2020 IMPACT REPORT PDF Free Download
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ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FINANCIALS AND PARTNERSHIPS
2020
IMPACT
REPORT
2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FINANCIALS AND PARTNERSHIPS
The Aperture
Opening
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I have thought at length about the concept of fellowship in the months-long
stretch since March, 2020. While I will avoid reciting the litany of issues and
worries we all shared, I will tell you how oddly enthusiastic I have been to meet,
in person, with the Leave No Trace team at our home-base in Colorado recently.
I have been awash with gratitude for the contributions of these excellent
colleagues who turned the wheels of Leave No Trace at a breakneck, yet remote,
pace as we hunkered down.
Innovation was the name of our game as Leave No
Trace made a rapid pivot to impactful and effective
learning, responding to the flood of people, families
and children seeking solace outside while weighing
what that actually meant for the land.
We introduced new digital learning that had the biproduct of being able
to reach more communities, quicker and with just the Leave No Trace those
communities needed. We also collaborated with new partners on first-time-user
education called The Basics, a starter-resource for people new to the outdoors.
While our pandemic-era programs were unrecognizable from the way Leave No
Trace has traditionally provided education for the public, the unintended shis
provided welcome advancements to the Leave No Trace movement here in the
U.S. and worldwide.
This has been a tremendous opportunity—more people outside, on the trails
and in the parks, with new resources to imbue Leave No Trace at every turn.
This opportunity also provided the space to take a comprehensive look at Leave
No Trace education, as well as where and how it is delivered with the goal of
accessibility for more people.
Building a more inclusive outdoors has meant adding layers to Leave No
Trace’s scope. Along with innovative new partnerships that inform this, the
organization has expert consultation in the mix that supports issues of diversity
and inclusion in the outdoors. We also added fresh eyes to rework our programs
and curriculum through this lens. There is no hard stop to this work for Leave No
Trace moving forward.
Fellowship and its place in outdoor spaces is reimagined forever. Our dependence
on the outdoors for places to interact with other people—for fellowship,
among other things—has changed now. With that, Leave No Trace is redefining
community and expanding the bounds of what it means to be outside.
Leave No Trace Executive Director
2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FINANCIALS AND PARTNERSHIPS
Over the past year the pandemic has highlighted
the need for outdoor spaces more than ever before.
As natural areas continue to see record visitation,
responsible recreation practices have taken center stage.
The Leave No Trace organization has stepped up to the
challenge, authoring multiple studies that equip land
management agencies with the appropriate information
to better protect the natural spaces that have become so
critically important to our mental and physical health.
ENVIRONMENTALLY
RESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR
Leave No Trace has long assumed that those associated
with its education would have a stronger tendency
towards environmentally responsible behavior, yet until
recently, sufficient evidence of this correlation was absent.
Earlier this year, the preliminary findings of the Center’s
Environmentally Responsible Behavior study provided
the long-awaited correlation between the Center and
environmentally responsible behavior as provided by
a census-backed sample. Not surprisingly, Leave No
Trace Members and Master Educators report engaging in
environmentally responsible behaviors significantly more
oen than others in the U.S. population.
ZERO LANDFILL
Another important area of focus has been our Zero
Landfill Initiative research. These studies set out to
better understand how park managers can achieve their
waste management goals through differing strategies
aimed at National Park Service visitors and concession
staff. This study employed three distinct phases that
spanned from 2017-2019. The first phase took a closer
look at National Park Service visitor attitudes, values,
and behaviors in various popular frontcountry locations
including Yosemite National Park, Grand Teton National
Park, and Denali National Park and Preserve to better
understand how the Zero Landfill Initiative goal could
best be met. The second phase explored campground
visitors and National Park Service concession staff and
employee attitudes and behaviors toward waste. The
Following
THE SCIENCE
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third and final phase examined the effectiveness of
data-driven messaging placed on or near various waste
or recycling vessels in frontcountry and campground
sites in the aforementioned national parks. The leading
findings from this research revealed that visitor and staff
attitudes and behavior are broadly aligned with proper
disposal of waste and recyclables materials at the
national parks studied.
COVID-19
Perhaps the most relevant area of Leave No Trace
research in the past year was the way in which Covid
has impacted the way we recreate outdoors. The Center
worked closely with its research partner Pennsylvania
State University to offer COVID-specific guidance to
outdoor enthusiasts.
2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FINANCIALS AND PARTNERSHIPS
The past year brought unparalleled
challenges to all of us, including
Leave No Trace. In early Spring, we
watched as contributions and grants
immediately declined given the vast
uncertainty we were collectively
facing. Second quarter contributions
and grants were ~32% less than the
prior year. The Leave No Trace staff
and board of directors for the Center
rallied, and with the commitment
and support of longtime partners
and members, the organization
strategically navigated through the
rest of the year.
The Center ended the year with total
support and revenue only 10% less
than the prior year, and maintained
2020
FINANCIAL REVIEW
an even bottom-line by pivoting to
virtual training and outreach programs.
The Center carefully maintained the
infrastructure and staffing necessary
to return to our previous programs as
pandemic restrictions li.
The accompanying summary financial
information is derived from the Leave
No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethic’s
audited financial statements. The
complete audited financial statements
and annual tax return are available for
download on our website.
Kurt Achtenhagen
Director of Finance and Operations
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2020
FINANCIAL REVIEW
FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR
THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING
DECEMBER 31, 2020
Sources of Support & Revenue $2,092,560
Partnerships & Grants 70%
Individual Giving 15%
In Kind Donations 10%
Merchandise Sales 4%
Program Services 1%
Use of Funds $2,094,675
Program Services 78%
General & Administrative 12%
Fundraising 10%
Total Assets at 12/31/20 $906,070
Cash & Equivalents 41%
Investments 34%
Inventory 13%
Furniture & Equipment 6%
Promises to Give 4%
Prepayments 2%
Based on annual audited financial statements.
2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FINANCIALS AND PARTNERSHIPS
Innovation
Reigned
for Traveling Teams During Covid
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The mission-critical work of the Subaru/Leave No Trace
Teams was transformed dramatically last year. In a typical
year, these three teams deliver onsite training and outreach
to every corner of the continental United States. The
teams charged out of the gate in 2020, delivering our
first Hot Spot with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and a National Marine Sanctuary in the
Florida Keys, engaging nearly 1,000 participants and 238
volunteers. They also wrapped up two additional week-
long Hot Spot projects and work at high profile festivals,
training with youth and university students and multiple
Trainer Courses. Covid bluntly grounded the program. The
teams’ typical work of interactive, in-person workshops and
large-scale training events across the country required an
unprecedented and quick pivot.
While we anxiously awaited the return of the teams to full-
time travel and in-person programs, the Center is proud to
report that the dramatic shi of 2020 yielded many bright
spots and notable accomplishments. Adaptability and
creativity are critical skills for the teams in any year, and
2020 provided unexpected opportunities for innovative
Leave No Trace education. Virtual programs, training
sessions and social media events like Instagram Lives
enabled the teams to reach important and new audiences
230
Events
111,550
People
40,000
Training Hours
2.15 Million
Impressions
2,600 Lbs of
Trash Removed
during a time of explosive outdoor visitation along with a
rise in associated impacts.
Program highlights include virtual training workshops for
federal land management agency staff and partners, youth
corps crews, Girl Scouts of the USA staff and volunteers,
university workshops, and more. The teams developed
virtual guided hikes and DIY demos for the Girl Scouts
of the USA’s Girl Scouts Love State Parks 2020 initiative,
engaging hundreds of Scouts of across the country on the
same weekend to celebrate state parks and learn effective
ways to protect them. Limited in-person programs
included campground amphitheater programs in Denali
National Park as part of the Zero Landfill Initiative and small
group service project/trash cleanups in Alaska, Nevada
and Washington as part of Yosemite Faceli Act Local.
In 2020, the teams reached audiences of all backgrounds
and ages through more than 230 events and programs
from coast to coast. Community participation and
attendance exceeded 111,550 people, with more
than 2.15 million impressions, and more than 40,000
cumulative training hours of Leave No Trace education.
They participated in or led service projects/cleanups that
removed more than 2,600 pounds of trash. Not bad!
2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FINANCIALS AND PARTNERSHIPS
Leave No Trace enthusiasts around the globe can recite the first of
Seven Principles—it’s usually around the fih or sixth one where
memories begin to faulter. How, though, do we inspire millions
more outdoor visitors to “plan ahead and prepare” when it comes
to their vacations and daytrips? In recent years, the Center has
introduced a powerful new partnership program that is proving to
be highly effective for reaching large numbers of people during
the crucial planning phase of their trips.
The Center’s partners in the tourism category range from state-
level organizations (Arizona Office of Tourism, Colorado Tourism
Office, Visit New Hampshire, Visit NC/North Carolina Outdoor
Recreation Industry Office) to county and regional groups
(including Sonoma County/Parks and Recreation Department,
California; Door County, Wisconsin; Glacier County, Montana;
and others) and municipal tourism organizations (Laguna Beach,
California; Sedona, Arizona; and more).
Large or small, a primary function for these organizations is
attracting visitors and informing them about the available
wonders on hand—usually with natural areas near the top of
the docket. By incorporating Leave No Trace into their outreach
work, tourism groups move beyond the mission of a traditional
“destination marketing organization” and take on the role of a
“destination stewardship organization.”
“It is a natural fit for the Arizona Office of Tourism to partner with
a premier responsible tourism organization like Leave No Trace,”
says Debbie Johnson, Director of the Arizona Office of Tourism.
Leave No Trace is
Informing the
Responsible
Travel & Tourism
Movement
Learn more by visiting lnt.org/partnership/tourism
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“We’re both dedicated to ensuring the health
and longevity of all the destinations and natural
features that make our state spectacular and
attract millions of visitors each year.”
Debbie Johnson, Director of the Arizona Office of Tourism.
2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FINANCIALS AND PARTNERSHIPS
Corporate
Partners
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THESE COMPANIES POWERED THE CENTER’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2020
PATRON PARTNERS
PLATINUM PARTNERS
REI
Aramark
Fjällräven
Thule
Klean Kanteen
Keen Footwear
American Backcountry
Avid4 Adventure
Burning Man
Campworks
Cheley Colorado Camps
Cleanwaste
Crazy Creek Products, Inc.
Escapees RV Club
Falcon Guides
Grotto Climbing
GSI Outdoors
Hennessy Hammock
Hilleberg The Tentmaker
Home Light
Kind Coffee
Kobayshi Consumer
Products
Leki USA
Napier Enterprises
Overland Cruisers
PerformNZ
Restop
Sea to Summit
Topo Designs
Trango
Transrockies
Vacation Races
Voss Signs
Zero Gram
Adventure Instead
Academy
Akaso
Big Agnes
Eureka!
Osprey Packs
Primus
Sawyer
Tom Bihn
Volley
Yeti
L.L. Bean
Tec Laboratories
The North Face
Upslope Brewing
Company
GOLD PARTNERS
SILVER PARTNERS
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
BRONZE PARTNERS
Leave No Trace also extends its gratitude to the hundreds of Community Partners that play a critical role in Leave
No Trace education to their constituents and customers every year. Find a complete list of Community Partners here.
2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTS, FINANCIALS AND PARTNERSHIPS
Special
Thank You
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Shawn & Lindsay Turner
Julie Klein
Leave No Trace is rooted in the power of individual action – actions which are demonstrated time and again by our
dedicated donors committed to protecting our shared natural areas. As we move away from 2020, Leave No Trace
would like to extend its profound gratitude to our donors for making a difference during the difficult times brought
on by the pandemic, with a special thanks going to the members listed below for their exceptional support.
Frank Santiago
Dan Slack
Robert Stephens
Bill & Meredyth Stern
Axel Anderson
Doug Angevine
Chris Baumgartner
Scot Briscoe
Ryan Callaghan
Skip Clemmons
Richard & Rebecca Crosson
Nathan Dopp
Chris Enlow
Steven Fraim
James Fuller
Benjamin George
Tony & Eileen Graziano
Allison Hernandez Gosselin
Richard McManus
Erika Meyers
John Miller
Danuta Montorfano
Jeff Neitzel
David O’Leary
Eric Py
NATURE KEEPERS
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
Kurt Achtenhagen
Susan & Mike Alkaitis
David Allen
Scott Anderson
Robert Armstrong
Jeannie Batto
Kathryn Beals
James Beatty
Ian Benoit
James Bishop
Timothy Blanchard
Shari Boyer
Nelson Bruni
James Buerger
Alita Burmeister
Andrea Burns
Kyle Byerly
Thomas Campanile
Gary Candy
Stephen Chiu
Paula Church
Ethan Clapham
Patrick Connelly
Denise Coogan
Sara Crawley
Addy Crosson
Bill Cyphers
Suanne Davendonis
Jeffery Davis
Kaleen & Stephen
Deatherage
Jay Dement
Kevin Dickson
Michael Farmer
Jorge Faz
Paul Fleeman
Emmet Flynn
Mary Franey
Michael Gephart
Alexander Gong
Paula Gray
John Guill
Charles Hamilton
John Hamilton
Mark Hammer
Elizabeth Hamrick
Timothy Havens
Scot Hawthorne
Klari & Alex
Hixenbaugh
Charlie Hoppa
Dan Howells
Mary Hughes
Richard Jindrich
Chuck Jordal
Walter Kivett
Scott & Katie Kleiner
Ronald Koblitz
Robert Kuhl
David Largent
Nancy Le
Gary Lehr
Wen-shin & Wan-tzu Liu
Tyler Lobdell
Judy Lund
Laura Lundin
Ken Macholl
Jason Madlung
Daniel Martin
Matthew Martinez
Laura Loomis & Paul
Merrion
Rhonda Mickelson
Catherine Miller
Marc Miller
Lynn Miller
Susan Miller
Eric Morris
Jim Murray
John Musgrove
Peter Newman
Sidney Overall
Michael Padar
Jed Paulson
Amy Peterson
Wendy Reeds
Kelly Reeve
Thomas Roberts
Michael Salter
Karen Sangster
John Satter
Catherine Scheder
Paul Schimke
Amy Schliem
Mike Schmitt
David Scoggins
Paul Scudder
David Secunda
Scot Shaeffer
Mark Smith
Chrissy Sollenberger
Godbout
Katie Spann
William Straka III
Rick and Barb Swanson
Elizabeth Swanson
Julia Tandy
Deirdre Tarpey
Timothy Taylor
Charles Thompson
Betty Thornhill
John Wagner
Dana Watts
Daniel & Karen Weber
Dave Secunda &
Carmela Weber
Christopher Wentworth
Ken White
Liz Williams
Shannon Willis
William Wiman
Carolyn Workman
MAJOR DONORS
Skip Rapp
Daniel Segersin
Mike Thomas
Molly Waterman
Haung Weiru
David Wilkinson
Ange Workman
Thank You for Your
Support in 2020!
1000 North Street | Boulder, CO, 80304 | 800-332-4100 | www.LNT.org
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