The Leave No Trace organization has selected the Virginia Creeper Trail community as a 2023 Spotlight site.
As outdoor areas across the nation are being impacted by record use, this new initiative from Leave No Trace shines a light on communities rising to meet the challenge and provides multi-day, onsite education and stewardship programs.
On April 12-15, a Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Team will be in Damascus with the Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy, Town of Damascus, and Appalachian Trail Conservancy to deliver Leave No Trace education to the community and partner on local stewardship projects.
Sites are nominated for the Leave No Trace Spotlight initiative by local land agencies or community groups. The 2023 Spotlights span the country, each with unique environmental challenges. The goal of the initiative is to equip each Spotlight area with relevant Leave No Trace tools and ultimately, to foster healthy lands and people.
“The Spotlight initiative highlights the great steps a community can take to protect an area that they cherish,” according to Dana Watts, the Executive Director of Leave No Trace.
This year, the Airbnb Community Fund has made this program possible through a generous grant. Watts continues, “The three-day Spotlight features workshops for stakeholders and Leave No Trace education for the public at large. It also will include opportunities for the community and our Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Team, who will be there conducting the initiative, to roll up their sleeves together at the Spotlight site and get some work done.”
“We are dedicated to the maintenance and preservation of the Creeper Trail corridor and our annual trail cleanup has been an important part of our mission for decades,” said Lisa Quigley, the Executive Director of the Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy. She shared, “We are particularly excited this year that we will be working with Leave No Trace, a national partner dedicated to the stewardship and sustainability of outdoor spaces, in addition to our local partners, the Town of Damascus, Town of Abingdon, Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and US Forest Service.”
The following events are free and open to the public. Find more information at VisitDamascus.org. Wednesday, April 12 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Coffee Chat: Come by the Damascus Trail Center to meet the Leave No Trace team and chat over coffee.
10 a.m. to noon Workshop: Register for a two-hour Leave No Trace training, geared for volunteers, retailers, and outdoor recreation professionals. This workshop is targeted at those who interact with visitors and will focus on effective communication of the Leave No Trace 7 Principles.
Friday, April 14 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Happy Hour: Join the Leave No Trace team, Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy, Town of Damascus, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for a Happy Hour at Appalachian Heritage Distillery. Happy Hour will feature live music, networking with outdoor enthusiasts, and a fundraiser to benefit the Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy.
Saturday, April 15 8 a.m. to noon,Virginia Creeper Trail Annual Cleanup: Participate in one of two stewardship projects along the Virginia Creeper Trail and Appalachian Trail.
The Virginia Creeper Trail Conservancy’s 30th Annual Trail Cleanup begins at 8 a.m. Supply pick-ups will be at the Caboose in Damascus Town Park, Alvarado Station, and the Abingdon trailhead. For more information on priority locations on the trail, supply pick-up, etc., please visit VACreeperTrail.org.
The Mount Rogers Appalachian Trail Club (MRATC) will head east on the Virginia Creeper Trail to perform campsite cleanups near the Straight Branch and Creek Junction trailheads. To participate please contact MRATC at [email protected].
1 – 5 p.m., Leave No Trace Pop-Up: Stop by the Damascus Trail Center for a Leave No Trace Pop-Up! Ask questions, join informative talks, win prizes, and learn more about Leave No Trace.
2 p.m.: Behind the Scenes of Food on the Trail with Leave No Trace – Have you ever wondered how hikers store and pack their food? Come learn about food storage on the trail!
4 p.m.: Responsible Campfires with Leave No Trace – Learn Leave No Trace campfire tips on how to improve safety and minimize harm to ecosystems. Enjoy s’mores while learning about campfire best practices! About Leave No Trace Using the power of science and research, education for all, and stewardship to support and protect nature, Leave No Trace is on a mission to ensure a sustainable future for the outdoors and the planet.
