You are here :: Community :: Virginia
Laurie Harmon, PhD, RLA, Virginia State Advocate
I’m Laurie Harmon and I teach at George Mason University in Manassas, Virginia.
As your Leave No Trace State Advocate, I can offer you event materials and identify Master Educators and Trainers who could assist with workshops and presentations. I’ll strive to share the Leave No Trace information and make connections to teachers, educators, youth, and a variety of public agencies to promote a clear understanding and strong sense of stewardship.
Together, we can build community and positive outdoor ethics.
You can also contact me via my website.
Get connected and discover the latest on Leave No Trace education, membership, research, events, grants and partnerships.
( + ) Leave No Trace Community Blog
Follow the adventures of our three Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer teams as they canvass the US teaching Leave No Trace.
( + ) Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer Blog
When: Saturday, April 10 – Sunday, April 11
Where: Shenandoah National Park, VA
Who: Adults (18+) with some camping and/or backpacking experience.
Description: The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s Trail Patrol is offering this two-day, low-mileage backpacking format course designed to enhance your understanding of Leave No Trace practices and ethics and to increase your level of expertise and confidence in teaching Leave No Trace skills. Through focused activities, hands-on field experience and both formal and informal discussions, you will be introduced to concepts and methods that will advance your knowledge of Leave No Trace issues, expand your repertoire of low-impact skills and increase your effectiveness in teaching these important skills to others. Participants should be experienced campers or backpackers. Instruction will concentrate on the incorporation of low impact techniques in camping and backpacking settings, but we will not be teaching basic camping skills. This is a fun course where all participants have a part in demonstrating the choices that can be made to minimize our impact on the land and our resources. On completion of this course, participants will be registered as Leave No Trace Trainers with the national Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and will receive a certificate of course completion as well as their Leave No Trace Trainer lapel pin.
Gear: Personal backpacking gear. All group gear, such as stoves, cooking equipment and water treatment will be supplied. Participants should pack a trail lunch for Saturday and Sunday; all other meals will be provided. At the time of registration participants will receive a planning packet that will include a detailed packing list.
Instructors: Instructors are members of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s Trail Patrol who are also Leave No Trace Master Educators.
Cost: $45.00 for PATC Members, $65.00 for Non-PATC members (Join PATC at the time of registration and get the member price!) The cost covers course materials and meals with the exception of lunch for Saturday and Sunday, which the participant should bring.
Contact: For more information and a registration form please visit http://potomacappalachian.org/ and following the Training link, or contact Cindy Kelly.
When: Saturday, June 19 – Sunday, June 20
Where: Shenandoah National Park, VA
Who: Adults (18+) with some camping and/or backpacking experience.
Description: The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s Trail Patrol is offering this two-day, low-mileage backpacking format course with an additional pre-outing evening classroom session designed to enhance your understanding of Leave No Trace practices and ethics and to increase your level of expertise and confidence in teaching Leave No Trace skills. Through focused activities, hands-on field experience and both formal and informal discussions, you will be introduced to concepts and methods that will advance your knowledge of Leave No Trace issues, expand your repertoire of low-impact skills and increase your effectiveness in teaching these important skills to others. Participants should be experienced campers or backpackers. Instruction will concentrate on the incorporation of low impact techniques in camping and backpacking settings, but we will not be teaching basic camping skills. This is a fun course where all participants have a part in demonstrating the choices that can be made to minimize our impact on the land and our resources. On completion of this course, participants will be registered as Leave No Trace Trainers with the national Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and will receive a certificate of course completion as well as their Leave No Trace Trainer lapel pin.
Gear: Personal backpacking gear. All group gear, such as stoves, cooking equipment and water treatment will be supplied. Participants should pack a trail lunch for Saturday and Sunday; all other meals will be provided. At the time of registration participants will receive a planning packet that will include a detailed packing list.
Instructors: Instructors are members of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s Trail Patrol who are also Leave No Trace Master Educators.
Cost: $45.00 for PATC Members, $65.00 for Non-PATC members (Join PATC at the time of registration and get the member price!) The cost covers course materials and meals with the exception of lunch for Saturday and Sunday, which the participant should bring.
Contact: For more information and a registration form please visit http://potomacappalachian.org/ and following the Training link, or contact Cindy Kelly.
© 2008 Leave No Trace | Terms and Conditions
When: Saturday, April 10 – Sunday, April 11
Where: Lynchburg, VA; This course takes place in and around the Beaver Point cabin, a site on the Lynchburg College Campus. Many of the outdoor activities that will be conducted in this course will be on the grounds in the immediate vicinity of the cabin. A bike ride/walk on an in-city dedicated trail will be one of the low strenuous/impact activities, in addition to a hike in forested areas. Students have the option to stay overnight in the cabin facilities or pitch a tent outside the cabin. There are no linens supplied, so bring a sleeping bag and pillow. The cabin has electricity, and bathrooms.
Who: Teens (15+ to Adults) with some outdoor experience and interest in bike riding, hiking and ecology.
Description: The New Horizons Outdoor and Adventure Leadership Program at Lynchburg College is offering a two-day, stress free, Front Country, trainer course designed to enhance your understanding of Leave No Trace practices and ethics and to increase your level of expertise and confidence in teaching Leave No Trace skills and philosophies.
Through focused activities, hands-on field experiences and both structured and casual discussions, you will be introduced to philosophies, concepts, practices and methods that will advance your knowledge of Leave No Trace subjects. You will expand your range of minimal and low-impact skills and thus will be able to gain a greater ability to model and present the seven Leave No Trace philosophies and skills to others. Participants should be experienced hikers, bicycle riders and have an interest in ecology. Instruction will concentrate on the integrating of low impact techniques in front-country settings. This is a enjoyable course where all participants have a part in demonstrating the choices that can be made to minimize our impact on the land and our resources.
On completion of this course, participants will be registered as Leave No Trace Trainers with the national Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and will receive a certificate of course completion as well as their Leave No Trace Trainer lapel pin.
Gear: Personal gear, shoes, boots, sleeping bags, clothing are on your own. All group gear, such as stoves, cooking equipment and water treatment will be supplied. Participants should eat breakfast in advance, pack a trail lunch for Saturday and Sunday; Saturday dinner and Sunday breakfast will be provided. At the time of registration participants will receive a planning packet that will include a detailed packing list.
Instructors: Paul Stern is a Leave No Trace Master Educator and the Coordinator of New Horizons Outdoor and Adventure Leadership Program and Adjunct Faculty in the Outdoor Minor. Other instructors are staff members of the New Horizons Outdoor and Adventure Leadership Program who are Leave No Trace Trainers.
Cost: $45.00 for Lynchburg College students and affiliates, $65.00 for Non-Lynchburg College affiliates. The cost covers course materials and meals with the exception of lunch for Saturday and Sunday, which the participant should bring.
Contact: For more information and a registration form please visit http://www.lynchburg.edu/lnt.xml and following the Training link, or contact Paul Stern at 434-544-8224
When: Saturday, October 2 – Sunday, October 3
Where: White Oak Cabin, Shenandoah National Park, VA
Who: Adults (18+).
Description: This course takes place in and around the White Oak Cabin. All outdoor activities are conducted on the grounds in the immediate vicinity of the cabin. There is no backpacking or other strenuous activity. Student have the option to stay overnight in the cabin facilities or pitch a tent outside. Description: The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s Trail Patrol is offering this two-day, cabin format course designed to enhance your understanding of Leave No Trace practices and ethics and to increase your level of expertise and confidence in teaching Leave No Trace skills. Through focused activities, hands-on field experience and both formal and informal discussions, you will be introduced to concepts and methods that will advance your knowledge of Leave No Trace issues, expand your repertoire of low-impact skills and increase your effectiveness in teaching these important skills to others. This is a fun course where all participants have a part in demonstrating the choices that can be made to minimize our impact on the land and our resources. On completion of this course, participants will be registered as Leave No Trace Trainers with the national Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and will receive a certificate of course completion as well as their Leave No Trace Trainer lapel pin.
Gear: Participants will sleep in beds/cots inside the cabin, there are no linens supplied, so bring a sleeping bag and pillow. The cabin has electricity, a full kitchen and modern bathroom. Participants should pack a lunch for Saturday and Sunday all other meals will be provided. At the time of registration participants will receive a planning packet that will include a detailed packing list.
Instructors: Instructors are members of the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club’s Trail Patrol who are also Leave No Trace Master Educators.
Cost: $45.00 for PATC Members, $65.00 for Non-PATC members (Join PATC at the time of registration and get the member price!) The cost covers course materials and meals with the exception of lunch for Saturday and Sunday, which the participant should bring.
Contact: For more information and a registration form please visit http://potomacappalachian.org/ and following the Training link, or contact Cindy Kelly.
Hosting a Leave No Trace training, workshop or other event in your community? Submit this form to Sarah to have your event posted here.
If you are a Master Educator and would like to be added to your community page, please send your request to Master Educator Listing with your name, city and email address.
Steve Bair | Luray | steve_bair@nps.gov
Charles Bush | Springfield | cbush@es.blm.gov
Matt Carroll | Alexandria | matcarroll@comcast.net
Nancy Chamberlain | Annandale | nchamberlain@nvcc.edu
Chris Doupnik | Roanoke | crdoupnik@cn.edu
Barry Garst | Blacksburg | bgarst@vt.edu
Julie Gilfus | Blacksburg | gilfus10@yahoo.com
Jason Herron | Natural Bridge | jherron@fs.fed.us
Bob Holdsworth | Midlothian | bholdsworth7@gmail.com
Mark Holland | Arlington | markholland25@hotmail.com
Mark Kramer | Woodbridge | kramermt@nswccd.navy.mil
Jeff Marion | Blacksburg | jmarion@vt.edu
Susan McKimmy | Vinton | susan@mckimmy.net
Andy Nichols | Frederick | adventure@teamlinkinc.com
Deborah Sensabaugh | deborasensaba@gmail.com
Paul Stern | Lynchburg | stern.p@lynchburg.edu
Ryan DeRose | derose@tripleccamp.com
Friends of the Rappahannock | Fredericksburg | www.riverfriends.org
National Military Family Association | Alexandria | www.namf.org
National Wildlife Federation | Reston | www.nwf.org
Potomac Appalachian Trail Club, Inc. | Vienna | www.patc.net
Therapeutic Adventures, Inc. | Charlottesville | www.TAonline.org
Wilderness Adventure at Eagle Landing | New Castle | www.wilderness-adventure.com
Wilderness Leadership and Learning | Washington, D.C. | www.will-lead.org/
Canoe Kayak and Paddle Co. LLC | Vienna | www.ckapco.com
Blacksburg Parks and Recreation Department | Blacksburg | www.blacksburg.gov/recreation
Friends of Chippokes Plantation State Park | Surry | www.chippokes.com
Wytheville Parks and Recreation | Wytheville | www.rec.wytheville.org
Adventure Holidays Peru | Virginia Beach | www.adventureholidaysperu.com
Emory & Henry College Outdoor Program | Emory | www.ehc.edu
Lynchburg College | Lynchburg | http://www.lynchburg.edu/newhorizons.xml
Washington & Lee University | Lexington | www.outingclub.wlu.edu/
