Burning Man Earth Guardian Training Courses

For the first time in Burning Man history, the annual Leave No Trace (LNT) Back Packing Trip was led by Burning Man staff and volunteers! Previous trips had all been lead by the BLM, however, in 2001, we lost out BLM Leave No Trace Master (Mike Bilbo) and decided to forge new paths.

One member of the Burning Man Senior Staff (Harley) and three Earth Guardian volunteers (Karina O'Connor, Tony Guerra and Larry Breed) all became LNT Masters. We took the NOLs masters training in March, and proceeded to plan our first trip right away for May 2002.

===> Students try to piece together an LNT puzzle

The Trip - The Basics

This year's trip was located in the Calicos, which are located on the west side of the Black Rock Playa. We had great weather, warm enough to be comfortable, often with a light breeze to keep us cool. We started at the work ranch, with introductions, a LNT video and a talk by LNT master Harley on Plan Ahead and Prepare. After driving across the playa and cutting over to soldier meadows road via the flowing wells area roads, we bumped our way up to Bucket Road and the Calicos. After parking and loading up, we walked about 1 mile, took a break for our first LNT principle class (Camp and Travel on Durable Surfaces), then proceeded another half mile to a great campsite.

After lunch we set up our tents then and had another class (Dispose of Waste Properly), before leaving for the afternoon's day hike. During the hike we were treated with an a class (respect Wildlife) which required all our participation. and got our blood flowing.

After the hike, upon returning to camp we were treated to a great surprise. Margaritas, chips with salsa and guacamole and brie and cheese! Woohoo - just in time for happy hour in true Burning Man style. - thanks Freddy!

<== Blue and Tim treat us to a discussion on Disposing of Waste (including how to shit in the desert).

That night was too windy for a campfire, but we still enjoyed fire spinning(battery operated), drumming and great conversation. The next morning, after a beautiful sunrise and breakfast with a view, we rekindled the fire of the group around the flames of an LNT campfire. We had a class on how to build a campfire to create no impacts and got into a great

==> LNT Students as animals and campers. Can you figure out who is criptobiotic soils?

discussion of fire at Burning Man. After this we did a home and garden tour of our campsite to ensure that we left no traces and talked about naturalization techniques. After this it seemed natural to move into a discussion of the LNT principle Be Considerate of Other Visitors. As you can imagine, this topic is particularly relevant for Black Rock City. After this talk we headed down the trail to visit a case, site for our last class on Leave What You Find, then headed down the trail for the cars and frothy beverages.

The Students - Creativity and Fun

Along the hike route, each of the students present a class or activity on part or all of a Leave No Trace Principle (7 Principles).

- Plan Ahead and Prepare
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
- Dispose of Waste Properly
- Respect Wildlife
- Minimize Campfire Impacts
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors
- Leave What You Find

< == Erin and Rip Cord Telling Us How To Respect Wildlife!

In true Burning Man participatory style - we all got to participate in most of the classes. We got to pretend to be obnoxious campers, animals, soil , hunters, arguing campers, etc. There was no end to finding ways to break the principles. It was interesting to find out how role play as an animal or soil gave us new respect for items often unconsidered (e.g. rocks).

Swami and Sara Open Us Up to Considering Our Impacts on Other Visitors ==>

Next Steps for the New LNT Trainers

What's next for our new LNT Trainers? Well, I suspect that many of them will take their new knowledge and pass it on to other Burning Man volunteer groups and theme camps. Rip Cord has offered to help spread the LNT word to the Rangers. Sara, who's active in Space Cowgirls, has offered to help the Earth Guardian crusaders at the event this year. Blue is in charge of Recycle camp - a great way to help LNT. Swami, our own Earth Guardian Volunteer Coordinator has ideas to help spread the word to rangers (coupled with foot massage) in additional to his focus in EG's.

Students ponder the LNT Principle "Leave What You Find" in a case which has probably been impacted by many different folks. == >

< == LNT Masters at Work demonstrating LNT style

Our New 2002 LNT Trainers are: Paul Schreer aka Blue, Melinna Faw, Mark Giannuzzi (Swami), Steve Schecter (Rip Cord), Erin Crowell, Timothy Dawson , Sarah Ainsworth - Congratulations!

* Send email for questions about this training and trip

This year's crop of new LNT Trainers!