Leave No Trace

What Leave No Trace does

Leave No Trace (legal name: Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1994 and headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, that delivers science-based education to promote responsible outdoor recreation. Its core intellectual property is the trademarked "Seven Principles of Leave No Trace" framework, which addresses trip planning, travel on durable surfaces, waste disposal, campfire impact, wildlife interactions, and visitor courtesy. The organization is supported by an in-house Research & Science Program staffed by international scientists studying recreation ecology and human behavior, which continuously refreshes the curriculum.

The product surface is structured as a tiered educational ecosystem rather than a single software product. Free online courses (notably the Leave No Trace 101 course) and the "Daily Life" course sit at the top of the funnel, leading into paid Skills Courses, two-day Level 1 Instructor Courses, five-day Level 2 Instructor Courses, and biennial online recertifications priced at $25 and $50 respectively. Complementary programs include the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Teams (mobile education since 1999), Spotlights community conservation events, Gold Standard Designation for sites and events, PEAK and Bigfoot's Playbook youth education, and an international network spanning 90+ countries with formal partner organizations in Canada, Ireland, Japan, Korea, and New Zealand.

Revenue is generated through a mix of individual donations, foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, a tiered Supporter Access membership program, merchandise sales via a Shopify storefront (shop.lnt.org), and training/certification fees. Distribution is largely digital-first (learn.lnt.org, shop.lnt.org) combined with channel partner reach through REI, Subaru, KEEN, Fjällräven, Thule, Mountain House, Winnebago, Teva, AllTrails, and BLUETTI, plus a State Advocates volunteer network for grassroots delivery. The organization reports a Charity Navigator four-star rating, with stated program spending of $0.83 per dollar donated, and annual educational reach exceeding one million people.

Name

Leave No Trace

Legal name

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics

Website

https://lnt.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers science-based outdoor ethics education through its trademarked 7 Principles framework, serving outdoor recreators, land managers, educators, and youth across 90+ countries via free courses, instructor certification, and corporate-sponsored programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Outdoor Ethics Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Certification & Training Providers (Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard, Guide Training) (THAAAOAF), Outdoor & Survival Skills Lessons (Bushcraft, Navigation, Foraging) (THAJAKAM)

Keywords

• Outdoor ethics education
• Environmental conservation services
• Outdoor recreation training
• Nonprofit conservation programs
• Youth environmental education

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Donations and Grants: Primary revenue stream from individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and foundation grants supporting nonprofit mission
2. Supporter Membership Program: Supporter Access Program with various donation levels providing membership benefits and ongoing support
3. Merchandise Sales: E-commerce sales of branded merchandise through shop.lnt.org including educational materials and apparel
4. Training and Certification Programs: Revenue from instructor training, course fees, and professional education programs including Level 1 and Level 2 certifications

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Leave No Trace delivers science-based outdoor ethics education centered on its trademarked Seven Principles framework. The organization offers free online courses, paid instructor certification (Level 1 and Level 2), recertification programs, workshops, and community conservation programs including Spotlights, Gold Standard Designation, youth education (PEAK), and Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Teams outreach.

Product overview

Leave No Trace is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering an educational platform centered on science-based outdoor ethics. The core offering includes the 7 Principles framework for minimum-impact outdoor recreation, supported by a tiered training system (101 Course, Skills Courses, Level 1/Level 2 Instructor Courses with recertification), delivered through online learning, in-person workshops, and the Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Teams. The organization operates complementary programs including Spotlights (community conservation events), Gold Standard Designation (recognition program), Youth Education (PEAK and Bigfoot's Playbook), Daily Life initiatives, an international network, and a research/science program. The company also maintains Shop.LNT.org for merchandise. The platform operates as a unified educational ecosystem rather than a modular software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 7 Principles of Leave No Trace Seven fundamental ethical guidelines that help individuals minimize their impact on nature during outdoor activities, covering planning ahead, traveling on durable surfaces, waste disposal, leaving what you find, minimizing campfire impacts, respecting wildlife, and being considerate of other visitors.
• Leave No Trace 101 Course A 45-minute free online training program teaching the 7 Principles and the science behind them, providing practical tools for outdoor ethics, available to all users on learn.lnt.org.
• Level 1 Instructor Course A two-day instructor certification course teaching Leave No Trace skills, ethics, and techniques for educating others about low-impact outdoor practices, with both in-person and virtual options.
• Level 2 Instructor Course A five-day comprehensive instructor course providing in-depth training on Leave No Trace skills and ethics through practical field-based application, preparing participants to teach Leave No Trace regardless of setting.
• Level 1 and Level 2 Recertification Courses Online recertification courses required every two years to maintain instructor certification status; Level 1 recertification costs $25 and Level 2 recertification costs $50.
• Leave No Trace Skills Course A two-day recreational course for individuals who want to learn Leave No Trace skills and ethics for personal application; participants receive a Certificate of Completion.
• Leave No Trace Workshops Introductory workshops typically one to three hours long, available in-person or online, and can be tailored to educators, youth, college students, outdoor professionals, or general audiences.
• Leave No Trace Spotlights A free community-based conservation initiative that brings together land managers, organizations, and the public through three-day stewardship events, educational workshops, and outreach programs at parks and natural areas nationwide.
• Gold Standard Designation Leave No Trace's highest recognition for sites, organizations, and programs demonstrating exemplary implementation of Leave No Trace education, with categories for parks, hospitality, outfitters/guides, youth programs, and organizations.
• Leave No Trace for Every Kid / PEAK Program Youth education initiative featuring PEAK (six field-tested activities for children ages 6-12) and Bigfoot's Playbook (38 experiential education activities for camps, schools, and youth programs).
• Leave No Trace in Daily Life Program extending Leave No Trace principles beyond outdoor recreation to daily choices including reducing waste, conserving water, minimizing single-use items, and making mindful consumer decisions.
• Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Teams Mobile education teams conducting hands-on educational trainings, workshops, and outreach programs across the country since 1999, funded by Subaru of America and other partners.
• Research & Science Program Science-based research initiative with a team of international scientists conducting studies on recreation ecology, human behavior, and conservation outcomes to inform Leave No Trace practices.
• International Leave No Trace Organizations Network of international branches and partnerships including Leave No Trace Canada, Leave No Trace Ireland, Leave No Trace Japan, Leave No Trace Korea, and Leave No Trace New Zealand, with engagement in over 90 countries.
• Shop.LNT.org Merchandise Store Official merchandise store selling apparel, educational materials, and the 7 Principles poster; proceeds support the Leave No Trace mission, with a 20% discount for supporters.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1 million people reached annually through educational programs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BLUETTIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEarth Month Giveback initiative partnership supporting Leave No Trace education programs through customer donations and brand activations
• REIcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor outdoor retail partner supporting Leave No Trace education and integrating outdoor ethics into customer communications and store programs
• KEENcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor footwear and apparel brand partnership for cause marketing and environmental stewardship initiatives
• FjällrävencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSwedish outdoor apparel brand partnership supporting sustainable outdoor recreation education
• ThulecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor and active transport equipment brand partnership supporting outdoor ethics education
• Mountain HousecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor food brand partnership supporting Leave No Trace education initiatives
• Winnebago IndustriescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRV manufacturer partnership promoting responsible camping and outdoor ethics to vehicle owners
• TevacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor sandals and footwear brand partnership for outdoor ethics education and marketing
• AllTrailscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor recreation app partnership integrating Leave No Trace principles into trail user education and content
• NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with premier outdoor leadership school for curriculum development and instructor training programs
• Texas InstrumentsminorOthersParticipating as panelist at CES 2026 discussing sustainable technology and outdoor recreation topics
• CovestrominorOthersParticipating as panelist at CES 2026 discussing sustainable technology and outdoor recreation topics

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Appalachian Mountain Club: Regional outdoor recreation and conservation organization that runs outdoor skills education, volunteer trail programs, and stewardship events. Directly comparable as an outdoor education and conservation nonprofit serving recreators.
• The Mountaineers: Pacific Northwest outdoor education nonprofit that teaches climbing, hiking, and backcountry skills through courses and certified instructors. Comparable model of volunteer-led outdoor skills education with a structured curriculum and certification.
• National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS): Premier outdoor education nonprofit that teaches wilderness skills, leadership, and environmental ethics. NOLS is a direct peer as a longstanding outdoor education provider, and is also an explicit strategic partner of Leave No Trace.
• Leave No Trace Canada: Canadian affiliate of Leave No Trace, operating as an independent nonprofit that delivers the same 7 Principles framework locally. Directly comparable mission and programs in a different national market.

Broad incumbents

• REI Co-op: Outdoor retail co-op that runs a large outdoor education program and is a Leave No Trace corporate partner. Comparable in delivering outdoor skills classes and stewarding outdoor ethics, but operates as a commercial retailer rather than a nonprofit.
• Conservation International: Global environmental nonprofit working on biodiversity, climate, and conservation. Comparable as a science-driven environmental nonprofit with global reach, though focused on conservation science and policy rather than outdoor recreation education.
• Sierra Club: Large, well-established environmental nonprofit working on conservation, outdoor recreation, and public lands advocacy. Overlaps with Leave No Trace in protecting outdoor spaces and engaging recreators, but operates at a much broader advocacy and political scale.
• The Nature Conservancy: Global environmental nonprofit that protects lands and waters. Comparable in mission to Leave No Trace (conservation of natural spaces) but operates at vastly larger scale through land acquisition and direct stewardship rather than outdoor ethics education.
• National Wildlife Federation: Major conservation nonprofit focused on wildlife and habitat protection. Comparable to Leave No Trace as a national-scale environmental education and conservation organization serving outdoor audiences and donors.

Others

• Outdoor Industry Association: Trade association for the outdoor industry, comparable as a sector-level convener that promotes responsible outdoor recreation and partners with Leave No Trace. Functions as an industry ecosystem enabler rather than direct educator.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/leavenotrace
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LeaveNoTraceCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/LeaveNoTraceCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leave-no-trace-center-for-outdoor-ethics
• Instagraminstagram.com/leavenotraceorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leave No Trace