I assist the three districts: Palomar Ranger District, Descanso Ranger District, Trabuco Ranger District, and the Supervisors’ Office in onboarding and managing volunteers. Through the internship, interns get professional development funds to use towards: trainings, conferences, classes, etc. I used some of my funds to attend a Leave No Trace (LNT) Instructor Course in Colorado. LNT is an organization that provides education, skills, research, and science to help people take care of the outdoors. Through this course, I will be able to obtain certification to be able to teach a level 1 course to others.

The course was a two-day training over a weekend. It covered the Seven Principles of Leave No Trace. The Seven Principles are: 1) Plan Ahead and Prepare, 2) Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces, 3) Dispose of Waste Properly, 4) Leave What You Find, 5) Minimize Campfire Impacts, 6) Respect Wildlife, and 7) Be Considerate of Others. While these concepts were not entirely new to me, they took on a different meaning when looking at them from the viewpoint of a recreation manager. With this training and certification, I can teach this concept to people of all ages. The biggest lesson I took out of this, is that it does not matter what you say, but how you say it. When correcting someone’s behavior, such as littering in a campground, instead of coming at it from a place of authority, it can be approached from a viewpoint of respecting and preserving nature. 

This is a concept that should be taught to everyone because it affects us all. If we each do not do our part in caring for the outdoors, it may not be there for future generations. Just as we have come to enjoy nature and appreciate its beauty. We must do everything in our power to make sure others will be able to do the same. Not only that but we also rely on natural resources to survive. I encourage you to , learn about the 7 principles , it could go a long way in making a positive impact in your community. Let’s take care of our communities, our parks, our forests, and give everyone the opportunity to enjoy nature.