feet in undulating terrain.
Be prepared to hike up to 8 miles per day, at a brisk pace, comfortably, with climbs up to 1500 feet on dirt trails. Loose rocks, uneven footing, and off-trail hiking are possible. Good coordination is recommended.
Be prepared for brisk aerobic, destination-oriented hiking up to 12 miles a day. You should be physically conditioned to do these hikes comfortably. Elevation changes up to 2000 feet on dirt trails or off-trail. Loose rock, uneven footing, steep hillside traverses, and stream crossings are possible. Good coordination is required.

WINTER ACTIVITY LEVEL SCALE

Leisurely hikes up to 1 mile per day through relatively flat terrain on maintained or snow-packed trails.
Hikes on snow-packed trails, or snowshoe or ski trips, up to 3 miles per day with climbs up to 250 feet.
Brisk hiking, snowshoeing, or skiing up to 5 miles per day with climbs up to 500 feet, including some trail-breaking in snow.
Brisk aerobic snowshoeing or skiing up to 8 miles per day with climbs up to 1000 feet; or steep, rugged, off-trail skiing or snowshoeing—including breaking trail in variable snow conditions.
Brisk aerobic snowshoeing or skiing up to 12 miles per day with climbs up to 1500 feet; or steep, rugged, off-trail skiing or snowshoeing—including breaking trail in variable snow conditions.